National Security Adviser (NSA), Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (retd), yesterday said Niger Delta Avengers secured commercial explosives and accessories from fertiliser companies and quarries in the South-south region to perpetuate attacks on oil installations.
Addressing journalists yesterday during a meeting with the two major fertiliser manufacturers in the country, Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical, in his office, the NSA said based on investigations conducted into the incessant bombings of oil facilities in the Niger Delta by the Avengers, the Office of the NSA discovered that commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks.
“Based on this fact, I directed our explosive experts to conduct further investigations and detailed audit of the records of explosive magazines and quarries in that region, which revealed the diversion of about 9, 000kg of high explosives and 16, 420 pieces of detonators for illegal use,” he said. He said based on their findings, security operatives had arrested a major explosive distributor in the country, including five security operatives, a store man, and an accomplice.
The NSA accused the major fertiliser distributors of also frustrating the good intentions of the present administration through their unpatriotic actions.
Monguno said it was based on the findings that indiscriminate importation of the materials “eased its availability to unscrupulous elements to perpetual insecurity, reduced prospect of local manufacturers and loss of foreign exchange to avoidable import, that the federal government licensed Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical, as sole manufacturers of urea blend fertilisers in the country.”
He said the two companies had a cumulative annual production of 2.05 million metric tonnes, while the country’s estimated consumption rate was 1.1 million tonnes, with the company having 47 per cent of their product for export.
“However, this office observed with total dismay some unpatriotic act and abuse of the goodwill government. Report of activities of these companies has indicated that 71 per cent of the 2.05 million metric tonnes annual production is being imported to the detriment of our national economy. This has resulted to spike in the price of urea-based fertiliser in Nigeria with obvious implications on food security in the country.”
“However, this office observed with total dismay some unpatriotic act and abuse of the goodwill government. Report of activities of these companies has indicated that 71 per cent of the 2.05 million metric tonnes annual production is being imported to the detriment of our national economy. This has resulted to spike in the price of urea-based fertiliser in Nigeria with obvious implications on food security in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has ordered the immediate sealing off of Messrs Nigerian Development and Construction Company (NDCC), an importer and seller of explosives in Koko, Delta state, over illegal diversion of explosives.
This is in addition to the blacklisting of the company and withdrawal of its explosive licences.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant, Media, to the minister, Olayinka Oyebode, said the development was sequel to investigations by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which revealed that the company was involved in illegal diversion of about 9, 000 kg of nitro-glycerin explosives and 16, 420 pieces of electrical detonators from its magazines between 2015 and 2016.
This is in addition to the blacklisting of the company and withdrawal of its explosive licences.
A statement issued by the Special Assistant, Media, to the minister, Olayinka Oyebode, said the development was sequel to investigations by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), which revealed that the company was involved in illegal diversion of about 9, 000 kg of nitro-glycerin explosives and 16, 420 pieces of electrical detonators from its magazines between 2015 and 2016.
Blue Print
No comments:
Post a Comment