Ijaw youths, under the aegis of Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), have strongly kicked against the proposal by the Federal Government to have two modular refineries in the Niger Delta region.
The IYC also renewed its ultimatum of 90 days, beginning July 12 to International Oil Companies (IOCs) to relocate to the Niger Delta region or face dire consequences.
National President of IYC, Mr. Oweilaemi Roland Peretubo, while addressing newsmen in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, said having just two modular refineries in the Niger Delta states would defeat the purpose of the establishment of the modular refinery as it would not be able to curb oil theft.
According to him, only the participation of Ijaw people and other Niger Deltans could make the policy succeed.
He said, “While we commend the Federal Government for its effort to site moudular refineries in the Niger Delta, we reject the proposal of only two of such refineries in each of the Niger Delta states.
“Our rejection is due to the fact that we consider that number too grossly inadequate in achieving the government’s advertised objective of stopping oil theft and illegal oil refining in the region.
“We believe that the government’s objective could only be achieved by the creation of an environment that guarantees the inclusive participation of the Ijaw and Niger Deltans in the oil industry and ownership of oil blocs”, he said.
