TheCable

Audu Ogbeh, the minister of agriculture and rural development, has said the introduction of modular refineries is the only way to ensure that the Niger Delta region is peaceful.

A modular refinery is an easy-to-maintain/erect processing plant that is constructed entirely on skid mounted structures.

It processes 2,000 to 15000 BPD of crude and can be disassembled and reassembled in another location.

Speaking with the Voice of Nigeria (VON), the minister said the plan will put an end to the bombing of oil pipeline and facilities while generating revenue and jobs for people of the region.

He said, “I think it’s about the only way to guarantee peace and full participation by the people of the Niger-Delta in that industry which is their own more or less.

“They will have crude allocated to them, they will refine and if eventually there are about five such refineries in that region one in each of the states or even more, it means instead of exporting crude all the time we will export refined products.”

Ogbeh said he hoped that the Niger Delta people will see the plan as one that will ultimately favour them and bring development to the region.

He prayed that they’d be keen to take part in the ownership of the modular refineries.

“My prayer is that the people of the Niger-Delta will respond and that they will be anxious to participate in the ownership and the management of those refineries and I think finally something more concrete is coming on now to stabilize the region.”