By Maureen Eseh
ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emmanuel Amgbaduba has called joint forces by well-meaning Nigerians to stamp out illegal bunkering of petroleum products in the country.
The commissioner made the call yesterday when the executive members of the United Indigenous Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, led by its chairman, Mr Moye Mayomi paid him a courtesy call at his office in Asaba.
Amgbadugba decried the activities of illegal bunkers, lamenting that they were detrimental to the economy of the country.
He assured of the willingness of his ministry to partner with the association, as much as they remained committed to the vision of the state government, which he noted rested on the overall development of the people and the state.
While acknowledging the objectives of the association as purposeful, Amgbadugba encouraged them to maintain the vision of creating a peaceful environment between the oil producing companies and their host communities.
He called for the effective distribution of petroleum products to the various parts of the state, adding that it was in line with the visions of the federal and state governments.
Earlier, the Chairman of the United Indigenous Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr Mone Mayomi said that the body was out to create a peaceful and cordial relationship between host communities and oil producing firms.
He expressed concern that their differences had grossly affected the rate of production, which according to him, had directly affected the quantity of crude oil being produced per day.
Mayomi explained that the association had been licensed and should be partnered with to enable it market the oil produced in the various communities as indigenous marketers, assuring that they would not allow any rift to come into their affairs.
