THE PRESIDENCYOFFICE OF THE SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS
RESOLUTIONS AT THE END OF THE STAKEHOLDERS EMERGENCYMEETING To ADDRESS THE SOOT AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION CAUSED BY ARTISANAL REFINING ACTIVITIES IN RIVERS STATE AND OTHER NIGER DELTA STATES. Held at THE OFFICE OF SENIOR SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT, NIGER DELTA AFFAIRSOn JANUARY 24, 2022.
At a meeting at the instance of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Federal Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, amongst others, the following resolutions were arrived at:
That there is the need for the Federal Government to consider and approve the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the National Summit on the Integration of Artisanal/Modular Refinery Operations into the In-Country Oil Refining Programme of the Oil and Gas Sector held at Sheraton Hotels And Towers Abuja, on 16th and 17th March 2021 to address the issues of environmental pollution amongst others.
That there is the need for various Organizations that have the crude oil refining technology to interact with Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulation Authority (NMDPRA) in order for them to make presentations on their available technologies, for regulations within the law.
That the team should further engage with the bodies of artisanal refining representatives for the purpose of reviewing the current state of affairs and proffer solution to the environmental and economic challenge, amongst others.
That engagement be made with the Governors and Governments of impacted states as well as other sub-national structures for further solution to the challenges, to curb re-pollution by the models adopted by the sub-nationals.
That there is the need for the review of the Petroleum Refining Regulations of 1974 and other relevant laws to accommodate the establishment of artisanal refineries.
That there is the need for the creation of a database of those trained in related fields by the presidential Amnesty Programme, as well as of Petroleum Training Institute, Warri (PTI), Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Petroleum Technology Development Trust Fund (PTbF), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and other relevant Institutions to harness their expertise.
That there is the need to explore the possibility of funding the pilot scheme from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Windows, amongst others.
That there is the need to follow the road map for the implementation of the Artisanal Oil Refining Programme (which is attached to this communiqué) to avoid a return to the situation now being addressed.
Special appreciation to:a. The Hon. Minister of Environmentb. The Hon. Minister of Petroleum Resources (State)c. The Hon. Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planningd. The Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.e. The Director General/Chief Executive: National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA).f. The Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).g. The Authority Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority. (NMDPRA)
Signed : 1. Senator Ita Enang: Senior Special Assistant to the President Niger Delta Affairs. Convener.2. Idris O. Musa: Director General/Chief Executive,National Oil Spill Detection and ResponseAgency (NOSDRA) 3. Mr. Abbas Suleiman:4. Engr. Kamoru Busari:5. Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya:6. Engr. J Agada:
Director, Environmental Assessment Department/ Federal Ministry of Environment. Director, Upstream Department,Ministry of Petroleum Resources.Director/, Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department,Federal Ministry of EnvironmentODEM, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.Senior Planning Officer, Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, (MFBNP).
