The Nigerian National Refinery Owners Association (DROAN) has supported the elimination of the oil subsidy by the Federal Government in the country. The association’s national president, Mr. Godwin Sunday, made it known at a press conference organized by the association in Uyo on Saturday.
Sunday said the association fully supported President Muhammadu Buhari’s courageous position to end the subsidy regime. He urged stakeholders in the oil industry and indeed all Nigerians to support the policy and establishment of modular refineries in the country. He said that the establishment of modular refineries in the Niger Delta region would improve youth employment and put an end to youth unease, illegal fueling and pipeline vandalism. “The oil sector, as we all know, has been the mainstay of our economy and contributes more than 80 percent to our nation’s growth.
“Therefore, as responsible citizens of this country, we have seen the need to unite with the government to protect our main source of livelihood, crude oil. “We salute the courage of the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari in ending the subsidy regime. “We applaud the government and we also call on Nigerians to support the government in this direction.
“We are confident that better days will come because the resources that were used for the oil subsidy will now be channeled towards other development projects such as education, health and infrastructure development,” said Sunday. The national president said the association was deeply concerned about the devastating effect of illegal oil supply on the ecosystem.


He said the association plans to undertake an awareness-raising exercise against illegal oil supply in the country, adding that the association had purchased three-speed boats to penetrate streams for the exercise. He said: “Considering the devastating effect on our environment, which is obviously leading to environmental pollution, degradation and even a negative effect on our ecosystem.
“We as a people have unanimously agreed that we cannot continue to steal what apparently belongs to us. “To deepen this commitment, we have acquired three-speed boats with an engine of 75 horsepower each so that we can penetrate the streams to carry out labeled awareness exercises; “Operation Stop Illegal Fueling in Nigeria” “.

He called on the government to establish a Presidential Committee to investigate the activities of artisanal oil refineries in the Niger Delta. The president also called on the individuals and organizations that establish modular refineries in the country to partner with the association for an easy and seamless integration of artisanal refineries.
YAYA