By Moses Patience Chat
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has called the attention of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Faruk Yahaya, to illegal petrol lifting operations taking place at the Bonny River terminal.
This was disclosed over the weekend in a letter signed by the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Farouk Ahmed, in which he stated that a vessel, Barumk Gas, is lifting Butane at Bonny River Terminal without authorization or participation of NMDPRA. However, NMDPRA is the government agency responsible for regulating operations at the Terminal.
The Authority ‘s Boss noted that the unlawful act is being facilitated with the active connivance of ExxonMobil by illegally destroying the locks on the sea-line valve whose keys are in the custody of the Authority.
“You are by this letter kindly requested to urgently prevent the sailing out Barumk Gas until investigations into the matter are concluded.” Ahmed wrote to the Chief of Army Staff.
His letter also stated that the actions of ExxonMobil and Barumk Gas constitute economic sabotage, criminal damage and theft of Nigeria’s national resources.
