Unemployment and poverty fuel illegal bunkering, says INC
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The Ijaw National Congress has called on the federal government to create more jobs for young people to eradicate illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
INC publicity secretary Oyakemeagbegha Ezonebi, who said this during an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said high unemployment was fueling illegal bunkering.
According to him, the theft of oil in the Niger Delta is the response of young people to unemployment and the increasing poverty rate in the region.
He said, “There is severe hunger in the land. Where there are no jobs, people are looking for every means of survival and this is also something we can attribute to these bunkering activities.
"The best way to get rid of these activities is to engage them in a meaningful way. People involved in illegal bunkering (oil theft) are not employed. This demonstrates the level of poverty in our country now.
“Even in Imo State, where an explosion occurred and more than 300 people died, some people went back to look for oil. People are now desperate. There is so much suffering in the country.
"Everything has gone up in price and now 10 times more than before. So this is a big challenge. The government needs to do something drastic to bring this situation back to normal." < /p>
Ezonebi also said that the unavailability of products at an appropriate price is another challenge encouraging illegal bunkering.
According to him, while a liter of diesel sells for 800 naira at authorized filling stations, illegal bunkers sell for 200 naira per litre.
He pointed out that the majority of consumers patronize oil thieves because they sell the product at a low price, adding that this encourages illegal bunkering.
"You see, illegal bunkering is encouraged due to the scarcity of the product. If the product is available in licensed locations like refineries and gas stations at the appropriate price, I doubt anyone one frequents them.
"As long as diesel sells for up to 800 naira a liter and we hear these boys selling around 200 naira a litre, the people who frequent them (oil thieves) will continue to cheer them on he said.< /p>
Please share this story:
The Ijaw National Congress has called on the federal government to create more jobs for young people to eradicate illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta region.
INC publicity secretary Oyakemeagbegha Ezonebi, who said this during an interview with Saturday PUNCH, said high unemployment was fueling illegal bunkering.
According to him, the theft of oil in the Niger Delta is the response of young people to unemployment and the increasing poverty rate in the region.
He said, “There is severe hunger in the land. Where there are no jobs, people are looking for every means of survival and this is also something we can attribute to these bunkering activities.
"The best way to get rid of these activities is to engage them in a meaningful way. People involved in illegal bunkering (oil theft) are not employed. This demonstrates the level of poverty in our country now.
“Even in Imo State, where an explosion occurred and more than 300 people died, some people went back to look for oil. People are now desperate. There is so much suffering in the country.
"Everything has gone up in price and now 10 times more than before. So this is a big challenge. The government needs to do something drastic to bring this situation back to normal." < /p>
Ezonebi also said that the unavailability of products at an appropriate price is another challenge encouraging illegal bunkering.
According to him, while a liter of diesel sells for 800 naira at authorized filling stations, illegal bunkers sell for 200 naira per litre.
He pointed out that the majority of consumers patronize oil thieves because they sell the product at a low price, adding that this encourages illegal bunkering.
"You see, illegal bunkering is encouraged due to the scarcity of the product. If the product is available in licensed locations like refineries and gas stations at the appropriate price, I doubt anyone one frequents them.
"As long as diesel sells for up to 800 naira a liter and we hear these boys selling around 200 naira a litre, the people who frequent them (oil thieves) will continue to cheer them on he said.< /p>
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