| |
THE NATION |
|
| |
THE NATION |
NIGERIA is losing $50 million (about N7.2 billion) weekly and 300,000 barrels of crude oil to illegal bunkering, Minister of State for Defence, Roland Oritsejafor, said on Tuesday as he canvassed British assistance to curb the menace.
Oritsejafor, who, in Abuja Tuesday received the visiting British Minister of State for Defence, Adam Ingram, described the incessant crises in the Niger Delta as economic violence.
According to him, the crisis has started to take its toll on the economic well-being of Delta State, regarded as the marketing region, pointing out that “as a result of the long- drawn crisis, investment is beginning to move from Delta State to adjoining Rivers and Bayelsa states.”
Oritsejafor canvassed British assistance in form of onshore patrol craft and fast- moving boats to enable security operatives and local residents patrol the creeks to curb illegal bunkering.
Oritsejafor said: “What is happening in the Niger Delta is economic war. It is bunkerers who are causing the problem,” he said.
Earlier, Ingram had said that he was in Nigeria to explore how the British government could be of assistance to the future development of Nigeria’s military.
Ingram expressed happiness at the role Nigeria has been playing to stabilise the West African sub- region.
They create unstable situation by arming the youth to instigate crisis. In the ensuring crisis, they perpetual at bunkering.
One of the ways we are going to address the problem is to recover the illegal arms in circulation in the region.”
Orisejafor had earlier commend the British government for the training and technical assistance it had offered Nigeria saying such gesture had gone along way in building the nation’s defence capacity.
The Minister noted that “without social defence capabilities, it will be difficult for Nigeria to play the role of stabilizing the West African Sub-region.”
Nigeria, he added had in the past committed hope financial and material resources in ensuring peaceful coexistence in the sub region.
Earlier, the British Minister of state, Adam Ingram had said that he was in Nigeria to explore how the British government could be of assistance to the future development of Nigeria’s military.
Ingrah expressed happiness at the role Nigeria has playing to stabilize the sub region.
