The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, is set to establish
a fully- integrated Chemical Laboratory in Port Harcourt, Rivers State,
to combat the scourge of illegal oil bunkering in the Zone.
This was disclosed by the Port Harcourt Zonal Head of the Commission,
Chief Detective Superintendent (CDS) Aliyu Naibi on Tuesday, April 27,
2021 in Port Harcourt, while hosting the executives of the Petroleum
Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, System
2E Eastern Zone, who paid him a Courtesy Visit.
According to him, the issue of illegal oil bunkering is rampant in the
Niger Delta region of Nigeria and the EFCC had been relying on the
Department of Petroleum Resources for product analysis, in the
investigation of such cases. To reduce the time of waiting for product
analysis and improve on the investigation of cases of illegal oil
bunkering, the Commission is setting up a Chemical Laboratory to that
effect.
“I want to use this opportunity to inform you of the establishment of a
Laboratory in the Port Harcourt’s Zone. With the Laboratory in place,
the waiting time for report of product analysis will be reduced and the
investigation of cases of illegal oil bunkering will gain more speed,”
he said. He explained the efforts of the EFCC in boosting he economy,
stressing that the “EFCC is working tirelessly to provide enabling
environment for businesses. We are committed to support the genuine
business aspiration of every Nigerian”, he said.
Earlier, PERTOAN’s Zonal Chairman, System 2E Eastern Zone, Prince
Sunny Nkpe expressed delight with the EFCC in its synergy and support
for his Association, “especially the intervention of the Commission in
ensuring that our members illegally arrested by the Joint Task Force
were released”. He explained that PETROAN was concerned about illegal
refining, bunkering and adulteration of petroleum products in Rivers
State and had taken practical steps to ensure quality control of
products.
“If there are issues of product adulteration, we will trace such a
product to where it was loaded. Movements of trucks and drivers are now
being tackled through our Quality Control Unit”, he said. He expressed
the support of PETROAN for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt
refinery saying that, “if we have local production, foreign exchange
fluctuation will be handled”.