As part of efforts to have pollution-free Niger Delta, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) has commenced the process of grouping artisanal crude oil refiners that contribute to pollution into Cooperative Societies for Modular Refinery Licenses as alternative means of livelihood as proposed by the Federal Government of Nigeria. The registration and creation of database of artisanal refiners by YEAC started in January 2020 following the flag-off of the registration process on December 10, 2019.

Details of this latest efforts to protect the environment by forming the cooperative societies for the artisanal refiners are contained in a document released on February 23, 2021 and jingle also produced to that effect. The details can be found below;

FORMATION OF COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES ON MODULAR REFINERIES FOR ARTISANAL REFINERS IN THE NIGER DELTA

Youths involved in artisanal crude oil refining activities that contribute to environmental pollution and loss of livelihoods for fishermen and farmers in the Niger Delta are advised to stop and embrace the Modular Refineries proposed by the Federal Government. Recall that in 2017, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo promised Modular Refineries for artisanal refiners in the Niger Delta and on January 10, 2020 President Muhammadu Buhari,GCFR represented by Minister of State for Environment, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor during the inauguration of NOSDRA Laboratory in Port Harcourt called for the registration of artisanal refiners and formation of Cooperative Societies for the establishment of Modular Refineries.

It is against these backgrounds that Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), a Niger Delta-based non-governmental organization that has been involved in environmental advocacy, youth mobilization, training and creation of database of artisanal refiners in partnership with traditional rulers and other stakeholders invites you and those in the value chain to register to be members of the Cooperative Societies for Modular Refinery Licenses.

Membership Forms are in circulation in communities across the Niger Delta since registration flag-off on December 10, 2019 while representatives of communities without forms yet can collect theirs at Advocacy Centre’s office, N0.16 Peremabiri Street, D-Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

Those who wish to invest in the proposed Modular Refineries for Artisanal Refiners should contact Advocacy Centre to attend investment workshop with foreign development and technical partners from the United Kingdom engaged to also co-fund and build the Modular Refineries for artisanal refiners in the Niger Delta.

For environmental sustainability in the Niger Delta region, PLEASE stop artisanal crude oil refining activities; stop environmental pollution; embrace modular refineries and support demand for the establishment of Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI) similar to Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) in parts of the North and Western Nigeria.

For more information and collaboration, email us at: info@centreadvocacy.org or visit www.centreadvocacy.org or call 081-8444-2989.

This is signed by;

FYNEFACE DUMNAMENE FYNEFACE,

Regional Facilitator, Platform for the Coordination of Artisanal Refiners for Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta and Executive Director, Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre