Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC) on February 9 inaugurated Bayelsa State modular refineries multipurpose co-operative societies. The co-operative societies inaugurated are;

  1. Bayelsa East Modular Refinery Multi-Purpose Co-operative Societies Ltd;
  2. Bayelsa Central Modular Refinery Multi-Purpose Co-operative Societies Ltd
  3. Bayelsa West Modular Refinery Multi-Purpose Co-operative Societies Ltd

Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC), Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface said “This event is the outcome of many years of advocacy at Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC). We have gotten this far with the supports and partnerships with both local and international development partners, organizations, institutions and individuals like you driven by the need to connectively contribute in support of government efforts to provide alternative livelihood opportunities for artisanal crude oil refiners in the Niger Delta through Modular Refineries as proposed by Vice President Yemi Osibanjo in February 2017 during his tour of the region”.

He further said “To further save our environment by providing alternative livelihoods for the crude oil refiners, we progressed from there in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020 to add that the Federal Government establishes a “Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI)” for artisanal crude oil refiners in the Niger Delta similar to the “Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI)” in parts of the North and Western Nigeria”. Adding that “…we will continue with our works for the society, youths and environmental protection through our mandate of strengthening community-based advocacy in the Niger Delta through multi-stakeholder engagement”.

In the presentation of the co-operative societies to President Muhammadu Buhari in an open letter, the YEAC’s Director said “These are the authentic platforms of the real artisanal crude oil refiners who have stopped and embraced your policy on Modular Refineries as alternative means of livelihood in Bayelsa State. In the days ahead, we will inaugurate and also present to you, Modular Refinery Co-operative Societies in other Niger Delta States”.

Below are some links to media publications from the event

This Day: Artisanal Modular Refinery Cooperative Society Inaugurated in Bayelsa https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2022/02/10/artisanal-modular-refinery-cooperative-society-inaugurated-in-bayelsa/