Illegal oil jetty discovered in Lagos

The Department ofPetroleum Resources (DPR), while carrying out its oversight function, discovered illegal operators of an unlicensed petroleum product jetty in Marina axis of Lagos where adulterated petroleum products are allegedly discharged.The DPR made this discovery on Tuesday in Lagos after a tip-off by undisclosed informant. The agency discovered two barges laden with Automated Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise known as diesel, of about two million litres, coupled with three abandoned ships allegedly used by the accused operators to perpetrate illegal petroleum marketing.The DPR monitoring team was led by the Assistant Director, DPR, Products Distribution, Depots and Jetties, Francis Buraimoh. He stated that the products could have been stolen from the Niger Delta creeks, where the nation has recorded the highest oil theft in recent times.Buraimoh said the agency has been monitoring the axis due to hints of illegal activities at the Defence Jetty, Marina, which is barely opposite the busy Apapa jetty. One of the barges used for the operation was tagged BC6215, while the three ships were the MTA Amolese, Cape European and Rock Barge.The monitoring team, however, arrested two of the suspected operators, who claimed they were working with Millennium Shipping Company, and immediately handed them over to the Police Headquarters, Zone 2 Lagos, for further investigation.According to Buraimoh, 'For sometime now, we have been monitoring this place, if you come here in the evening or sometime in the afternoon, you will find numerous tankers as you can see here now, loading off-spec products. They are using these barges for the illegal operations. You can see the level of oil spill on the floor.'One of the accused who claimed to be the Admin Officer of Millennium Shipping, (name withheld) said the place belonged to his company and they accommodate other vessels for maintenance and other services. The agency has however taken a sample of the product to its headquarters for quality test.The Deputy Director, DPR, Public Affairs, Mrs Belema Osibodu, who was among the monitoring team also lamented the unscrupulous act, describing it as sabotage to national growth.She said 'these kind of illegal activities have given DPR a bad name, because they have continued to embark on the activities despite all measures being put in place. But we are always ready to tackle them and we are well positioned to sanitise this industry.
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