Illegal Oil Bunkering: Nigeria Looses N20 Billion
Going by local estimates, the Federal Government of Nigeria, is suspected to be losing over N20billion annually to unwholesome economic activities around the boundry coastal communities in Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states.
Already, community leaders at the Akwa Ibom end, are pressing the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, an interventionist agency, to construct a bridge across the Imo River in a bid to smash the economic plundering ring.
Local sources at Obite, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, and the Ima Iman group of villages in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, told our correspondent that they often notice movements of oil tankers around their communities at some unholy hours of the night.
Those behind the alleged economic-crippling activities are said to be ''big men'' not easily apprehended by the security agencies.
The alleged illicit economic deals are said to be more pronounced at the Akwa Ibom end of the coastal communities divided bt the Imo River.
Ekerete John Ekerete, a budding political leader in Southern Ukanafun, told our reporter that they have made representations to the authorities on the need for a bridge to avert untimely deaths through sea mishaps, and to keep the activities of ''economic saboteurs'' checked.
Although the Managing Director of the NDDC, Timi Alaibe, could not be immediately reached for comments, one of his media handlers however, told our correspondent that the development agency was not likely to close its eyes to such issues.
''We would not have insisted on the bridge if all had been well with us. Certain calamities keep on befalling us as a result of lack of a bridge to link Edem Idim in Ukanafun Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Obite in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State, we are therefore, compelled by necessity to cry out for help'', Ekerete said.
On the average, the Ukanafun communities are said to losing no fewer than 10 persons every year to boat mishaps. ''Recently, we lost eight persons among them seven women from Edem Idim village alone. In the past five years, we have lost close to 53'', he added.
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Findings by our correspondent showed that the Alluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria, ALSCON, gas line from Alakiri in Rivers State to Ikot Abasi Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State traverses the Ima Iman group of villages, Ikot Inyang Udo, Ikot Enang, Edem Idim, Obon Odo, Idung Uromisor, Ikot Odiong, Odoro Ikot, among others.
But these villages were not provided for in the original route plan/map approved by the Nigerian Gas Company. The route was supposed to go from Ada Palm in Ukwa East Local Government Area of Abia State, to Ikot Akpa Nkuk, the headquarters of Ukanafun Local Government Area, and from there to Odoro Ikot.
In the mean time, the river separating the two boundary communities is about seventy metres long. If the authorities yield to the ongoing lobby and construct the bridge, a journey from Ukanafun to Port Harcourt will take some thirty minutes drive.