By Adewale Banjo
A socio-economic rights group, Justice Agenda, has described as unfair, the prolonged closure of Taurus jetty and depot in Warri Delta State by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDRA), following an investigation into a Petroleum Motor Spirit shipped in by an oil company.
NMDRA sealed the facilities in January due to an ongoing investigation into the discharge of over 9.8 million litres of water instead of fuel shipped in by the oil company.
Executive Director of Justice Agenda, Abira Solomon, in a statement, said the continued closure of Taurus jetty and depot since January is not only hurting businesses in the area but also sending a wrong signal to both local and foreign investors.
Abira called on NMDRA to quickly conclude its investigation and make its findings known instead of ruining business and keeping stakeholders in the dark.
“As an organisation with focus on social and economic justice, we are worried about what is happening in Koko community in Delta State where a major shipping terminal has been shut since January by NMDRA.
“We understand that a major petroleum trucking outlet, Taurus depot, was also sealed by NMDRA for an alleged discharge of water instead of fuel.
“While we believe that NMDRA is rightfully carrying out its mandate of investigating an alleged breach in the sector, our concern is that investigation into the Koko terminal incident is taking too long and has grounded business activities in the region.
“For six months, the only terminal used by vessels for the discharge of petroleum products was rendered unusable. One of the five depots there, Taurus, is also under lock and key.
“ We insist NMDRA should do a thorough investigation into ascertaining how a fuel consignment shipped by the oil company turned out to be water and also insist that shutting of Taurus jetty and depot perpetually is wrong,” Abira said in the statement.
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and some stakeholders in the petroleum sector had recently urged the Federal Government to reopen Koko terminal and Taurus depot warning that the situation is already hurting investments in the sector and disrupting fuel supply to the region.
IPMAN Chairman in Delta State, Harry Okenin, had lamented the hardship faced by his members whose products are locked up in Taurus depot, saying it is unfair to subject the depot and its members to unquantifiable losses over a matter they know nothing about.