Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited has alleged that oil firms purchase refined automotive gas oil, often known as diesel, from unlicensed refineries located in several host communities around the Niger Delta region.
It made this announcement during the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week Conference in Abuja, which was attended by both domestic and foreign oil and gas firms.
The Punch reported that the oil companies in attendance at the occasion did not dispute this.
The Executive Director, Operations and Technical, Tantita Security Services, Capt. Warredi Enisuoh, said that illegal refineries produce large amounts of diesel and that many downstream operators are among their clients.
He stated that the groups receive funding not only from smugglers but also from oil firms, emphasizing that the spike in diesel prices was caused by Tantita and other security services’ raid on these facilities.
Enisuoh clarified that in terms of infrastructure, there might be need to focus more on the local communities in order to supply Nigerian content solutions to meet energy demand.
He said that the illegal manufacture of diesel would keep rising if it weren’t for the actions of security organizations like Tantita Securities.
He stated,
The PUNCH said on April 10, 2024, that the NNPC announced that Tantita Security Services Limited agents had seized a tugboat suspected of transporting illegally refined diesel.
Before the security team arrested the tugboat in Rivers State, NNPCL had reported that it was being escorted by a marine police boat. It also added that Tantita was now questioning five of the people on the boat.
NNPC had stated,
TimesNow.com.ng reported that the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data showed that in May 2024, consumers spent an average of N1403.96 per litre on automotive gas oil (diesel).
This is a 66.29% rise in price over the same month the previous year, from a lower cost of N844.28 per litre in May 2023.
From N1415.06 in the previous month of April 2024 to an average of N1403.96 in May 2024, this indicated a monthly decline of 0.78%.
Source: TimesNow.com.ng
