The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang, has assured Nigerians that the presidency had taken drastic steps to crash the prices of petroleum products.
He made this known at the weekend while speaking with newsmen at the Correspondents’ Arena in Uyo. the Akwa Ibom state capital.
Enang said the Federal Government has concluded plans to host a National Conference on Artisanal and Modular Refining to integrate local refiners into the mainstream refining in Nigeria.
He added that the government has agreed to partner with those in the creek on how to legalise their businesses towards refining with the country’s capacities.
Enang explained the National Conference slated for March 15 to17, 2021 is in response to the amnesty extended to the Federal Government by the former illegal refiners.
He said: “We need to agree with those in the creek on how to legalise their business because of the danger the current practice is posing to the environment and the economy of the country.
“Therefore, the Federal Government will on March 15th- 17th hold a National Conference on Artisanal and Modular Refining to integrate local refiners into the mainstream refining in Nigeria.”
Meanwhile, Senator Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has rejected calls for “blanket amnesty” to be given to bandits, stressing that it will encourage other criminal groups to take up arms.
Recall that renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Ahmad Gumi, who had been visiting bandits in the various forest had called on the federal government to give amnesty to bandits just like it was given to Niger Delta militants.
But speaking when he featuring on a Channels Television Programme on Sunday, Senator Ndume warned that another form of criminality may emerge if “blanket amnesty” is offered to bandits.
The lawmaker stressed that such new armed groups would hope that the government will also negotiate with them.