Senate mourns death of 110 persons at explosion site in Imo
(Nigeria) The Senate, Wednesday, mourned the deaths of those
killed by an explosion at the site of an illegal refinery in Abaezi community,
Ohagi-Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State on April 22, 2022.
The decision to do so was reached sequel to a point of order
raised by Senator Rochas Okorocha representing Imo West senatorial district.
Okorocha, while relying on order 42 of the Senate Standing
Order, 2022 as amended, informed his colleagues during plenary that the
incident led to the death of 110 persons.
According to him, the tragic incident has thrown the state
into mourning.
He disclosed that the explosion was caused as a result of
illegal refining.
The lawmaker, called on the Federal Government to consider a
legislation to provide for local technology for artisanal and modular refinery
considering the gap in Nigeria’s refining capacity.
Commenting on the incident, the Senate President, Ahmad
Lawan, underscored the need for local refining of petroleum products to boost
the nation’s revenue.
He, however, called on the federal government to take prompt
action through the introduction of regulatory policies to prevent disasters
associated with the illegal refining of crude oil in Nigeria.
Lawan said, “We cannot in any true sense benefit in a
practical way from the oil and gas resources we have in Nigeria if we don’t add
the value of refining it.
“Of course, we know what it means as at today, even though
crude oil sells for higher, but because we have to import the refined products,
the increase in price at the international market does not seem to confer any
advantage to our country.
“So, that speaks volumes that we have to refine our
petroleum products in Nigeria if we would have to enjoy the benefits of an
endowment like that.
“[And] for Nigerians who get engaged and involved in this
kind of illegal refining activities, I think government will have to take
action.
“It is for government to come to decision on how we should
be able to deal with this illegal activities.
“On one hand, we may encourage private participation, in
fact, that is the best way to go. But illegal refining again, at the moment, is
causing a lot of damage to our country.
“So, it is a very dicey situation, but we have to utilise
the ingenuity of our citizens who are creative and innovative, but in a much
regulated way, so that we don’t experience these kind of disasters.”
The Senate, thereafter, observed a minute silence to mourn the victims of the explosion in Imo State.
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