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, PMS, shipped in by Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
The facilities were sealed by NMDRA in January due to an ongoing investigation into the discharge of over 9.8 million litres of water instead of fuel shipped in by NNPCL through a Vessel named MT Austria.
Speaking on the issue, Executive Director of Justice Agenda, Abira Solomon in a statement noted that 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 it’s investigation and make its finding known instead of ruining business and keeping stakeholders in the dark.
The statement read: ” 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 from a vessel, MT Austria.
“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 use by vessels for the discharge of petroleum product was rendered unusable as MT Austria was grounded there. One of the five depots there, Taurus, is also under lock and key.
” While we insist that NMDRA must do a thorough investigation into ascertaining how a fuel consignment shipped by NNPCL turned out to be water, we insisted that shutting of Taurus jetty and depot perpetually is wrong .
Recall that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN and some stakeholders in 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.
Speaking on the development, Chairman of IPMAN, Delta State, Mr Harry Okenin had lamented the hardship faced by his members whose products are locked up in Taurus depot saying that it is unfair to subject the depot and it’s members to unquantifiable loses over a matter they know nothing about.