Oil Producing Area Association of Nigeria, OPAAN, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to stop the destruction of illegal refineries in the creeks, but instead, legalise their operations to boost local refining capacity and the economy.

OPAAN expressed sadness that while Nigeria cannot meet up with the internal consumption of petroleum products, it engages in the destruction of local refineries at the creeks simply because there is no legal frame work for such production in Nigeria.

In a statement issued by the President of the association, Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini, and titled, “The Need to Legalise Local refineries in Nigeria”, the group said if legal framework was put in place through which Nigerians could incorporate business outfits for the production of diesel and other petroleum products with mini refineries, it would create job opportunities for Nigerian teeming youths, increase the country’s gross domestic products, as well as reduce criminality and crude oil theft in the country.

The statement argued that the destruction of the illegal refineries did not in any way assist in the growth of Nigerian economy, but stressed that they should rather be legalized to make it more meaningful to indigenes of oil and gas producing areas