The federal government through the
Department of Petroleum Resources
(DPR), regulator of the oil and gas
sector has indicated its readiness to
issue licences to vessels in a bid to
legitimise bunkering business in the
country.
Bunkering is the act or process of
supplying a ship with fuel.
In Nigeria, oil theft is commonly
referred to as bunkering which involves
siphoning crude from pipelines into
makeshift vessels.
The agency also disclosed that the
licencing renewals and registration of
vessels for the exercise would yield
about N250million annually.
The development came as the federal
government on Wednesday began
move to revive the operation of
bunkering businesses in the nation’s
coastal waters.
Director of the agency, George Osahon,
who spoke at the sensitisation forum to
mark beginning of the exercise in
Lagos, said operators of bunkering in
the country would be licensed by the
DPR beginning from this January.
He said President Goodluck Jonathan
had approved the issuance of license to
bunkers as part of his economic
agenda, adding that resuscitation of
bunkering activities would create
employment activities for Nigerians, as
well as act as stimulus for growth in
other sectors of the economy, including inland ports and waterways.

The exercise will further boost Nigeria’s marine activities which may make the country a hub of bunkering operations in West Africa if bunkering is successfully resuscitated. Osahon told the participants that his agency was committed to making the resuscitation of bunkering a huge success for the country. He said his agency had prepared all guidelines to regulate the business of bunkering in accordance with the provision of the Petroleum Act.

Among petroleum products recognised by the Act for bunkering activities are automative gas oil, low pour fuel oil and recently liquefied natural gas,” he said. Assistant Director, Safety of NIMASA, Ubong Abasi, said for operators of bunkering to pass his agency’s test they must let NIMASA know if they
wanted to construct their vessels for the operation.
Source: Leadership.
.....................................................................

This is one policy I have been looking forward to. Hope they will have the guts to achieve this.
After this, they should look at this illegal refineries in our creeks. See how they can work with these chaps instead arresting and killing them. I don't see anything wrong in licensing them too. After all, is the same quality of refine products with the imported ones. DPR can license them, give them 2years grace to meet up international standard and everybody will be happy.

Mods FP let's deliberate on this issue.

Absolute lies against the FG. This is sponsored by APC.

Source da?

the surest way to kill illegal business is to legalize.... So if its true,,,,, big ups to the federal gov.
This illegal biz is costing this country a lot of money... So what the heck! Legalize it

OP, what is your intention? If your intention is to rubbish the good deeds of Jonathan, you have failed in your ignorance of the subject matter. OP, go find out the difference between oil bunkering and Illegal Oil Bunkering.

I pity people like the OP who have made a mockery of their certificates on this Forum in the name of trying to discredit Jonathan.