•Another firm blacklisted, licence withdrawn for diverting 9,000kg of explosives
•Five security officials, others arrested
•Five security officials, others arrested
The National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen.
Babagana Monguno, has accused two of the country’s foremost fertilizer
manufacturers – Notore Petrochemical and Indorama Eleme Petrochemical –
of sabotaging national security and the economy by being conduits
through which insurgents, especially Boko Haram terrorists and Niger
Delta militants, obtain explosive materials in order to wreck havoc
across the country.
This is just as the Nigerian security and
intelligence agencies have made a major breakthrough in tracking the
source of explosives used by the Niger Delta militants to blow up oil
pipelines and facilities with the arrest of several suspects, including
five security personnel.
Monguno made this startling revelation yesterday when he met with representatives of local manufacturers of fertilizer.
Monguno made this startling revelation yesterday when he met with representatives of local manufacturers of fertilizer.
Monguno warned that the federal
government would no longer tolerate a situation whereby the security and
economy of the country are threatened by the “unpatriotic” actions of
the fertilizer companies, warning that his office will shut them down
should the alleged acts of sabotage continue.
The visibly angry NSA, who did not
entertain any explanation from the companies, also read the riot act to
any company or individual engaged in economic, business or commercial
activities linked to dissident groups operating within and outside the
country.
He said: “I must say at this point that
the goodwill shown by the government of this country should not be taken
for granted. The fact that we are in a difficult and complicated
situation in terms of our economy and security, does not mean that
companies and individuals with vested interests should take the goodwill
of this country for granted.
“The president came to power with a
specific mandate, which is clear to all Nigerians and indeed the
international community. We will view with very serious consequences
whatever any company does to fall out of line and behave in a manner
that will bring to its knees the economy of this country and indeed the
security of this country.
“Like I said we will not hesitate and it
is an action that will be taken with immediate effect. It is also
important for us to also know that the local farmers are suffering in
all communities all over the country.”
Monguno also revealed that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the entire intelligence community had discovered that the improvised explosive devices (EIDs) deployed by terrorists for their bombing campaigns were developed mainly from certain grades of fertilizer with particular reference to some nitrate based types including urea nitrate (synthesized from urea).
Monguno also revealed that the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the entire intelligence community had discovered that the improvised explosive devices (EIDs) deployed by terrorists for their bombing campaigns were developed mainly from certain grades of fertilizer with particular reference to some nitrate based types including urea nitrate (synthesized from urea).
He explained that it was the discovery
that the indiscriminate importation of urea nitrate by all and sundry,
resulting in lack of control and ease in its availability to the
terrorists, militants and other mischievous elements for use to
perpetuate acts of violence that necessitated the licensing of only the
two companies (Indorama and Notore) by the federal government to operate
in the country.
He also noted that ONSA and the Ministry
of Agriculture and Rural Development facilitated the necessary
importation of raw materials and also secured distribution networks,
which was “aimed at solving the national security problem, on the one
hand, by easing control of the items, and on the other hand, boosting
the economy by encouraging local production”.
Against this backdrop, Monguno said that
the cumulative annual production of the two companies was estimated at
2.05 million metric tonnes, while Nigeria’s estimated consumption rate
is 1.1 million metric tonnes, which is 53 percent of production and
“opportunity to cumulatively export about 47 percent of their
production”.
Monguno, however, noted that ONSA “has observed with total dismay some unpatriotic acts and abuse of the goodwill of government”, saying that “reports of activities of these companies have indicated that about 71 percent of the 2.05 million tonnes cumulative annual production is being exported at the detriment of our national economy”.
Monguno, however, noted that ONSA “has observed with total dismay some unpatriotic acts and abuse of the goodwill of government”, saying that “reports of activities of these companies have indicated that about 71 percent of the 2.05 million tonnes cumulative annual production is being exported at the detriment of our national economy”.
According to him, this has resulted in a
spike in the price of urea-based fertilizer in Nigeria with obvious
implications on food security in the country.
“In view of the foregoing, I wish to
categorically state that government will continue to adhere to the rule
of law. However, it must be noted that the rule of law is not akin to
anarchy.
“Accordingly, this office will not hesitate to close and withdraw the operating license of any company that exports products without first meeting local consumption.
“Accordingly, this office will not hesitate to close and withdraw the operating license of any company that exports products without first meeting local consumption.
“This office and the Ministry (of
Agriculture) will work to put in place measures to access production and
determine exportable quantity by the respective companies.
“Please note that the well being of this country is the collective responsibility of all,” he said.
In the a related development, Monguno disclosed that ONSA has investigated the incessant bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta and discovered that commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks.
In the a related development, Monguno disclosed that ONSA has investigated the incessant bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta and discovered that commercial explosives and accessories were used for the attacks.
He said that the resultant investigation
and detailed audit of the records of explosives magazines and quarries
in the region revealed “the diversion of about 9,000kg of high
explosives (Nitro-glycerine) and 16,420 pieces of detonators for illegal
use between 2015 and 2016”.
He revealed that the actors, including
the store man of a major explosives distribution company in Nigeria, an
accomplice and five security operatives had been arrested and handed
over to the appropriate authorities. However, he did not divulge the
name of the explosives distribution firm.
“Right now, investigations are being
conducted and I can assure you that they are deeply culpable and
necessary action will be taken on the conclusion of these
investigations,” he said.
The NSA however assured Nigerians that
the administration was committed to the well being, safety and security
of the Nigerian citizenry and urged the public and business community to
go about their businesses in accordance to laid down rules of law.
“Let me also reiterate that any
individual or company that operates outside the confines of legitimacy
or illegality will have itself to blame and we also want to add that the
government of the day will not listen to any influence peddler in the
society on behalf of any company that decides to sabotage national
security,” he warned.
Shortly after Monguno’s meeting with the
representatives of Indorama and Notore, the Ministry of Solid Minerals
Development blacklisted and withdrew the licence of the Nigerian
Development and Construction Company (NDCC), an importer and vendor of
explosives in Koko, Delta State, for allegedly diverting the explosive
devices.
The Minister of Solid Minerals
Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who gave the blacklisting order said the
company’s business premises should immediately be sealed off, in
addition to the withdrawal of its explosive distribution licence.
The action by the government followed the
outcome of investigations by the ONSA, which revealed that the company
was involved in the illegal diversion of about 9,000 kilogramme of
Nitro-glycerine explosives and 16,420 pieces of electrical detonators
from its magazines between 2015 and 2016.
A statement from the minister’s office
warned manufacturers, importers, sellers and end users of explosives in
the country to desist from unprofessional activities, including the
sale, procurement, storage and use of explosives in line with the
provisions of the Explosives Act of 1964, the Explosives Regulations of
1967 and other extant policy directives.
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