A civil Society organisation (CSO), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), has condemned recent destruction of a vessel containing stolen crude oil, saying it is rather shocking and unacceptable.
The environmental organisation noted that despite continuous outcry of environmental pollution, leaderships of Joint Task Force of the Nigerian Military and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) did not deem it fit to observe international best practice in discarding the vessel.
The group, in a statement, raised concerns over disregard for the environment and human lives, considering the manner the vessel was destroyed. It alleged that the incident also confirmed that Nigeria does not know the amount of crude oil that leaves the shores of the country daily.
The group faulted claims by the Joint Task Force that setting the rogue vessel ablaze would send a warning signal to those involved in oil theft. The organisation stated that the destruction of the vessel was an indication that authorities care little about the safety of people and the environment.
Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, pointed out that while the Niger Delta burns on account of gas flaring, oil spills and other forms of pollution, the burning of the seized oil vessels is adding insult to injury.