Illegal Refinery Uncovered In Gombe

Post created on 9:48 am

An illegal refinery was discovered in Gombe State by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps Command in the state on Thursday.

According to Commandant Muhammad Muazu, the suspect was arrested at the Federal low-cost area where he produces gasoline.

Parading the suspect, Muazu said his arrest was made possible following complaints from residents due to the hazardous substance emitted into the environment.

He said, “The illegal refinery is situated within Gombe metropolis. There is what they are illegally producing which is gas, we had the intelligence for weeks and we have been following only yesterday God helped our men to move to arrest the perpetrators.

“The community members reported the odour emanating from the area and we kept monitoring until now. Whatever the place is called it is harmful to the health and environment of the area.”

While narrating his part, the Managing Director of the refinery, Abubakar Aliyu, said the establishment is not a refinery but a pyrolysis.

He disclosed that he did not know a SON registration is required as he uses tyres, nylon, coal and many others as raw materials.

44-year-old Aliyu told PUNCH Online that he established the pyrolysis shortly after attending a workshop in Abuja, stressing that, “When I learnt of the hazard I went to buy land outside of the residential area. I didn’t know we required a registration from SON but I was about to get clearance from Ministry of Environment.”

Explaining further Aliyu said, “Since my childhood, I knew how to create things like cars. I don’t build it myself I call builders who give me what I want I studied Agricultural Engineering, and before now I have been in Telecommunications selling recharge cards and phones. I only started this business three weeks ago.”

Some residents who pleaded anonymity said the odour from the refinery polluted the environment, adding that the owner was adamant about the health implications to children and the aged.

[Punch/SA]