FCTA Discovers Illegal Oil Refining Site in Abuja

Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja

Officials of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and security agencies yesterday uncovered an illegal oil refining warehouse in Mabushi, Abuja.
The Director, Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima said during the operation that the illegal refining site located at a Mobile filling station on Ahmadu Bello Way was  discovered during routine city cleaning exercise.

While no arrest was made during the exercise, it was discovered that about three to four plot of lands designated for commercial purposes had been converted to a facility where oil and diesel were adulterated and distributed to other parts of the city.
Galadima vowed that the FCT sanitation task force would consider the provisions of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT administration for further actions on the plots used for the covert activity.

He said all the items used in carrying out the illegal refining had been impounded.
“During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite Mobile filling station on Ahmadu Way, we discovered an illegal refining site where oil and diesel are being adulterated. We have done the needful by moving the items to Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

“From what we have seen so far, about three or four plots of lands designated for commercial purposes have been converted to unapproved activities, which we believe the owners are fully aware, there will be consequences.

“We are going to look at the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration,” Galadima said.
He also vowed uncompromising stance of the FCT administration, including revocation of titles against activities being carried out without government approval on any plot of land.

Also speaking, Head, operations FCT Directorate of Road Traffic Service (DRTS), Deborah Osho, said the city management team during the exercise also discovered that most of the areas in the city had been converted to illegal car mart and motor parks.

She said that 15 vehicles had so far been impounded since the operation commenced about two days ago.