On Thursday, November 30, authorities from the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and security personnel discovered an illicit oil refining facility in Mabushi, situated opposite the Mobile filling station on Ahmadu Bello way in Abuja.
The Director of the Department of Development Control, FCTA, Mukhtar Galadima, after the operation said the illegal refining site was discovered during the continuation of the city cleaning exercise.
According to him, about three to four plots of land designated for commercial purposes have been converted to an area where oil and diesel are being adulterated and circulated to other parts of the city.
Galadima explained that the city sanitation task force will look into the provision of the law and make necessary recommendations to the FCT Administration for further actions on the plots used for the activity.
Though there was no arrest, the items used in carrying out the illegal refining have been impounded.
Galadima said: “During the continuation of our city sanitation exercise in Mabushi opposite the 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.
“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.”
He said the administration will continue to go tough on activities being carried out without government approval, especially revocation of the titles.
