FG Accuses Fertilizer Companies Of Economic Sabotage

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The federal government has threatened to withdraw the licenses of two local fertilizer manufacturing companies over alleged economic sabotage.

This comes as the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mr Babagana Monguno, has confirmed the arrest of a store manager and five other employees of an explosives distribution company alleged to be suppliers of explosives to the Niger Delta militants.

He was speaking at a meeting with manufacturers of fertilizer in Abuja and confirmed the use of commercial explosives in the attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta.

“This office has conducted investigations into the incessant bombing of oil facilities in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and discovered that commercial explosives and accessories were used for these attacks.

“Based on these facts, I have directed our explosives experts based in the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) to conduct further investigations and a detailed audit of the records of explosives, magazines and quarries in that region,” he said.

The investigations, according to Monguno, revealed that over 9,000kg of high explosives and 16,420 pieces of electrical detonators have been used by the militants.

Regarding the role of the fertilizer manufacturing companies, the NSA said, “The Office of the National Security Adviser has observed with total dismay and disappointment some unpatriotic acts and abuse of the goodwill of the federal government of Nigeria.

“Reports of the activities of these two companies have indicated that about 71% of the 2.05 million metric tonnes cumulative annual production is being exported to the detriment of our national economy.

“This has resulted in a spike in the price of the urea-based fertilizers in Nigeria with obvious implications on food security in the country.”

The incessant bombings by the Niger Delta militants and Boko Haram militants have caused both economic losses and loses of human lives in the country.

This, over time, has drawn concerns from the local and international community, looking for ways of ending the attacks.

The warning from the National Security Adviser was clear; the Nigerian government will not compromise in the provision of adequate security for its people.