(Ecofin Agency) - The President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari has been urged by the Oil Producing Area Association of Nigeria, (OPAAN) to legalize illegal refineries rather than putting an end to their operations in which is capable of boosting local refining capacity and the economy.

The association stated that while Nigeria could not meet up with the internal consumption of petroleum products, it is however engaging in the destruction of local refineries simply because there is no legal framework for such production in the country.

 “If legal framework was put in place through which Nigerians could incorporate business outfits for the production of diesel and other petroleum products with mini refineries, it would create job opportunities for Nigerian teeming youths, increase the country gross domestic products, GDP, reduce criminality and crude oil theft in the country” Chief Obiuwevbi Ominimini the president of the group declared in a statement.

The statement further proved that the destruction of the refineries did not and will not assist in the growth of the Nigerian economy, emphasizing on the need for it to be legalized in order to make it more meaningful to the indigenes of oil and gas producing areas of Nigeria.