Prof, I agree with your position that Nigeria has thrown away several opportunities to develop itself. However, I think using that argument as a basis for illegal refineries is flawed in two ways:
1. How do these refineries get their raw materials? Largely vandalism and stealing of national assets
2. Petroleum products have specifications and are standardized to ensure safe processing and consumption. Is this guaranteed in these refineries? Most of the people that consume these products are uninformed of the harm it causes to people, the environment and their vehicles