“The products we use today are being imported and we have refineries that are not working.”
The Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, have insisted that Nigeria has no reason to import petrol with its cost implications on the economy. He therefore urged the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to work towards revitalising the nation’s refineries.
Oborevwori made the call the on Tuesday while receiving the National Executive Committee of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers led by the National President, Mr Williams Akporeha, at the Government House, Asaba.
The governor said there was no justification for an oil-producing nation with four refineries to resort to fuel importation for its local consumption.
He said, “I am happy that NUPENG has been in this struggle for years and I congratulate you for the struggle for a more efficient and people-oriented oil and gas sector and I celebrate you because you are a critical stakeholder in the Nigeria project.
“A lot of things have been happening. For years, our refineries have been down and nobody talks about how we can put our refineries to use; instead, we are importing petroleum products.
“This is also biting on the economy of this country. Look at the prices of things which have gone up because we are not producing. If we were producing, we wouldn’t have these challenges.
“The products we use today are being imported and we have refineries that are not working.
“I have promised Deltans in my M.O.R.E agenda that infrastructure is there too. As you now know, most of the projects just awarded in Warri will favour NUPENG because, without good roads, you can’t lift your products.”
He concluded.
