Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has called upon the Federal Government and key stakeholders to collaborate in the effort to rejuvenate the country’s refineries, emphasising that Nigeria should not need to import petroleum citing the economic toll.
This statement was made by Oborevwori on a Tuesday during a meeting at the Government House in Asaba with the National Executive Committee of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, with Mr. Williams Akporeha serving as their National President.
The governor pointed out that it makes no sense for an oil-producing country with four refineries to opt for importing fuel for its local demand.
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.’
Read more: Owed Pensions: Delta Assembly Okays Oborevwori’s ₦40bn Loan
‘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.’
Earlier, Akporeha mentioned that their purpose for being in Asaba was to congratulate the governor on his inauguration and to recognise his commendable accomplishments within the first 100 days of his tenure.
He stressed that Delta is a top choice for investments regardless of the time and urged the governor to create the necessary conditions for more investors to consider the state.
He called on the state government to lend its support in the effort to restore the poor condition of the federal roads leading to the state’s fuel depots.