The National Association of Nigerian Students’ leadership is pushing for the Federal Government to address and rehabilitate the nation’s refineries, seeking to bring an end to fuel importation.
NANS voiced concern about the sustained fuel importation under President Bola Tinubu, highlighting the damaging effects on the economy and the intensification of the existing forex crisis.
The student’s leadership stressed the urgency for President Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to take decisive actions in addressing the issues with the country’s refineries. They insist that only through this can Nigeria achieve self-sufficiency in oil production.
Elvis Ekundina, the Senate President of NANS, revealed in a statement that Nigeria’s rapid economic growth is at risk if the country persists in importing petroleum products from foreign nations.
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Reiterating their stance, the association insisted that the Federal government needs to address the current energy crisis caused by a substantial petrol shortage in the Nigerian market. They underscored the importance of repairing the country’s refineries and ensuring they function at optimal capacity.
According to NANS, the country’s refineries, when effectively and efficiently running, can produce enough petroleum products to meet the country’s daily consumption.
Ekundina argued that Nigeria, as an oil-producing country, need not continue to import fuel if all the nation’s refineries are working at optimal capacity.
‘It is our belief that refurbishing and recommissioning our faulty refineries to optimal production level will resolve the nation’s energy crisis.’
‘This will also resolve the challenges the country is having with foreign exchange and the worsening naira crisis.’
‘When we are able to repair our refineries and put them back to good use, Nigeria’s problem with fuel insufficiency and pricing will be resolved.’
‘It is good to have our refineries fully working alongside the Dangote refinery as this will ultimately make Nigeria a net exporter of refined petroleum products and this will also allow for stability in fuel prices,’ he said.