The Independent Marketers branch of the National Union of Petroleum Marketers and Natural Gas Workers has urged President Bola Tinubu and the management of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited to accelerate efforts towards reviving the country’s refineries.
Comrade Oluleye Olayemi, the chairman of this branch, made this plea on Friday during a press conference after his re-election for a second term. Oluleye emphasized that refurbishing the refineries would alleviate the challenges faced by citizens due to fuel subsidy removal.
He, however, disagreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who had suggested that the nation’s refineries might never become operational again, finding Obasanjo’s statement disheartening. Oluleye maintained that, despite potential corruption issues in the system, with political determination and sincerity, the government could indeed revitalize the refineries.
He said: “The branch is in support of the position of the Nigerian Labour and NUPENG National Executive Council on the deregulation policy of the oil and gas industry.
“While the subsidy removal can be said to be the right decision, the timing could have been deferred till the refineries become functional.
“The government should have built refineries in phases across the oil-producing states and gradually remove the subsidy. We are badly affected by deregulation. We appeal to the government that they should expedite action on the refineries’ turnaround and maintenance of our refineries.
“We are badly affected as many marketers are not loading and that affected our members who could not attend. Without renovation of the depot, many people will be jobless.”
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