The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers on Monday
called for the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries to end the
recurring scarcity of petrol in the country.
The petroleum workers described as “ridiculous that for the past
15 years now, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had been
spending billions of dollars on Turn Around Maintenance of the
refineries with nothing to show for it”.
Mr Tayo Aboyeji, the South-West Chairman of the union, who made
the call in an interview, said, “It is disheartening to know that
despite the fact that the nation is a major producer of crude oil,
it cannot refine the product for its local consumption.
“It is ridiculous that for the past 15 years now, Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation had been spending billions of
dollars on Turn Around Maintenance of the refineries with nothing
to show for it.
“If all our four refineries are producing at their maximum
output, the country will not be spending billion of naira on
importation of refined product.
“This is the right time for our refineries to work, the Federal
Government should as a matter of urgency fix the refineries now,”
he said.
The chairman urged the NNPC to increase the supply of petrol to
depots in order to reduce the scarcity nationwide.
According to Aboyeji, it is not yet time for total deregulation
of the sector. He advised the government to reduce import duty and
provide waivers to oil companies to import the product.
On petrol stations selling above the official pump price,
Aboyeji urged the Department of Petroleum Resources to investigate
properly before sealing such stations.
“To me, it is not all about the pump price; it is about where
they are getting the product and how much they are getting it.
“Are these private depots selling above the ex-depot price of
N133.28?
“Since DPR started the sealing of petrol stations that are
selling above official pump price, we have not seen them asking
questions in private depots how much they are selling to
marketers.
“Oil marketers are in business to make money; they cannot get
petrol at higher price and sell at lower price.
“It is the responsibility of DPR to find out the source of where
the marketers are getting the product before sealing the stations,”
he said. (NAN)
The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers on Monday
called for the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries to end the
recurring scarcity of petrol in the country.
The petroleum workers described as “ridiculous that for the past
15 years now, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation had been
spending billions of dollars on Turn Around Maintenance of the
refineries with nothing to show for it”.
Mr Tayo Aboyeji, the South-West Chairman of the union, who made
the call in an interview, said, “It is disheartening to know that
despite the fact that the nation is a major producer of crude oil,
it cannot refine the product for its local consumption.
“It is ridiculous that for the past 15 years now, Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation had been spending billions of
dollars on Turn Around Maintenance of the refineries with nothing
to show for it.
“If all our four refineries are producing at their maximum
output, the country will not be spending billion of naira on
importation of refined product.
“This is the right time for our refineries to work, the Federal
Government should as a matter of urgency fix the refineries now,”
he said.
The chairman urged the NNPC to increase the supply of petrol to
depots in order to reduce the scarcity nationwide.
According to Aboyeji, it is not yet time for total deregulation
of the sector. He advised the government to reduce import duty and
provide waivers to oil companies to import the product.
On petrol stations selling above the official pump price,
Aboyeji urged the Department of Petroleum Resources to investigate
properly before sealing such stations.
“To me, it is not all about the pump price; it is about where
they are getting the product and how much they are getting it.
“Are these private depots selling above the ex-depot price of
N133.28?
“Since DPR started the sealing of petrol stations that are
selling above official pump price, we have not seen them asking
questions in private depots how much they are selling to
marketers.
“Oil marketers are in business to make money; they cannot get
petrol at higher price and sell at lower price.
“It is the responsibility of DPR to find out the source of where
the marketers are getting the product before sealing the stations,”
he said. (NAN)