…Competition, level playing field will force down pump price
The National Chairman of Domestic Refinery owners Association of Nigeria otherwise known as Artisanal oil Refiners, Mr. Godwin Sunday, over the weekend called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to grant the body approval to carry out refinery activities since the removal of fuel subsidy even as he said that such competitiveness will address the
lingering crisis bedeviling the sector.
The Chairman made the disclosure at the stakeholders meeting jointly organized with the Office of the Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari on Nigeria Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who was unavoidable absent and host of Civil Society organizations CSOs in attendance.
While applauding President Buhari, for removing the subsidy, he said: ‘’These is one of the greatest achievements which Nigerians are yet to align with its benefits in term of economic stability. We, therefore, urge the federal government to open up the oil and gas industry to avoid certain individual setting up monopoly at the detriment of Nigerians.
For peace and security to prevail in the region, the Chairman acknowledged that the group came of the creeks to dialogue with government on its readiness to be integrated into the mainstream and thereby add value to the petroleum sector, adding that the action was applauded by the PTDF NNPC.
According to Mr. Sunday, NNPC boss commended the body for the breakthrough assuring that NNPC and the federal government will guarantee the association the needed facility to commence the project.
He said: Our humble appeal is based on those promises and that the federal government through the Vice President during the stakeholders’ meeting in Niger Delta. Secondly considering the devastating effect on our environment which is leading to environmental pollution, degradation and even negative effect on our ecosystem. We also as a people have unanimously agreed that we cannot continue to steal what we have.’’
The Chairman urged that as a matter of urgency, a presidential committee be set up to look into the activities and the demands of the artisanal oil refiners in the region, stressing that approval be given for the establishment of modular refineries of 10 units of one thousand barrels daily across different locations in the oil-producing states.
According to him, the government should provide guarantee of $15 million per refinery, adding that the flag-off exercise of the implementation should be implemented without delay.