Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Chieftain, Sunny Onuesoke has called for the award of a contract for the maintenance and operation of the Warri refinery to oil and gas investors of Niger Delta descent.
His call follows the public notice by the Nigerian government seeking Operations and Maintenance (O&M) companies to bid for the Warri and Kaduna refineries by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL on its official X handle.
Despite the government outlining the qualifications of companies interested in bidding for the contracts, Onuesoke in a statement said the move will help ensure reliability and energy security for the country.
In a reaction to the public notice while responding to questions from Energy Corresponding on the sidelines of an oil and gas meeting in Lagos, the PDP Chieftain disclosed that if there is any consideration for an investor to manage and operate the Warri refinery, Niger Delta oil and gas investors should be giving both the first and second right of response and third right of choice before considering operators from any other region in the country or overseas.
“If there is any consideration at all, Niger Delta investors in oil and gas should be given the first right of response, second right of response and third right of choice before considering operators from any other region of the country or overseas.
“They should give priority to Niger Delta investors who are in the oil and gas sector because we have more capable men to handle the situation than any region in this country”.
He said his request is tenable because giving the offer to Niger Delta indigenes will reduce the cost of operation hence the investor will be close to the location of operation.
“I am saying this because it will reduce the cost of operation hence the investor will be close to the location of operation and have a close interface with what is happening”.
The former Delta State Gubernatorial Aspirant who requested that the search for a private operator demanded that the same thing be done with Kadthe una refinery by appointing Northern investors.
According to him, it is better for investors residing in the area where the refinery is located to handle it than bringing in foreigners to manage it.
