Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori encouraged the Federal Government and stakeholders to revive the nation’s refineries on Tuesday, saying Nigeria has no reason to import petrol with its economic costs.
Governor Oborevwori said this at Government House, Asaba, when he hosted the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) National Executive Committee led by National President Comrade Williams Akporeha.
He said an oil-producing nation with four refineries should not import petroleum for local consumption.
The Governor praised the President and union for their assistance during and after the general elections, calling NUPENG a key partner in the Nigerian project.
Governor Oborevwori stated, “I am delighted that NUPENG has been in this effort for years. I applaud you for your struggle for a more efficient and people-oriented oil and gas sector and celebrate you because you are a crucial stakeholder in the Nigeria
Many things have happened. Our refineries have been shut for years, and nobody thinks about using them; we import petroleum products.
This hurts this country’s economy. Look at the prices that have risen due to our lack of production. If we produced, these issues would disappear.
“Our products are imported and our refineries are broken.
In my M.O.R.E Agenda, I promised Deltans security is crucial. Infrastructure is present. Most of the Warri projects approved recently would favor NUPENG since good roads are needed to lift products.
“My Deputy Governor and the Honourable Minister of Works inspected the Benin/Warri and Amukpe/Agbor roads yesterday.
To assess road damage, the Minister of Works is also traveling the Ughelli/Patani/Bayelsa road today. Access is impossible without decent roads.
About 70% of the Ughelli-Asaba route has been dualized by the state. Without that road, we wouldn’t have reached the capital today. I am confident we will finish dualisation by this time next year.”
He praised NUPENG for its plan to create a talent acquisition center to teach state young oil and gas industry skills and vowed state support for the initiative.
“I am pleased with the skill acquisition and we will partner with you. We will work with the Ministry of Lands to acquire you development land. The government gives you land; you create the skill center.
As a youth-friendly governor, I appointed over 10 under-40s to my government. Thus, the skill acquisition hub is crucial”.
In Asaba, Comrade Akporeha said they were congratulating the Governor on his inauguration and 100-day accomplishments.
He stated that Delta is an investment destination at any time and asked the Governor to foster greater investment in the state.
The NUPENG boss thanked the Governor for his workers’ friendliness and asked the state government to fix the state’s dilapidated federal highways to fuel depots.
NUPENG aims to create a skill acquisition center in Warri to train state children, Akporeha stated.
