Monday, January 6, 2025 - Petroleum marketers under the aegis of Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, have urged the Nigerian government to sell the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
PETROAN disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, January 4
titled, ‘Retrospect of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Downstream Sector in 2024′, signed
by its National President, Billy Gillis-Harry; Secretary, Adedibu Aderibegbe;
and spokesperson, Joseph Obele.
According to the marketers, privatisation of the 125,000 barrels per day
Warri Refinery and 110,000 barrels per day Kaduna Refinery would improve their
efficiency and reduce government spending.
“Based on PETROAN’s observations, the following recommendations
are made to Ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the downstream sector in
2025:
“Privatisation of Nigerian-Owned Refineries_: Privatise Nigerian-owned
refineries, such as the Warri and Kaduna refineries, to reputable private
companies to improve efficiency and reduce government spending.
“Meanwhile, PETROAN calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s
administration to consider its request for N100 billion in intervention funds
to prevent filling stations from shutting down over the harsh economic
realities.
“PETROAN request for a grant of N100 billion from President Bola Tinubu
to help prevent the closure of 10,000 marketers’ businesses. The request is in
response to the threat of job losses that would result from the removal of the
fuel subsidy,” the statement reads.
PETROAN’s advice comes amid a claim by former President Olusegun
Obasanjo that NNPCL rejected Dangote’s offer to manage Port Harcourt and Kaduna
refineries in 2007.
This comes as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL,
announced that Warri Refinery has resumed operation after rehabilitation.
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