Tina Amanda
An oil and gas expert, Azubuike Azubuike, says for a successfully revamp of the nation’s refineries, government should include private partners to the design structures for efficient delivery.
Azubuike who is former PENGASSAN Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman, in an interview with our correspondent, suggested that the template used in running NLNG should be adopted where government takes its shares and private organisations manage its asset.
He maintained that it will be meaningless of purpose for it to wait for Dangote’s refinery to come on stream, knowing well it will be difficult to determine product price for a private entrepreneur.
“It will be necessary if we have these refineries fixed to produce our Premium motor spirit (PMS) and flood it in the market, it will help cushion some currency fluctuations we are experiencing in the importation of PMS into the country.
“Before now, there have been lots of turn around maintenance of the refineries, billions upon billions have been pumped in, making the masses have distrust in those occupying leadership positions. For once, let there be posterity of purpose to revamp our refineries for good.
“Government should bring in private partners, let government have their shares, let them draw a line on how to manage and run it. It is not also advisable selling our refineries at a give away price, because we may regret it tomorrow, let them duplicate same thing that was done in NLNG.
“Government is a continuity, what happens in the next two to three years, what becomes our market share when Dangote’s refinery has taken over, our refineries should have been revamped the moment this government came on board.”
He noted that the state of the nation’s right now is at the point where the masses have lost confidence in n their leaders as a result of economic hardship which could be mended by g the overnment doing the right thing and revamp the nation’s refineries.
Azubuike further urged the public to stop killing themselves over political parties, but hold political leaders accountable with their campaign promises, adding that this present administration promised Nigerians one year, one refinery.
“For me it all about trust and the populace no longer has trust on politicians again, that is why we keep asking questions upon questions. What matters is posterity of purpose, it’s not a question of belonging to a political party, but let the people begin to hold political leaders accountable to their campaign promises.
“Is not about releasing money and there is no posterity of purpose, this administration promised us one refinery every year, yet they have not been able to revamp one refinery out of the four refineries in the country. 2023 is coming, let everyone go get his or her PVC if you are not tired of this kind of leadership, then we will continue to suffer.”
