Tinubu to NUPENG: Nigeria’s Refineries Will Be Back and Functional
By Victor Idajil
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has promised the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers that Nigeria’s refineries will soon resume operations after years of inactivity.
He gave the assurance on Thursday while meeting with NUPENG’s leadership at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Addressing concerns raised by the union, the President said fire and smoke at a refinery do not automatically mean it is performing well. What matters, he said, is that the facilities run profitably and deliver real value to Nigerians.
“The refineries that you mentioned are going to come back to work,” Tinubu stated.
He added that he has taken responsibility for Nigeria’s assets and liabilities, and will not shift blame to previous administrations.
“I’m not a man who will go there, come back and say everything is fine because I’ve accepted the assets and liabilities of my predecessors.
No matter what has happened in the years past, it’s my responsibility now as the president to fix it, make it work for the largest common value of our population. I take responsibility for that, and I’m going to do it,” he said.
The President also defended his economic policies, saying the consistent payment of salaries across federal, state and local governments is already boosting businesses and supporting families.
He disclosed that funding has been secured for major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Kano and Sokoto-Badagry roads.
Tinubu further urged NUPENG to push for wider access to Compressed Natural Gas for commuters, noting that the impact of the CNG initiative has not spread fast enough.
Earlier in his remarks, NUPENG President, Comrade Salimon Oladiti, lamented the continued casualisation of workers in the upstream oil and gas sector despite repeated talks with company management.
He said NUPENG and PENGASSAN have avoided strike action because of its economic consequences, but asked the President to intervene directly.
“Mr President, we urge you to use your good offices to stop casualisation of workers in our sector,” Oladiti appealed.
The union leader also commended the government’s road rehabilitation programme and the partnership with Chinese firms to revive the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries.
He called for similar intervention in the country’s rundown petroleum depots, proposing that they be concessioned to private investors under an equity arrangement.
