ASABA/Nigeria: Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, issued a passionate call to action for the Federal Government and relevant stakeholders to prioritize the revitalization of the nation’s refineries.
He stated this during a meeting with the National Executive Committee of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG),
The governor emphasized that Nigeria, as an oil-producing nation with four refineries, should not be resorting to fuel imports, given the adverse economic implications.
Governor Oborevwori made these remarks during a visit by the NUPENG delegation, led by the National President, Comrade Williams Akporeha, to the Government House in Asaba. He commended NUPENG as a crucial stakeholder in the Nigerian project and expressed gratitude for the support provided by the union during and after the general elections.
Highlighting the pressing issue of non-functional refineries, Governor Oborevwori stated, “A lot of things have been happening. For years, our refineries have been down, and nobody talks about how we can put our refineries to use; instead, we are importing petroleum products. This is also biting on the economy of this country. Look at the prices of things which have gone up because we are not producing. If we were producing, we won’t have these challenges. The products we use today are being imported, and we have refineries that are not working.”
The governor further elaborated on his commitment to infrastructure development, particularly road networks critical for the petroleum industry. He noted, “Without good roads, you can’t lift your products.” He cited ongoing projects and inspections of key roadways to improve accessibility for the oil and gas sector.
Governor Oborevwori applauded NUPENG’s intention to establish a skill acquisition center to empower youths in the state with industry-relevant skills. He pledged the state’s collaboration and support for the success of this project, affirming, “As a youth-friendly governor, I appointed over 10 youths below 40 years into my government. So, the skill acquisition center is very important.”
Earlier in the meeting, Comrade Akporeha congratulated Governor Oborevwori on his assumption of office and praised his achievements during his first 100 days in office. He highlighted Delta State as an attractive investment destination and urged the governor to foster an enabling environment for more investors to come and invest in the state.
Akporeha also appealed for the state government’s assistance in rehabilitating the dilapidated federal roads leading to fuel depots in the state and disclosed NUPENG’s plans to build a skill acquisition center in Warri to train local youths.
