Yemi Obafemi
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pledged to revive Nigeria’s refineries, saying the facilities will not be allowed to remain idle despite the challenges that have affected their operations over the years.
Tinubu made the commitment on Thursday in Abuja when he received the national executive of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), led by its National President, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, at the State House.
The President said the government would adopt a research-driven and structured approach to addressing the operational, financial, technical and managerial problems confronting the refineries.
“The refineries that you mentioned are going to come back to work; we’re just building a very firm, resetting, and structural reworking of the economy of it. Ordinary flame and smoke of a refinery doesn’t mean that it’s working until it’s profitable and yields the value for which it is built.”
Tinubu said detailed research and technical assessments would be undertaken to determine the challenges facing the facilities and develop sustainable solutions.
“I’m not a man who goes looking back on everything because I’ve accepted the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. No matter what has happened in the years past, it’s now my responsibility as president to fix it and make it work for the greatest common good of our population. I take responsibility for that, and we will do it.”
He also called for collective commitment to democracy, assuring Nigerians that the government’s reform efforts would ultimately lead to a better country.
“I will just appeal to all of you to let us work diligently and passionately on this democracy. Democracy is about celebration of freedom and opportunity that must be cherished by all of us, just like a painful childbirth, but the joy is everlasting and long. And I promise you, you will enjoy a better Nigeria,” the President said.
On local government autonomy, Tinubu said constitutional matters surrounding its implementation were being reviewed, with the possibility of fine-tuning the existing framework.
The President also paid tribute to the late former NUPENG leader, Frank Kokori, recalling his contribution to Nigeria’s democratic struggle.
“You brought good memories of my relationship with Frank Kokori; may his soul rest in peace. We struggled for this democratic dispensation together, and it was very tough for us to have this democracy, and you have been a very good partner of the government in progress,” he said.
Tinubu further promised greater involvement for NUPENG in the implementation of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), while challenging the union to ensure the benefits of the programme reach commuters.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended NUPENG for recognising what he described as positive outcomes of the administration’s reforms.
He said the acknowledgement by the union was significant, particularly because of NUPENG’s influence within the labour movement and the petroleum sector.
The NUPENG President, Oladiti, commended Tinubu for removing the fuel subsidy, describing the decision as a bold move that had helped reduce financial pressure on the country and free resources for other areas of development.
Oladiti also praised the administration’s investment in federal road infrastructure, particularly the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
“For our members, a good road is the difference between arriving home safely and never arriving at all. Every stretch of highway rehabilitated or constructed means fewer accidents, fewer spillages, fewer lives lost, and less stress for the men behind the wheels. Mr President, that is a reform our members feel in their bones, and for it we say thank you because our tanker drivers and other road users are already seeing the benefits of the rehabilitation and construction of federal highways,” he said.
He, however, urged the Federal Government to sustain efforts to restore the country’s refineries, saying functional facilities would improve energy security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and create more opportunities for Nigerian workers.
The NUPENG delegation later decorated President Tinubu as the Grand Patron of the union.
