The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria has expressed optimism that local refining will reduce the current price of petroleum products in the country.
The Port-Harcourt Zonal Secretary, Nnanna Okeke, said this on Tuesday in Uyo, while speaking with newsmen during the opening of a three-day retreat organised for the executive leaders of the zone by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board in conjunction with Facilitation and Training Services Limited.
He said the Federal Government has assured them that the Port Harcourt Refinery would start working by December, adding that fixing the local refineries and providing palliatives were among the things the association put forward as measures to mitigate the effects of the removal of subsidy on fuel.
He said, “As an association, we are not against fuel subsidy removal. But we requested that if it must be removed, certain measures need to be put in place to mitigate the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the citizens.
“We requested that palliative measures be provided and that the transportation system be improved because workers have to go to work. Another thing we requested is let’s make our refineries work.
“By doing so, we will reduce our dependence on importation of the petroleum products. The Federal Government has assured us that by December the Port Harcourt Refinery will start working.
“So, we believe that when we start refining locally, definitely that will reduce the price of fuel. Those were among the things we put forward. We sympathise with the masses because this is something that is affecting everybody,”
On what the association would do if the refineries do not start working by December, Okeke said, “We will go back and restrategise. our leadership at the national level told us that the Federal Government said it would deliver on its promise, so for now, let’s give the government the benefit of the doubt.”
The Chief Executive Officer for Facilitation and Training Services Limited, Mr Olumide Ajomale, said the NCDMB has deemed it fit to provide a platform for the zonal Executives of PENGASSAN to go through this programme to specifically enrich and strengthen their leadership skills.
He said, “It is an opportunity for the officers to come together and learn about contemporary issues in leadership, on how to improve communication skills. We are also going to delve into areas around Employment laws, and industrial relations in the Oil and Gas industry.
“So this is a platform to deepen skills and ensure that they leave here better. Considering that these are union leaders, in the Oil and Gas sector when you have better-informed people, with the relevant skills they can manage things more effectively.
“And when we talk about managing things more effectively, they can get better results. So the retreat is useful for them in their various organizations, how to manage the resources available. And because the world is changing continuous learning is required for our survival.”