Delta State governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has urged the federal government to expedite action in revitalising the nation’s refineries.
Governor Oborevwori stated this when he received the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Turnaround Maintenance of Nigerian Refineries led by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah at Government House, Asaba, saying making refineries in Nigeria work again would save the nation foreign exchange from fuel importation.
The governor said that when the nation stops importation of petroleum products there would be less pressure on the naira against the dollar.
“I have the full confidence that this Ad-hoc committee will do a very good job. I want to say it here that this assignment is not a jamboree; it is an assignment with seriousness and I believe that with your oversight function, the right thing is done.
“When our refineries are put in place. When this is done, the issue of fuel importation will be a thing of the past because it is causing us a lot and we are having challenges with forex.
“So, if our refineries are working and things are going very well, it will also boost the economy of this country. I want to assure you of our support in Delta State. Any support you need to aid your oversight work, we are going to give you in Delta.”
Earlier, Senator Ubah said the Ad-hoc committee was in the state on oversight function to turnaround the nation’s refineries.
“We are here to look into the rehabilitation of our refineries, the issues surrounding crude oil theft, how we can maximise the output of our country’s crude oil and also how we can support issues that have to do with upstream, downstream, Niger Delta affairs and host communities of Niger Delta.
“So, it is a holistic committee. As a tradition of the Senate, we felt that we must come to pay homage to you the Executive Governor. We were with the Governor of Rivers State few days ago and we are glad that you gave us the opportunity to come and see you,” he stated.
He said the nation’s refineries would come on stream before the end of 2024.
He promised to give those managing the refineries close monitoring to make sure that all the targets are met.
On oil theft, Ubah said, “We are going to set up a public hearing, the portal will be opened next week and we will have our inaugural launch in Rivers State; from there we will come to Delta State and visit all the states in the Niger Delta.”
