President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed his administration’s determination to fix the nation’s ailing refineries.
He gave the pledge on Thursday when he met with the leadership of the umbrella body of junior workers in the oil and gas industry, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).
The Executive President of the Union, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, led his members to the meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He also appealed for the rescucitation of the Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) depots across the country which he noted are in a state of decay.
He equally commended President Tinubu’s efforts to fix federal highways.
He said:”We’ve seen real progress in the rehabilitation of federal highways, making journeys safer for our tanker drivers.
must not fail to mention the ongoing, unprecedented projects, 750- kilometer, six lane Lagos-Coastal
Highway and the 1,068- kilometer Sokoto- Badagry Superhighway that will traverse seven states in the
country.
“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 lesser stress for the men behind the wheel. Mr. President, that is a reform our
members feel in their bones, and for it we say thank you.”
In his response, President Tinubu reaffirmed his commitment to put the nation’s refineries in good shape.
He said: “The refineries that you mentioned is going to come back to work. We’re just building a very firm reset and structural reworking of the economic of it. Ordinary flame and smoke of refinery doesn’t mean that it’s working until it’s profitable and yield the value for which it is built.
Tinubu, who thanked the leadership of NUPENG for appreciating his efforts to put federal highways in good shape, also assured that he would look into their request to be accommodated as beneficiary of the Compressed Natural Gas scheme.
He however pleaded with the Union to ensure that ordinary Nigerians benefit from the alternative fuel initiative.
“Yes, the economy is not a child’s play. It’s a system of financial reengineering and reset that you impress, and I want to thank you for the cooperation and collaboration, the understanding.
“But I’m glad you have seen the effect of being able to find funding for long-term projects; Lagos-Ibadan Road, Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Kano, and Sokoto-Badagri and the highways and many other road network, it’s all for the good of us and the good of our economy and the safety of our people.
“Equally, the introduction of compressed natural gas. Well, I will appeal to you, we will do more. We will encourage you, but ask your drivers to let it trickle to the commuters too, because whatever benefit that is coming from CNG is going to in the pocket of truck owners. It’s not spreading as fast as I would like it, but it should spread.”
President Tinubu, who thanked the Union for its sustained trust and partnership with his administration, assured that he would continue on the track of making life affordable for Nigerians to sustain democracy.
“Thank you for your inspiring words, you know, recognition of partnership and effort that you are doing, and I will just still appeal to all of you to let us work diligently and passionately on this democracy. You all work together with us to bring about the democracy, democracy is about celebration of freedom and opportunity that must be cherished by all of us.
“It’s not easy to manage a democratic regime, full of twists and turns, hill and valleys, and all of that. But it’s through perseverance, endurance, and good determination that we can bring about a relief of a newborn baby and a pregnancy, you see the joy of life. It is the motherhood is painful, but the joy is everlasting and I promise you, you will enjoy better Nigeria.”
