… TUC, NLC, ‘Toothless Bulldogs’
By Mandy Tina
A leading member of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Dr Joseph Obele, says the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery failed under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration due to lack of funding and commitment.
Obele who is also an Energy expert claimed that President Buhari, and his minister of state for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva were benefiting from buying at the international market at the detriment of the nation owned refineries.
Speaking on the threat made by NLC and TUC for the Port Harcourt refinery to commence operations by latest March ending 2024, he said it’s an empty threat, while describing the unions as toothless bulldogs.
“Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade union Congress are toothless bulldogs. Nigerians don’t trust them anymore.
“All stakeholders were on a table discussing how to successfully end the subsidy regime. On that table, all the stakeholders actually supported the removal of fuel subsidy, but the caveat was when the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operations.
“Where was NLC and TUC on May 29th when Mr President said subsidy is gone? They did nothing. The threat that Port Harcourt refinery should commence operations before March ending is an empty threat.
“The truth of the matter is the fact that, the rehabilitation under President Buhari and Tmipre Sylva as Minister of Petroleum actually suffered from funding and lack of commitment because they were benefiting from buying at the international market at the detriment of our nation owned refineries”.
He further expressed hope that in no distant time the Port Harcourt refinery will commence operations given the speed at which work is ongoing at the rehabilitation site.
“The ongoing Port Harcourt refinery rehabilitation actually witnessed a true commitment and full funding under the administration of President Tinubu and Heineken Lokpobiri as minister of state for Petroleum.
“The commitment is with passion and speed compared to the last administration. Work at the ongoing rehabilitation site is serious at the stage of installation and technical level.
“I will advise we do not push the contractor to another political commencement of the plant by lighting up the flame and putting it off after few hours later like the one of December last year.
“From all indications, the plant will commence sincere production by March ending or mid April 2024”.
The Energy expert also pointed out that the current fuel scarcity across the nation is caused by importation of PMS at a high.
“Regarding the present fuel scarcity, it was occasioned by huge cost of importing PMS from the international market.
“It is obvious that Federal Government is still paying for fuel subsidy as exposed by international monetary body. Because NNPC as the sole importer can not be buying PMS over #1,000 and sell less than #700 per litre.
“Landing cost of PMS at the moment is about #1,100 per litre because of the rate of foreign exchange.
“Regarding the delay of the commencement of Dangote refinery, there are a lot of speculations and stakeholders don’t know what to believe anymore. Although they told us that it was documentation bottlenecks. I think there is more to it and we are watching”.
