Delta State Governor, Hon Sheriff Oborevwori has urged the federal government to expedite action in revitalizing 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.
He said making refineries in Nigeria work again would save the nation foreign exchange for fuel importation.
The Governor maintained that there would be less pressure on the naira against the dollar when the nation stops importation of petroleum products.
“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,” Oborevwori pledged.
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,” Senator Ubah stated.