President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the Federal Government will not allow Nigeria’s refineries to deteriorate, as it plans to undertake a comprehensive review of their operations, management structures and technical challenges to restore them to sustainable and profitable operations.
Tinubu made the statement on Thursday in Abuja when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), led by its National President, Salimon Akanni Oladiti.
The President said the government would address the challenges confronting the refineries through evidence-based reforms rather than temporary interventions. He said a comprehensive assessment by relevant experts would be undertaken to identify structural, operational, financial and management problems affecting their performance.
Tinubu stressed that the mere presence of fire and smoke at a refinery should not be regarded as evidence of success, saying the ultimate measure should be the refinery’s ability to create value and operate profitably.
The President also said the Federal Government was reviewing issues surrounding the implementation of local government autonomy, particularly constitutional matters connected with the policy. He urged stakeholders to understand the steps being taken by the government.
Tinubu also paid tribute to the late former NUPENG leader, Frank Kokori, recalling their involvement in the struggle for democratic governance in Nigeria.
On the government’s Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiative, the President pledged to give NUPENG a greater role in its implementation. He tasked the union with helping to ensure that the benefits of the programme reach transport operators.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, who also spoke at the meeting, commended NUPENG for recognising some of the reforms being implemented by the Tinubu administration.
Idris said the union’s position had contributed to reducing tensions between organised labour and the government. He cited the removal of the petrol subsidy and infrastructure development across the country among the major government policies acknowledged by NUPENG.
In his remarks, NUPENG National President Salimon Oladiti commended Tinubu for removing the petrol subsidy, saying the policy had helped reduce government losses and created opportunities for greater investment in infrastructure.
Oladiti also praised ongoing road construction projects, including the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and the Sokoto–Badagry Super Highway.
The meeting ended with NUPENG leaders conferring on President Tinubu the title of Grand Patron of the union.
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