Tinubu Vows to Revive Nigeria’s Refineries, Assures NUPENG of Sustainable Reforms
By Nafiu Muhammad Lema
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured workers in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector that the country’s refineries will be revived and repositioned to operate profitably, stressing that the Federal Government is committed to undertaking the necessary research, restructuring and technical assessments to address challenges affecting the facilities.
The President gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja when he received the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), led by its National President, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, at the State House.
Tinubu said the government would not allow the nation’s refineries to waste away after years of significant investments, noting that merely producing smoke or flames does not mean a refinery is functioning effectively unless it delivers value and generates profit.
“The refineries that you mentioned are going to come back to work; we’re just building a very firm, resetting, and structural reworking of the economy of it,” the President said.
He explained that the government would adopt a systematic and evidence-based approach to identifying the structural, operational, financial and managerial problems confronting the refineries before implementing sustainable solutions.
Responding to NUPENG’s concerns on local government autonomy, President Tinubu also disclosed that constitutional issues surrounding its implementation were being reviewed, with a view to possible adjustments.
The President further promised greater inclusion of NUPENG in the implementation of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), while challenging the union to ensure that the benefits of the programme reach ordinary commuters.
Tinubu also paid tribute to the late former NUPENG President, Frank Kokori, recalling their joint struggle for democracy and describing the union as an important partner in national development.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended NUPENG for recognising what he described as the positive outcomes of the Tinubu administration’s reform agenda.
Idris said the acknowledgement by a major trade union had helped reduce friction between organised labour and government, particularly following reforms such as the removal of fuel subsidy and increased infrastructure development.
The NUPENG President, Oladiti, commended President Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy, describing the decision as a bold move that had helped reduce financial pressure on the country and freed resources for infrastructure and other sectors.
He specifically praised ongoing road construction and rehabilitation projects, including the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the 1,068-kilometre Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
Oladiti, however, urged the President to intensify efforts to revive the nation’s refineries, arguing that functional refineries would strengthen Nigeria’s energy security, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and create more employment opportunities.
