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| Senator Ovie Omo-Agege/ image sourced from Daily Post |
It is an issue that simply won't go away, at least not in the foreseeable future. And by that statement, we're talking about the debate on what should be done to Nigeria's ailing refineries.
There's the camp that believes spending money on maintenance hasn't worked, and will forever remain a waste of money should the country continue to ply that path. However, those on the opposing camp still has faith, saying all it takes is a proper turnaround maintenance and the refineries would serve their purpose.
Speaking on Monday at the Senate plenary during the confirmation hearing of ministerial nominees, deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, affirms the believe that Nigeria's refineries can indeed, be fixed. Omo-Agege also refutes the idea of spending billions of Naira in oil subsidy, and the insistence of some multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region on moving their headquarters elsewhere, with attendant job losses.
He said, “I have always taken the position that there is no need for us to continue with this subsidy; all we need to do is to fix the refineries.
“But, today, I have seen many people in the NNPC and elsewhere moving otherwise because they believe we ought to continue with this subsidy regime.
“I am from the Niger Delta and there are a lot of us who believe that most of the oil companies are doing business in that neighborhood ought to have their offices and their headquarters in that same neighborhood so as to provide employment opportunities.
“There is an issue that is raging right now in the Niger Delta and it has to do with the Nigerian Gas Company in Ekpan-Warri; they are also threatening to move their headquarters from Warri in Delta state to elsewhere.
“I am seeking a commitment today as the representative of the people of Delta Central that no ministerial nominee today will eventually superintend over the movement of Nigerian Gas Company elsewhere.
“I also seek a commitment that those companies that are doing business in the Niger Delta but have their headquarters elsewhere should come back to the Niger Delta area to provide jobs for our teeming youths,” the Deputy President of the Senate said as reported by
The Nation.
