The governors of all 36 states in the federation expressed their opposition yesterday to any additional fuel imports by marketers, arguing that such actions would undermine the newly launched Dangote Refinery.
In a statement following their meeting, the governors expressed that the Dangote Refinery holds significant promise for generating multiple beneficial effects on the economy, notably in terms of job creation.
They also called on the federal government to enhance its efforts in restoring the Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri refineries.
Hope Uzodinma, said, “Yes, it is something that is being looked at. If you look at the news, you see that the Dangote refinery has also come up with capacity to supply products.
“I don’t think that you or me would be happy that a Nigerian, an OPEC member, producing crude oil, as such there is no need relying on importation of PMS for our people. We need to use our petroleum products.
“So, we must encourage the home-grown solution that the president just introduced. Encouraging Dangote Refinery, we should repair our Port Harcourt Refinery, repair our Warri Refinery, repair our Kaduna Refinery, and then produce what we eat, and eat what we produce.
“We shouldn’t rely on importation of crude oil. For me, it is an aberration to rely on importation of petroleum products as an oil producing country.
“Which other member of OPEC, country of our status, is now refining crude oil in that country? So we shouldn’t encourage that. I think I want to support buying petroleum products in Naira, buying crude oil in Naira, refining it here.
“If you refine petroleum products locally, you will create jobs, you will curb unemployment, you will keep people busy, you will reduce crime, and then you will also be proud to answer and be called an oil producing nation.
“Nigeria Governors Forum, we are also committed to supporting Mr. President and ensure that the interests of our people are properly protected.
“It is our belief that Nigeria is a great country. And anything that will bring or cause disunity among our people, our citizens, should be discouraged.
“We need to be united as a people. We need to support the government. We need to work for the interests of our people. And our national interests also be protected. So we should have hope.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, supported by both the national government and all of us as citizens, there will be no better security than us being united, working together as a people, and believing in our country.”