Refineries will work again – Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria's dormant refineries will soon resume operations, assuring petroleum workers of this during a meeting at the Presidential Villa on Thursday. Tinubu stressed that for refineries to function effectively, they must be profitable and deliver the value for which they were built, emphasizing that merely seeing flames or smoke does not equate to operational efficiency.

He admitted responsibility for addressing the country's inherited assets and liabilities from past administrations, vowing to fix them to benefit the Nigerian populace. Tinubu also defended his administration's economic policies, highlighting the positive impact of regular salary payments on the wider economy. These payments have benefitted workers across federal, state, and local government levels, supporting businesses and families nationwide.

The president further pledged to secure funding for long-term infrastructure projects, citing significant road construction initiatives such as the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Kano, and Sokoto-Badagry roads. Tinubu urged NUPENG to ensure the benefits of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) reach a wider audience, noting that its advantages have not been as widespread as anticipated.

Prior to meeting Tinubu, NUPENG President Salimon Oladiti expressed concern over the ongoing casualization of workers in the upstream oil and gas sector, despite previous discussions with the companies involved. He appealed to Tinubu to intervene and halt the casualization of workers, urging the president to utilize his influence for this cause.

Oladiti also praised the administration's road rehabilitation efforts and partnerships aimed at reviving refineries, including those in Warri and Port Harcourt, through collaborations with Chinese firms. Additionally, he suggested that decaying petroleum depots be handed over to private investors under an equity arrangement.