Tinubu vows refinery revival, condemns wasteful operations

President Bola Tinubu vowed on Thursday to restore the nation's ailing refineries, stressing that their revival would hinge on productivity rather than mere operation. During a meeting with the Executive President of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, Salimon Oladiti, and union members at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu pledged to "revive moribund refineries" and implement a "firm reset and structural reworking of the economy."

Tinubu cautioned against the superficial nature of refinery operations, stating that a refinery's effectiveness is determined by its profitability and value delivery. He also addressed the concerns of union members regarding the long-delayed revival of state-owned refineries, assuring them that the refineries would indeed be operational once again.

The President further urged vehicle and truck owners utilizing Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to share the financial benefits derived from the technology with other commuters. Tinubu emphasized that the advantages of CNG should not be confined to the pocket of truck owners but should be broadly distributed to enhance the country's economy and the well-being of citizens.

He connected his administration's fiscal reset, initiated in 2023, to the funding allocated for major road infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Kaduna, Abuja-Kano, and Sokoto-Badagry highways. Tinubu highlighted the positive impact these projects have had on the economy and the safety of the Nigerian people.

Recalling a previous tense meeting at Akodo Resort in Lagos, Tinubu revealed that he had been transparent with the union about his intentions regarding subsidy policy. He firmly stated that no Industrial Action could bring back petrol subsidies, emphasizing, "You have been a very good partner of the government in progress."

Tinubu refuted claims that the removal of fuel subsidies had adversely affected the common man, asserting that the benefits of economic reforms were accessible to all segments of society. He argued that the primary recipients of the reforms included government workers, market women, and citizens across various income levels.

The President also addressed the issue of worker treatment in the upstream oil and gas sector, urging Oladiti to utilize his influence in advocating for the cessation of worker casualization. Tinubu praised the administration's road rehabilitation program and its positive impact on the safety of NUPENG's tanker driver members, while also commending the revival of the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries through partnerships with Chinese firms.