Ike Amos
Abuja — Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, Monday, stated that Nigeria’s position at the forthcoming Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, Plus meeting would be driven by the country’s short and long-term economic forecast.
In a statement by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in Abuja, Sylva also disclosed that ensuring Nigeria and global economic stability would be the determining factor for any position the country would be taking at the meeting.
The OPEC+ meeting, between member countries of OPEC and some non-member countries of the global oil cartel, is scheduled to hold April 9, 2020.
Sylva said, “The Government of Nigeria wishes to assure the Nigerian and international communities that it is watching developments in the oil and gas industry with keen interest. Specifically Nigeria is very mindful and appreciative of the role of Saudi Arabia and other members of the OPEC family.
“As Minister of State for Petroleum I will continue to monitor the impact of Covid-19 on our, and the global, ecomomy. In our consultations with global industry stakeholders in the lead up to the OPEC+ meeting scheduled for Thursday April 9, the Nigerian Government will take a position that is in the best interest of our short term and long term economic forecast.
“It is well known that Nigeria has always collaborated with key OPEC members such Saudi Arabia in maintaining a balanced position that has helped to make OPEC one of the most successful global institutions in recent history. Nigeria intends to maintain this team spirit even as it takes into account the position of OPEC strategic allies such as Russia.
“As always the driving force of our OPEC policy is first the stability of our national economy as well as the stability of the global economy which is heavily dependent on OPEC and it’s strategic partners, popularly refered to as OPEC+.
“Nigeria, like the rest of the world has been hit by the global pandemic, COVID-19, and is prepared to join the rest of the world in making the neccessary sacrifices needed to stabilize the crude oil market; and to prevent what is likely to be a major global economic meltdown.”
