Lagos — The Independent Media and Policy Initiative, IMPI, has expressed support on plans by the Federal Government to engage private firms to operate the Warri and Kaduna refineries when they come on stream.
Mr Niyi Akinsiju, Chairman of IMPI, said this while addressing newsmen in Abuja.
He said that removal of subsidy on petroleum products was what was needed at this time to rescue the country’s economy.
He appealed to Nigerians, especially the leadership of the organised labour to beam attention to governance at the state and local governments levels, where more resources are now being allocated.
He said that the group was in support of the plan by government to engage the private sector in the management of the two refineries presently undergoing rehabilitation.
According to him, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) recently invited companies to bid for operations and maintenance deal for the two refineries.
In a public notice on its official X handle, the national oil company explained that the move will help ensure reliability and energy security for the country.
Akinsuji said that under the prevailing economic circumference, government has no business in the petroleum refining business.
“The refining business is a highly specialised form of venture. I think about two weeks ago, we saw a publication by the NNPCL requesting companies which has capacity to manage the refineries to apply.
“When those refineries are fully rehabilitated and delivered it will be share naivety for government to still insist that products of the refineries should be sold at subsidised price,”he said.
He said that it was the policy of subsidy that killed the domestic refineries in the past.
