13 July 2014, Lagos – The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) on Saturday urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s plan to privatise the nation’s refineries.
Mr Ajayi Adebayo, new Chairman of IPMAN, Ejigbo Satellite depot branch, made the call during interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
He said privatising the refineries would help to address the incessant scarcity of petroleum products and also encourage the private sector to participate in building their refineries.
“I am in support of government’s plan to privatise the refineries by selling those plants to private investors who have the technical-know-how and effective managerial structure to run them.
“Privatising the refineries will serve the country better in the export of refined petroleum products.
“That is why l am urging Nigerians to support the government’s effort in privatising our refineries for optimum production as well as revenue generation for the economy’’, he said.
The chairman held that Nigerians might experience some hardship immediately after the privatisation, but that the trying period would not last for a long time.
“Just like transformation in the communication sector, we were buying SIM card for between N25,000 and N30, 000, but now it is almost free of charge.
“If we support the planned privatisation, the transformation that took place in communication sector will also happen in oil and gas sector’’, he said.
The chairman also said that it would discourage importation of the products and create more job opportunities for the unemployed graduates.
Adebayo, however, said that he would work with other chapters toward peaceful resolution of the crisis rocking the national body of the association.
– NAN
