…As Kyari Assures of Resolution of Forex Issues
Stakeholders in the Downstream Sector of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry,
including the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), have lauded
the Federal Government for the courage to tackle the challenges in the
Downstream Sector frontally.
A press release by the Corporation’s spokesman, Dr. Kennie Obateru, stated that
the stakeholders gave the commendation at a Downstream stakeholders’ meeting
which held at the NNPC Towers, Abuja.
Speaking at the meeting, the President of MOMAN, Mr. Tunji Oyebanji, said the
Federal Government has displayed utmost pragmatism by applying economic
solution to the age-long challenges in the Downstream rather than the political
solutions applied in the past which were not sustainable.
He commended the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari, for extending the engagement to the
leaders of oil workers’ unions who have always been opposed to deregulation and
called on them to adopt a different approach to the issues this time around.
“This is the first time we are having NUPENG and PENGASSAN in the meeting.
This underlines the style of the GMD, I commend him. We can’t do the same thing
over and over again and expect a different result”, the MOMAN president stated.
On her part, the Vice President of Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers
Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Hajia Amina Maina, said the subsidy regime
was of no benefit to anyone and commended the GMD for the engagement.
All the stakeholders present, including the Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ (PTD),
NUPENG, and PENGASSAN, pledged their support for the efforts of the Federal
Government and NNPC to ensure a viable and sustainable Downstream Petroleum
Sector.
Speaking earlier, the GMD NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, disclosed that concrete
steps have been taken to address the main concerns of marketers, especially the
issue of availability of forex, stressing that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has
already taken the first step of merging all forex windows to have a unified
exchange rate.
“It is really not in our interest to be the sole importer of PMS in the country. We
have taken definite steps to exit the situation. This is a definite step taken and the
details would be communicated to stakeholders like MOMAN, DAPMAN,
IPMAN and others outside this forum,” Mallam Kyari stated.
On the issue of subsidy on forex for marketers, he explained that the government
spent N2.13trillion from 2016 to 2019, describing the situation as unsustainable
and unprogressive.
Mallam Kyari said there were plans by the government to inject about N2.7trillion
into the economy to stimulate production, stabilize the exchange rate and cushion
the inflationary effect of the pump price increase.
He also revealed that in response to the concerns raised recently by members of the
Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) over the state of roads,
especially those on the Niger State axis, the Federal Government has commenced
aggressive road repair works to allay their fears.
The NNPC helmsman said that measures have been put in place to ensure adequate
supply of petroleum products for the end of year festivities and the projected
increase in movement of people across the length and breadth of the country.
He said the Federal Government was keen on driving the deregulation program to
create value for the country and ensure that Nigerians enjoy the benefits.
In his remarks, the Director of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr.
Sarki Auwalu, who was represented by the agency’s Assistant Director, Depots,
Products and Jetties, Mr. Bashir Sadiq, said government was interested in opening
up the Downstream Sector, adding that the DPR was in support of NNPC’s
initiatives in the sector.
