Fuel Marketers Appeal To Tinubu, NNPC On Turnaround Of Refineries
TSOEDE TV 
Independent Marketers branch of the National Union of Petroleum Marketers and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the management of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited to expedite action on the turnaround of the nation’s refineries.
Its chairman, Comrade Oluleye Olayemi made the appeal on Friday while fielding questions from reporters shortly after he was re-elected for a second term.
He emerged unopposed alongside his other executive members during the 5th Quadrennial Branch Delegate Conference of the association which held at Jogor Event Centre, Liberty Road, Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
He noted that the turnaround of the refineries would help to reduce the hardship being faced by the fuel subsidy removal among the citizens.
He disagreed with former President Olusegun Obasanjo whose views were made public recently on why the nation’s refineries may never work.
Olayemi said as much as the association supports subsidy removal, the government could have done it in phases after the refineries were made functional.
He described as appalling the situation when someone would say the refineries cannot work.
He said although there may be corruption in the system or process involved, with political will and sincerity, the government can see the turnaround of the refineries.
He lamented that his members are worst hit as Independent Marketers as well as due to the non-functionality of many depots across the country.
He said: “The Branch is in support of the position of the Nigerian Labour and NUPENG National Executive Council on the deregulation policy of the oil and gas industry.
“While the subsidy removal can be said to be a right decision the timing could have been deferred till the refineries become functional.
“The government should have built refineries in phases across the oil-producing states and gradually remove subsidies. We are badly affected by deregulation. We appeal to the government that they should expedite refineries turnaround and maintenance of our refineries.
“We are badly affected as many marketers are not loading and that affected our members who could not attend. Without renovation of the depot, many people will be jobless”
He also appealed to pipeline vandals to desist from the act saying the menace is already rendering many people jobless.
“We appeal to disgruntled elements to desist from vandalising pipeline. The refineries can work”, he added.
THE NATION
