Group calls for time frame to end importation

AS controversy continues to trail government planned deregulation of the downstream sector of the nation’s Petroleum industry, Labour Writers Association of Nigeria (LAWAN), has called for a time frame to end importation of petroleum products into the countries.

LAWAN, an umbrella body for Labour Editors and correspondents reporting labour and industrial issues in the country, at the end of its monthly meeting in November, demanded that all those who want to participate in both up and downstream sectors of the industry should be given a time frame not later than four years to build refineries in the country.

Flowing from that, the government should provide all necessary infrastructure and the conducive environment for private refineries to come on stream, stressing that the nation should also be an exporter of refined products.

The group lamented that the greatest challenge facing the sector is corruption and government insincerity to address the issue of corruption and other challenges facing the petroleum and gas industry.

According to LAWAN, “ There must be a time frame for local refineries to emerge. A time frame of not less than three years and not more than four years should given to all those who want to participate in down stream and even upstream should be compel to build refineries in Nigeria. The existing four public refineries should be concessioned and not privatised.

It is also our opinion that deregulation should not commence this year since government still need to address some basic requirements for deregulation to kick off. Similarly, the receptive capacities of the nation’s ports should be upgraded to accommodate the volume of imported products and reduce if not completely eradicate the congestion and delay in clearing imported products to eliminate payment of demurrage.

In the same vein, bridging by trucks should also be phased out because of the hazards and other risks associated with the use of trucks to transport products across the country. The pipeline networks across the country should be upgraded, increased and host communities should be contracted to police the pipelines to wade off vandalism.