A group, the Ndokwa Youths World-wide (NYWW), says  government’s plan to commence deregulation of the downstream oil and gas sector  must be carried out with adequate measures to cushion the effect on Nigerians.

A  statement signed by the NYWW president and secretary general, Comrade Friday Ossai Osanebi and Mr. Nzete Anselem, said their group would like  to know how  the government would be able to curtail the excesses of the NNPC and other players in the oil sector under the deregulation regime.

The group explained that while it  supported deregulation  because lack of competition in the down stream sector of the industry which has stalled growth and affected job opportunities, it  must be a guided deregulation and  the interest of Nigerians should be put into consideration.

And that new refineries must be built to stop importation of petroleum products. It added that government must have done the dredging of the sea ports to reduce unnecessary demurrage by importers and issue a time frame for the stoppage of importation.

The group urged that before deregulation should begin, there must be  expansion of jetties for local products to come in unhindered  and that the refineries fully  operational for  efficiency.

Urge the federal government that if those pre-conditions are met or put in place, before deregulating the downstream will not work and they will be force to oppose the policy.

That deadline for the deregulation was not realistic since measures for cushioning the effect of the policy on the population had not been introduced, and advised  the federal government not be in haste to implement the policy to avoid the adverse effect on the economy and the population , cause definitely it will tells on the masses and Nigerians generally.