By Onozure Dania

Lagos—The Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, NSCHE, has called on the Federal government to divert majority shareholding in the three Nigeria National Petroleum Company NNPC, Refineries Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna to competent private sectors to boost their performance.

President of the group, Mr John Erinne, said at a briefing  in Lagos that government should allow private investors with strong technical and financial capabilities and proven track record in petroleum refinery.

He also called on the National Assembly and Federal Government to ensure the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, was passed into law as soon as possible.

Erinne said that the proposed 350,000 barrels per day refinery in Lekki, Lagos, should be implemented as a matter of urgency  to ensure adequate refining capacity to meet growing demand for petroleum products in the country.

He noted that  the other proposed refineries for Bayelsa and Kogi should also be explored, adding that Nigeria had the potential of becoming a regional petroleum refining hub in West Africa and a net exporter of petroleum products in the next seven years with consistent commitment.