By Jimitota Onoyume

PORT HAR-COURT— Oil industry workers in  Nigeria have enjoined aggrieved youths in the Niger Delta to explore appropriate channels to express their grievances against government so that they could enjoy the support of credible organisations.

Speaking   yesterday, at the Port Harcourt Refineries, Eleme, Rivers State, against the backdrop of recent threats by some militants to oil workers to  vacate the region by October 1,  this year,  Group Chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC’s branch of  Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association, PENGASSAN, Mr Sally Abdulahi, said agitations were normal but should be within the confines of the law.

He urged Federal Government to take agitations by aggrieved youths in the region seriously, adding that government should also focus on how to add value to lives of those who live in oil bearing communities.

Oil pipeline

He said: “My appeal is that they should remain calm. It is not out of place to agitate. You can channel the agitation through lawful means to get quick result.  Corporate entities and responsible organisations would also support you because you are channelling  your grievance lawfully.”

Abdulai, who fielded questions from newsmen after a tour of the production section of the refineries said he was impressed that the place was producing even though at 60 per cent capacity, expressing the  hope that  it would  function at full capacity soon.

He said it was unfortunate that the  President Muhammadu Buhari-led  Federal Government had not been able to carry out a turn around maintenance on the refineries since it came on board, adding that the government left a viable economic portion of the East-West Road that connects the refineries in deplorable state.

“We wanted to see that the refineries are turned around but they have not been turned around. Going by this, the Federal Government has  not done  well for us. See  the East-West Road, to us they have not done well. The Eleme/Refinery portion of the  road is not accessible. We want to see them come up,” he said.

He also spoke against outright sale of the refineries, noting  that investors could be encouraged to partner  government to add value to the place.