Tinubu Says Refineries Will Work Again

President Bola Tinubu has told petroleum workers that Nigeria’s state-owned refineries will work again, but he said the plants must return as productive assets rather than symbols of government activity.

Tinubu gave the assurance on Thursday when he received the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The union had raised concerns about the long-delayed revival of the refineries and wider issues affecting oil and gas workers.

The President said the administration was carrying out what he called a reset of the economy and would take responsibility for inherited assets and liabilities. He said a refinery should be judged by whether it is profitable and delivers value, not by whether it shows flame and smoke.

The reports said NUPENG president Salimon Oladiti also asked the government to act against casualisation in the oil industry and raised welfare concerns for workers. Tinubu described the union as important to the economy and referred to its role during the fuel subsidy removal period.

Tinubu also spoke about the Compressed Natural Gas programme. He said vehicle and truck owners who had converted to CNG should pass some of the savings to commuters instead of keeping all the benefit.

The refinery assurance comes after repeated public concern over the condition of Nigeria’s government-owned refineries and the cost of fuel imports. Tinubu said the government would keep working on the assets and would publish details of how subsidy savings are being used.

Sources: Punch, Vanguard, Daily Trust