The Governor of Delta State, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has stated that making refineries in Nigeria work would save the nation huge foreign exchange spent on fuel importation.
Gov. Oborevwori made the statement when he received the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Turnaround Maintenance of Nigerian Refineries led by Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, at Government House, Asaba.
The governor said that when the nation stops importation of petroleum products there would be less pressure on the naira against the dollar and urged the federal government to expedite action in revitalising the nation’s refineries.
He said: “I am happy that you people are here today. I can see some of my good friends that we served together as Speakers.
“I have the full confidence that this Ad-hoc committee will do a very good job. I want to say it here that this assignment is not a jamboree; it is an assignment with seriousness and I believe that with your oversight function, the right thing is done, that our refineries are put in place.
“When this is done, the issue of fuel importation will be a thing of the past because it is causing us a lot and we are having challenges with forex.
“So if our refineries are working and things are going very well, it will also boost the economy of this country.
Earlier, Senator Ubah said the Ad-hoc Committee was in the state on oversight function to turnaround the nation’s refineries.
“We are here to look into the rehabilitation of our refineries, the issues surrounding crude oil theft, how we can maximise the output of our country’s crude oil and also how we can support issues that have to do with upstream, downstream, Niger Delta affairs and host communities of Niger Delta.
“So it is a holistic committee. As a tradition of the Senate, we felt that we must come to pay homage to you the Executive Governor.
“We were with the Governor of Rivers state few days ago and we are glad that you gave us the opportunity to come and see you.”
