PIB to receive accelerated action – Ekweremadu
Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu has promised that the National Assembly would expedite action on of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). Ekweremadu gavee the pledge when a delegation of the newly elected National Executive Council of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN visited him in Abuja on Friday.
In a statement issued his Special Adviser on Media Mr Uche Anichukwu, said Ekweremadu noted that the Senate was mindful of the benefits of the PIB to Nigerians and the petroleum sector. “I would like to use this opportunity to assure you that progress is being made regarding the Petroleum Industry Bill.
“We are committed to passing the Petroleum Industry Bill because we believe that it is going to bring major reforms in the industry.
“We are hoping that very shortly our Committee will bring forth the report of the bill and we are going to give it an accelerated hearing.
“This would be done expeditiously, so that Nigerians and those who are in the industry will begin to have the benefits of reforms intended by this bill,” he said.
Ekweremadu urged IPMAN to remain patriotic and ensure steady supply of petroleum products to Nigerians, as well as remain security conscious in their operations.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and National President of IPMAN, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, said IPMAN was committed to stability in the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry.
He said IPMAN would stabilise petroleum products supply at the official rate, adding that the new leadership of IPMAN planned to establish two refineries in Kogi and Bayelsa States.
He noted that dependence on imported refined petroleum products was harmful to the nation’s economy.
“The only way we can think of building capacity in the downstream is to build refineries. “As I speak, we have concluded plans to build two refineries; one in the northern part of Nigeria and another in the southern part of Nigeria.
“It is strategic because when we thought about the capital flight, we felt the current IPMAN administration must take up the challenge of refining this crude oil in Nigeria,” the IPMAN leader said.
The president solicited the support of the Senate in securing approval from relevant government agencies for the refinery projects. (NAN)
