Following the perennial fuel crisis currently bedeviling the country and its attendant economic implications, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has urged the Federal Government to absorb operators of illegal refineries into the system by issuing them with licences to operate, Igbere TV reports.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate, Kalu noted that “Aliko Dangote cannot do it alone” which is why “it is imperative to consider this method” in order to curb the fuel crisis ravaging the country.
Igbere TV reports that the Senator insisted that Dangote refinery does not have the capacity to fill the shortage of petroleum products if importation is stopped, maintaining that issuing licenses and giving crude oil at half price to modular refinery owners is the solution.
“All those people stealing and refining our crude oil should be recognized and given licenses. They should give up to one thousand licenses to those boys and give them these oil at the half price to refine and put the inspectorate department of the NNPC to inspect so that we will have surplus with other refineries”, he stated.
The Abia North Senator expressed regret that his proposal to former president Olusegun Obasanjo (while he was governor) to force Chevron, ExxonMobil, Total and Agip to own a refinery with 80 percent state and 20 percent operators’ ownership was not adhered to, adding that the state 80 percent stake was to be offloaded in the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
