ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIGNED AGREEMENT TO IMPORT FUEL FROM NIGER REPUBLIC – A SHAMEFUL AND PAINFUL DEVELOPMENT
November 23, 2020 | News
When I first saw reports that the Nigerian Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Niger Republic for the importation of petroleum products into the country, I could not help but weep in my heart for my dear country Nigeria.
ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SIGNED AGREEMENT TO IMPORT FUEL FROM NIGER REPUBLIC – A SHAMEFUL AND PAINFUL DEVELOPMENT
When I first saw reports that the Nigerian Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Niger Republic for the importation of petroleum products into the country, I could not help but weep in my heart for my dear country Nigeria. This development is not only shameful, disgraceful and rather unfortunate for Nigeria, especially as a country that with abundant crude oil and natural gas reserves, but it also goes against every campaign promise made by President Buhari in 2014/2015.
According to reports, the Group General Manager/Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the MoU was reached following bilateral agreements between President Buhari and President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic. In the statement released by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Soraz Refinery in Zinder: “Niger Republic, has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) compared to the Nigeria’s 5,000bpd domestic requirement. This leaves a surplus of 15,000 barrels per day.
With this development, and others before it, one begins to wonder if President Buhari was supposedly elected by the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to represent the general interests of Nigerians? Or was he elected by the people of Niger Republic? These questions became necessary owing to the fact that the body language, policies and actions carried out by the President Buhari-led Federal Government since it came onto power, especially as it relates to our neighbors – Niger Republic, is one that is full of suspicion and quite unpatriotic. It is as if this administration is more concerned about improving the economy of Niger Republic than that of Nigeria.
This is hinged on the fact that under this President Buhari-led administration, as reiterated by a viral post online: “Niger Republic got 4 Refineries with suspicious company profiles; Niger Republic got a $1.9Billion Rail line project from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge; Niger Republic got Gas Pipe line Contract from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge; Niger Republic got Billions of U.S Dollar Electricity transmission and Power Plant Generation Contract from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge; Niger Republic got her roads constructed from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge.” One begins to wonder if President Buhari is actually for Nigerians, or is he more for the people of Niger Republic. It is apparent that President Buhari has a lot of explanations to do, for Nigerians to be reassured that he is actually for us, and not against us.
More so, is it not shameful that Nigeria, reputed to be the ‘giant of Africa’ and amongst the top countries in the world with the largest proven oil reserve, and which other African countries looks up to, cannot boast of having the required installed refining capacity to satisfy domestic consumption, not to mention for export purposes? And despite having Four refineries that have always been comatose, it is a big shame to this Government and indeed the Nigerian nation, that we have become a fuel-import-dependent nation. And now, a small country like Niger Republic has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 bpd compared to the Nigeria’s 5,000bpd domestic requirement.
It is even more annoying to note the fact that President Buhari had promised Nigerians in 2014/2015 during his election campaign that Nigeria would have its refineries working. And that he will end fuel importation into Nigeria. But now, he has signed an MoU with Niger Republic to be importing fuel into Nigeria from Niger Republic. What is going on? Also, one begins to wonder what our South-South Niger Delta leaders, especially those in the Petroleum industry, are doing in all of this? As noted by a post online: We have “Two sons of the Niger Delta. One is from Rivers State, the other is from Bayelsa State. One is in charge of Transportation; the other is in charge of Petroleum. One is constructing a railway line to Niger Republic, while the rail track in his home State is dilapidated. The other is transporting crude oil to Niger Republic for refining while the refineries in his Niger Delta are in comatose.” Such irony of leadership can only be seen in Nigeria, and under this Government.
It is appalling and a disturbing source of concern that Nigeria, despite its over fifty decades of oil and gas exploration and production activities, still exports its hugely produced crude oil and natural gas at commercial quantity, and then import ‘refined petroleum products’ at higher costs. The question is, who is losing in this business? Are we not ‘enriching other countries’ and shortchanging the country’s economic growth by still doing this kind of business all these years? Are we really making progress as a nation with this kind of business-focus on crude oil and natural gas export at a cheaper cost, then import the refined petroleum products and other ‘finished goods/products’ gotten from oil and gas productions, at higher costs? Can’t Nigeria refine our crude oil and natural gas and export the refined petroleum products and other finished goods/products to other nations in Africa and across the globe? Why can’t our refineries work at their maximum installed capacities while the Government/Organized Private sector build new refineries to make the country no longer import-dependent on finished petroleum products?
The crude oil and natural gas refining activities will not only generate tremendous employment opportunities that will keep the restive youths in the Niger Delta region preoccupied, it will also generate a lot of revenues for the country. Let us reiterate here that the importance of doing everything possible in ensuring that Nigeria is able to refine all of its crude oil and natural gas produce to satisfy both domestic demand and for exports, cannot be overemphasized. Aside the fact this will earn more revenue for Nigeria, it will also address all the ‘headaches’ created by ‘subsidy’ and ‘price fluctuation’ of crude oil in the international market, and will also make Nigeria less dependent on imported petroleum products.
Zik Gbemre.
November 23, 2020
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
When I first saw reports that the Nigerian Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari, had, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Niger Republic for the importation of petroleum products into the country, I could not help but weep in my heart for my dear country Nigeria. This development is not only shameful, disgraceful and rather unfortunate for Nigeria, especially as a country that with abundant crude oil and natural gas reserves, but it also goes against every campaign promise made by President Buhari in 2014/2015.
According to reports, the Group General Manager/Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Garba Deen Muhammad, said the MoU was reached following bilateral agreements between President Buhari and President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger Republic. In the statement released by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Soraz Refinery in Zinder: “Niger Republic, has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 barrels per day (bpd) compared to the Nigeria’s 5,000bpd domestic requirement. This leaves a surplus of 15,000 barrels per day.
With this development, and others before it, one begins to wonder if President Buhari was supposedly elected by the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to represent the general interests of Nigerians? Or was he elected by the people of Niger Republic? These questions became necessary owing to the fact that the body language, policies and actions carried out by the President Buhari-led Federal Government since it came onto power, especially as it relates to our neighbors – Niger Republic, is one that is full of suspicion and quite unpatriotic. It is as if this administration is more concerned about improving the economy of Niger Republic than that of Nigeria.
This is hinged on the fact that under this President Buhari-led administration, as reiterated by a viral post online: “Niger Republic got 4 Refineries with suspicious company profiles; Niger Republic got a $1.9Billion Rail line project from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge; Niger Republic got Gas Pipe line Contract from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge; Niger Republic got Billions of U.S Dollar Electricity transmission and Power Plant Generation Contract from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge; Niger Republic got her roads constructed from Nigeria to Niger Republic free of charge.” One begins to wonder if President Buhari is actually for Nigerians, or is he more for the people of Niger Republic. It is apparent that President Buhari has a lot of explanations to do, for Nigerians to be reassured that he is actually for us, and not against us.
More so, is it not shameful that Nigeria, reputed to be the ‘giant of Africa’ and amongst the top countries in the world with the largest proven oil reserve, and which other African countries looks up to, cannot boast of having the required installed refining capacity to satisfy domestic consumption, not to mention for export purposes? And despite having Four refineries that have always been comatose, it is a big shame to this Government and indeed the Nigerian nation, that we have become a fuel-import-dependent nation. And now, a small country like Niger Republic has an installed refining capacity of 20,000 bpd compared to the Nigeria’s 5,000bpd domestic requirement.
It is even more annoying to note the fact that President Buhari had promised Nigerians in 2014/2015 during his election campaign that Nigeria would have its refineries working. And that he will end fuel importation into Nigeria. But now, he has signed an MoU with Niger Republic to be importing fuel into Nigeria from Niger Republic. What is going on? Also, one begins to wonder what our South-South Niger Delta leaders, especially those in the Petroleum industry, are doing in all of this? As noted by a post online: We have “Two sons of the Niger Delta. One is from Rivers State, the other is from Bayelsa State. One is in charge of Transportation; the other is in charge of Petroleum. One is constructing a railway line to Niger Republic, while the rail track in his home State is dilapidated. The other is transporting crude oil to Niger Republic for refining while the refineries in his Niger Delta are in comatose.” Such irony of leadership can only be seen in Nigeria, and under this Government.
It is appalling and a disturbing source of concern that Nigeria, despite its over fifty decades of oil and gas exploration and production activities, still exports its hugely produced crude oil and natural gas at commercial quantity, and then import ‘refined petroleum products’ at higher costs. The question is, who is losing in this business? Are we not ‘enriching other countries’ and shortchanging the country’s economic growth by still doing this kind of business all these years? Are we really making progress as a nation with this kind of business-focus on crude oil and natural gas export at a cheaper cost, then import the refined petroleum products and other ‘finished goods/products’ gotten from oil and gas productions, at higher costs? Can’t Nigeria refine our crude oil and natural gas and export the refined petroleum products and other finished goods/products to other nations in Africa and across the globe? Why can’t our refineries work at their maximum installed capacities while the Government/Organized Private sector build new refineries to make the country no longer import-dependent on finished petroleum products?
The crude oil and natural gas refining activities will not only generate tremendous employment opportunities that will keep the restive youths in the Niger Delta region preoccupied, it will also generate a lot of revenues for the country. Let us reiterate here that the importance of doing everything possible in ensuring that Nigeria is able to refine all of its crude oil and natural gas produce to satisfy both domestic demand and for exports, cannot be overemphasized. Aside the fact this will earn more revenue for Nigeria, it will also address all the ‘headaches’ created by ‘subsidy’ and ‘price fluctuation’ of crude oil in the international market, and will also make Nigeria less dependent on imported petroleum products.
Zik Gbemre.
November 23, 2020
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes