Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to give more support and attention to local refineries in the country to boost the availability of petroleum products.
Clark, in a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, also urged the president to reconsider the Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta region.
The statement reads partly: “Let me also extend my congratulations to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, under whose leadership this remarkable achievement has been realized.
“I urge Mr. President to continue supporting this laudable effort and all similar projects in the national oil and gas industry. Especially, there must be regular access to enough crude oil to service this 650, 000 barrels per day refinery and all other new ones.
“In addition to this, the regime of pricing must not inflict more suffering on Nigerians. In most countries of the world, certain goods which they produce are easily affordable to their citizens. President Tinubu, this must not be different here in Nigeria.
“Let me also remind Mr. President, that this is also an opportunity to reopen the policy of creating of Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta to compliment the Dangote Refinery. This policy of modular refineries is one that was already endorsed by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, with a promise to create a special fund."
While commending Aliko Dangote on the successful completion of the Dangote Refinery and the rollout of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the elderstateman called on other entrepreneurs in the country to follow in the footsteps of the Kano-born billionaire businessman.
He said: “It is clear to all Nigerians that Alhaji Dangote’s pioneering spirit and commitment to innovation have once again positioned Nigeria on the global stage. At my age, I am unable to go physically to visit the refinery. However, going by all the information, the impact of this project on our nation’s energy security, employment, and economic development will be felt for generations to come.
“There is no doubt that this significant milestone will greatly boost the Nigerian economy by increasing domestic production, reducing reliance on imports, and creating thousands of jobs for our young people. If things go well as we are told, the shame and pain of long queues at filling stations will soon become a thing of the past.
“Even as I wait for Aliko Dangote to establish a similar presence through projects in the Niger Delta, I also take this avenue to commend him for his continued works of philanthropy, including the distribution of rice to all parts of Nigeria.
“I urge all other entrepreneurs like him to show similar commitment to our national development and upliftment of our people."
