The National Association of Nigerian Students has urged the Federal Government to take immediate action in repairing the nation’s refineries to put an end to fuel importation.
Expressing their discontent with the persistent fuel importation under President Tinubu’s administration, NANS emphasized the urgent need for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to address the faults in the country’s refineries.
They stressed that repairing these facilities is crucial for Nigeria to achieve self-sufficiency in oil production.
The Senate President of NANS, Elvis Ekundina, highlighted that relying on imported petroleum products hinders Nigeria’s potential for rapid economic growth.
The association stressed the importance of not just repairing the refineries but ensuring their optimal functionality to alleviate the current energy crisis and petrol shortage in the Nigerian market.
NANS emphasized that the operational refineries have the capacity to sufficiently meet the nation’s daily consumption of petroleum products.
Ekundina argued that as an oil-producing country, Nigeria should not be dependent on fuel imports if its refineries operate at their highest potential.
“It is our belief that refurbishing and recommissioning our faulty refineries to optimal production level will resolve the nation’s energy crisis.
“This will also resolve the challenges the country is having with foreign exchange and the worsening naira crisis.
“When we are able to repair our refineries and put them back to good use, Nigeria’s problem with fuel insufficiency and pricing will be resolved.
“It is good to have our refineries fully working alongside the Dangote refinery as this will ultimately make Nigeria a net exporter of refined petroleum products and this will also allow for stability in fuel prices,” he said.
