The Federal Government is excited about the lifting of petrol from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals noting that it marks the return to local refining, energy sufficiency, and industrialisation in Nigeria.
TheMediaGood Newspaper can report that the views were shared by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, who led the government delegation, to Dangote refinery today Sunday 15th September. He described the event as epoch-making and a renewal of Nigerians’ hope in industrialisation and local refining. ‘This is the resumption of Nigeria’s march toward industrialisation. It represents a return to what we once had—local refining and local supply of petroleum products in the Nigerian market. It has been decades since we last achieved this, but we have it today,’ he said.
The Minister, who was accompanied by Dr. Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Chairman of the Technical Sub-Committee on naira-based crude sales to local refineries, also stated that the initiative will ensure energy self-sufficiency and security in Nigeria. He explained that the product’s availability to Nigerians will end perennial scarcity and long queues. He noted that this aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of adding value to raw materials before they leave the country. He said that Tinubu originated the free trade zone concept during his term as governor of Lagos State.
Edun added: ‘Today, you have taken an important step towards energy self-sufficiency in Nigeria. We have advanced toward energy security and the implementation of the government’s policy of boosting domestic investment. It is President Tinubu’s vision that no raw material should leave Nigeria’s shores without some form of value being added. Commendation is due to His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who facilitated the supply of crude to local refineries in naira by ensuring that NNPC provides crude to these refineries.’