The Petroleum and Natural Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has advised the Federal Government to encourage modular refineries to end petroleum products’ scarcity in the country.
Mr Francis Johnson, the National President of PENGASSAN, revealed that modular refinery produces faster.
“It is cost effective and it can be set up within 24-month for production. One modular refinery can employ over 1,000 Nigerians through direct or indirect labour.
“Many of such refineries are capable of reducing unemployment in the labour market,’’ he said.
He stated that unless the local refining capacity was increased and the distribution channels developed, fuel scarcity would not be totally stamped out in the country, adding that the persistent scarcity of petrol had taken its toll on the socio-economic activities of Nigerians.
Johnson said that government’s idea of the proposed economic summit would also help in shaping the oil and gas sector. He added that the union had earlier called on the government to declare a state of emergency in the oil and gas sector to address the issues in the sector. He further advised the government to call an all-inclusive stakeholders’ forum to critically examine and proffer workable solutions in the interest of Nigerians.
