By Joy Odor
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector, Senator Sumaila Kawu, representing Kano South has on Tuesday promised the Senate and Nigerian citizens that the refineries must work to bring succor to the people.
Senator Kawu who made the vow in an interview with newsmen in Abuja at the end of its strategic meeting to chart a way forward for the sector lamented that the challenges facing the country today, boils down to the petroleum sector crisis.
Senator Kawu, who is also the Chairman Senate Ad-hoc Committee investigating Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) mentioned that the Senate Committee at the meeting resolved to take a tour of the nation’s refineries and to also invite the leadership of the downstream petroleum sector to have an interactive session on how to revive the refineries to get back to work.
He was of the opinion that getting the refineries to work again would reduce petroleum pump price and make Nigerians to start smiling again.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Downstream informed that after fixing the refineries, the Ad-hoc Committee would hold a public hearing to ask Nigerians of their views on the future of the refineries wealther to retain them as government owned companies or give them to private investors.
Senator Kawu affirmed that the crucial meeting shows how serious the Senate is on the matter and must do something drastically to end the suffering of Nigerians.
“We want to have a situation where we refine our crude in Nigeria, reduce the pressure on the exchange rate for the economy to move forward.
“Nigerian four refineries have consumed over N11 trillion naira since 2010. So the two committees will work together to bring results to Nigerians, as all the Senate is looking for is results” he ended.
