Senate working to end persistent petrol crisis, says Opeyemi Bamidele

Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate leader, says the persistent petrol crisis in the country will soon be a thing of the past.

Bamidele said this on Friday in Houston, Texas, on the sidelines of the Oil Technology Conference (OTC).

Petrol queues have returned to dispensing stations across the country in the last three weeks, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) putting the snafu down to supply chain disruptions.

Bamidele said the senate is working with relevant stakeholders to involve more private-sector players in the building of new refineries.

“The senate is working to ensure that more private-sector players are licensed to own and operate refineries,” NAN quoted the legislator as saying.

“This is to support other smaller ones that are springing up in several parts of the country.

“In addition to licensing new refinery operators, the federal government and senate are working to ensure that the existing refineries are turned around, with repairs and replacement of parts carried out where necessary.”

He disclosed that the senate has received assurances from the NNPC that two of its refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt will come on stream before the end of the year.

Bamidele said by boosting local refining capacity, Nigeria could reduce its dependence on fuel imports, which could also lead to a crash in prices of petroleum products.