Refineries will commence operation before December – Chairman Niger Delta Affairs

Adewale Akintaro

The Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Jide Ipinsagba, has given assurances to Nigerians that refineries will start full operation before the end of the year.

Ipinsagba, the chairman on Niger Delta Affairs, assured that said the sufferings of Nigerians in the petroleum sector would soon be over.

He made this known at a news briefing in Akure, adding that the ongoing work on the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries would be completed before December.

Ipinsagba, the vice chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, said Port Harcourt refinery had reached about 90 to 95 per cent optimisation in terms of retrofitting, adding that Warri refinery was about 80 per cent and Kaduna refinery about 70 per cent.

He added: “Efforts are in top gear to ensure all refineries function before the end of this year. So with these, internal consumption of fuel will not be a problem.

“This is not a paper talk; our committee went for oversight on this. What I am telling you now, it was demonstrated and we saw it. We went there (to the refineries), we looked at everything. It is not that we sat in our office and be talking, we went to Kaduna, we were in Port Harcourt, we were in Lagos and Warri as well, to ensure what they are telling us is not just on paper.”