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Port Harcourt Refinery operations will tackle fuel scarcity – Reps
By Francesca Hangeior
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Midstream), Hon. Prince Henry Odianosen Okojie, has emphasized the significant impact of the Port Harcourt refinery’s commencement of operations, describing it as a major step towards resolving fuel scarcity in Nigeria and improving the lives of its citizens.
Hon. Okojie commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, for their commitment and efforts in actualizing the project. Speaking with journalists in Abuja, he stated:
“We are thrilled to express our appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, Mele Kyari, for their tireless efforts in ensuring the Port Harcourt Refinery commences production.
We are grateful to them for making this project a reality. This monumental achievement marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards energy independence and economic growth. Their contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector will have a lasting impact on the country’s economic development.*
“We commend President Tinubu’s leadership and vision, as well as Mele Kyari’s dedication and expertise, in driving this transformative project forward. Their commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s refining capabilities is truly commendable. This is a testament to the hard work and collaboration of all stakeholders involved.”
Representing Esan North East/Esan South East Federal Constituency of Edo State, Hon. Okojie pledged his commitment to fostering the growth of Nigeria’s petroleum industry. He assured that legislators are determined to tackle challenges in the sector for the nation’s benefit and citizens’ welfare.
Backing President Tinubu’s policies for the development of the oil and gas sector, Hon. Okojie expressed confidence in the administration’s plans for economic prosperity and infrastructure development. He also assured that the House Committee would continue to provide the legislative support necessary to advance the sector.
According to him, such financial mishandling not only disrupts critical public services and projects but also results in major losses to the nation’s purse—resources that could have been channelled into crucial services and developmental efforts, as laid out in Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution.
Speaker Abbas, thereafter setup a Special Committee to be chaired by Rep. Chinedu Martins to immediately launch a probe into the “Utilisation of take-off grants, bailout funds, and interventions allocated to MDAs, government institutions, and GOEs from 2015 to present.”
The FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, expressed satisfaction with the progress on the Abuja light rail project, reaffirming its May 29 delivery as sacrosanct.
He made these assurances after inspecting the ongoing construction of access roads to the train stations on Wednesday, from Metro Train Station in the Central Area to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.
Reassuring journalists accompanying him, the minister reiterated that President Bola Tinubu would commission the rail project on May 29 to mark his second year in office.
The visited stations were Wupa station near Idu and Bassanjiwa station near the airport.
“This is part of our routine inspection of ongoing projects to see the contractors’ progress,” Wike explained.
“We are working day and night to fulfill our promise to President Tinubu and FCT residents. By May, Mr. President will ride on the Metro line.”
Gunmen suspected to be Fulani herdsmen are currently invading some communities in the Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State.
According to sources, the herdsmen armed with AK-47 rifles stormed the community around 04:15pm on Thursday.
“Our lives are in danger this evening, armed Fulani herdsmen, about 600 in numbers have taken over our communities this evening,” a resident told SaharaReporters.
“They’re currently moving around towns in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue state. No security personnel at all, Governor Alia didn’t send security, they said operation will start soon once they (herders) have observed the place.”
The insecurity situation in Benue has been alarming in recent weeks with attacks from gunmen suspected to be herdsmen.
The media had reported that suspected herdsmen again unleashed terror in Benue State, attacking three communities in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) on Wednesday, just a day after 11 people were killed in a deadly raid on Otobi community.
The latest victims of the escalating violence were Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju, communities that had previously suffered an attack in February, which left five people dead.
However, the renewed attack has created fear and mass displacement among residents, with women and children fleeing to safety.
Local sources say the death toll from the fresh attack remains unclear, but several casualties are feared.
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