Apparently satisfied with the high level of improvement in fuel supply in the country, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Engr. Austen Oniwon, has appealed to members of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), to sustain the current steady supply of petroleum products across the country.
Oniwon made the call in Abuja recently while delivering a keynote address at the 2nd Quadrennial Delegates Conference of NNPC/ NUPENG Group Executive Council, GEC.
The theme of the conference is, Re-awakening the Oil and Gas Sector: Creating New and Gaining Lost Opportunities.
Acknowledging nationwide commendation for the steady fuel supply in all parts of the country, the NNPC boss however said that he refused to take the glory for the achievement alone as it was made possible through the support of members of the union.
Charging the workers to be more dedicated and ensure that the trend is sustained, he stressed that that the best way to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply is to ensure that the nation’s refineries are running at optimum capacity.
“For us to sustain the current steady product supply, the refineries must work to reduce our recourse to importation. The Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries are back on stream and we are currently supplying 30 per cent of the products in the country. We want to get to a point where we can proudly say NNPC supplies 100 per cent of petroleum products consumed in the country, and with your support, I know we can achieve it”, stated.
Oniwon also solicited the union’s to support for the NNPC Transformation project. “One of our primary responsibilities is to transform NNPC and the oil and gas industry. We intend to re-prioritize the transformation program and drive it to an irreversible point. We can’t achieve this without your support”.
Making reference to the conference, Oniwon counselled the union members to become drivers of the change, especially in line with the theme of the conference
The NNPC boss disclosed that the process of transforming NNPC into a major player in the upstream sector has begun with the recent acquisition of 50 per cent stake in three major Oil Mining Leases by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) which have the capacity to increase the corporation’s production by 180 thousand barrels per day.
Speaking earlier in his opening remarks, the National president of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese had commended Oniwon for his efforts in re-streaming the Kaduna and Warri refineries.
He called on the Federal Government to adequately fund the NNPC to enable it rise up to such challenges as pipeline vandalism and retooling of obsolete facilities.
National president of PENGASSAN, Comrade Babatunde Oguns, on his part commended the management of NNPC for its commitment to staff training and the empowerment of union leaders.
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