The Federal Government has constituted a committee for the establishment of a petroleum refining hub in Nigeria. The inauguration of the committee was held today, Friday, 26th November, 2021 in Abuja.
In his address at the ceremony, the Honorable Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, mni, stated that the inauguration of the committee was sequel to the recommendation of a counter-strategy team comprising the then Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), defunct Department for Petroleum Resources (DPR), defunct Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA) and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), which he approved in October, 2020.
He added that the team, after wider deliberations and consultations with industry stakeholders came up with the principal recommendation for the constitution of a committee to draft a national policy for the establishment of a petroleum refining hub in Nigeria.
The membership of the committee is drawn from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), NNPC Ltd as well as the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
In its composition, the 12 Member committee has the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Nasir Sani Gwarzo, mni as Chairman; Engr. Busari Kamoru, Director, Upstream, MPR as both Member and Secretary of the committee; Mr. Martins Amaefule, Director, Midstream/Special Duties, MPR as member; Halilu Abdulmalik from NCDMB as member; Onyerika Emeka K., Apabiri Ojo C. and Lasisi Saheed from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority NMDPRA as members. The Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission is represented on the committee by Amos Oliver P while NNPC Ltd is represented by Mshelia Abdullahi. Other members from the MPR are; Dr. Kelechi Ofoegbu, Adamu Mathias and Olufemi Peters.
The committee’s terms of reference are; to draft the policy for the establishment of Petroleum Refining hub in Nigeria, to prepare the scope of services required for engagement of a consultant, to prepare draft memo to the Federal Executive Council for the developed draft policy and lastly; any other matter that will aid the successful establishment of the Hub.
The Minister in his speech stated that it was expected that the policy so developed would increase Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and subsequently make the country a net exporter of petroleum products.
In his address to the members of the committee, the Permanent Secretary said a lot was expected from them. He added that the task before them was one of nation building aimed at changing the trajectory of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry.
Gwarzo further assured the Honorable Minister that the committee will deliver on the assignment given to them.
The committee has six (6) weeks, from the date of inauguration to complete the assignment.
Signed:
Enefaa Bob-Manuel
Director (Information)
MPR
