The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to create a comprehensive blueprint for the inclusion of indigenous refiners in the nation’s petroleum production value chain.
This resolution emerged following the adoption of a motion advocating for reforms and better regulation within the Nigerian petroleum sector, emphasizing the integration of artisanal refiners, according to The Punch.
The motion was introduced by Deputy Minority Whip, Mr. George Ozodinobi.
Ozodinobi highlighted the importance of harnessing the nation’s resources to promote prosperity.
He argued that lives and revenues had been lost “due to the government’s inability to recognise, regulate, and control artisanal refining of petroleum products,” a practice he said has been prevalent in the Niger Delta region for decades.
He noted that in 2016, “The Federal Government proposed the integration of artisanal refiners into mainstream oil and gas operations to encourage more local content in the industry and to advance the use of home-grown technology in petroleum refining in the region.”
Ozodinobi said that despite the Niger Delta’s substantial environmental deterioration over the past 70 years, governments have been unable to encourage artisanal refining or develop indigenous technology to alleviate Nigeria’s energy poverty.
“Deploying the Nigerian Navy and other security agencies to destroy artisanal refineries further degrades the environment that sustains Niger Delta communities,” he said, criticizing the stigmatization of indigenous artisanal refiners as “oil thieves.”
According to the lawmaker, the neglect of local refiners “has left Nigeria with four moribund refineries for decades, making it a major exporter of crude oil but a chronic importer of refined petroleum products.”
He maintained that the Dangote Refinery’s purported sabotage and recurring fuel shortages make things worse.
Ozodinobi cited examples from developed countries like China, Japan, and the US to urge Nigeria to make a commitment to advancing domestic technology.
Members unanimously approved the motion when it was presented to a voice vote. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission was encouraged to create a regulatory framework to formally incorporate artisanal refiners into the oil production value chain by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who chaired the plenary session.
