The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has condemned the abandonment of the Brass Modern Refinery project in Bayelsa State, calling it unacceptable.

The minister stated this during an inspection visit to Brass Local Government Area, where he also assessed the Ewa-Ama road project leading to the Brass Petroleum Products Terminal.

A statement from the minister’s spokesperson, Nneamaka Okafor, quoted Lokpobiri reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to revitalizing key oil and gas infrastructure in the Niger Delta.

Accompanied by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, Lokpobiri stressed that completing ongoing projects in the region remains a key mandate of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

He assured that the government is committed to completing the projects within the president’s first two years in office.

“It is unacceptable that such a strategic project has been left in this state for so long. The federal government remains committed to ensuring that critical oil and gas infrastructure, like the Brass Refinery, is completed to create jobs and drive economic growth in the region,” he stated.

During his visit, the minister met with host community representatives, commending their peaceful stance despite existing challenges.

He called on them to support the federal government’s initiatives and assured them that their concerns had been recognized.

The minister urged the host community to maintain peace, stressing that stability is crucial for attracting investment and development.

He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating opportunities that would benefit the people of Brass and the wider Niger Delta region.

“I sincerely commend the people of Brass for their patience and cooperation. Your support is invaluable, and I assure you that we will work tirelessly to address these issues and bring this project to completion,” he added.