– The APC has supported the Buhari administration’s plan to import oil from Niger
– Chief Oyegun said it will make economic sense
– He urged the government to expedite the plan
The plan by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to import crude oil to Kaduna refinery has received support from the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Ministry of Petroleum had announced in 2016 that due to the continued blowing-up of oil and gas pipelines in the Niger Delta region, Nigeria was engaging in a bilateral discussion with Niger Republic to import oil to Kaduna refinery.
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This Day reports that Chief John Odigie-Oyegun who is the national chairman of the APC spoke of his support to the plan when he received Niger’s Minister of Petroleum, Foumakoye Gado and the country’s Ambassador, Mansour Maman Hadj Daddo at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday, February 1.
Oyegun was quoted by APC’s Media Unit urging the government to expedite the plan as it made economic sense.
“It is already bearing fruit with the proposal for Republic of Niger to supply crude to the Kaduna refinery. For us it will make great economic sense for the refinery in Kaduna to function properly.
“Moreso, in the face of disruptions we have in the southern parts of our country. It is a major economic advantage for that project to be expedited and come to fruition as soon as possible. At the Party level, we assure you that everything will be done to ensure that those who are involved expedite the discussion and agreement so that the plan can be made operational as soon as possible.”
Nigerien petroleum minister also doubles as the ecretary of the country’s ruling Party for Democracy and Socialism and expressed hope that this unity will be replicated at the party level.
“We are here to strengthen the relationship between the two countries specifically the political parties of both countries. We acknowledge the cordial relationship between the President of Republic of Niger and Nigeria hence the need for us to come to the Party to strengthen the relationship. We believe that the cordial executive relationship between the two countries should be replicated at Party level.
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“It is line with this understanding that the two leaders (Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerien President, Mahamadou Issoufou) agreed to channel crude oil from Republic of Niger to the Kaduna refinery for refining. We have had discussion with the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Maikanti Baru, to facilitate the plan.
“The project is unprecedented because in Africa we are used to exporting crude oil instead of refining it within the continent. This is the first time two countries are coming together for this sort of bilateral crude-refining arrangement.”
360naze
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