Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is from the Edo State, has recently denounced Nigeria’s continued attempts to import of petroleum products despite being one of the largest producers of crude oil in the world.
The governor has made the following submission while addressing the media at Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Region of Edo State, at the 10-year-remembrance service of Pa Jeremiah Ighodalo, father of the Chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, Dr Asue Ighodaro.
The governor has made an explanation that the continuous importation of fuel into the nation as a patriotic shame to Nigeria.
Obaseki said that Nigeria was one of the largest producers of crude oil in the continent and as such, has no business importing fuel into the nation.
He added that, “It is a matter of shame that Nigeria is still importing fuel when we are one of the largest producers of crude oil in the whole continent. As a nation, we should not be importing fuel at this point in our life. It is a patriotic shame borrowing from the words of Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adiche.”
At the same time, while speaking on the occasion, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said that the possibility of his refinery commencing operation and providing petroleum products to the Nigerian market would hopefully begin in 2023.
“The refinery can provide petroleum products for the whole of Nigeria and some parts of West and Central Africa hopefully by 2023,” he noted.
