Labour has asked the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachukwu, to resign over his comment that it was cheaper to import refined petroleum products than refine locally.
It said Kachikwu was working for foreign interest by making a statement against President Muhammad Buhari’s principle of local content promotion.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria, NUTGTWN, at the 11th National Delegates Conference of NUTGTWN held in Kano yesterday, also advised the minister to tender public apology.
Speaking, NLC President, Ayuba Wabba said Kachikwu’s comment was not in the best interest of Nigeria.
According to him, Nigeria cannot develop when it imports all it needs, adding that “except Nigerian industries were brought back on track, the country’s aspiration to prosperity will remain a mirage.”
Comrade Issa Aremu noted that Kachikwu’s comment negates the mission statement of the Ministry “which is to maximise the benefits of the sector, oil and gas, so that we can use these resources for national development.”
He said the comment was “extremely dangerous,” wondering how Nigeria will grow when its Petroleum Minister holds the view that it was cheaper to import than to produce locally.
Aremu gave an example of Aliko Dangote who is spending over $10billion dollars to establish the largest refinery in the world with a capacity to refine 650,00 barrel per day in Nigeria.
“If the same amount spent on fuel importation yearly was reserved for the building of local refineries, Nigeria would have many refineries by now,” he stated. .
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