Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri has expressed his willingness to engage stakeholders in the creeks, to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
He made this declaration during a town hall meeting held in Abuja, alongside the Minister of Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo.
The ministers stressed the need to reshape the narrative within the oil and gas sector.
They reached out to the ministry’s officials to garner their support in realising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Ekpo underscored the ministry’s significance in Nigeria’s economic growth and urged the officials to contribute their expertise to fulfil their mandates.
Deputy Director/ Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs. Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, made this known in a statement issued yesterday.
She said the engaging town hall meeting was attended by directors and staff from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, showcasing the ministry’s dedication to transparency, collaboration and the administration’s overarching agenda.
The statement quoted Ekpo as saying: “We are here to work alongside you, understand you, and encourage you to bring your skills to bear.”
He further outlined their shared objective of expanding domestic gas penetration, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), for the betterment of the nation.
According to him, Lokpobiri echoed the ministry’s vital role in Nigeria’s survival and emphasised the need for effective performance to address the nation’s challenges.
He noted that having two ministers in the ministry was a strategic decision to propel change and expand investments in the oil and gas sector.
The Petroleum Industry Act was highlighted as a facilitating factor, and he assured the works that collaboration between him and Ekpo would lead to the realisation of the President’s directive.
He recalled that during a visit to the refinery, the contractors working on the Port Harcourt refinery’s rehabilitation indicated that the initial phase would be completed by December 2023.
Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, the permanent secretary of the ministry, expressed confidence in the workers’ capability to achieve the ministers’ goals.
He highlighted initiatives such as providing staff buses to ease transportation and transitioning same to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to align with environmental concerns.
Aduda stressed leveraging the ministers’ experience to advance the industry and announced plans for frequent town hall meetings to enhance communication and collaboration within the ministry.
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