Despite $396.33m spent on turnover maintenance, Nigerian refineries are decayed — Gaya

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya, has revealed that the nation’s refineries have decayed and required total rehabilitation rather than mere maintenance.

Speaking to newsmen, Gaya, who represents the Gaya/Ajingi/Albasu Federal Constituency of Kano State in the lower chamber of the National Assembly, revealed that, the committee with a mandate to investigate the 396.33 million US dollars allegedly spent on the turnaround maintenance of the nation’s three refineries, has visited Warri and Port Harcourt refineries, and that it has discovered that since 2004 the refineries have not undergone any turnaround maintenance.

“The refineries do not need any turn around again. Since 2004, they have not done any maintenance of the refineries. Turnaround maintenance is like doing a general check on aircraft, and as it is now, we have passed that stage. What we need now is a total rehabilitation. We are worried that despite government’s investments, the three refineries have been abandoned, he said.

He added that, the committee would continue with its investigation and will also ensure that, its recommendations are put into action.

He further stated that the country should not continue to depend on oil resources in financing its budgets, saying diversification drive by exploring various sectors that could augment the economy is the only option.

“The executive and the legislature has a common understanding that we need to find ways to rejig the budget. This is something that is unforeseen. Nobody thought the prices were going to nose dive. With the current price of crude oil in the international market, there is no way the budget can be funded based on the projections that were made. We need to quickly think of how to diversify the economy,” he said.