According to a news that was published by The Cable Online yesterday, it was reported that President Olusegun Obasanjo, who twice led Nigeria- first as military head of state (1976-1979) and later as an elected civilian president (1999-2007), during an interview recently has given his opinions of a wide range of issues affecting Nigeria.
(Photo Credit : The Cable paper)
During the interview, Obasanjo was told that up till this moment, the four refineries in the country are not working, as he was asked what the problem was.
Obasanjo, in response, asserted, “These refineries will remain inactive as long as the government maintains control over them.” Reflecting on his tenure, he recalled a pivotal encounter with Shell, where he sought their assistance in running the refineries.
Describing the encounter, Obasanjo recounted, “I extended an invitation to Shell for a meeting and expressed my willingness to entrust the refineries’ operations to them. Their response was unequivocal: they declined the offer. I was surprised by their refusal and sought further clarification.”
Continuing, he elaborated on Shell’s reasons for refusing the offer. “First, Shell makes it money from upstream and that is where its interest lies. Second, they stated that downstream or retail activities were only a service aspect for them. Third, they argued that our refineries presented unfavorable economics, as global trends favoured larger-scale refineries. Lastly, Shell cited widespread corruption within refinery operations as a major concern.”
(Photo Credit : Facebook)
In light of these perspectives, Obasanjo shed light on the challenges facing Nigeria’s refineries, suggesting that a reevaluation of government control and tackling corruption are essential steps for the nation’s energy sector.
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