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\nBy Amah
\nKindly share:<\/p>\n
\nBy Amah
\nKindly share:<\/p>\n
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for urgent reforms in the country\u2019s refineries and cautioned against political interference in the oil and gas sector.
\nMr Festus Osifo, President of PENGASSAN, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at the ongoing 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit 2025, themed \u201cBuilding a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment and Incremental Production.\u201d
\nOsifo said that Nigeria\u2019s refineries should operate under a model similar to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), where the government holds minority stakes while competent private operators take majority control for efficiency.
\nAccording to him, while Nigeria\u2019s workforce possesses the expertise to manage refineries, the absence of proper tools and the persistence of political interference have led to inefficiency, waste, and recurring breakdowns.
\n\u201cGovernment must divest majority control of the refineries, just as in the NLNG model, where private partners hold 51 per cent while government retains 49 per cent,\u201d he said.
\nHe further warned that Nigeria\u2019s 37 billion barrels of crude reserves risk remaining underutilised if production continues to hover around two million barrels per day, urging authorities to intensify drilling and exploration.
\nThe PENGASSAN president stressed that oil revenues should be reinvested in infrastructure, education, and healthcare to promote diversification, citing Dubai\u2019s transformation funded by Abu Dhabi\u2019s oil wealth as a model Nigeria could replicate.
\nOsifo commended the recent marginal field bid round, describing it as the most transparent in Nigeria\u2019s history, unlike previous politically influenced allocations that, he said, hindered development due to incompetence.
\nHe also condemned alleged anti-labour practices, singling out 11PLC for reportedly forcing workers to sign agreements barring union membership.
\nHe warned that PENGASSAN would resist any attempt to suppress workers\u2019 rights.
\nIn his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Felix Ogba, underscored the need for human capacity development as the bedrock of Nigeria\u2019s oil and gas growth.
\nOgba said the sector\u2019s sustainability depends not only on reserves and infrastructure but also on equipping Nigerians with critical skills in engineering, safety, automation, and digital technologies.
\nHe highlighted NCDMB\u2019s investments in training, research, and technical innovation, noting that every major oil and gas project must include skill-transfer components.
\nHe further stressed the importance of prioritizing STEM education, vocational training, and collaboration between government, industry, and labour to prepare a workforce that can adapt to energy transition and automation.
\n\u201cHuman capacity is the true oil that will sustain Nigeria\u2019s industry for generations,\u201d Ogba said. (NAN)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Amah Kindly share: The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for urgent reforms…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7408,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1574],"class_list":["post-7407","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-economy","tag-petroleum-and-natural-gas-senior-staff-association-of-nigeria"],"yoast_head":"\n