Despite Nigeria being one of the world’s top producers of crude oil, the governor of the Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has called the country’s continued importation of petroleum products into the country shameful.
Obaseki made this statement on Sunday at the 10-year memorial service for Chief Jeremiah Ighodalo, the father of Dr. Asue Ighodalo, the chairman of Sterling Bank Plc, in Ewohimi, Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State.
He said:-
“The continuous importation of fuel into the nation is a patriotic shame to Nigeria.
“As one of the largest producers of crude oil in the African continent, Nigeria has no business importing fuel into the country. It’s a shame we are still importing fuel”
As a nation, we should not be importing fuel at this point in our life. It’s a patriotic shame borrowing from the words of Nigerian writer, Chimamanda Adiche,” he said.
Also speaking, the President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, while speaking on his refinery, said the plant will hopefully begin operation and supply of products in 2023.
He explained that the refinery can provide petroleum products for the whole of Nigeria and some parts of West and Central Africa hopefully by 2023.
He said he is hopeful that the refinery will address the importation of fuel once it commences operation.
