FG is committed to ensuring businesses thrive in oil sector, Lokpobiri assures

Kunle Sanni

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources for Oil, Heineken Lokpobiri, recently met with leaders of various unions and associations in the downstream petroleum industry.

The meeting was held in Abuja and was aimed at addressing the concerns raised by the stakeholders in a letter to the Minister, according to a statement issued by the minister’s spokesperson Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa.

During the engagement, the Minister assured that the federal government is committed to supporting the oil and gas sector to thrive without any hindrance to businesses.

Acknowledging receipt of the letter, the Minister said, “Today, we have the opportunity to be able to address your concerns with a view to finding a common ground so that we can have a clear framework on how things should be done”

Lokpobiri stated that the government was ready to   engage the stakeholders on issues in a bid to find solutions that would avert strike actions.

At the end of Monday’s interface with the stakeholders, the Minister said the engagement would still continue on Tuesday, after which they would be able to let Nigerians know the outcome.

While applauding the stakeholders for demonstrating patriotism, Lokpobiri emphasized that the issues had nothing to do with the government but are basically commercial.

He added that  government had to intervene so that Nigerians would not suffer unduly.

Stakeholders at the meeting included members of the National  Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO),Petroleum  Tanker Drivers (PTD), Independent  Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).