.Gives reasons Nigeria still ferry petroleum products in trucks
Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that there was no investment in the country’s oil and gas sector for 12 before years, because of perceived bad governance structure.
Lokpobiri stated this yesterday when the leadership of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) paid him a courtesy call in Abuja.
He said: “You will recall that before this administration, for 12 years, there has been majorly no investment in the oil sector, not just upstream, but also midstream and downstream. And it was because a lot of people felt that, Nigeria’s governance structure was not really steady.
“It took too long for the PIA to be passed. And the PIA was first introduced when I was in the Senate by President Yar’Adua in 2007, 2008. That was when it was first introduced.
‘It was not passed until 2021. And, you know, everybody wants to bring dollars to invest. We want to invest in an environment where there is certainty.
“And so investment did not come into the country for some of those reasons, together with some fiscal reasons where some people felt that our fiscal conditions were not globally competitive. But all those things are changing now. We’ve been able to bring back the confidence that is needed for investments to flow in.”
The minister also explained that moribund pipelines was the reason Nigeria still transport petroleum products through trucks, but insisted that only certified drivers are tanker would be allowed to ferry petroleum products.
“Ordinarily, petroleum products ought to be transported through pipelines to nearer locations where people can come, take to final destination.
“But most of the pipelines are already outlived their lifespans, and it is very capital intensive to replace them,” he said.
Earlier, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, commended the Minister for the positive reforms being embarked upon in petroleum industry in Nigeria by the current leadership.
He noted the existing peace and harmony in the Niger Delta areas and requested for collaboration for sustained peace and development in the oil industry.
Mohammed disclosed that as part of the FRSC’s commitment to safety in movement of petroleum products, personnel of the Corps are being deployed to major depots across the country to ensure compliance to safety rules and regulations with particular reference with the policy on safe to load.
He requested the Minister to assist the Corps with some logistics including patrol vehicles and ambulance for enhanced road surveillance and prompt response to distress calls.
Daily Sun