LAGOS JANUARY 14TH (URHOBOTODAY)-Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain and Former Delta State Gubernatorial Aspirant, Chief Sunny Onuesoke  has described the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) plan nationwide protest from January 27, 2022 over the Federal Government plan to remove subsidy from petroleum products as misplacement of priority.

Onuseoke who made the statement while addressing Media  Oil Correspondent in his office in Warri, Delta state said if members of  NLC mean well for Nigerians they are expected   to protest and declare full strike for the renovation of the  non functional Nigerians refineries instead removal of  fuel subsidy from petroleum products.

The PDP Chieftain pointed out that if the   Warri, Port Harcourt and  Kaduna refineries are in good working condition, the issue of paying of fuel subsidy will be minimize or totally  eradicated hence the oil is drilled and produce within Nigeria.

“In essence, I expect NLC to  protest over the non functional of the Nation’s refineries and the  twenty one  NNPC storage tank farms across the country. If NLC can push for the repairs of the refineries and it is done, the issue of fuel subsidy will be over. I wonder why they are all turning their eyes away from the reality.

“What is the need of having over four non functional refineries that is gulping billion of Naira annually?   If those refineries are not working, if new refineries have not been built by the government, if we now have to import fuel from abroad including from African countries that do not produce oil, there can be no justification for visiting the irresponsibility of the government on the Nigerian people,” he stated.

Onuesoke who argued that the country has no reason for not bringing back its moribund domestic refineries said it is a shame  for Nigeria to remain the only OPEC member that imports more than 90 per cent of its refined petroleum needs.

He maintained that the precipitous removal of  fuel subsidy without making strategic plans or giving particular attention to the domestic refining of crude oil is tantamount to strangulating hand-to-mouth Nigerians.

“Before the removal of the fuel subsidy, it will indeed be a very good idea for Nigeria to go all out to resuscitate its four comatose refineries and embark on building new others in order to mitigate the consequences of the withdrawal. The poser here is why is Nigeria’s four ailing refineries are yet to be resuscitated?” he queried.

The PDP Chieftain advised that the government should not impulsively withdraw fuel subsidy unless its entire four comatose refineries are resuscitated.

“President Buhari should shut his ears to the incessant destructive criticism of those egoistical and unpatriotic Nigerians who denunciate his commitment to resuscitate Nigeria’s ailing refineries and spare no effort to lay the foundation for actualising zero import target of refined products by 2024,” he advised