(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/MAKU-MADUKWE-300x192.jpg) During the interactive session with the media, Civil Society Organization and other Nigerians locally and in the Diaspora, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke was tasked on some issues and developments in the sector.
Issues raised by the media and civil society organizations bother on the destruction of refining sites in the South-South; lack of jobs for petroleum graduates despite the belief that oil refineries are working; open doors for private investors in refinery building; continued gas flaring rather than investing in petrochemical manufactures.
Other areas where the Minister was tasked were on the need to refine Nigerian crude locally; oil theft in the Niger Delta; high cost of kerosene; commencement of the NLNG Train 7 Project for Bonny Island in Rivers State and the need to stop importation of refined products to Nigeria.
While responding to the questions from the media, the Minister of Petroleum inferred that effort is being made to explore additional export destinations for Nigerian crude in Asia, the Far East and some African countries. "Security measures are being taken through collaboration with stakeholders and countries where markets exist for Nigeria's stolen crude. She also said that maintenance is ongoing in the Warri, PortHarcourt and Kaduna refineries while some are already operational. She however, said that Nigeria cannot refine its oil locally with the present status."
On the Petroleum Industry Bill and Petroleum Act, she called on Nigerians to study their intent and content. She added that fund will soon be released for payment to students abroad who are benefiting from PTDF, while gas flaring has been reduced tremendously.
While delivering the welcome address at the occasion, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku noted that three Ministries were rescheduled to feature in the forum during the last briefing in the month of June comprising Petroleum, Power and Trade & Investment.
"In the last two years, changes in policy direction and strategic policies were recorded in the petroleum sectors; said Maku. "As a result of the efforts of the President which brought about peace in the Niger Delta and increase in GDP, progress has been made to integrate Nigeria in the downstream and upstream oil sectors", the Minister observed.
The Information Minister mentioned that delay in gas exploration has deprived Nigeria of the opportunities for job creation that accrue to gas production, stressing that gas availability has dropped from 60% to 18% with diversification of its use into construction, domestic industry and consumption.
Labaran Maku pointed out that the gas master-plan has helped to make Nigeria a major player in gas consumption, thereby introducing new leadership and insights to the petroleum sector.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria