How Oil Reform Would Boost Nigeria’s Economy – PENGASSAN
Oil workers under the aegis of Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has underscored the imports of the reform of oil and gas sector to the nation’s economy.
The association, in its Independence Anniversary statement, expressed optimism that the benefits derived from reformed oil and gas sector will assist in the development of other sectors of the economy to prepare the country for the future of a nation without oil.
Fortune Obi, the association’s Public Relations Officer, in the statement, emphasised the need for government to address the gaps in the legal framework that guide operations and activities in the Oil and Gas industry through the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) which has suffered several setbacks.
It noted that the bill when passed will attract and retain more investments.
The association noted that Nigerians have made a lot of progress in the field of agriculture, commerce, banking, and manufacturing in the 19 years of uninterrupted democratic rule.
It however, said attracting major investments will continue to elude Nigeria if its infrastructure and insecurity challenges are not addressed.
It expressed dissatisfaction over the resurgence of attacks by Boko Haram in the North East and North Central parts and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta area of the country.
The oil workers also said the inability of the nation’s security agencies to contain these attacks portends danger in the country especially as we approach the 2019 elections.
“We urge the security agencies to rejig their security architecture in order to get rid of these insurgents. We strongly condemn the killing of Saifura Khorsa, one of the health workers with the International Committee of Red Cross that was kidnapped from Kala-Balge, Borno State by Boko Haram.
“PENGASSAN thereby calls on the Government to do all within its powers to secure the release of all those abducted by the insurgents including Leah Sharibu, the Dapchi School girl.We also call on the government to tackle unemployment, address infrastructural decay and fashion out deliberate policies that will eradicate poverty in the country.
Source: Daily Independence