- President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, in Abuja directed the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, to work more closely with the indigenous oil producers to boost domestic refining capacities.
- The president gave the directive while meeting with members of the Independent Petroleum Producers Association, IPPA, at the Presidential Villa.
- Led by its spokesperson and Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Oil, Mr. Austin Avuru, the association, which represents about 20 Nigerian companies operating mainly on onshore fields, intimated President Buhari of its resolve to build private refineries and increase local production to 1.2 million barrels per day by year 2020.
- While commending the determination of the group to increase the participation of Nigerians in the country’s oil industry, the president pledged his administration’s support and assistance to the project.
“We have the manpower for a more effective participation in our oil industry. We will give you all possible encouragement. You certainly won’t be ignored under my leadership,” he said.
