Nigerian students under the aegis of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, NAPS, have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise local refining.
The students also want the President to allocate 100 percent of the nation’s crude oil supply to the local refineries to enable full-scale production and self-sufficiency in fuel supply.
The students armed with various placards and banners, made the call during a peaceful rally on Wednesday, in Nigeria at the Unity Fountain.
The students, who were scheduled to march to the National Assembly were, however, stopped by security agents who blocked all access roads.
Addressing newsmen, President of NAPS, Eshiofune Oghayan described the local refineries as “a root that has given life to a decaying tree,” and a symbol of hope for Nigeria’s industrial revival.
According to him, local refineries are a symbol of Africa’s industrial power and a cornerstone for Nigeria’s ambition to become the refining hub of the continent.
He said: “For decades, our nation lived under the shadow of dependency, we were exporters of crude and importers of survival. But today, we have found pride again in an African-built refinery, one that can restore Nigeria’s economic independence.”
The students noted that Tinubu “understands the suffering of the common man and the Nigerian student,” adding that “this is why we believe he will listen to our appeal.”
“When we feed [these refineries] fully, [they] will produce more barrel, flood the market supply, decrease the price of fuel and stabilize our economy.
“We are appealing to the federal government and relevant agencies to prioritize local refined products.”
The students urged President Tinubu to take decisive action including the scrapping of anti-development elements within the oil and gas sector who they claim were frustrating national progress.
“For over 30 years, the nation’s refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri were dead. These same groups did nothing. But now that one man has chosen to rebuild our dream, they have risen against him.”