By Jennifer John
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma has tasked the National Assembly Committee on Oil and Gas to enact a law to get 20% of Nigeria’s crude extract locally refined to meet local needs, create value chain and employment for youths.
Uzodimma gave the advice when a delegation of special committee from the National Assembly led by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan, representing Akwa Ibom North East, accompanied by Patrick Ifeanyi Uba, representing Anambra south and Barinaga Ibigi of Rivers State paid him a courtesy visit at government house, Owerri.
The Governor noted that it was only in Nigeria that all types of dichotomy exists within the oil industry shrouded in all kinds of vocabulary and jargons which do not exist in other countries.
“Fortunately when you have Chevron here it is the same all over the world, Agip is the same all over the world and so on, all are global operators but what baffles most of us is the double standard.” Uzodimma lamented.
He said the most important law that should go with the host communities’ law is that oil communities should refine at least 20% of crude extracted locally, by building refinery or sign agreement to refine locally, thereby creating value chain and employment for youths.
The national assembly delegates had earlier informed Uzodimma that they were in the state to hold a town hall meeting with stakeholders and host communities of oil producing regions to chart a way forward for both parties.
They assured that this time around the interest of host communities was top priority and noted that any bill without ensuring interest of host communities are protected is not complete, which they said was the essence of the visit to the oil producing states across the country.
