PENGASSAN Harps On PIA Implementation, Re-Orientation To Redeem Nigeria

Saddened by the myriad challenges plaguing most oil and gas host communities, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called for the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to further address the issues and ease the relationship between oil companies and host communities.
PENGASSAN also said the Nigerian nation needed a re-orientation to be able to tackle the numerous challenges bedeviling it.
The President, PENGASSAN, Festus Osifo, made the call at the National Executive Council (NEC) Meeting of the association held in PortHarcourt.
Osifo, who lamented the non-mplementation of the provisions of the PIA by most operating companies, stated that these companies have not begun remittance of the three percent of the previous years expenditure to the fund as mandated by the law.
.He stressed the need for all relevant stakeholders to ensure implementation of the provisions of the act for a hitch free oil business environment and eonommy boost.
Noting that the country was at a crossroads which he said has resulted in hardship for many of its citizens, the PENGASSAN boss insisted that an effective re-orientation campaign was integral to achieving the process of a richer and safer economy.
According to him, to begin the journey to achieving genuine rebirth and meaningful re-orientation, Nigeria must eradicate corruption, prioritise education, engage the youths and instill in the citizens a sense of unity, patriotism and national pride.
.Osifo said education would not only awaken the minds of the citizens, but also promote critical thinking, and  foster the sense of national pride.
The PENGASSAN chief said this could be achieved through the reinforcement of the country’s national symbols, the celebration of diverse cultural heritage, and the promotion of the nation’s rich history.
To tackle the nation’s electricity challenges and improve power supply, Osifo urged the government to increase power generation capacity by investing in renewable energy.
While calling on the government to rehabilitate and upgrade infrastructure, Osifo said the national grid must be unbundled to smaller units scattered across different states of the federation.
“PENGASSAN demands for the umpteenth time that the Federal Government should take bold steps to encourage local refining of crude oil.
“It is time for us to unlock our potential and seize control of our energy future. The ongoing rehabilitation of the existing refineries must be sustained”,  he said.

By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu