The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has stated that the ministry had received applications to operate seven modular refineries in Edo . The minister who disclosed this at the Stakeholders Engagement and Enlightenment Campaign in Niger Delta states, organised by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, in collaboration with the Edo State Government in Benin.
Mr. Kachikwu said the federal government was working to bring development to the Niger Delta region through establishment of modular refineries initiative, gas flare commercialisation programmes and collaborations with the Niger Delta region in the Amnesty Programme.He also said establishment of the refineries was private sector driven and the designs, analysis and engineering work for three of the refineries had been done.
The Edo State governor,Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo who was the chie host also called on the NDDC, established by the Federal Government to fast track development in the Niger Delta region, to live up to its responsibilities in the state.
Mr. Obaseki however expressed his displeasure that the commission had, over the years, failed to fulfil its mandate in the state, adding that it had also failed to sign an MoU with the state to reconstruct the Benin-Abraka Express Road.he also therfore called for extension of the Amnesty Programme to the state and a yearly stakeholders’ meeting, to encourage development in the state.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, said the meeting was to sensitise and create awareness of the on-going federal government’s initiative in the region. Mr. Usani said the federal government was reviewing the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta region to capture those who were left out of the scheme.
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