Former Governorship aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke says Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited NNPCL should award contract for the Operations and Maintenance of Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company to competent Niger Deltans who are investors in the oil industry.
Recently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in a public notice called for Operations and Maintenance (O&M) companies to bid for the Warri and Kaduna refineries.
The oil company on its official X handle, outlined the qualifications of companies interested in bidding for the contracts, stating that the move will help ensure reliability and energy security for the country.
However, Onuesoke while reacting to questions from Energy Correspondent during oil and gas meeting in Lagos, said if there is any consideration for an investor to manage and operate the Warri refinery, Niger Delta oil and gas investors should be giving both the first and second right of response and third right of choice before considering operators from any other region in country or overseas.
“If there is any consideration at all, Niger Delta investors in oil and gas should be giving the first right of response, second right of response and third right of choice before considering operators from any other region of the country or overseas. They should give the priority to Niger Delta investors who are into oil and gas sector because we have capable men to handle the situation than any region in this country,” he stated.
He stated that his request is tenable because giving the offer to Niger Delta indigene will reduce the cost of operation hence the investor will be close to the location of operation and equally has close inter face with what is happening.
“I am saying because it will reduce the cost of operation hence the investor will be close to the location of operation and have close inter face with what is happening,” he stressed.
The former Delta State Gubernatorial aspirant who requested that the search for private operator demanded that the same thing should be done with Kaduna refinery by appointing a Nothern investors.
He said it is more better for investors residing in the area where the refinery is located than bringing a foreigner to manage it.
