Don urges FG to encourage the establishment of modular refineries

 

Prof. Gordini Darah of Delta State University (DELSU) Abraka, has urged the Federal Government to encourage the establishment of modular refineries to increase locally refined petroleum products in the country.

 

Darah made the statement on Thursday in Warri at the 52nd Annual General Meeting/Luncheon of Warri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (WACCIMA).

 

In a paper entitled: ``Essentials of Economic Recovery of Warri and Environs,’’ he presented at the occasion, Darah said a lot of products were derive from crude oil.

 

He however stated that most of the products were lost to foreign countries where our crude oil is refined.

 

The professor of literature urged the federal government to ensure that the nation’s refineries and petrochemical plants were operating at optimal capacity.

 

He said that the economic recovery of Warri would be difficult except the moribund Delta Steel Company was revived.

 

Darah advised the WACCIMA and notable people of Delta to dialogue with the National Assembly and the Federal Government to ensure that the ailing industry was revamped.

 

''The Warri port should also be revived to boost commercial activities and create employment for the teeming youth,'' he said, and described Warri as the ``industrial locomotive’’ of Delta.

 

The don said that the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led administration in the state would not succeed until it took measures to enhance the economic viability of the oil city.

 

``WACCIMA should enter into collaboration with Gov. Okowa to ensure that in the next 20 months Warri and its environs will become a beehive of commercial activities,'' he said.

 

Earlier, the president of WACCIMA, Mr Simon Asite urged the state government to improve the security situation in the state.

 

He noted that the precarious security situation repels foreign investment inflow into the state.

 

In his remark, Mr Esimaje Brikinn, Warri Area Manager, Chevron Nigeria Ltd, urged the government and security agencies to synergise to ensure safe and secured environment for business to thrive in Nigeria.