The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria PENGASSAN has reiterated that Nigeria's moribund refineries can only function optimally if the Federal Government ends political interference in the state-owned assets.
The union argued that years of political interference had crippled refinery operations, stressing that the only solution is for the government to divest and allow competent private investors to take charge.
PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, made the declaration on Thursday in Abuja at the ongoing 4th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit 2025. Osifo's comment was in reference to assurances by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, on plans to revamp the refineries.