The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to support the Dangote refinery and other private-owned refineries under construction.

“Government should give the necessary support to the Dangote Refinery and other private-owned refineries under construction to enable them to come on stream as soon as possible,” IPMAN’s president, Chinedu Okoronkwo, said on Tuesday.

“The government should ensure that we improve our domestic refining capacity by rehabilitating our refineries. This is ongoing and hopefully, the contractors will adhere to the stipulated timelines,” he added.

Mr Okoronkwo’s charge follows the federal government’s decision to postpone indefinitely the removal of the petrol subsidy.

Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget had on Monday announced that the government would no longer go ahead with its earlier plans to remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit in July 2022

Mr Okoronkwo also advised the government to begin the implementation of programmes and palliatives aimed at cushioning the effects of the eventual removal of petrol subsidy in the country.

“For us at IPMAN, we believe this postponement gives the government an opportunity to put the necessary programmes and palliatives in place,” he said.

Mr Okoronkwo advised the government to initiate its mass transit programme which would help reduce the cost of movement of goods and persons.

“One of the factors contributing to the high cost of foodstuff in Nigeria is transportation. If we have mass transit buses, this will help us to reduce the prices of foodstuff in our markets,” he said.

(NAN)