The Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, on Friday said that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would create an enabling environment for the sector.
Gulak said in Abuja that there must be complete deregulation of the oil sector if Nigeria must move forward.
He said, “There must be complete deregulation of the oil sector if Nigeria must move forward; without complete deregulation, private investors will not come to build refineries.
“They will always apply for licences, they import because there is subsidy to be paid; as long as the subsidy regime is in place, we will always have problems.
“Our petroleum sector will not be developed; private investors will not bring in foreign investment to build the refineries.”
According to him, indigenous investors are not willing to build refineries, if they can go and import petroleum products and be paid subsidy by the government.
“So, if we want development in that sector; if we want availability of the product; if we want to add value to our crude oil, then we must deregulate the sector,” he said.
On the state of Nigerian roads, the special adviser said the roads were dilapidating faster due to the overuse.
He said that pressure on the roads would significantly reduce once the rail system being planned by the government became functional.
The special adviser urged Nigerians to support the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure rapid growth and development of the country, create jobs and tackle insecurity.
He advised Nigerians to allow political parties in the country to grow along democratic lines, adding that it would be one way of delivering the dividends of democracy.
He also appealed to Nigerians to uphold justice for the development and sustenance of “true democracy” in the country.
According to him, true democracy will uplift and sustain the integrity of the nation with equity, fairness and justice in place.
