Stakeholders believe Buhari re-election will spur growth in Oil & Gas sector - As NUPENG urges Atiku to concede defeat

Abiodun OBA, Bose Simeon, Bisi Abass |

The re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari is good omen for the oil and gas sector.

Stakeholders in the Nigerian oil and gas sector including staff of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Abuja on Friday opined that the sector would witness massive growth with the re-election of the president.

Mr Musa Danjuma, a staff of the NNPC said that there would be continuity with the happenings in the corporation and by extension the industry.

“I am happy that the president won this election; for us in NNPC, it would have been a disaster if he had lost.

“With him as the president, ongoing projects will continue and which will be a good lead in the industry.

“You know people have been apprehensive about investing in capital projects in the sector because of the election and with the proposal of the opposition party to sell the NNPC if they win.

“Right now, with President Buhari on board, most of them will invest and it will help to heat the ground running,” he said.

Danjuma Further said that the president should try and ensure speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

This, he said would help bring about change, growth and development in the sector.

Also, another staff who spoke on condition of anonymity said that the best has happened to the sector with the re-election of President Buhari.

“As the president, he was the Minister of Petroleum and there has been great difference with the way things have been going on in the sector.

“His coming back will help to solidify the good things already existing in the sector.

“You can see that there is transparency in everything happening in the corporation right now.

“This is what Buhari signifies and that is what we want. I am happy that he has been re-elected, “he said.

Also, another staff simply identified as Benjamin said that with Buhari as the president, refinery rehabilitation, pipelines vandalism and other issues would be dealt with.

“He has promised to give NNPC all the support and I am sure he will do it and Nigerians will see results.

“His administration is keen with sustaining NNPC as National oil company which is very important than those who wanted to sell to friends.

“Nigeria deserves a good leader like him,” he said.

Also, Mr Osagie Mustapha, an independent marketer said that there would be relative peace in the sector with the re-election of Buhari.

“I will want the president to ensure transparency in everything concerning the sector especially in payments of oil marketers their outstanding debts.

“He has done well in his first term but there is much that is expected of him, like the refineries need to be operational,” he said

He also urged the president to provide level playing ground to bring investors to the sector.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, (NUPENG) has appealed to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to rescind his decision to contest the outcome of last weekend presidential election.

Atiku has since disclosed his intention to challenge the result of the election at the tribunal.

But rising from an emergency meeting in Abuja, the national officers of the Petroleum Tankers Drivers, (PTD) branch of NUPENG urged the former vice president to reverse his decision.

In the statement signed by its national chairman, Otunba Salimonu Oladiti, the Union advised the main opposition party to take advantage of President Buhari pledge to run an inclusive government as very reassuring.

The NUPENG expressed concern that threats in certain quarters to form a parallel government was inimical to peace and further admonished all political actors to work for national cohesion and unity.

The statement read in part:” The PTD hereby calls on the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to accept the results and accept the election of Muhammadu Buhari as the President. We further call on the PDP to take advantage of the President’s pledge to run an inclusive government. The Union also condemns calls for a parallel government or mobilisation of the masses for disobedience to constituted authority.

“We join other peace-loving Nigerians and friends of the country to call for unity, peace and order. We are also committed to the indivisibility of the country and dissociate ourselves from plans and orchestration to be used for violence or mass action.

” Consequently, we implore all losers, irrespective of their parties to rein in their supporters and avoid circumstances in which they may resort to acts inimical to public safety.

“Our Constitution and the electoral act are clear on ways and means aggrieved persons can seek redress in situations they strongly believe that their chances to have won their positions were undermined.

“We must be reminded that Nigeria is our only country and do all within our capacity to keep it peaceful. We will support efforts in this regard and once again persuade our political actors to work for national cohesion and unity.”

The Union called on President Buhari not to disappoint Nigerians who voted for him for a fresh mandate as it noted that the electorate were deserving of good governance in appreciation of their trust in his leadership.

“We urge President Buhari not to fail Nigerians in his commitment to the common good for the greatest number of our people. It is that care that has earned him their unwavering support despite the elite gang up. He has not disappointed them.”