Lokpobiri: Why Oil is Critical to Nigeria’s Economic Survival

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has said that oil and gas remain critical to the economic survival of Nigeria, noting that it was for that strategic reason that President Bola Tinubu deployed two ministers to oversee the ministry.

Speaking on the need for effective performance to address the nation’s challenges, during a town hall meeting with staff of the ministry in Abuja, Lokpobiri stated that the current challenges must be surmounted to get maximum gains from the sector.

According to him, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) will facilitate the needed growth, assuring the staff that collaboration between him and his counterpart at the gas ministry would lead to the realisation of the president’s directive.

In his remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo, sought the support of the employees in realising the federal government’s agenda in the sector and stressed the need to reshape the narrative within the oil and gas sector.

Ekpo, who underscored the ministry’s significance in Nigeria’s economic growth,  urged the staff to contribute their expertise to fulfil their mandates.

Also speaking, Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Gabriel Aduda, expressed confidence in the staff’s ability to achieve the ministers’ goals, highlighting initiatives such as providing staff buses to ease transportation and transitioning same to CNG to align with environmental concerns as key issues.