Mr. Baru who visited Kaduna state Governor, Nasiru El-Rufa’i, said President Muhammadu Buhari was personally committed to the project.
He explained that it has become important and necessary to explore alternative crude supply to Kaduna’s Refining and Petrochemical Company, which has been affected by pipeline vandals and age which has rendered its operations epileptic.
“Due to challenges with the aged refinery and crude oil pipelines that had been breached severally by the Niger Delta Avengers, the operations of the refinery has been epileptic.
“This we are determined to resolve through various intervention methods including evaluation of alternative crude oil supply from Niger Republic through building of a pipelines of over 1,000 kilometers from Agadem to Kaduna, that effort is being championed by Mr. President himself.
Announcing its readiness to kick-off the process, Baru said: “We have already started engagements with the Nigerian Minister of Petroleum and the Chinese that are operating the field at Agadem.”
Mr. Baru also pledged his commitment on improving energy supply to power industries in Kaduna through the development of Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline, as well as development of power plants in Kaduna and Abuja, assuring that “these projects will be given special attention during my tenure.”
He urged the governor to sensitise residents of Kaduna against sabotage of Nigeria’s oil assets due to its adverse effect on the community, environment and national economy.
Responding, Governor El-Rufa’i who wasted no time in showing his love for oil, said, “We are very interested in the NNPC because how well you do affects our lives as states and as a country.
.
“This is why many of us are quite gratified you are in charge, and already results are beginning to show as remittances to the Federation Account are higher, state governors are happier than before,” he said.
The governor pledged to support the gas pipeline project because of its tremendous potentials to the social and economic stability of the state. He expressed confidence that ongoing reforms of the NNPC would strengthen the corporation to serve Nigeria better.
El-Rufa’i assured that the government would tackle issues of water supply to KRPC and pipeline security through massive enlightenment and treating those engaged in illegal activities as criminals.
By Chukwuemeka Chimerue
For Biafra Writers
Post a Comment