By Abdulrahman A. Abdulrauf
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, has assured that the National Assembly would expedite action on of the Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB.
Ekweremadu gave the assurance when he received a delegation of the newly elected National Executive Council of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) paid a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
He said the Senate was mindful of the benefits of the PIB to Nigerians and those in the petroleum sector and would work to enthrone the envisaged major reforms intended by the bill.
He said: “I would like to use this opportunity to assure you that progress is being made regarding the Petroleum Industry Bill. We are committed to passing the Petroleum Industry Bill because we believe that it is going to bring major reforms in the industry. We want to solicit your patience and also your support towards passing it.
“We are hoping that very shortly our Committee will bring forth the report of the bill and we are going to give it an accelerated hearing so that Nigerians and those who are in the industry will begin to have the benefits of reforms intended by this bill.”
Ekweremadu, who urged IPMAN to remain patriotic and ensure steady supply of petroleum products to Nigerians given the enormous dependence of businesses on the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, also implored them to be security conscious in their operations, saying that the task of securing the country involved all.
Earlier, leader of the delegation and National President of IPMAN, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo assured that IPMAN was committed to stability in the downstream sub-sector of the petroleum industry.
He said IPMAN would stabilise petroleum products supply at the official rate, adding that the new leadership of IPMAN planned to establish two refineries in Kogi and Bayelsa states to further boost the nation’s economy.