Oil And Gas Suppliers To Partner FG To Fight Adulteration Of Petroleum Products

Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria (NOGASA) has said it has resolved to partner the Federal Government in curbing circulation of adulterated petroleum products and pipelines vandalism.

Alhaji Abdulahi Idris, the Deputy Chairman of NOGASA’s Board of Trustees, made this known during the inaugural ceremony of the association held in Abuja.

He said the government is managing almost all aspects of oil and gas, but a lot of logistic issues are hindering its efforts at achieving the desired goal.

According to Idris, partnering with the government was needed, because the association alone could not address all the existing challenges in the oil and gas sector.

“There was increasing population and sustained struggle to keep up with high demographic demands for vital industrial and domestic petroleum product.

“Petrol, diesel, kerosene and domestic gas became difficult to push to end users and consequently private investors and players started coming in to help tackle the challenges.

“Distribution of petroleum products, however, suffered a great deal of obstacles as a result of fragmented and individual engagement of the job.

“We have discovered that the challenges, intrigues and delay have translated our experience to take up our rightful place in the industry,” he said.

According to the deputy chairman, the association would behave itself responsibly, so as to partner with the government, among other objectives, discourage illicit transactions in the downstream sector.

He further stated that the association would avail itself of the benefits and various support provisions such as products, capital, insurance, banking relationship, litigation among others.

In his remarks, the President of the Association, Chief Benneth Korie, said the strategic position of the industry as suppliers of Natural oil and gas in the overall development of economy could not be overemphasized.

Korie called on marketers patronizing illegal depots to desist from doing so, saying it would jeopardize the association’s efforts in addition to the frequent damages caused by adulterated products.