The Federal Workers Forum has urged the Federal Government to decentralise crude oil refining across the country, saying the policy could reduce the pump price of petrol to about N100 per litre.
The group’s General Secretary, Andrew Emelieze, made the call in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja.
Emelieze argued that allowing state governments to establish and operate refineries would encourage competition, improve efficiency and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
He noted that decentralised refining would conserve foreign exchange and help stabilise fuel prices.
“Promoting local refining across states will drive healthy competition and significantly lower the cost of petrol. It will also reduce dependence on imports and ease pressure on foreign exchange,” he said.
The labour leader linked the country’s rising cost of living to high energy prices, particularly following the removal of fuel subsidy, stressing that expanding local refining capacity would help address the challenge.
According to him, the initiative would also create employment opportunities, boost industrialisation and enhance energy security by reducing vulnerabilities associated with pipeline vandalism and distribution constraints.
Emelieze further called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to enact enabling laws and provide financial support to facilitate the establishment of modular refineries by states.
He added that increased investment in local refining would have multiplier effects on key sectors, including electricity generation, fertiliser production and other downstream industries.
The forum maintained that adopting decentralised refining represents a practical solution to Nigeria’s energy challenges and could drive economic growth, reduce poverty and improve overall national development.
