Latest: NOA sensitizes public on benefits of petroleum industry deregulation in Kogi.
IDRIS AHMED, LOKOJA
The National Orientation Agency, NOA, in kogi State, has embarked on a sensitisation to change the negative perception people about the deregulation of the downstream sector of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry.
The exercise in also aimed at securing acceptance of the policy by all the people in kogi state.
Deputy Director, Documentation, Translation and Publications (DTP), National Orientation Agency, Mr Patrick Odogbanya disclosed this during an advocacy visit to the Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Kogi State Council.
Mr Odogbanya said the essence of the visit was to create awareness for members of the public on what deregulation is all about and also on the benefits of subsidy removal.
He also said the visit was to appeal to the media to help disseminate the news items in order to conscious members of the public on the advantages of deregulation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian petroleum industry and also keep the public abreast of the measures being put in place to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
“I want to inform the public on what fuel subsidy is all about, why it should be removed and the gains of fuel subsidy removal, he said.
While highlighting the benefits of the subsidy removed, as freeing up resources for other sectors of the economy, grow domestic refineries by creating a market reflective downstream, pointed out that it will invariably stimulate more downstream investments, especially in the domestic refining space, thereby creating more jobs, prosperity and growth.
He further said it would also create more domestic refineries to produce more petroleum products, thereby reducing Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel.
Odogbanya said the domestic refineries will boost the country’s economy as the removal of fuel subsidies will put a stop to the unhealthy price hike.
” It would also create open market reflective prices and bring in more players and create a more efficient market thereby reducing fuel scarcity and its adverse effects on the Economy”, the Deputy Director assured
The Chairman of NUJ, Comrade Adeiza Momohjimoh who was represented by the Vice Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Suleiman, commended NOA for the visit and promised to ensure that the media create awareness to the public.
Momohlimoh assured that the NUJ will cooperate with NOA to diseminating positive and loudable information using both print and electronic media .
” It is the responsibility of the media to inform and enlighten the public on activities of government and also ensure that the interest of the public is also protected”., he stated.
He therefore assured NOA team that the Union will assist disseminating the news to the members of the public on what deregulation is all about and the benefits of subsidy removal .
