By Adaobi Rhema Oguejiofor
The Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) has expressed its willingness to collaborate with the newly appointed Energy Ministers, which are the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri; pooland the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the NAEC Chairman, Olu Philips, on Wednesday. He noted that the news of their appointment was a cheery one because of their antecedents to deliver viable results in their past endeavours.
Mr. Philips explained that the country’s Energy sector is struggling with many challenges that require quick intervention of the ministers in order to meet the aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda.
In his own words, “the Association urges the ministers to ensure the revival of the nation refineries, and conserve the scarce foreign exchange the country is currently using to import products into the country.”
He pointed out that with the growing global energy demand, highly volatile prices and increasingly stringent environmental regulations, the oil and gas industry faces many challenges, and Nigeria must ensure reducing costs, optimize the performance of its industrial assets, and improve its environmental footprints.
The NAEC Chairman also highlighted the pressing need to walk the talk as regarding the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), identifying its lapses and correcting it accordingly.
He assured the ministers that NAEC was willing to work with the Petroleum and Power Ministries in order to ensure the achievement of their set goals.
“NAEC is on standby for any collaboration that will guarantee the success of the ministry’s endeavours as the Ministers of State for Petroleum Resources(Oil) and (Gas) and Power settle down for work.
“It is our hope that by our collaboration, the industry and the supervising Ministry would be a reference point in the minds of Nigerians both at home and abroad,” he concluded.