FALANA URGES FG TO SUPPLY LOCAL REFINERIES WITH CRUDE

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has urged the Federal Government to allocate 450,000 barrels of crude oil per day to local refineries to support domestic refining and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

Falana said providing sufficient crude to local refineries would help ensure that the country’s refining capacity is fully utilised and strengthen the domestic petroleum industry.

He argued that local refineries should have reliable access to crude oil to enable them to operate efficiently and contribute to meeting Nigeria’s fuel demand.

According to him, increasing domestic refining would also reduce the pressure associated with importing refined petroleum products and help conserve foreign exchange.

Falana called on the government to ensure that crude allocation policies are implemented transparently and that local refiners receive adequate supplies.

He also stressed the importance of strengthening regulatory oversight to ensure that crude intended for domestic refining is supplied as required.

The call comes as Nigeria continues efforts to expand domestic refining capacity, with several private and government-backed projects expected to increase local production of petroleum products.

Falana said achieving greater self-sufficiency in refining would benefit the Nigerian economy and reduce exposure to fluctuations in international fuel markets.

He urged the government to prioritise policies that support local refining and ensure that the country’s crude resources are effectively utilised for domestic economic benefit.

The lawyer maintained that consistent crude supply would be critical to sustaining the operations of local refineries and achieving Nigeria’s long-term energy security goals.