Goddy Jedy Agba, the ministerial nominee from Cross River State, Monday afternoon, disclosed on the floor of the Nigerian Senate while undergoing screening that he contested the 2015 gubernatorial election in Cross River State and “failed woefully” before deciding to go back to farming as well as embrace “a siddon look posture” until he was “by the grace of God nominated by Mr. President”.
Agba who fielded questions from senators, also revealed that Nigeria’s three refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna, were 50 years old and configured to refine only one strand of crude oil out of the 23 strands of crude explored in the country. He also decried the inability of the country to carry out comprehensive Turn Around Maintenance, TAM, on her refineries, further disclosing that if this is done and the three refineries reconfigured to refine at least three strands of crude each, the perennial problem of fuel scarcity will be effectively addressed.
Asked by Dino Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial District if it was possible to halt the payment of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government, Agba responded and informed the Senate that subsidy will simply be reduced if more of the country’s crude is refined here, emphasising that subsidy is also a commercial activity based on commerce. He reiterated too that because the petroleum business is highly capital intensive, if refineries are revamped and produce optimally, subsidy will disappear gradually and the market can even be liberalised.
On whether it is possible to account for every drop of crude oil produced in the country, he responded by pointing out clearly that production volume per day can only be accounted for if adequate technology is deployed like it is done in other oil producing countries.
Indigent Cross River State senators, Rose Oko, Gershom Bassey and Sandy Onoh, who spoke before Agba’s screening came to an end, individually extolled the qualities and capacity of the nominee and prayed that the Senate confirms his nomination.
