Anambra joins oil producing states league

After many years of waiting, Anambra State yesterday joined the league of oil producing states. President Goodluck Jonathan made the pronouncement while inaugurating Orient Petroleum’s Anambra River Production Facility at Aguleri-Otu in the Anambra East Local Government Area of the state. With the pronouncement, Anambra joins Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, Edo, Ondo, Imo, Abia and Cross River as the nation’s 10th oil producing state.

The president said the Federal Government was committed to oil exploration in all the country’s sedimentary basins, commending Orient Petroleum for pioneering inland crude oil production in the country. “The good news is not Orient Oil and Anambra Basin alone, the good news is for all the  sedimentary basins all over the country,” Jonathan said. He said that the pioneering efforts of Orient Petroleum in Anambra would give confidence to other investors to invest in other inland sedimentary basins in the country. Jonathan said there was need for the country to begin to refine the products before exporting so that they could be more valuable.

He wondered why the country would continue to export crude oil and then import petrol, kerosene and aviation fuel. “History is not just being made in Anambra State but in the whole country. Orient has made a mark by partnering with government to come out with this revolution. This will give investors both within and outside our country the confidence to invest in our sedimentary basins. “As a nation, we should not continue to think that we would be exporting crude materials abroad. We want to send our farm produce abroad in crude form; our crude, we send abroad. The people who add value to these products make more money than we do.

“Those in the oil industry should not be thinking only about how to export crude oil, they should add value to the crude oil. Why can’t we export petroleum products to every part of the world? Why should we import PMS, kerosene, diesel and aviation kerosene when we are supposed to add value to our crude oil and export the refined products to make more money?” Jonathan said in the history of the world, there was always a turning point and that in Nigeria, it was the era of transformation, revealing his resolve to continue to partner with the private sector to develop the country.

The president explained that that was why members of the private sector were adequately represented in his Economic Management Team (EMT). He reiterated his government’s commitment to creating jobs for teeming young school leavers. Earlier, the Chairman of the firm’s Board of Directors, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, said it was no longer acceptable for Nigeria, which is one of the largest producers of crude oil to remain one of the biggest importers of refined products. Ayaoku, a former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, said the paradox was what the oil firm set out to correct. He said fund posed serious challenge to the firm’s desire to build its refinery noting, however, that with the inauguration of the project, the firm would raise necessary fund to complete its refinery by the end of next year.

He said the oil firm’s steps were in conformity with the present administration’s transformation agenda of creating jobs as well as promoting industry, education, housing and public health. Meanwhile, Jonathan has said he is pleased with the various industries in the state creating jobs for the unemployed youths.

He said this at the commissioning of SAB Millers and Krisotol Company Ltd, a drug cap manufacturing company. “I’m pleased with what I have seen, Anambra is one state ridden with industries. SAB Millers is the second private sector investment we have commissioned today. I have to commend what SAB Miller has done and we are committed to providing infrastructure to ease operations because it is the only way we can create jobs. “Government alone can’t develop the nation. We can only provide enabling environment. That is why I’m impressed with Peter Obi. He is not your ordinary politician, he is more private sector driven. “We have the young and vibrant work force.

I assure you, you will not regret investing here. We are committed to fulfilling our campaign promises and by next year you will see the manifestation. We will continue to design policy and programmes that will encourage the private sectors.” Jonathan commended Krisotol for employing 1000 youths.

“When you invest in Nigeria, it is a place you can reap 100 percent of your investment because of our population and the ready market. “If we have people like this, unemployment will be solved. I Commend Obi for providing the environment.”