President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said the Port Harcourt Refineries will start production in December 2023 after the completion of ongoing rehabilitation works.
The President gave the assurance during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian labour movement on Wednesday at the State House, Abuja.
The labour movement had declared a national protest over the removal of subsidy on petroleum products which had resulted in a hike in prices of premium motor spirit (petrol) and other petroleum products.
In a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications & Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, Tinubu assured the labour leaders that his administration would leave no stone unturned to work for the best interest of Nigerians.
According to Alake, “President Tinubu gave his commitment to the Labour leaders that the Port Harcourt refineries will start production by December 2023 after the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between NNPCL and Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.
“President Tinubu assured the Labour leaders that he would continue to work for the best interest of Nigeria while pleading with the Labour leaders to join hands with him to birth a better and economically buoyant country.”
The representatives of the labour movement to the meeting with the President were led by the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, and that of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Festus Usifo.
Alake said after the fruitful meeting with the President, the leadership of the labour movement agreed to suspend the nationwide protest.
“Consequent upon the fruitful and frank discussion with President Tinubu and their confidence in his ability to encourage open and honest consideration of all the issues put forward by the Labour Movement, the Labour Leaders resolved to stop further protest.
“They opted for further constructive engagement with the government to resolve all outstanding issues as they affect the working people and Nigerians in general,” Alake said.
