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Tag: PENGASSAN

  • PENGASSAN wants FG to address environmental pollution in Niger Delta

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on the Federal Government to curb the activities of illegal refineries and subsequent environmental pollution in Niger Delta region.

    Mr Fortune Obi, the National Public Relations Officer of the Association, made this call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.

    He said that the activities of illegal refineries in Rivers and other states in the region had affected a lot of lives and environment due to inhalation of emissions from pollution.

    “I want to appeal to the Federal Government that the issue of environmental pollution taking place in Niger Delta area, is an issue that must be addressed urgently.

    “Government should implore all stakeholders, government agencies and security outfits to come to the aid of the people, they are dying gradually of the situation condition caused by illegal refineries.

    “One activity that is not being checked by the government, presently is illegal refinery activities that is causing the emission and people are inhaling it on a daily basis, we need the government to intervene urgently,’’ he said.

    He pointed out that lives of the peoples are precious, so, the government should curb the illegal activities in the area.

     

  • Special report: Unending queues at filling stations despite PENGASSAN’s botched strike

    By Olaotan Falade

    …Nigerians groan as scarcity bites harder

    …product now sells for N180 – N185 per litre

    …as black marker sellers resurfaces on major highways

    Most Nigerians were relieved on Monday when news filtered in that the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Monday.

    The decision to suspend the strike came after the intervention of the Director of the State Security Service, SSS, Lawan Daura, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu.

    PENGASSAN had earlier alleged anti-labour practices against some of its members by some indigenous oil companies, one of which it identified as Neconde Energy Limited.

    Prior to the meeting, the oil workers had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the government to intervene over allegations of anti-workers’ practices perpetrated against some of its members working in Neconde Energy Limited.

    The umbrella body of senior workers in the oil and gas industry had accused the management of Neconde Energy Limited of wrongful termination of the employment of some of its workers who belong to PENGASSAN.

    However, before the botched strike by PENGASSAN, there has been a scarcity of the product for over two weeks earlier.

    Nigerians had thought of the possibility of another fee hike by the Federal Government and had resulted in panic buying.

    This caught the attention of the Federal Executive Council members on Wednesday, December 6 and they dispelled the rumour, insisting that scarcity of the product will end before that weekend.

    The FEC meeting for that week was presided over by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as President Muhammadu Buhari was on a working visit to Kano State that day.

    Two weeks down the line, the queues are still visible and some filling stations have even remained under lock and key since then.

    Not done with the promises of ending the scarcity, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu again reiterated last Thursday during the National Executive Council meeting chaired by the Vice President that the scarcity will end in forty hours (48hrs).

    Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, the governor of Edo State, Godwin Obasaki, said, “The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources assured council that within the next 48hours fuel supply will be restored nationwide because there is enough fuel in our strategic reserves and the ministry has released fuel from these reserves and it expects distribution will reach all parts of the country within the next 48hours.”

    However, despite all the harvest of promises of ending the scarcity, Nigerians are yet to feel the impact as the product has continually remained scarce and expensive.

    A visit by TheNewsGuru.com to some popular cities in Lagos did not prove otherwise.

    Queues in most of the filling stations visited extended to the main road, therefore, causing gridlock for other road users. A frustrated man who identified himself as John in one of the filling stations visitied told TheNewsGuru.com that he has been on the queue for over ten hours and the hope of getting the product is dim.

    In his words: ‘I’ve been here since 5 am. We heard they are selling and I quickly drove down thinking I will be the only one. Unfortunately, some other people have been sleeping here for days and the crowd was just unbelievable. Since then, they have been selling intervals and at a very expensive rate too. Those that bought said they dispensed for them at N180:00; others said they sold for N170:00. I’m not sure how much it will be dispensed if it eventually gets to my turn,” John said sounding tired and frustrated.

    TheNewsGuru.com also noticed that some black market sellers have resurfaced on major highways. In some areas visited, a five-litre jerry sold for as much as N1, 500 – N2, 000. When asked why it was so expensive, one of the traders who was obviously making cool business said: ‘If you know what we went through before getting just a litre, you won’t care even if we sold this five-litre jerry can for N5, 000.

    However, majority of the filling stations were locked. When TheNewsGuru.com enquired, they answered that they were out of stock and were expecting supplies. However, anonymous sources in the area confirmed to TheNewsGuru.com that they sell at night above the recommended price (of N145 per litre) to motorist and other buyers.

    Efforts by TheNewsGuru.com to reach the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu and the National President of PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson for comments were unsuccessful as at the time of filing this report.

     

  • Fuel scarcity: Why we suspended strike – PENGASSAN

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, yesterdayy announced the suspension of its planned nationwide strike after Neconde Energy Limited, an indigenous oil company, agreed to recall a disengaged staff member of the union.

    The National President of PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, who announced the suspension of the strike, said it was done in the spirit of the forthcoming yuletide season.

    “In the spirit of the yuletide, on behalf of the National Executive Council, NEC, of PENGASSAN, the Central Working Committee, CWC, hereby suspends the nationwide strike with immediate effect and all members are to resume normal duties immediately,” Mr. Johnson said late on Monday.

    Neconde had on October 5 terminated the appointment of Babatunde Animashaun, a Gas Petroleum Engineer and Chairman of the oil company’s Chapter of PENGASSAN.

    Apart from Mr. Animashaun’s sack, the management of the company was said to have engaged in activities the oil workers said were aimed at stifling unionism in Neconde.

    Despite protests by the national secretariat of the union over the matter, the company refused to rescind its decision on Mr. Animashaun.

    Initially, the association issued a 72-hour ultimatum to government to call the company to order over allegations of anti-workers practices against some of its members, including Mr. Animashaun.

    At the expiration of the ultimatum, another seven-day notice was issued, which resulted in the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, offering to broker a truce between PENGASSAN and the company.

    But the minister’s intervention did not yield fruits, following which the association declared a formal strike action to commence after 23.59 hours on Monday.

    However, before the meeting of its Central Working Committee to take a final decision on the strike, PENGASSAN was inundated with meetings with various government agencies, including the Minister of Labour and Employment and the State Security Service, SSS.

    During last week’s meeting with the labour minister, Chris Ngige, PENGASSAN alleged anti-union posturing by some indigenous companies and marginal field operators, including Neconde Energy, accusing them of indiscriminate transfer of employees.

    At the end of the engagement with both PENGASSAN and Neconde management, the oil firm agreed to recall the sacked union leader and allow its employees to belong to unions of their choice.

    Besides, the meeting also agreed that all resolutions reached would be subject to reviews after three months, to determine level of adherence by Neconde Energy.

    In the same vein, the meeting also agreed to address alleged anti-union posture of other indigenous and multi-national oil companies, particularly their penchant to resort to abuse of court processes to stall the peaceful resolution of issues affecting workers’ interests.

    The accused companies include Specialty Drilling Fluid, SDF; CETCO, Century Energy, Oil Data Services, Frontier Oil, Universal Energy, Fugro Oil and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited.

    Announcing the suspension of the planned industrial action on Monday, Mr. Johnson said issues of anti-union posture of the companies must be addressed, by ensuring they abide by the country’s constitution, extant Labour laws and International Labour Organisation conventions by the third week of 2018, to avert a full blown industrial crisis.

    The announcement by PENGASSAN to proceed on strike is believed to have worsened the fuel scarcity across the country as marketers hoarded the product in anticipation of the strike and petrol users resorted to panic buying.

    The fuel scarcity across the country has resulted in price increase by filling stations in some states.

  • Fuel Scarcity: Succour as PENGASSAN suspends planned strike

    Fuel Scarcity: Succour as PENGASSAN suspends planned strike

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has suspended its planned nationwide strike scheduled to commence today.

    The decision to suspend the strike comes on the heels of the intervention of the Director of the State Security Service, SSS, Lawan Daura, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu.

    PENGASSAN had earlier alleged anti-labour practices against some of its members by some indigenous oil companies, one of which it identified as Neconde Energy Limited.

     

    The strike action scheduled to formally commence after 11:59 p.m. today followed the group’s peace meeting last week with Mr. Kachikwu, which ended in a deadlock.

    Prior to the meeting, the oil workers had issued a 72-hour ultimatum to government to intervene over allegations of anti-workers’ practices perpetrated against some of its members working in Neconde Energy Limited.

    The umbrella body of senior workers in the oil and gas industry had accused the management of Neconde Energy Limited of wrongful termination of the employment of some of its workers who belong to PENGASSAN.

    However, despite shelving the strike, a close monitoring by TheNewsGuru.com showed that the scarcity is biting harder on Nigerians as most filling stations are either out of stock, not selling or overburdened with queues from customers who are in a haste to get their tanks filled.

     

    Details later…

  • Ngige pleads with PENGASSAN to Shelve planned strike action

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige has appealed to members the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria ( P E N G A S S A N ) to shelve its planned strike scheduled to begin on Monday, December 18 in the spirit of the conciliation brokered between it and Neconde Energy Services Ltd.

    The union is asking the government to compel the company to recalled all sacked workers within seven days and stick to the nation’s Labour laws, adding that failure to do that, the union will have no other option than to call out its members on a nation wide indefinite strike action with effect from Monday, December 18, 2017.

    The union is Neconde Energy Ltd (of Nestoil Group of companies) of entrenching unfriendly Labour practices in contravention of the nation’s Labour laws and failing to remit taxes and pensions deducted from workers to government, while boasting that no government official can call it to order, adding that workers who decided to join unions are treated as slaves in their own country and dismissed from work”

    However, Deputy Director, Press in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Samuel Olowookere said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday that with the conciliatory meeting brokered by Minister of Labour and Employment, the impending action by PENGASSAN has effectively been arrested in line with the provisions of the relevant labour laws.

    The statement said “We recall that the Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige had on Wednesday, December 13 and Thursday, December 14, 2017 brokered long hours of conciliation between PENGASSAN and Neconde Energy Services Ltd and secured an agreement.

    “By that agreement, Neconde shall invite the sacked branch chairman of PENGASSAN and hold heart to heart discussion with him while PENGASSAN is to hold back proposed action pending the reconvening of the meeting in the second week of January 2018 when other contending issues relating to other oil companies would be also be sorted out.

    “We therefore wish to appeal to the Central Working Committee of PENGASSAN to reconsider its decision, respect the agreement and call off the scheduled action in the overall interest of the nation, more so when adequate notice of strike was not given. This appeal has become imperative in order to save Nigerians from further hardship in this season of Christmas and the New year”.

  • Bleak yuletide as PENGASSAN insists on nationwide strike Monday

    Bleak yuletide as PENGASSAN insists on nationwide strike Monday

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria on Saturday insisted that its planned industrial action will commence on Monday.

    The group however, noted that it was ready to discuss with the government and other concerned organisations on the strike.

    According to PENGASSAN, nothing has changed since it issued a statement to announce that its meeting with the Federal Government to avert the strike ended in a stalemate.

    This is coming as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ndu Ughamadu, told newsmen that the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Maikanti Baru, has been meeting with the unions in the oil sector to ensure stability in the industry.

    Ughamadu was optimistic that the NNPC would be able to persuade the association to rescind its decision to embark on strike by Monday, as the planned industrial action had led to panic buying in Abuja.

    He said long queues of motorists had been noticed at the few filling stations that dispensed petrol on Saturday.

    PENGASSAN on Friday announced that it would embark on an indefinite strike on Monday, following a stalemate in the peace meeting which the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, brokered between the union and Neconde Energy Limited.

    The oil union and Neconde had been embroiled in crisis over allegation of anti-worker practices.

    The union alleged that the management of Neconde wrongly terminated the employment of some of its workers, and threatened to go on strike if the sacked workers were not recalled within 72 hours.

    The issue made the government to initiate a meeting between the two parties in Abuja last week, but the meeting ended in a deadlock.

    When asked if the union would halt the strike should the government meet with its officials on the matter, the Public Relations Officer, PENGASSAN, Fortune Obi replied, “One thing you should know is that at PENGASSAN, we are a body of professionals and we are open to discussion at all times because we believe in dialogue. We keep our doors open for effective discussions and that has been our style.”

    Meanwhile, many motorists queued for petrol on Saturday, as some users of the commodity said they were stockpiling fuel in order to have enough should PENGASSAN embark on strike on Monday.

    “It’s better to stockpile fuel now because PENGASSAN is going on strike by Monday, and once that happens, the fuel scarcity situation will worsen,” said one of the motorists at the largest NNPC mega station along the Kubwa-Zuba Expressway identified only as Sam.

     

  • Neconde: SAN faults seven-day ultimatum by PENGASSAN to recall sacked employees

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Uchechukwu Val Obi, has faulted the seven-day ultimatum given by Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) to the Federal Government to direct Neconde Energy Limited to recall its sacked employees or risk an industrial action.

    Obi, who is the counsel to Neconde Energy Limited, argued that PENGASAN’s ultimatum was made in bad faith and with a view to overreaching the pending proceedings at the National Industrial Court.

    He recalled that in the Suit Number NICN/LA/268/2017 between Neconde Energy Limited & Anor. Vs. PENGASSAN & Ors, Justice O. A. Obaseki-Osaghae on June 5 ordered “that none of the parties should take any action that will lead to a break down in law and order pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.”

    In a letter dated December 8, 2017 and addressed to Comrades Francis Johnson, Lumumba I. Okugbara and Abel Agar – President, General Secretary and Zonal Chairman, Obi, who is the Managing Partner of Alliance Law Firm, reminded the union leaders that disputes involving Neconde and its staff members affiliated to PENGASSAN had received the best consideration of Neconde leading to a binding communiqué signed between Neconde and PENGASSAN in May.

    The senior lawyer also informed the PENGASSAN leadership that Neconde had fully complied with the terms of the communique.

    He reminded the union leaders of their December 7 letter addressed to “All NEC Members” of PENGASAN in which the union gave a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government and relevant agencies, of the association’s intention to embark on a nationwide strike effective December 18, 2017 should they fail to direct Neconde to recall its sacked employees.

    Obi reminded the union that the right of Neconde, as an employer of labour to hire and fire personnel is within its legal rights as aptly pronounced by the “Supreme Court in the case of Chukwumah Vs. Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (1993) 4 NWLR (Pt. 289) where the apex Court held that an employer has the right to terminate its employee’s employment for good reason, bad reason or no reason at all”.

    According to Neconde’s counsel, this prerogative of the management was expressly preserved in the communiqué aforesaid. He said that the company had made it clear that it properly disengaged the affected staff and paid due entitlements.

    “When PENGASSAN and some of its members had continued to issue fresh threats despite its execution of the communiqué, Neconde had instituted a case at the National Industrial Court, namely Suit No. NICN/LA/268/2017 between Neconde Energy Limited & Anor. Vs. PENGASSAN & Ors seeking declaratory and injunctive reliefs et al,” Obi said.

    He noted that on June 5, 2017 the National Industrial Court presided over by the Hon. Justice O. A. Obaseki-Osaghae upon hearing an application made orders that “All parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum”; and “that none of the Parties should take any action that will lead to break down in law and order pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice. This Order has been served on PENGASSAN and it remains extant, binding, subsisting and enforceable to date”.

    Neconde’s counsel also argued that PENGASAN’s ultimatum to the federal government and its relevant agencies to direct or prevail on Neconde to accede to its request to recall the sacked staff is made in bad faith and with a view to overreaching the pending proceedings.

    The senior lawyer also described the threat by PENGASSAN to embark on a nationwide strike as an action that is capable of leading to a break down in law and order, which was expressly restrained by the binding order of the court.

    “Under a democratic setting, the Courts should be allowed to hear and determine parties’ conflicts and it must be seen as an affront to the Court’s constitutional powers for any litigant to resort to self-help or embark on acts capable of intimidating or undermining the constitutional adjudicatory powers of the Court. Neconde therefore views PENGASSAN’s ultimatum as a contempt of Court and would be taking necessary steps against PENGASSAN and its leadership seemingly behind this action,” Obi explained.

    According to him, the present ultimatum of PENGASSAN threatening a “nationwide strike” should the executive fail to interfere in a pending judicial proceeding exposes the weakness and ineptitude of the current PENGASSAN leadership who have resorted to unorthodox and undemocratic antics to trade unionism.

    “Ordinarily, a trade union such as PENGASSAN should be a firm adherent to the tenets of the rule of law. Neconde remains committed to a lawful mode of dispute resolution and is willing to continue its engagement with PENGASSAN and any other stakeholders within standard, lawful and conventional parameters but would not relinquish its legal and inherent rights as an employer, as presently sought by a self-seeking leadership of PENGASSAN or at all,” he added.

     

  • Fuel scarcity: More worries as PENGASSAN threatens nationwide strike

    Fuel scarcity: More worries as PENGASSAN threatens nationwide strike

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address injustice and lawlessness in the oil and gas sector companies or face a nationwide strike from December 18.

    The General Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Mr Lumumba Okugbawa, gave the ultimatum in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

    Okugbawa said this was imperative in order to address anti-labour issues and lawlessness by some indigenous oil and gas companies and marginal field operators by relevant agencies of government.

    He said if this was not addressed properly, it would culminate in the shutting down of all oil and gas installations, including disruptions to fuel supply and distribution across the country.

    The unionist said the anti-labour practice includes the termination of employment of any worker who indicated the willingness to belong to the union.

    “Those that are threatened and compelled to disown the union are then treated as slave workers within their own country.

    “The case of Neconde Energy Ltd (of Nestoil Group of companies) is particularly worrisome as the issue of dignity in labour and infringement on workers’ rights to Freedom of Association is foreign to them.

    “This has led to the mass sack of workers that joined the union and dehumanisation of some in total disregard to rule of engagement and the laws of the land.

    “The actions of companies such as Neconde in the mass sack of Nigerian workers contribute in no small measure to the unending militancy in the Niger Delta.’’

    He said Neconde had not only conducted itself as being above the provisions of extant laws and regulations guiding the operations of oil and gas companies in Nigeria, but also boasted that no government agency would call it to order.

    “Having explored all options without getting the necessary understanding, and an apparent failure of relevant authorities of government to call to order these recalcitrant organisations especially Neconde, we are giving the Federal Government and its relevant agencies seven-days’ notice to embark on nationwide strike effective Dec. 18.

    “If the government fails to direct the management of Neconde and other companies to recall our sacked members, as the only option to address this injustice and lawlessness.

    “PENGASSAN appeals to all Nigerians to show understanding and to use this window to stockpile adequate quantity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and other petroleum products that will last them during the period as this strike will be indefinite.”

  • $26bn contract scam: NUPENG, PENGASSAN declare support for GMD, Baru – Official

    Unions in the oil and gas sector on Monday pledged support for the ‘transformation stride’ of the Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru.

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, made the pledge in Abuja according to a statement by Ndu Ughamadu, NNPC Group General Manager Group Public Affairs Division.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, had accused Mr. Baru of flouting contractual agreements, creating a fear culture in the corporation and insubordination among others.

    However, in a reaction to the allegations, Ughamadu on Monday, said the minister’s allegations were not true as due process had been followed in the corporation’s various activities.

    Ughamadu said at a solidarity visit to the GMD, the National President of PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, said the unions and its members considered it appropriate to rally round Baru and the NNPC Management to pledge their support.

    “The unions’ support for the GMD was based on his ability to walk his talk since assuming office last year.

    “The National body of PENGASSAN and all the NNPC in-house unions are here today to show our support for you.

    ”You have brought stability to the NNPC and we are happy today that staff morale is high. You were Chairman of NNPC Anti-Corruption Committee for over five years and that was what informed your appointment as GMD of NNPC.

    ”Today, all the bullets you are taking are on behalf of members of staff. We will continue to pray for you, God will continue to guide and shield you,” Mr. Ughamadu quoted Johnson.

    Ughamadu said the unionist called on Nigerians to be cautious of their comments on the controversy, adding that any wrong information was capable of discouraging investors from the oil and gas industry.

  • Nigeria will lose N150bn daily should PENGASSAN, NUPENG embark on proposed strike – LCCI tells FG

    The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), has warned that the economy would lose an estimated N150 billion daily, if the proposed strike by PENGASSAN and NUPENG is not averted.

    The Director-General of LCCI, Mr Muda Yusuf, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Lagos.

    Yusuf said that it would not be a good development for an economy that was just emerging from recession.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the two unions had threatened to embark on an indefinite strike over delay in the payment of N800 billion subsidy arrears to oil marketers.

    Yusuf urged the Federal Government to engage the unions and propose a credible payment plan to settle the arrears.

    He noted that the consequences of the proposed strike would be severe because of the strategic and critical nature of the oil and gas sector.

    “It would paralyse the chain of logistics in the economy as economic activities are driven largely by road transportation, both for commuting and freight.

    “It will impact on revenue as the upstream sector would be affected as well. It would impact the power sector which is largely powered by gas,“he said.

    The LCCI boss noted that the fuel subsidy phenomenon had become a recurring distraction in the management of the country’s economy.

    “It is regrettable that government has over the years got itself entangled in a problem which should not have arisen in the first place,“ he said.

    He alleged that the country’s economy had suffered serial scandals and monumental corruption in the oil and gas sector because of the phenomenon of petrol subsidy.

    “We have consistently argued that the government should completely decouple itself from the business of importation, refining, transportation and retailing of petroleum products.

    “This arrangement has created considerable distortions and stagnated private investment in the downstream sector because these are enterprises that the private sector is best suited to manage, “he said.

    Yusuf said that government has no business fixing prices and subsidising the players.

    He said that in spite of the monumental problem the economy had from the subsidy regime, government has not taken urgent steps to put an end to price fixing for PMS.

    “The economy cannot sustain this arrangement. The current debt of N800 billion is 151 per cent of the total capital allocation for the Federal Ministry of Works, Power, and Housing in the 2017 budget.

    “It is 1,568 per cent of the capital allocation to health; it is 305 per cent of the capital allocation to Federal Ministry of Transportation; and 1,600 per cent of the capital allocation to education.

    “This raises vital questions about the optimality and efficiency of resource allocation and utilisation by government,” he said.

    He called for speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), adding that it will help to normalise the oil and gas sector.

    Yusuf urged the government to replicate the telecoms sector model in the oil and gas industry, adding that it would free resources for investment in critical infrastructures like power, roads, the railway, health and education sector.

    He stressed that the model would improve product availability, eliminate fuel queues, and create more jobs for the teeming youth in the downstream oil sector.