‘We Will Cripple The Oil Sector If You Sell National Assets’ – PENGASSAN

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has threatened to cripple the economy by going on strike if the Federal Government sells off the national assets as being planned. PENGASSAN issued this threat in a statement made available by its Public Relations’ Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojugbana, saying that if the FG sells any of the national belongings, including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and the three refineries in Kaduna, Warri (Delta State) and Port Harcourt (Rivers State), they would strike. “We will not watch our national assets sold, especially those in the oil and gas industry such as NLNG that has become a huge revenue earner for Nigeria; refineries and shares in the upstream oil and gas JV operations. “Any attempt to sell these assets will be resisted as PENGASSAN will ensure that every activity in the oil and gas sector is brought to a halt,” he said in the statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).PENGASSAN urged the federal, state and local governments to generate money elsewhere to revive the economy and not sell any of the assets belonging to all Nigerians. He argued that these assets had been generating revenue and would still generate revenue for the country. Mr Ojugbana claimed that the planned sale was ill-timed, unwarranted and would not serve national interest, pointing out that no nation could develop, survive or feel secure after selling all national assets. He said selling the properties would further mortgage the future of the country in the hands of few who could take advantage of it to loot the country’s wealth.