The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has welcomed President Bola Tinubu's Independence Day pledge to use Nigeria's gas to power new industries, but says the real test of the speech is whether the government's idle refineries are back in operation before the January election period.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday, the association also backed the President's claim that oil theft has fallen, saying sustained progress could lift crude output, raise government revenue and rebuild confidence in the sector.
PETROAN's National President, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, said the focus on cutting production costs is critical because energy prices feed directly into transport, manufacturing and agriculture. He said the shift from reform to what Tinubu called the "age of prosperity" must show up in the real economy and in Nigerians' daily lives.
For PETROAN, that starts with the refineries. The association urged the President to direct NNPCL to restart and sustainably run the government-owned plants, arguing that their prolonged inactivity has hurt businesses, workers, contractors, transport operators and communities tied to the petroleum value chain.
"This is not simply about restarting refineries. It is about putting national assets back to work for Nigerians," Gillis-Harry said.
The association said more domestic refining capacity, alongside privately owned refineries, could make the downstream market more competitive and improve product availability, with possible downward pressure on pump prices. It cautioned that prices would still depend on crude supply costs, exchange rates, taxes and logistics, and that a revival would need reliable crude supply and efficient distribution to last.
PETROAN also acknowledged Tinubu's reaffirmation of economic reforms and his stance against "addictive subsidies." Gillis-Harry said the priority now is a transparent, predictable market that protects consumers and attracts investment, and he called for closer cooperation among the Federal Government, NNPCL, regulators, refinery operators and marketers.
The statement was signed by Chris Odia, Special Adviser, Media, and Dr. Joseph Obele, National PRO.