FG urged to use N621.2bn NNPC tax liabilities to rehabilitate storage tank farms

The Federal Government has been urged to expend the N621.2bn tax liabilities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to rehabilitate moribund storage tank farms across the country rather than roads.

People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwart in Delta State, Chief Sunny Onuesoke, made the appeal on Saturday in Warri, Delta State.

He insisted that the FG should use the N621.2bn for the rehabilitation of the 21 dilapidated NNPC’s storage tanks farms across the country rather than using it for the construction of roads.

He thanked the FG for the kind gesture, but noted that the rehabilitation of all the moribund storage tank farms across the country was necessary in addressing the loading and transportation challenges encountered by oil marketers.

“The 21 storage tank farm depots that are receiving supply directly from NNPC are close to the people.

“They are located in different parts of the country. If the tanks are rehabilitated, there will be no need of tankers supplying fuel from Lagos to Zamfara by roads.

“Tankers in Zamfara will go to tank farms closer to them in the North to get their products. So, it will be with other areas.

“In this case, fuel will be less expensive to transport, it will save time and costs,” he advised.

While admitting that the FG had already approved the fund for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the roads by the NNPC, he urged the government to reverse the decision and subscribe to his well-, thoughtout suggestion.

“My decision for the Federal Government to divert the fund to the rehabilitation of tank farm depots became much more cogent when multinationals like Dangote Group, MTN, Mainstreet Energy and LNG have already contributed substantial funds for the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of roads across the country.

“Must all the funds from the multinationals be used for construction of roads only?” he queried.