We know Nigeria’s problem but… — Lasun •Says nation’s oil sector needs overhaul

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Lasun Yusuf, on Monday, said politicians in the country know the problem of Nigeria, but that the  peculiar structure of the system requires collective efforts  to tackle it.

This was just as he called for the overhaul of the nation’s oil sector for optimal performance.

The Deputy Speaker, who spoke at a stakeholders’ technical roundtable themed: “Perennial Petroleum Products Scarcity in Nigeria: Causes, Prospect and Sustainable Solution”.

According to him, “Because of my position in Nigeria today, I want to let you know that some of us that are there, we know the problem of Nigeria, and how to go about it, but the system is structured in a manner that it will be very difficult except we do it collectively.”

Speaking further, he said, “Oil was found in Nigeria in 1956 and we started commercial exploitation in 1958, and yet we are still talking about fuel scarcity, PIB and the rest of them. If you go into history, people have been talking about oil industry in the last 58 years.”

He, however, advised Nigerians to join hands together to see to the development of the country, saying, “let’s all go back to our respective professions and try to impact positively on Nigeria, how we can develop Nigeria. We talk too much in Nigeria.”

Lasun also stated, “the problem in Nigeria is not because we have oil, but we have decided on our own by act of omission or commission not to know the nitty-gritty of what it takes to explore the natural resource in a manner that would benefit the public.”

While calling for overhaul of the nation’s oil sector, he said, “I remember in the Seventh assembly I belonged to a committee, public service matters. We were trying to find out what were the issues, the (Nigeria) customs (service) are here that’s why I want to make this example.

“One of the questions that was asked the representative of the customs on that day, was whether they are aware of the amount of oil taken out of Nigerian shores every day, the answer was no,” he said.