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Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has promised to resign if Nigeria continues to import fuel by 2019.
He stated this in an interview on BBC World Service programme, HardTalk, on Monday.
He promised to deliver on the refineries and said he was committed to also delivering a future for oil for Nigeria.
Responding to the question of when the country would be self-sufficient in terms of refining petroleum, the Minister said:
Kachikwu: I have stated it, 2019 is the target.
BBC: You are running out of time because you know that we are near now.
Kachikwu: Don’t worry; I put the date, I will work it.
BBC: And if you don’t achieve it, you will walk (away)?
Kachikwu: Yes! Of course that is the reason why you are in government.
Giving account of what he has promised and delivered, Kachikwu said that he has been able to get refineries back to produce seven million litres of petroleum product, since he assumed office one-and-half years ago.
“I have delivered on everything since I came to office. First, I took NNPC and moved them into a profit making organization first time in history and reshaped the organization.
“I removed cash call deficit of over $6 billion, negotiated it. Everything that I have promised since coming into office, I have delivered. I will deliver on the refineries and I am committed to that and I will also deliver a future for oil that makes sense for Nigeria,” he said.
