By our correspondent

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Dr Eruani Azibapu, President of Azikel Group, for investing $1 billion in the development of the Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa.
Obasanjo gave the commendation during a visit to the refinery site at Obunagha, Yenagoa Local Government Area, where he performed the symbolic erection of the refinery’s Crude Distillation Unit (CDU).
The ceremony marked a major construction milestone for the project, which Obasanjo described as evidence of Eruani’s commitment to indigenous petroleum refining.
The former president expressed satisfaction with the progress made since his previous visit eight years ago, when he laid the foundation for the industrial project.
He also commended the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) and the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) for their financial support, urging them to sustain their commitment towards the successful completion of the refinery.
Obasanjo called for continued cooperation among the project promoters, financiers, engineers and contractors to ensure its timely completion.
He also expressed optimism about the prospects for expansion, stressing the importance of indigenous investments in strengthening Nigeria’s industrial capacity.
The Azikel Refinery is designed to produce Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), or diesel, and other refined petroleum products.
According to the project information, the refinery is designed to produce 2.5 million litres of petrol and two million litres of diesel daily.
When completed, the facility is expected to expand domestic refining capacity, reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and stimulate economic activities across Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta.
Bayelsa State Governor, Sen. Douye Diri, also commended Eruani and the Azikel Group for the investment, describing it as an industrial development with significant implications for the state and the South-South region.
Diri said the refinery represented a shift from dependence on crude oil extraction towards local processing, value addition and industrial development.
He noted that the project could create employment, promote technical skills development and support economic diversification.
The governor urged youths in the state to prepare for employment and other opportunities expected to emerge from the refinery and related industries.
In his welcome address, Eruani thanked Obasanjo for returning to the project site eight years after participating in its foundation-laying ceremony.
He said the refinery was conceived to help transform the Niger Delta from a region largely associated with crude oil production and export into a centre for petroleum refining and industrial value creation.
Eruani reaffirmed the group’s commitment to completing the project and expressed appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for supporting efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
He also thanked the Bayelsa State Government, Afreximbank, AFC, technical partners, contractors and engineering teams for their contributions to the project.
The CDU is a major component of a refinery’s processing system, separating crude oil into different fractions for further processing into marketable petroleum products.
Its installation is therefore an important step towards establishing the refinery’s processing infrastructure.
Also speaking at the ceremony, an Azikel Petroleum board member, Dr Daru Owei, and the Chairman of the Bayelsa State Council of Traditional Rulers, King Bubaraye Dakolo, commended Eruani for the investment.
They expressed confidence in the project’s potential to create economic opportunities and contribute to the industrial development of Bayelsa.
The visit brought together government officials, traditional rulers, financial institutions, industry stakeholders, technical partners and host community representatives.
The refinery is expected to support growth in engineering, transportation, logistics and other services associated with petroleum processing when it becomes operational.
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