Frontline Niger Delta leader, High Chief Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, has commended the industrial development of Azikel Refinery in Bayelsa.
Tompolo expressed the commendation during an extensive tour of the refinery facilities, where he praised the vision and achievements of Azikel Group President, Dr Eruani Azibapu, CFR.
He described Eruani as “a leader of the new industrialisation of the Niger Delta, the South-South and Nigeria.”
Tompolo, who was visibly impressed by the scale and complexity of the project, said the refinery represented a major indigenous industrial development.
He commended Eruani for demonstrating that the Niger Delta could move beyond crude oil production to processing resources into higher-value products.
The Azikel Refinery, with a stated capacity of 25,000 barrels per day, represents a significant investment in Nigeria’s domestic refining industry.
Tompolo said the project demonstrated the potential of indigenous entrepreneurship to drive industrialisation, employment creation, wealth generation and value addition in the Niger Delta.
He described the refinery as a new narrative for the region, centred on industrial development and increased indigenous participation in the oil and gas value chain.
According to him, investments of such magnitude could stimulate wider industrial growth across Bayelsa, the South-South and Nigeria.
“I am proud of this industrial development that Dr Eruani Azibapu, CFR, has ignited here in Bayelsa, the Niger Delta, the South-South states and Nigeria,
“This is the kind of development that creates employment, generates wealth and adds value to our crude oil resources,” Tompolo said.
He further commended Eruani’s determination and entrepreneurial vision, describing the refinery as an important contribution to Nigeria’s efforts to strengthen domestic refining capacity.
The visit underscored the growing significance of the Azikel Refinery as an indigenous industrial project with potential to create economic opportunities within the Niger Delta.
The refinery is designed to process condensate and crude oil into products including petrol, diesel, kerosene, aviation fuel, heavy fuel oil and liquefied petroleum gas.