Chinedum Treasure
National Association of Surface Tank Oil and Gas Retailers of Nigeria (NASTOGRN) is to partner National Orientation Agency (NOA) in its statewide sensitization programme in Anambra State on promoting and protecting retailers rights in oil and gas business in the country.
National President and BOT Chairman of the association, Dr. Okotete Marcus disclosed this when he paid a solidarity visit to the State Director National Orientation Agency NOA, Mr.Edozie Ajaegbu in his office in the Ebele Ofunneamaka Okeke Federal Secretariat Complex, Awka.
He said the association has gotten approval letter from the NOA Director-General, Dr. Lanre Issa Onilu for the sensitization programme slated for October 12, 2024 for the Community Orientation and Mobilization Office of the Agency in the 777 local government areas of country.
He revealed that the event had been carried out in Ebonyi State on July 27, 2024.
“The association has completed plans to equally conduct the oil and gas sensitization programme in Enugu state on September 20, 2024 while that of Abia state holds on 28th day of the same month, and Anambra state 12th October respectively.
“The date for that of Imo state has not been concluded because of the recent change of baton of NOA leadership in the area.
“The Directors of DSS, Fire Service, ICPC, Anambra state top government officials and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Nnaghe Itam are expected to grace the occasion,” he stated.
Explaining the essence of the sensitization programme, Okotete said the association was committed to promoting and protecting the interests of the retailers in the oil and gas industry in the country, adding that the bigwigs in the industry were making things hard for lower ones in the industry to flourish in the business.
While clarifying that the association do not offer job opportunities to the people, the president said it is the duty of the association to sensitize the people to better understand the gains drivable in the oil and gas business in the country, especially in the area of marketing the product.
He stated that many Nigerians had quit the business because of the hassleness in acquiring the product, assuring the people that the leadership of association is ready to assist anybody who wants to invest in oil gas business in the country to obtain licence at a very low cost.
The BOT chairman, who also emphasized on the local content act of the country, vowed that the interest of Nigerians must be protected first, pointing out that the legal team of the association is warning up to revoke the licence of some the telecommunication industries in the country and give same to Nigerians in order to reduce the high cost of charges the industry meted our to greater percentage of Nigerians .
He promised that the lower retailers in the oil gas industry can get their licence at ten thousand naira only while the bigger ones get theirs at about three hundred and fifty thousand naira only, warning the people to desist from building their surface tanks under telecommunication mast antena, near residential buildings or under national grid.
Okoyete, who further said that the association is encouraging women to come into the oil and gas business in the country, stated that one of richests woman in the industry today in Nigeria is from Imo State.
Receiving Dr. Okoyete in his office, the State Director, NOA, Awka, Mr Ajaegbu said the Agency is now better informed in all that concerned oil and gas business in the country, especially its bountiful benefits.
The Director, who described information as power, advised the COMOS not to hoard the information within themselves, but should disseminate same to all communities across the state and the people around.
He assured that the Agency will partner the association in the onerous task of educating Ndi-Anambra and environs on everything the needed to know about the numerous benefits drivable in the oil and gas business in the country, so that our people can now invest in it for their livelihood.
Appreciating the programmes and activities of the association in Nigeria,the Deputy Director programmes of NOA in Awka, Mr. Remigius Obi,promised that the Agency is ready to work with the association in implementing its oil and gas sensitization programme in all length and breathe of the State, especially at the grassroots.
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