By Afolabi Oyekunle.
Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) is concern about the myriad of problems confronting the nation ranging from the petroleum sector, manufacturing, energy, unemployment, crime, and has challenged the government to urgently address them as they are driving the citizens to social vices.
At a press briefing at its office in Lagos, addressed by its president, Comrade Festus Osifo, the association lamented the issue of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which it said is almost bringing the oil and gas industry to its knees. Pengassan said as a result of pipeline vandalism, companies are forced to go into curtailment as they cannot export what they produce.

Comrade Osifo in whine colour addressing the press.
Backing up its claim with data, it said from October 2021 to February 2022, between 90 to 99percent of crude oil pumped into the Trans National Pipeline (TNP) by operators were vandalized. Pengassan thereby called on the Federal Government to work with stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to find a lasting solution to it.
On the soaring price of petroleum products, and queues at the petrol stations, the Association called on the stakeholders in the supply and distribution value chain to double their efforts in putting the incessant queues to an end, and also ensure that citizens pay the approved price of PMS in all parts of the country.
Pengassan through its National President, Comrade Osifo also frowned at the high price of kerosene, cooking gas, aviation fuel and diesel. The Association said though the products had been deregulated it does not give marketers the opportunity to exploit Nigerians.
. Osifo and others singing the Solidarity Songs.
Pengassan however said the increase of prices of most of these petroleum products could be attributed to the low value and instability of the Naira to other foreign currencies. The Association urged the Federal Government to remove all forms of taxies and levies from the importation of petroleum products.
On the rising cost of goods in the country, the Association blamed it on the exchange rate, as most manufacturers source their foreign exchange from the parrallel market which is higher than the official rate of the CBN, and pass the difference to the people. Pengassan therefore called on the government to stabilize the exchange rate as it is triggering all other problems.
On electricity,and power, Pengassan called on the Federal Government to unbundled the power generation, transmission and distribution and moved it from the exclusive list to the cuncurrent list. It said that years after the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Nigerians are still subjected to serial grid collapse and total blackout.
On unemployment, particularly among the youths, it calls for urgent steps as the high level of joblessness has contributed to high level of insecurity in all parts of the country.
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