President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has vowed that Nigeria’s moribund refineries will be revived and repositioned to operate profitably, saying the Federal Government will no longer allow the facilities to waste away after decades of investment.

Tinubu made the commitment on Thursday in Abuja when he received the national executive of the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), led by its National President, Comrade Salimon Akanni Oladiti, at the State House.

The President’s remarks were contained in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

Responding to NUPENG’s appeal for the revival of the country’s refineries, Tinubu said the government was adopting a comprehensive approach to address the structural, operational, financial and managerial challenges that had hindered the facilities from delivering value.

He stressed that the government would rely on detailed research and technical assessments rather than temporary interventions to determine the problems affecting the refineries and develop sustainable solutions.

“The refineries that you mentioned are going to come back to work; we’re just building a very firm, resetting, and structural reworking of the economy of it.

“Ordinary flame and smoke of a refinery doesn’t mean that it’s working until it’s profitable and yields the value for which it is built,” the President said.

Tinubu said he had accepted responsibility for the country’s assets and liabilities inherited from previous administrations, adding that his administration would do everything necessary to ensure the refineries serve the common good.

“I’m not a man who goes looking back on everything because I’ve accepted the assets and liabilities of my predecessor. No matter what has happened in the years past, it’s now my responsibility as president to fix it and make it work for the greatest common good of our population.

“I take responsibility for that, and we will do it,” he added.

The President also appealed to Nigerians and stakeholders to remain committed to democratic governance, describing democracy as a system that guarantees freedom and opportunity.

“I promise you, you will enjoy a better Nigeria,” Tinubu told the NUPENG delegation.

On local government autonomy, the President said the constitutional issues surrounding its implementation were being reviewed, with a view to possible adjustments.

He appealed to stakeholders to exercise patience and understanding as the government considers how best to resolve the constitutional questions involved.

Tinubu also paid tribute to the late former NUPENG President, Frank Kokori, whom he credited with playing an important role in Nigeria’s struggle for democratic governance.

“You brought good memories of my relationship with Frank Kokori; may his soul rest in peace. We struggled for this democratic dispensation together, and it was very tough for us to have this democracy,” he said.

The President described NUPENG as a “very good partner” of government in the country’s development and pledged greater inclusion for the union in the implementation of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG).

He, however, challenged the union to ensure that the benefits of the CNG programme translate into tangible relief for ordinary Nigerians, particularly commuters.

Tinubu said the administration expected the CNG initiative to have a direct impact on transportation costs and the welfare of citizens, urging NUPENG to play an active role in ensuring that the benefits reach the people.