Sometime ago, the former Petroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke hinted that the Federal Government had planned to stop the importation of refined petroleum products in 24 months. I had said in this column then that if that ambitious plan was not met, Mrs. Alison-Madueke should be prepared for a legal battle with concerned Nigerians as her wild goose chase would amount to perjury, a criminal offence since she made the statement under oath in her official capacity as minister of petroleum resources. The truth, however, is that our government officials make statements just because they have to read out something to the expectant public for the fun of it.
There is usually not substance or truth in their mouths. Otherwise, why would the former Minister predicate the stoppage of importation of refined petroleum products on the turn-around maintenance of the four decrepit refineries? She knew that even if the four traditional refineries were to function optimally their total output would still not meet the demand for local consumption. All things considered, the business segments of the society and the consuming public that suffer the brunt of petroleum products importation would have jubilated at the pronouncement of the then Minister in far away Vienna, Austria.
