Governors of the 36 states of the federation have expressed dismay over the lingering crisis in the petroleum industry, saying it is shameful that despite being a member of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Nigeria still imports petrol.

Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, said this while briefing newsmen after the governors meeting which started on Wednesday in Abuja.

The governors had invited the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Mele Kyari, to brief them on measures being taken to resolve issues regarding accessibility and affordability of petroleum products to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

Uzodinma said, “We must encourage the homegrown solution that the President just introduced; encouraging Dangote Refinery. We should repair our Port Harcourt Refinery, repair our Warri Refinery, repair our Kaduna Refinery, and then produce what we eat, and eat what we produce.

“We shouldn’t rely on importation of crude oil. For me, it is an aberration in the first place, to rely on importation of petroleum products as an oil producing country, while other members of OPEC of our status are now refining crude oil in that country.”

The governors who suggested the purchase of petroleum products in naira, also said refining the products locally would open an avalanche of opportunities for the citizens and boost the country’s economy.

“If you refine petroleum products locally, you will cure jobs, you will cure unemployment, you will keep people busy, you will reduce crime, and then you will also be proud to answer an oil producing nation,” he said.

The governors who admitted that Nigerians were battling with hardship also resolved to work with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tackle the challenges bedevilling the country, including kidnapping and banditry.