Dr Heineken Lokpobiri, minister of state for petroleum resources (oil) said the licences of refineries not in use will be cancelled.

He was speaking in Bayelsa at the weekend following questions about multiple licences handed to people but which has not increased local refining.

“We have a lot of modular refineries that we have given licenses but the challenge has been the feedstock. Even if you have the modular refinery do you have the crude to be able to refine?” the minister said.

“That’s why I said unless we produce sufficient quantities, even if the refineries are rehabilitated there will be no feedstock.

“So my challenge is to ramp up production so that we can see how we can feed not only the big refineries but also the modular refineries, these are the real employers of labour and they will do the magic.

“What I have done is also liberalise the process to acquire licences. Before I came they said sometimes it takes so long to acquire licences, so I said I don’t want to know your face provided the requirements are met, bring them to me I will sign within 24 hours and I have signed them.

“I have also said I don’t want to give people licences and they use them as souvenirs, if you are given a licence you must use it within the terms, or else I will cancel it. Just like I didn’t know you before signing the licence, I will also cancel without blinking an eye.”

Lokpobiri also said the easiest way to get out of the country’s petrol crisis is to increase production of crude, stating that “if we don’t, the midstream and downstream will also fail — we must produce the crude to refine before distribution”.