P/HARCOURT (Sundiata Post) – As Nigerians grapple with economic hardship occasioned by the increase in the pump price of petrol, oil workers and corporations under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources have held a prayer session to seek the face of God as the nation continues to face diverse challenges.
The oil workers under the aegis of Petroleum Industry Christian Fellowship International (PICFI), at a National Prayer Conference in Port Harcourt, said while they strive to do the right thing in the oil and gas sector, the country needs divine intervention.
Speaking to journalists during the three-day prayer session, the National President of Petroleum Industry Christian Fellowship International, Shola Idowu, explained that the interdenominational Christian organisation comprises Christians in international, and local oil and gas industry, as well as corporations under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
He disclosed that the members were drawn from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Chevron, Exxon Mobil, Oando, NLNG, Petroleum Training Institute, Warri Refinery Petrochemical, and others.
Idowu explained, “Every year we hold an annual prayer conference, and this year we have gathered in the City of Port Harcourt for the 20th annual prayer conference for brethren in oil and gas industry to come together pray, seek the face of God, intercede for the industry, intercede for Nigeria for the betterment of the country and also the company that God has planted us to work for now”.
Thousands of people in Nigeria engage in a practice known locally as ‘oil bunkering’ – hacking into pipelines to steal crude then refining it or selling it abroad. The practice, which leaves oil spewing from pipelines for miles around, managed to lift around a fifth of Nigeria’s two million barrel a day production last year according to the finance ministry.
He added “The economic challenge in the country gives us a lot of concern. We know a lot of politics were involved, bad game but what we are doing is to be praying for the country, for industry and also to be doing what is right at work. With our prayers and right work standing with the Lord, we will be able to make changes.
“As a stakeholder in oil and gas, sincerely speaking we have been praying and continue to pray, we know what befell Nigeria is not ordinary and before we can get a change there is a place for God’s factor”.
Idowu however, “Appeal and plead under God, with the federal government and captains of the oil and gas industry to do what is right and salvage this country from being collapsed. So, we are pleading that in the name of the Lord, do what is right and salvage Nigeria from destruction”.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Petroleum Industry Christian Fellowship International, Rev Collins Edebiri, said once corruption is tamped out of the Nigeria oil and gas industry, the nation will flourish.
“The petroleum industry is a very dynamic community. Don’t forget that oil is an international commodity, and so the dynamics and politics around that continue to play out. Nigeria may have felt better in the past, but a lot of things have also happened in the country. Leadership is a challenge. I keep saying it, corruption remains our biggest problem, but if we all can come together in righteousness and leave those vices that are destroying this country; politicians, leaders and people at different levels, Nigeria has a big chance”
He, however, called on citizens to remain hopeful and work with the government to better the country.
