PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has offered licences to investors willing to set up petroleum refineries in the country as part of the overall effort to raise the nation’s petroleum refining capacity and reduce the importation of refined products.

The president gave the assurance while speaking to a delegation of investors from Brazil, led by Mr Reuben Voigt, chairman of the Voigt Group, at State House, Abuja, on Thursday.

He told them that Nigeria had four refineries but their combined capacity did not meet the country’s needs, “so we are willing to approve applications for refining licences.”

Jonathan observed that Nigeria was still a green area in terms of investments and government had opened up sectors of the economy, which were previously restricted to private sector investment.

He directed the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to hold discussions with the Voigt Group to explore areas of mutual cooperation.

In his remarks earlier, Mr Voigt said his organisation would donate 120,000 housing units to Nigeria over three years, adding that the Voigt Group was interested in investing in construction, housing, power plants, petroleum refining and oil spillage clearing.

Also at the discussion were Ministers of Housing, Ms Ama Pepple, Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, Power, Professor Barth Nnaji and Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Olajumuke Akinjide.

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