President Muhammadu Buhari has assured indigenous companies operating in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector of the full support and protection of his administration.

At a meeting Wednesday with members of the Independent Petroleum Producers Association in the Presidential Villa,  Buhari commended the determination to increase the participation of Nigerians in the country’s oil industry and promised to do all within his powers to address the challenges which they currently face.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the president had also directed the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to work more closely with the indigenous oil producers to resolve the problems which members of the group said were affecting their operations.

The president said: “We have the manpower for a more effective participation in our oil industry. We will give you all possible  encouragement. You certainly won’t be ignored under my leadership.”

The association comprises about  20 Nigerian companies operating mainly on onshore fields.

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