THE IMPACT OF DEREGULATION ON THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE PETROLEUM MARKETING FIRMS IN THE NIGERIAN DOWNSTREAM SECTOR

THE IMPACT OF DEREGULATION ON THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE PETROLEUM MARKETING FIRMS IN THE NIGERIAN DOWNSTREAM SECTOR

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1            Background of the Study Area

All over’ the world, reasons for reforms in the public sector vary from country to country depending on the objective, peculiarity and the circumstance that the country finds itself. The issue of reform of the Nigerian downstream sector refining and distribution of petroleum products has been on for quite some time. It has however, become more compelling in the last few years given the trauma of scarify of petroleum products that the nation has continuously witnessed.

Prior to 1965, petroleum products domestic requirements were met entirely through importation under a deregulated environment. By 1965, it had become apparent that the nation, haven gained independence five years earlier, could no longer rely on important for its entire requirement.

Consequently, the first refinery in Nigeria – the old Port Harcourt refinery was built in 1965 as a commercial venture to provide petroleum product at market related prices. It was a 35,000 bard per day refinery jointly owned by shell (25%), British Petroleum (BP) 25%, the Federal Government (20%), and the three regional governments (10% each), (Kopolokun, 2004).

However, by mid 1 970s, with the advent of the oil boom government became directly involved in the downstream sector by building two new refineries and…..

THE IMPACT OF DEREGULATION ON THE STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT OF THE PETROLEUM MARKETING FIRMS IN THE NIGERIAN DOWNSTREAM SECTOR