Speaking during an interview on Channels TV, Kalu argued that empowering local investors and regional entrepreneurs could transform the nation’s oil sector faster and more cost-effectively.

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‎”We don’t need to spend billions of dollars to build a refinery; the Igbos can build it,”

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‎ According to him, encouraging indigenous investment rather than relying entirely on massive government spending would boost local capacity, create jobs, and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported fuel, pointing to the long-standing reputation of Igbo businessmen for driving industrial projects with efficiency and resilience

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‎Kalu criticized the historical mismanagement and repeated failures of government-owned refineries, stressing that private sector-led initiatives—especially from resourceful regions like the Southeast—could deliver better results.

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‎Admin Nibo