Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has withdrawn from the presidential race in the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has returned to work.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored development at the ministry in Abuja, on Monday, reports that Mr Sylva withdrew having considered the enormous work at hand at the ministry.

A group, Northern Solidarity Group, had on May 9, presented the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination form to the minister to enable him to contest the party’s 2023 presidential primaries.

The forms cost N100 million.

An official at the ministry who chose to remain anonymous said Mr Sylva withdrew from the race to support President Muhammadu Buhari in his quest to achieve a robust oil sector.

“He promised to consult the leader of the country and his political leaders the day he was presented with the form.

“He believes that concentrating on his work will attract more investments for the oil and gas sector.

“He has consulted and he believes that the challenges at the ministry and oil and gas sector are enough issues for him to begin to deal with now than going to pursue presidential ambition at the expense of the nation.

“The oil and gas sector is the mainstay of the economy and it is not like any other ministry somebody can just come in and take over.

“It requires some measures of time for the person to understand what is happening in the system.

“For the interest of the industry and the nation, he has decided to wave that personal ambition to see what he can contribute in the remaining part of President Buhari’s administration.

“The implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 is very critical and he wants to continue to make his own contribution to the day-to-day running of the country and support Mr President for robust achievements,” the official said.

Horatius Egua, senior adviser, media and communications to the minister, when contacted, confirmed to NAN that the minister was back to work.

(NAN)