Stop crude oil theft, illegal refining, pipeline vandals, ex NNPC GMDs tell security agencies; Hail GCEO Kyari’s feats

Global Patriot Staff July 21, 2024 Business and Economy, Local, News Leave a comment 123 Views

Former Group Managing Directors (GMDs) of the NNPC have met in Abuja with a call on the nation’s security agencies to ensure that crude oil theft, illegal refining of crude and the activities of pipeline vandals are stopped to allow for investment inflow and the growth of the country’s oil and gas sector.

The GMDs, who met on the platform of the Company’s CEO Forum with NNPC Limited’s serving senior management staff, are Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, Dr Jackson Gaius – Obaseki, Engr Funsho Kupolokun, Engr Abubakar Lawal Yar’adua, Engr Austen Oniwon and Engr Andrew Yakubu. Engr Abiye Membere, a former GED E&P, served as a Resource Person.

While expressing their unwavering support for the current leadership of NNPCL for “their commendable efforts in advancing the company’s strategic objectives across key sectors,” the former GMDs, in the Communique released after the meeting, empathised with them “over the state of onshore operations with over seven thousand illegal refineries destroyed and over five thousand illegal connections removed.”

They noted that “any attack on crude oil and gas facilities as well as illegal refining are acts of criminality and economic sabotage,” stressing that all such activities hindering oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria must, therefore, be sanctioned.

They appreciated the fact that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has made provisions for the Host communities’ development as well as provided for sustainable funding,” and gave kudos to the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, all tiers of Government and Nigerians for continuing support for the NNPC.

The forum, according to the Communique, provided insights on NNPC’s transition post PIA and the challenges and opportunities therefrom, with the former GMDs acknowledging that “they obtained insights into NNPC’s business activities in the context of global energy industry dynamics, strategic aspirations and operational updates.”

In particular, they noted, “oil and gas production growth plan, gas infrastructure project delivery plan, progress on refinery rehabilitation and issues related to petroleum product supply and energy security were discussed.”

They commended Mele Kyari “as the first Group CEO to implement the PIA, and noted with satisfaction the progress made with hope that its limitations will be addressed over time.”

The group also acknowledged with satisfaction the significant progress made in such areas as increasing crude oil and gas production, funding of upstream operations and investments, gas supply and infrastructure development for domestic and export including CNG and LPG delivery, refineries rehabilitation progress, reduction in carbon emissions and commercialisation of Nigeria’s vast gas resources.

While expressing satisfaction with the achievements recorded so far, they encouraged the management team “to continue advancing strategies to improve operations, grow portfolio, and manage talent.”

They also noted “with satisfaction the continuation of the policy on recruitment which takes into consideration the principles of diversity and inclusion as well as performance based career progression via a transparent process.

“We also noted that limited information is in the public domain on NNPC’s operations since transition to a private commercial entity,” they said, stressing that this “has led to misleading commentary which we believe is not in tandem with the strides achieved by the company.”