The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, has categorically declared that the company has not breached any of the enabling laws guiding its dealings with partners, hence should be counted out of any claims of economic sabotage.
Kyari made the declaration at the National Assembly on Wednesday while addressing the Senator Opeyemi Bamidele-led Senate Ad-Hoc Committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
He stated that refining business was a straightforward business which any investor should know before coming into the market.
“Refining business is a straightforward business,” he continued. “You must secure (a source for) your feedstock and you must find a market. This is basic and this determines what happens in any refinery anywhere in the world. That is the business of refining. We have done nothing to sabotage any domestic refinery.”
The GCEO who has been in the eye of the storm for sometime now over NNPCL’s row with Dangote Refinery,said the law was very clear on domestic crude oil supply obligation and also on providing for local refineries. However, Kyari added that the same law also stipulated that there must be a willing buyer and a willing seller.
He also spoke on the alleged importation of sub-standard petroleum products into the country, saying the NNPC Limited had nothing to do with it as the relevant regulatory agencies will, by law, not allow any sub-standard product into the country.
Kyari lamented that as the GCEO of the company, he had faced undue media attacks from persons doing everything to create the impression that NNPCL was sabotaging the nation’s economy.
Assuring that the company was “faithful and will not lie” to the country, he declared: “We are faithful, loyal and committed to the progress and development of this country. It is our duty to protect the overall interest of this great nation. We are not in breach of any rules.”
He added: “We are not criminals and we are not thieves. We will protect our dignity so we can serve this country.”
The GCEO also supported calls for the Senator Opeyemi Bamidele-led-Ad-hoc Committee to beam the interactive sessions live on national television to prevent misinforming Nigerians.
He explained that there is enough infrastructure to produce two million barrels of crude per day but the challenges of crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and absence of investment in the upstream are the major factors hindering the sector.
He said as a company owned by the over 200 million Nigerians, the NNPC Limited has grown from a loss-making position to a profit-making entity.
While pledging full co-operation towards the Committee in its efforts to unravel the allegations being investigated, Kyari said the NNPC Limited, its entire board, management and staff remained loyal, faithful and committed to Nigeria and will continue to act in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Company & Allied Matters Act (CAMA) and other enabling laws and regulations governing the nation’s energy Industry.
The NNPCL boss also submitted that the oil and gas industry was bleeding and that there were things he knew but could not talk about in public until “the time comes”.
He asked that the committee sessions be televised live going forward for all Nigerians to monitor.
