ABUJA: THE Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Alhaji Mele Kyari has said that the organisation has nothing to do with substandard importation of petroleum products into the country, just as he stressed that they are not Criminals or thieves and also not fighting or persecuting anyone.
This was made known in Abuja on Wednesday when he appeared before the Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele of the APC, Ekiti Central, along with some major petroleum industry players.
In response, Engineer Kyari stated that the oil and gas business is in urgent need of help, but as an organization, they don’t lie, they are not thieves or criminals, they don’t fight or persecute anyone, and they don’t sabotage any of the stakeholders or organizations.
He stated that the oil and gas industry is in serious trouble and that there are things he knew but was unable to address in public until “the time comes.”
As the company’s general corporate executive officer, he claimed he has been attacked by unjust media attacks by those who are doing everything in their power to give the impression that NNPCL is jeopardizing the country’s economy.
“The organization is truthful and is not going to deceive the general public. “We are not thieves or criminals,” he declares. In order to continue to serve this nation, we shall uphold our dignity.
Mr Chairman Sir, the Company and Allied Matters Act, the Petroleum Industry Act, and other backing laws and regulations that controls the activities of the oil and gas sector. We haven’t violated any of them, Mr. Chairman.
“Mr. Chairman, it is our duty to uphold the legal provisions in order to protect the nation’s overall interest,” Kyari stated. The Company and Allied Matters Act, the Petroleum Industry Act, and other enabling regulatory acts.
“Mr. Chairman, the NNPCL is a company owned by over 200 million Nigerians. And I happen to be the Chief Executive Officer of this company. And the law is clear around what the chief executive of this company will do.
“Our memorandum of article of association, the Petroleum Industry Act, and all other enabling laws, including CAMA, which was legislated by this Honourable National Assembly. We are clear that the board and management of NNPCL must maximise value for this company, Mr. Chairman. This company cannot have not made negative profits for three years now
Mr. Chairman, it is our job to protect this company. But it is also our job to protect other businesses around us. This company has grown, Mr. Chairman. We are proud to say this. From a lost company for 43 years to a profit-making company today,.
Mr. Chairman. Everybody believes, by sheer misinformation which my Minister has highlighted, that NNPCL is responsible for creating any economic sabotage in our country.
“Mr. Chairman, refining business is straight business. You must secure your feedstock and you must secure a market. This is basic even for NMPC refiners, we have done nothing to sabotage any domestic refinery. Any one of them. There are many of them.
