NNPC asks Nigerians to stop calling its officials thieves, says petroleum industry problems not their fault

Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, has asked Nigerians to stop calling staff of the company thieves.

This is as he said most problems in the country’s petroleum industry have nothing to do with his organisation.

Kyari spoke when he appeared before an ad hoc senate committee on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.

The committee, led by Opeyemi Bamidele, the senate majority leader, is probing the alleged importation of substandard petroleum products into the country.

The GCEO said NNPC is protecting the country’s interest.

He said; “NNPCL is loyal and faithful to the country. [Most problems in the petroleum industry] have nothing to do with NNPCL. We are faithful and loyal to the economic interest of this country.

“We are not criminals. We are not thieves. But we will protect our dignity and honour.”

This comes following recent controversies trailing the company and its operations.

Speaking at the house of representatives in July, President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, reportedly said some personnel of NNPCL, oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta.

The billionaire said the areas of the blending plants are known.

“Some of the terminals, some of the NNPCL people and some traders have opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta. We all know these areas. We know what they are doing,” the billionaire reportedly said.

Reacting to the allegation, Kyari, in a post via X, said he was not aware of any employee of the NNPCL that owns or operates a blending plant in Malta or anywhere else in the world.

He, however, said blending plants in Malta or any part of the world has no influence over NNPC’s business operations and strategic actions.

Earlier, the committee raised questions about a sum of $1.5 billion approved by the Muhammadu Buhari administration in 2021 for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.

Bamidele said the investment had not yielded any results.

“In 2021, specifically, the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5 billion for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt refinery,” he said.

“Yet, this investment has not yielded significant returns.

“For us, in the senate, we believe it is unfair and unpatriotic to treat government businesses or public corporations as an orphan while private businesses are flourishing and thriving.

“From our findings, we will craft a legislative framework that will entrench global best practices in the industry; open it up for more investments, especially in the midstream and downstream sectors and end vicious regimes of subterfuge in the petroleum industry.

“We are utterly committed to this mandate. We shall carry it out without fear or favour.

“We shall be equitable, fair and just to all parties with a view to promoting and protecting the strategic national interests of our fatherland.”

Bamidele added that his committee would carry out its probe with “honour and responsibility”.