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Tag: Mele Kyari

  • Over 4,800 illegal connections attached to crude oil pipelines – Kyari

    Over 4,800 illegal connections attached to crude oil pipelines – Kyari

    Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari has described oil theft and vandalism in the Niger Delta region as a calamity.

    Kyari said there are over 4,800 illegal connections on crude oil pipelines in the region and warned that this could frustrate the projections of the Federal Government.

    Speaking on Friday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Appropriation on the proposed budget for 2024, Kyari said that the daily oil production would depend greatly on the security situation in the oil rich Niger-Delta region.

    He described the act of vandalism and oil theft going on there as a calamity and completely abnormal.

    “The situation we have in Niger Delta in terms of security is a calamity. We don’t have that anywhere in the world. To engage non state actors as last resort as solution is abnormal. But we have to respond abnormally.

    “You have over 4,800 illegal connections on our pipelines. That means, within every kilometer, you have an insertion. Even if you seal all the insertions, you can’t get what you want in terms of production.

    “In the Niger Delta, people are coming from all parts of the country to do illegal refining. That’s why we engage locals to deal with it.  We will contain this challenge. We are doing everything possible to restore sanity. What is happening is a colossal damage to the environment and the host communities,” Kyari said.

  • Nigeria will start exporting petroleum products from 2024 – NNPC

    Nigeria will start exporting petroleum products from 2024 – NNPC

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has disclosed the country will start exporting petroleum products from 2024.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Alhaji Mele Kyari made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy visit to the leadership of the Senate.

    While linking the challenges in the sector to oil theft and pipeline vandalisation, Kyari said that the country had recovered up to N1.7 million barrels of crude oil following increased monitoring by the independent pipeline security companies, and the military.

    “In the last 5-6 months government security agencies and private security companies have done things differently, and it has yielded results.”

    He said that NNPCL was resolute at meeting its targeted contribution to the budget.

    He assured that the NNPCL would restart the Port Harcourt refinery in December, to be followed by the Warri refinery in the first quarter of 2024.

    This, he said would be complimented by small scale refineries.

    Keyari said that the corporation had recorded a N274 million profit in 2021, a growth from 2018.

    He said that the NNPCL may post profit in excess of N2 trillion in 2023; adding that in 2024 Nigeria would be a net exporter of petroleum products.

    While stressing that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) had ensured that energy supply was stable and creating cheaper energy for Nigerians, Kyari assured that the country will not experience fuel queues during the 2023 yuletide.

    ”And I guarantee you your excellency that we will not see any shortages in our country. You may see a number of scattered reports at filling stations that people will call queues. They are not,” he said.

    President of Senate , Godswill Akpabio, tasked the management of the NNPCL to seek ways of deepening the consumption of locally produced petroleum products.

    He also called for the establishment of modular refineries, as well as the renovation of existing ones to create a multiplier effect which would include creation of jobs for youths, and more security for the country.

    He said the senate was supporting the efforts to end oil theft and pipeline vandalisation which, according to him, was resulting in revenue losses to the nation.

    The Senate President said that the Senate would partner with the NNPCL in creating legislations that would smoothen ease of business for stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.

    He commended the corporation for ensuring an end to the fuel subsidy regime and called for capacity building for legislatures to ensure proper legislative input in the sector.

    “Nigerians want to hear good news and you came with a very good news. And this is good news,” Akpabio said.

  • Group says frustrated monarch, illicit oil barons behind fake Warri protests against boss of NNPCL, Kyari

    Group says frustrated monarch, illicit oil barons behind fake Warri protests against boss of NNPCL, Kyari

    The Niger Delta Peoples Assembly (NDPA), on Saturday said that a frustrated monarch and illicit oil barons were behind “fake Warri Protest” against the Group Chief Executive officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, Mele Kyari.

    Specifically, the group said that the act of organized protest has become a huge joke in the Niger Delta, wondering how anyone could take what happened in Warri, Delta state as a protest.

    The group in a press release signed by its National Coordinator, Richard Toritseju Okotie, said it was a thing of shame for few belligerent and ill informed youths, holding placards, in front of the NNPCL’s building that hosts the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC) and the Nigerian Nigerian Midstream Petroleum Authority (NMPA), Warri, to be referred to as a protest of a coalition of 26 youth groups.

    The group described the recent protest in Warri for the probe and removal from office the GCEO of NNPCL Mele Kyari as a charade,imploring the sponsors of the so called protest to give peace a chancem

    NDPA noted that the supposed coalition protest was indeed a joke in its entirety, adding that it was an orchestrated fiction poorly steam rolled and it did not make an impact it was intended due largely to lack of numbers, coordination and purpose.

    “The brain behind the wishy washy outing was a first class traditional ruler, who considers himself very smart and so wants to harvest without planting”, the group said.

    According to the group; “The lacklustre reception accorded his protesting youths by the staff of the NUPRC was most deserving, he knew he had the short end of the stick. The monarch should hide his head in shame for trying to resort to cheap blackmail and crude methods to have his way in the renewal of his pipelines surveillance contract. Very well, he does not merit the re-award. The monarch failed miserably alongside his illicit oil barons, and have become more frustrated by recent nationalistic policies of Mele Kyari to retool the NNPCL”.

     

     

    The group further said that the various names paraded as the group of misguided youths that took placards to the gates of NUPRC, were, Niger Delta Youth Association, Niger Delta Women for Change, Niger Delta Youth Empowerment Network & South South United Youth Association, saying that they are all non- existent and mere fabrications and existed only in their imagination and that of their sponsors.

    “In a very poorly articulated address, they presented their grouse as financial impropriety; lack of vision, poor performance, autocratic conduct, among others against the NNPCL GMD. And this prompts the question of whether they are auditors appointed by Mr. President to study the books of the NNPCL? On the other hand, it would have helped their protest if they had an auditor’s report indicting the GCEO of NNPCL”, they said.

     

    According to the group, NNPCL is the most probed and audited agency by other government institutions, such as the National Assembly, adding that; “This is due to the oversight function exercise over it by NASS, and Mele Kyari has never been found wanting. Mele Kyari infact enjoys a clean bill of health”.

    They stated that on the issue of refineries rehabilitation, the mischief makers and their sponsors should be informed that the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries was ongoing, with the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries to come on stream in December 2023.

    “There is an increase in crude oil production in 2023 due to the ingenuity and commitment of the GMD, who launched a relentless war against oil theft and pipelines vandalism by local operators and international barons. His sincere efforts and patriotic zeal have been recognised and appreciated by all critical stakeholders within and outside the oil industry and indeed outside the shores of Nigeria.

    To hurt the feelings of hired jobless protesters and their main principal, our indefagible President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reposed huge implicit confidence in Mr. Mele Kyari, a reservoir of knowledge”, they said.

    They said also that; “Does anyone have to remind the hollow head Street urchins, who served as ready tools of the youthful but directionless monarch, that the decision of Mr. President to retain Mele Kyari as GCEO of NNPCL was a confirmation of his resourcefulness, astuteness and commitment to the attainment of set goals. With this singular action of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it was very clear to discernible minds that Mr. President has an implict confidence in the man Mele Kyari as an eminently qualified member of the team to deliver the vision and mission of the Renewed Hope mantra in the oil industry”.

    The group disclosed that Mele Kyari recently awarded pipelines rehabilitation and surveillance contracts throughout the country to a consortium of oil firms in a bid to ensuring uninterrupted conveyance of crude and supply of refined products to all nooks and crannies of the country.

    “The grouse of the unhappy king stems from the refusal of the NNPCL’s GCEO to renew his non-performing pipelines surveillance contracts, which expired last September. The first class monarch is still dazed that Mele Kyari, having reviewed the said contract, refused to be used, as he declined all entreaties’, they stated.

     

    The group said that crude carrying pipelines in the areas under the monarch’s control were daily compromised and vandalised by oil thieves, while he collected millions of dollars for unexecuted jobs, saying that the era of such free money no longer exists in the current regime.

    “He was thoroughly embittered when the NNPCL management informed him that his surveillance contract would not be renewed, as it would be subsumed under a very effective and efficient global contract”, the group said.

    The offence of Mele Kyari, according to the group is that he refused to renew the monarch’s contract when it expired a month ago and hence he is calling for his head.

    They claimed that;”The embattled monarch is also reported to be angry with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) led by Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, for not circumventing the implementation of the PIA in his domain to his benefit. He devised desperate tactics to bypass the PIA law, but it ended in fiasco. He was roundly ignored by NUPRC and tamed by the NNPCL”.

    “The aggrieved monarch in cahoot with oil thieves is unimpressed with Mele Kyari’s bid to rid the NNPCL of all illegal oil operations, and had hired fake protesters to malign the committed GCEO. We implore Mr. President to ignore the media hype of the supposed protest. It was a frustrated monarch cutting his nose to spite his face, who was behind it.
    Mele Kyari should be preserved to continue his good works in the national interest. No one changes a winning team, rather, you strengthen it. Only individuals who engaged in unlawful activities and seeking unmerited favours that are afraid of Mele Kyari” the group said.

    They added that; “And the oil thieves and those seeking to circumvent the law would continue to have reasons to be unhappy , with Mele Kyari enjoying a merited endorsement and backing of Mr. President in his patriotic zeal to rid the nation’s oil industry of all sharp practices associated with crude oil and petroleum products. Our dear, Mele Kyari, ride on in the national interest”.

     

    The Full Press Release Reads “The act of organized protest has become a huge joke in the Niger Delta. How can anyone take what happened in Warri Delta State as a protest?
    Can few belligerent and ill informed youths, holding placards, in front of the NNPCL’s building that hosts the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream Petroleum Authority (NMPA) Warri, be referred to as a protest of a coalition of 26 youth groups?

    “That was the charade that happened in Warri recently, which those who sponsored it called a protest asking for the probe and removal from office of the GCEO of NNPCL, Mele Kyari.

    The supposed coalition protest was indeed a joke in its entirety. It was an orchestrated fiction poorly steam rolled. It did not make an impact it was intended due largely to lack of numbers, coordination and purpose.

    The brain behind the wishy washy outing was a first class traditional ruler, who considers himself very smart and so wants to harvest without planting”.

    “The lacklustre reception accorded his protesting youths by the staff of the NUPRC was most deserving, he knew he had the short end of the stick. The monarch should hide his head in shame for trying to resort to cheap blackmail and crude methods to have his way in the renewal of his pipelines surveillance contract. Very well, he does not merit the re-award”.

    “The monarch failed miserably alongside his illicit oil barons, and have become more frustrated by recent nationalistic policies of Mele Kyari to retool the NNPCL.

    The various names paraded as the group of misguided youths that took placards to the gates of NUPRC, were, Niger Delta Youth Association, Niger Delta Women for Change, Niger Delta Youth Empowerment Network & South South United Youth Association. They are all non- existent and mere fabrications. They existed only in their imagination and that of their sponsors”.

    “In a very poorly articulated address, they presented their grouse as financial impropriety; lack of vision, poor performance, autocratic conduct, among others against the NNPCL GMD. And this prompts the question of whether they are auditors appointed by Mr. President to study the books of the NNPCL?

    On the other hand, it would have helped their protest if they had an auditor’s report indicting the GCEO of NNPCL

    NNPCL is the most probed and audited agency by other government institutions, such as the National Assembly. This is due to the oversight function exercise over it by NASS, and Mele Kyari has never been found wanting. Mele Kyari infact enjoys a clean bill of health.

    On the issue of refineries rehabilitation, the mischief makers and their sponsors need to be informed that the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries is ongoing, with the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries to come on stream in December 2023”.

    “There is an increase in crude oil production in 2023 due to the ingenuity and commitment of the GMD, who launched a relentless war against oil theft and pipelines vandalism by local operators and international barons. His sincere efforts and patriotic zeal have been recognised and appreciated by all critical stakeholders within and outside the oil industry and indeed outside the shores of Nigeria.

    To hurt the feelings of hired jobless protesters and their main principal, our indefagible President Bola Ahmed Tinubu reposed huge implicit confidence in Mr. Mele Kyari, a reservoir of knowledge”.

    “Does anyone have to remind the hollow head Street urchins, who served as ready tools of the youthful but directionless monarch, that the decision of Mr. President to retain Mele Kyari as GCEO of NNPCL was a confirmation of his resourcefulness, astuteness and commitment to the attainment of set goals. With this singular action of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, it was very clear to discernible minds that Mr. President has an implict confidence in the man Mele Kyari as an eminently qualified member of the team to deliver the vision and mission of the Renewed Hope mantra in the oil industry.

    Mele Kyari recently awarded pipelines rehabilitation and surveillance contracts throughout the country to a consortium of oil firms in a bid to ensuring uninterrupted conveyance of crude and supply of refined products to all nooks and crannies of the country”.

    “The grouse of the unhappy king stems from the refusal of the NNPCL’s GCEO to renew his non-performing pipelines surveillance contracts, which expired last September.

    The first class monarch is still dazed that Mele Kyari, having reviewed the said contract, refused to be used, as he declined all entreaties.

    Crude carrying pipelines in the areas under the monarch’s control were daily compromised and vandalised by oil thieves, while he collected millions of dollars for unexecuted jobs. The era of such free money no longer exists in the current regime”

    “He was thoroughly embittered when the NNPCL management informed him that his surveillance contract would not be renewed, as it would be subsumed under a very effective and efficient global contract.

    The offence of Mele Kyari is that he refused to renew the monarch’s contract when it expired a month ago. Hence, he is baying for his blood.

    The embattled monarch is also reported to be angry with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) led by Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, for not circumventing the implementation of the PIA in his domain to his benefit. He devised desperate tactics to bypass the PIA law, but it ended in fiasco. He was roundly ignored by NUPRC and tamed by the NNPCL”.

    “The aggrieved monarch in cahoot with oil thieves is unimpressed with Mele Kyari’s bid to rid the NNPCL of all illegal oil operations, and had hired fake protesters to malign the committed GCEO.

    We implore Mr. President to ignore the media hype of the supposed protest. It was a frustrated monarch cutting his nose to spite his face, who was behind it.

    Mele Kyari should be preserved to continue his good works in the national interest.

    No one changes a winning team, rather, you strengthen it”.

    “Only individuals who engaged in unlawful activities and seeking unmerited favours that are afraid of Mele Kyari.

    And the oil thieves and those seeking to circumvent the law would continue to have reasons to be unhappy , with Mele Kyari enjoying a merited endorsement and backing of Mr. President in his patriotic zeal to rid the nation’s oil industry of all sharp practices associated with crude oil and petroleum products.

    Our dear, Mele Kyari, ride on in the national interest.

    God bless Nigeria!!!

    SIGNED for and on behalf of NIGER DELTA PEOPLES ASSEMBLY (NDPA)

    RICHARD TORITSEJU OKOTIE
    NATIONAL COORDINATOR.

  • Kyari opens up on status of fuel subsidy payment

    Kyari opens up on status of fuel subsidy payment

    Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mallam Mele Kyari has disclosed the federal government is no longer paying subsidy on Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kyari made the disclosure to State House Correspondents on Monday in Abuja, stressing that contrary to insinuations, the federal government was no longer paying subsidy to any person or group for bringing petroleum products into the country.

    “No subsidy whatsoever. We are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market. We understand why marketers are unable to import. We hope that they begin to do so very quickly and these are some of the interventions government is making. There is no subsidy,” he said.

    Kyari further stated that the pockets of low queues witnessed across some states recently were due to bad roads that had made transporters to divert the product to other routes.

    “We have seen in very few states pockets of very low queues. This is not unconnected with the road situation and that’s why we’re seeing some blockades on our roads.

    “Moving the products from the southern depots into the northern part of the country takes them much longer time now than it used to be.

    “They have to re-route their trucks around many locations for them to be able to reach their destinations and that created delays and some supply gaps. But, that has been filled and we do not see any of such problems again.

    “Secondly, because of the full deregulation that we have in this sector, marketers are now competing amongst themselves,” he said.

    The NNPCL group managing director also said that some of the queues were caused by the preference of customers to patronise filling stations that offered low prices.

    “You must have noticed that some fuel stations will reduce their prices by N2 or N3. So customers will naturally run to the places where you have that reduction in prices and probably create panic.

    “This is because those who don’t know why they are doing it will think that there’s something happening or that there’s an ominous sign of scarcity,’’ he said.

    According to him, there are over 1.4 billion litres of petrol available for local consumption, both on the seas and on land, adding that there is no cause for alarm.

    Kyari explained that market forces were now playing out and that marketers were competing for the product and how to satisfy their customers as well.

    ‘’There are few issues we’re engaging them to resolve, alongside other agencies of government, particularly critical issues around access to foreign exchange.

    “And as you all know, government is doing so much to ensure supply of forex into the market.

    “We know that this FX markets will stabilise the current I&E window is around 770.

    “And we know that those inputs from government will crystalise and they will come to an equilibrium position in the FX market and this is the dream of this country,’’ he said.

    Kyari assured marketers of a stable forex and a situation where the prices of the product would align with the prices of other commodities.

  • NNPC denies plans to move headquarters to Lagos

    NNPC denies plans to move headquarters to Lagos

    The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. has denied speculations that it  plans to move its headquarters in Abuja to Lagos.

    Mr Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) NNPC made the denial at the resumed investigative hearing of the ad hoc committee on the acquisition of OVH Energy by NNPCL on Friday.

    Kyari said that contrary to the petition by petitioners, the company had no plan of moving its headquarters to Lagos, adding that this was in spite of its present status of a private company, registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission.

    He said the insinuation might not be unconnected with the fact that 70 per cent of its operations were in Lagos, adding that moving the headquarters would incur additional cost on the company.

    He said the NNPC Ltd. had merged its operations and moved the right people where they were required to function.

    According to him, the registered headquarters of NNPC Ltd. is in Abuja, the mere fact that the GCEO sit with the operations staff does not mean it had moved to Lagos.

    According to him, those making the allegation were doing so because they don’t want to move; this is the challenge of merger and acquisition all over the world. We have given them option to resign.

    “The company cannot keep them where they are not needed; this is what the petitions are all about.”

    He noted that in every merger and acquisition, the dominant culture must be allowed to take over such as service, adding that this was exactly what the NNPC Ltd was doing.

    “Merger and acquisition comes with challenges but we are minimising the impact, we have to make the business happen.

    “We are doing everything possible to ensure that it has no negative impact and we will ensure it creates value,” he said.

    Speaking on the need to retain expatriates, he said there was no national oil company of  limited liability that does not have expatriates, adding that it took him many days of engagement to make the expatriates stay.

    “We don’t have the capability and there is no way we can progress without having inclusion of people that can create values,” he said.

    Kyari said that the NNPC Ltd. needed to be the national oil company that people could deal with, adding that international partners always looked at inclusion and the NNPC must get expatriates to live and work with it.

    He, however, said that Nigerians must learn to thank him for a job well done, saying, “I must say that this country should thank me, and I say that without reservation.

    According to him, in the first quarters of 2023, we made N18.4 billion profit and before we acquired OVH, we couldn’t make it.

    He added that before now, the NNPC Ltd. struggled to control 15 per cent of OVH, disclosing that now they were now in control of 30 per cent.

    Rep.  Hassan Na’laraba, the Chairman of the committee, commended the GCEO for the clarification, adding that they were issues based to wade off corruption.

    He said the GCOE could be re-invited for further clarifications because the committee still had a week to submit its report, adding that there was need to have an interface with him in the course of oversight.

  • Drama as Reps reject motion to suspend fuel price increase

    Drama as Reps reject motion to suspend fuel price increase

    There was mild drama on the floor of the Nigerian House of Representatives on Wednesday as Reps debated and rejected an amendment motion to suspend the latest increase in the price of fuel.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the amendment motion moved by Rep. Yampa Zakaria (PDP-Adamawa), asking the House to order a suspension of the hike in fuel price.

    However, members of the House voted in favour of the N617 per litre price of petrol, citing market forces as the determinant.

    Zakaria had argued that the price hike suspension would enable the House to invite the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Mr Mele Kyari, to appear before it to explain the move.

    Rep. Shettima Ali (APC-Yobe) seconded Zakaria’s motion, urging that the price hike be reverted pending the appearance of Kyari before the House, but the amendment was rejected.

    The amendment sought was based on a motion moved earlier by Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP-Imo).

    Ugochinyere had noted that Nigerians woke up on July 18 to find to their chagrin that petrol price had been increased from N537 a litre to N617 a litre.

    He urged the House to constitute an ad-hoc committee to look into the incessant increases in pump prices of petrol by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL).

    He noted that the price increases had affected transportation and prices of foodstuffs, leaving many Nigerians helpless.

    Contributing to the debate on the motion, the Deputy Speaker, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, conceded that the motion was prompt.

    He, however, defended the move by the NNPCL, arguing that market forces were the factors at play since the removal of fuel subsidy.

    Rep. Amobi Ogah (LP-Abia) in his contribution also conceded that market forces determined the price hike.

    When the Deputy Speaker put the amendment motion to a voice vote, members rejected the proposed reversal and ruled in favour of N617 per litre of petrol.

    The House also summoned Kyari and his team to explain to the House the rationale behind the increase.

    The lawmakers also set up an ad-hoc committee with members drawn from the six geopolitical zones of the country to determine the rationale behind the increase.

  • NNPC Ltd to sell shares soon – Kyari reveals

    NNPC Ltd to sell shares soon – Kyari reveals

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has restated plans to issue its Initial Public Offer(IPO) to investors very soon.

    The Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari said this at the 22nd edition of the 2023 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy conference and exhibition on Tuesday in Abuja.

    The theme of the conference is , “Powering Nigeria’s Sustainable Energy Future”
    Kyari while speaking on ”Redefining Nigeria’s Energy Landscape for a Sustainable Energy Future’’ said the decision was based on the law.

    ”As a Company that it is guided under the regulations of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, the NNPC Ltd. will declare its shares to the public for acquisition very soon.

    “We will pay taxes; we will pay royalties like anyone; we will also pay dividends to our shareholders which many of you are.

    ”We are in business and business means competition. We are a private sector, forget about the fact that we are owned by the government 100 per cent.

    “ You are also aware, we are going Initial Public Offer very soon, we will sell a part of our equity.

    ” It is in the law, and once that happens, we will not be any different for any of you and it will be a very different business environment,” he said.

    On subsidy removal, Kyari said it had ensured positive change in the sector by freeing up capital for powering the sustainable supply of energy.

    “Are we positioned to facilitate business? Yes, but our partnership produced over 80 per cent of the oil and gas in the country either directly or through our off-stream company or through our partnership.

    “I am in a position to facilitate business. On the PSC today, we are just agents of the state, trying to make sure we deliver value to them and then they will pay.

    “I am sure you appreciate this new relationship. The PSCs are not on the balance sheet on the NNPCL.

    ”We make sure you do your work because when you do, we are compensated 40 per cent of your profit oil, so it is important for us as well as business for us,” he said.

    On energy poverty, the NNPCL boss said the focus was now to ensure that more people had access to energy.

    Kyari said, “Over 30 per cent do not have access to electricity. So, is energy available or is it the problem of affordability.

    ”Or it is that we have an unsustainable situation or is it combination of all of them? I think we are dealing with the combination of all.”

    According to him, energy is not available, it is not affordable in definite sense.

    He said this was due to many structures and issues that made affordability a matter of concern for everybody.

    “We supply gas, we do not get payment for it; We supply power and we do not get payment for it.

    ”So, you cannot run any business this way. You cannot be sustainable. You cannot create affordable energy and it will not be available.”

    According to him, affordability, accessibility and sustainability are the drivers of Nigeria’s energy future.

    He said that key initiatives on the horizon for NNPCL would include expanding gas infrastructure to deliver gas across West Africa and potentially, Europe.

    He further said expansion of liquefaction capacity of NLNG and enabling the availability of LPG as a cooking fuel and CNG as alternative fuel for automobiles were paramount.

    Kyari then reiterated the need to bridge the skilled manpower gap, ensure asset security, and invest in infrastructure to transform challenges into opportunities.

    The NOG Energy Week is Nigeria’s foremost international energy conference aimed at discussing policy implementation, vital energy agenda and investments, among others.

    The ongoing event was attended by policymakers, regulators, leaders, stakeholders and partners of the industry.

  • Gudaji Kazaure urges Tinubu to investigate Mele Kyari, Malami, others for alleged corruption

    Gudaji Kazaure urges Tinubu to investigate Mele Kyari, Malami, others for alleged corruption

    A former member of the house of representatives Gudaji Kazaure, has called on President Bola Tinubu to investigate 12 persons in order to “recover Nigeria’s stolen money”.

    Kazaure while speaking on Brekete Family program Thursday, said the payment of fuel subsidy was a “fraud”, adding that most of the money was diverted by individuals.

    “Instead of paying N7 trillion to subsidy which is fraud, even N1 trillion is not spent because they are going into a private account…pocket. Whoever said they are spending that money is lying,” Kazaure said.

    “And that is why I’m calling the attention of Mr President as he showed that he is serious, there are people in his government and there are people that assisted him that are among this mess.

    “So, he should close his eyes and deal with them. No matter who is close to him, no matter who is in the government, if he’s found in this issue, he should return the government’s money.

    “There are twelve people the president should investigate. The first person, if we want to bring back the economy of this country, we have to arrest and investigate CBN governor who is now under investigation

    “Secondly, the EFCC chairman. And when we are investigating the EFCC chairman, we have to invite Magu, the former chairman, to bring some things that he left in the office, to explain.

    “Thirdly, the GMD of the NNPC. Number four, the former minister of justice, Malami. Number five, Sabiu Tunde, who was the personal private secretary to former President Buhari.

    “Number six, the chairman of FIRS. Then there is Jamoh, the NIMASA DG. Then there is Koko from the NPA, and Hadiza Bala, the former NPA chairman.

    “All present CBN deputy governors that are working with Emefiele should come and open their eyes and mouths and tell what they know, if we are serious and want to restore the economy.

    “Then number ten, we have to arrest and investigate Sadiya Umar Farouk, former minister of humanitarian affairs, because when you invite her, many of her colleagues will come into the investigation.

    “Then the entire leaders of National Inter-bank Settlement System (NIBSS). The entire leaders and the ICT officers there are supposed to be investigated because they are the ones who will tell you where all the bank charges and the stamp duty went. Because it’s from there the money goes to CBN.”

    “First of all, they are aware that if you take money in Nigeria, when they carry you to EFCC, from EFCC to court, you will hire lawyers who will get you bail and you will go and enter air conditioner and continue eating chicken,” he said.

    “Your private jet is there, your dollars are there, everything is there, you are spending. With that we cannot fight corruption in this country.”

  • Presidency sources speak on Mele Kyari’s suspension as NNPC GMD

    Presidency sources speak on Mele Kyari’s suspension as NNPC GMD

    Sources in the presidency have reacted to reports that President Bola Tinubu has suspended Mele Kyari as the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

    Reports had been rife on the social media on Saturday afternoon that Kyari had been suspended over allegations of fraud and irregularities within the NNPC.

    But in a rebuttal made on Saturday evening to The Whistler, a presidency source informed that President Tinubu has not given any such directive.

    “We got to know about the purported suspension through social media posts. But I can confirm to you that there is no such directive coming from the President. Nigerians are known to play a lot with trends and someone may just have sat down somewhere to make such posts.

    “There is no iota of truth in that post claiming that the President has suspended the NNPC GCEO. There is nothing to be worried about because the Petroleum Industry Act is clear on how the NNPC GCEO or any member of the NNPC Board could be removed,” the source was quoted to have said.

    Also, an aide to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation affirmed that no such directive had been given by the President.

    He said: “Please disregard those reports because they are fake news. We don’t have such directive from the President to suspend Kyari.”

  • NNPC Limited reacts as petrol scarcity follows Tinubu’s pronouncement on fuel subsidy

    NNPC Limited reacts as petrol scarcity follows Tinubu’s pronouncement on fuel subsidy

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) has reacted to the pronouncement of President Bola Tinubu on the payment of fuel subsidy.

    Recall that Tinubu was sworn in as President on Monday and during his inaugural speech, he announced the federal government will no more make payments for fuel subsidy.

    Reacting, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of NNPCL, Mallam Mele Kyari noted that the payment of fuel subsidy had been a burden on the corporation’s cash flow.

    Addressing the press, Kyari stressed the removal of subsidy will free up funds to enable optimal operations within the company.

    “NNPC Limited welcomes the decision by the Federal Government to remove subsidies on PMS.

    “The removal of the subsidy, which has been a burden on NNPC Limited’s cash flow, will free up funds to enable optimal operations within the company,” he said.

    Reacting to the scarcity already being experienced, he assured Nigerians of a sufficient supply of the product.

    “NNPC Limited is also monitoring all its distribution networks to ensure compliance,” Kyari added.