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CNPP APPLAUDS PRESIDENT TINUBU ON MELE KYARI’S SACK, DEMANDS FORENSIC AUDIT OF NNPCL

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for relieving Mele Kyari of his duties as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). In a statement, the CNPP described the President’s action as a courageous step toward restoring accountability, efficiency, and transparency in the management of Nigeria’s oil sector. “For too long, Nigerians have endured the consequences of mismanagement, inefficiency, and allegations of large-scale corruption within NNPCL,” the CNPP stated. “This has contributed to severe economic hardships, including skyrocketing food prices driven by high transportation costs.” The CNPP emphasized that replacing Kyari alone is insufficient to address the deep-rooted issues plaguing the oil sector. The organization reiterated its call for a comprehensive forensic audit of NNPCL’s operations under Kyari’s leadership. “The Nigerian people deserve to know the true extent of mismanagement and possible financial irregularities that have taken place within the national oil company over the years,” the CNPP said. The CNPP highlighted several unresolved grave allegations against Kyari, including unauthorized gratuity payments, sabotage of local refineries, diversion of refinery rehabilitation funds, sale of stolen crude oil, and unaccounted oil revenues and subsidy payments. These allegations underscore the urgent need for an independent forensic investigation into NNPCL’s accounts, operations, and crude oil sales records during Kyari’s tenure. “The oil industry remains the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, and without urgent and radical reforms, the suffering of Nigerians will persist,” the CNPP warned. “Ensuring accountability in NNPCL is key to stabilizing the petroleum industry, improving fuel availability, reducing transportation costs, and ultimately lowering food prices.” The CNPP called on President Tinubu to go beyond leadership changes and take decisive steps to cleanse the oil sector. It also urged anti-corruption agencies, civil society organizations, and the National Assembly to support the demand for a forensic audit to reposition NNPCL for the benefit of all Nigerians. “The time to act is now!” the CNPP declared.

PRESIDENT TINUBU DISSOLVES NNPCL BOARD, APPOINTS NEW CHAIRMAN AND GROUP CEO

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has dissolved the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), removing its chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and Group Chief Executive Officer, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari, in a sweeping overhaul. The move, effective April 2, 2024, follows the president’s invocation of powers under Section 59(2) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, to reconstitute an 11-member board aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, restoring investor confidence, and driving economic growth. Ahmadu Musa Kida, a former Deputy Managing Director of Total Exploration and Production Nigeria, has been appointed as the new Non-Executive Chairman. Engineer Bashir Bayo Ojulari, previously Executive Vice President of Renaissance Africa Energy Company, takes over as Group CEO. The board also includes six non-executive directors representing Nigeria’s geopolitical zones: Bello Rabiu (North West), Yusuf Usman (North East), Babs Omotowa (North Central), Austin Avuru (South-South), David Ige (South West), and Henry Obih (South East). Adedapo Segun, Chief Financial Officer since November 2023, retains his position on the board. Mrs. Lydia Shehu Jafiya, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and Aminu Said Ahmed, representing the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, complete the new lineup. President Tinubu directed the board to conduct an immediate strategic review of NNPCL’s assets and joint ventures to align with “value maximization objectives.” The administration targets raising oil production to 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million by 2030, alongside increasing gas output to 8 billion cubic feet daily by 2027 and 10 billion by 2030. Refining capacity is expected to hit 200,000 barrels daily by 2027 and 500,000 by 2030. Highlighting reforms initiated since 2023, Tinubu noted that $17 billion in new investments had been secured for the sector, with ambitions to attract $30 billion by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030. He praised the outgoing board for rehabilitating the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, which resumed production after prolonged shutdowns, and wished them well in future endeavors. Kida, an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University and former President of the Nigerian Basketball Federation, brings decades of experience from Total and Pan Ocean-Newcross Group. Ojulari, a mechanical engineering graduate from the same institution, previously led Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company and played a key role in Renaissance’s $2.4 billion acquisition of Shell Petroleum Development Company assets. “This restructuring is critical to boosting local content, gas commercialization, and economic diversification,” Tinubu stated, emphasizing the need for transparency and investor-friendly policies. The new board is tasked with steering NNPCL toward meeting Nigeria’s energy demands and global market competitiveness.