By Abdullahi Alhassan, Kaduna
Unified Nigerian Youth Forum (UNYF), a prominent civil society organization, has described individuals and groups calling for an independent leadership and the sack of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO, Mele Kyari, as enemies of Nigeria.
This is as the group stated that the public disclosure of NNPCL net profit to a tune of N3.297 trillion for the 2023 financial year depict transparency and accountability, and as such the management should be applauded for a job well done.
Condemning the media attacks on NNPCL leadership in a press statement made available to Journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, the President of UNYF Comrade Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem, described the move to ridicule the corporation as mischievous and politically motivated
Kazeem also criticized Citizens and Economic Freedom Rights Activists in Nigeria (CEFRAN),for demanding an independent leadership for the NNPCL and oil and gas agencies,as well as an independent judicial inquiry into alleged fraud in fuel importation.
Expressing optimism that the current realities in NNPCL is inline with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda, Abdulsalam praised the CEOs of NNPCL, NUPRC, and NMDPRA for their credible performance, which has led to an increase in crude oil production to nearly 2 million barrels per day.
He urged them to continue serving the nation, warning those trying to distract them to desist immediately.
“The NNPCL and regulatory agencies have come under fire from a cross section of Nigerians over comments made in connection with Dangote Refinery Limited.After a thorough investigation, we have discovered that those comments where taken out of context and misrepresented to suit a particular narrative.
“It is for instance, very malicious to call for the removal of Chief Executive Officers whose tenure is active and ongoing simply because they have performed their duties. The fact that the facts they presented made some persons uncomfortable does not mean they should be illegally removed from office
“The CEOs of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr. Mele Kyari, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engineer.Gbenga Komolafe and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
“Mr. Farouk Ahmed have both performed credibly well leading to an astronomical increase production of crude oil.The fact that Nigerian crude output is in the threshold of 2 million barrels per day is the handiwork of these gentlemen.
“Dangote Refinery Limited must therefore play by the rules and stop running to the media to blackmail patriotic Nigerians and seek cheap sympathy.
NNPCL and regulators in the oil and gas sector are doing extremely well if not the progress made so far wouldn’t have been recorded. We therefore, resist attempts to truncate the tenures of these gentlemen”.
“Having done our findings and discovered the great work NNPCL is doing in conjunction with regulatory agencies, we are left with no choice but to pass a vote of confidence in the team and urge them to continue serving the nation.
Those calling for probes and sacks are cowards and should not be taken seriously. NNPCL is on track and all well meaning Nigerians are fully behind them”. Kazeem said.
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