Politics

We Are Neither Thieves Nor Saboteurs, Mele Kyari Defend NNPCL

Published

11 months ago

August 8, 2024

“We are not criminals. We are not thieves. But we will protect our dignity and honour,” says NNPC GCEO Kyari.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC, Mele Kyari, on Wednesday at the interactive session organised by the Senate Adhoc Committee probing sabotage in the oil and gas sector, chaired by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, declared that the leadership of the NNPC are neither thieves or economic saboteurs.

This was as stakeholders in the oil and gas sector of the Nigerian economy agreed to expose all forms of sabotage and criminal activities bedeviling the sector not minding whose ox is gored.

Participants at the Senate Adhoc Committee probing sabotage in the oil and gas sector, chaired by Bamidele, further agreed that the investigative public hearing should be aired live on national televisions and other media platforms.

Authorities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company also seized the opportunity to clear the air on the recent face-off between the two establishments.

While the NNPCL management distanced the organisation from any form of sabotage and accusation of deliberately stalling the take-off of private refineries in the country, the Dangote firm denied allegation of attempt to monopolise the oil and gas sector in the country.

In his submission, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC, Mele Kyari, stressed that the NNPC, “is loyal and faithful to the country,” adding that its management vowed to protect the interest of Nigeria in the petroleum industry.

He observed that 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,” he added.

The NNPC boss said it was not possible to frustrate any private refinery because the Petroleum Industry Act had limited the roles of each regulator in the oil and gas sector.

He said, “The NNPC is a company owned by over 200 million Nigerians. And I happen to be the chief executive of this company. The law is clear around what the chief executive of this company will do.

“Our memorandum article of association, the Petroleum Industry Act, and all other enabling, including the Company and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA), which was legislated by this Honourable National Assembly had listed our roles.

“I will wait for the public hearing to reveal certain things. I also agree with the Minister that it should be broadcast live so that Nigerians will hear us. So that all the misinformation that you see today will be put to the side, so that Nigerians will know the truth.

“All of us here see what is happening in the media. Targeted personal attack on my person, on the institution, and we all know how this works. They are deliberate, they are calculated.

“It creates the impression that NNPC Limited and our leadership are doing something to create economic sabotage in our country. It is far from it.

“I assure you, Mr. Chairman, that the NNPC Limited and its board of directors and its shareholders are faithful, loyal to this country.”

Kyari added: “We do not lie to this country. And we do nothing to sabotage the economic interests of this country. As a matter of fact, NNPC is the economic interest of this country.”

In its response, Dangote Refinery, through its Group Strategy Officer, Aliyu Suleiman, said the firm had so far, bought about 50 million barrels of crude.

Sulaiman said, “About 60 per cent of that came from the NNPC, and we are thankful to them for their support. And we’re grateful to them for their support.

“About 20 per cent of that (crude) had to be imported from outside and the other 20 per cent we purchased.

“Essentially, all we are asking for, and let’s be very clear, we are happy to pay fair prices.

“We are very happy with the price that they set, the price is like supermarkets and that’s what we buy. But what we buy from others is what we think the regulator should look at and the good thing the regulator has done, is that it has published a guideline that will address some of these.

“We hope that we’ll work with the regulator and we’ll get their support so that the refinery can get 100 per cent of its crude from Nigeria and buy the crude from companies that produce it in Nigeria not from international middlemen.

“Whatever the prices, as long as it is in Nigeria, and that’s the price also that the producer will pay their tax on, we’ll be happy to pay that.

“Since the refinery started full trial production in January and then full time production started in March, since then we have processed about 50 million barrels

“We’ve produced about five million tons of petroleum products. And these petroleum products have been sold to various parts of the country.

“Jet fuel has been sold in Europe since May. It’s been sent to Europe. Other products have been sent to places as far as Asia, US, Brazil, and so on. So the refinery has been making a lot of progress.

“We have produced five million tons of products, but about 90 per cent of it had to be exported. While at the same time, the products we were producing had been imported into Nigeria.

“We find ourselves competing against Russian products that have been produced with oil that is valued at $60. “We all know that because of the cap that has been put on, put on Russian oil, the value of Russian oil today in the market is $60.

“That’s what Russia is using to produce their products and those products are being sent in large quantities into Africa to compete with products that are produced in refineries that buy crude at $90.

“We don’t think this will be a fair competitive environment. It is normal to put protective measures. The US, for example, has done that, to protect their own industries against attack by China that subsidise their own industries and then sends them to the US.”

Meanwhile, the Senate panel on the occasion raised questions over the $1.5 billion approved in 2021, for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery with little or no result.

Consequently, the upper chamber lamented that it was unfair and wrong to treat government businesses or public companies as an orphan while private businesses were flourishing and thriving.

Bamidele, who is the Leader of the Senate and Chairman, of the ad hoc panel investigating the Alleged Economic Sabotage in the Nigerian Petroleum Industry said the Federal Executive Council had approved the plan by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources to rehabilitate and turn around the Port Harcourt Refinery with a whopping sum of $1.5 billion under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

He noted that despite the huge investment, the government-owned refinery was yet to function effectively, a situation that compelled the country to depend almost entirely on the importation of petroleum products.

Bamidele, expressed grave concerns about the dysfunctionality of the government-owned refineries despite billions of dollars invested to carry out turn-around maintenance on the installation.

He observed that the federation, “is undergoing a truly challenging period,” pointing out that the distribution and supply of refined petroleum products, “has been irregular and problematic in the recent history of our fatherland.”

“In 2021, specifically, the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5 billion for the turn-around maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery. 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,” Bamidele pointed out at the interactive session.

The session was attended by Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Minister of State (Petroleum), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; and Kyari. Others included the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr. Gbenga Komolafe; the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Mr. Farouk Ahmed, major and independent oil marketers, among others

In his own remarks, Edun said the increase in the crude volume would stabilise the country’s foreign exchange market while expressing confidence in the leadership of the ad-hoc committee to conduct an unbiased and impartial investigation.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has pledged the full cooperation of the ministry with the senate which is investigating the sector.

“ In view of the fact that the quickest means to overcome our economic challenges lies within the petroleum sector, there is a need to keep Nigerians in the know of procedures and processes being carried out in our effort to transform and reposition our oil sector, bearing in mind the need to protect and promote our local players in the industry.

“I emphasised on this during my appearance before the Senate Adhoc Committee investigating alleged economic sabotage in the Nigerian petroleum industry, where I expressed my commitment to cooperating with the committee to put to rest some of the misinformation making rounds.

“The federal government, under President Bola Tinubu, remains committed to fostering the necessary synergy and partnerships to achieve our goals, and we are expediting efforts to complete rehabilitation works on our three refineries to ensure we meet our domestic petroleum needs efficiently,” Lokpobiri said on his X handle.

The National President of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Shettima in his presentation admonished the committee against monopoly in the petroleum sector.

“The current value chain in the downstream should be sustained to allow other investors to participate.

“NNPCL is doing its best but should please improve on supply of products to retail outlets across the country to end the incessant queue at filling stations,” he said

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Politics

2027: Uncertainty as Tinubu, APC begin new chapter without Buhari

Published

1 hour ago

July 16, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The remains of former President Muhammadu Buhari were on Tuesday laid to rest in his hometown, Daura, Katsina State.

Ekwutosblog reported that the solemn ceremony drew dignitaries from across the nation and beyond.

Buhari served Nigeria both as a military Head of State and a democratically elected president under the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Although reactions have continued to trail his death, President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC must now prepare for the 2027 general elections without the political influence of the late President.

Buhari’s exit came amid the unveiling of a political coalition under the platform of the African Democratic Congress, ADC.

The coalition is led by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, among others. The opposition has sworn to unseat Tinubu in the 2027 general election.

Ekwutosblog recalls that Buhari, who contested five presidential elections between 2003 and 2019, lost three times — in 2003, 2007, and 2011 — before finally securing victory in 2015 and again in 2019.

However, the deceased President had maintained a steady score of 12 million votes in almost all of the elections he contested.

Many watchers believe that Buhari’s exit, seen as the rallying point of the APC – pointing to the strength of his political stature and followership – will have adverse effect on the performance of the party in 2027.

Speaking about the impact his death will have on the party, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Wahab Owokoniran, acknowledged that the demise of Buhari was going to be a big loss to the party.

However, Wahab, also the Pro-Chancellor of the Federal University of Transportation, Daura, Katsina State, insisted that President Bola Tinubu is a master strategist, noting that he has been building bridges across the country for the past 39 years.

Speaking on Channels Television during the live broadcast of President Buhari’s burial, the APC chieftain said that he doesn’t see the party losing the next election.

He said: “There’s no doubt this is going to be a big loss. One thing I can assure you is that Tinubu is a master strategist.

“Before now, for the past 39 years he has been building bridges across the country. You can be assured that now he’s a sitting president he will consolidate all the bridges he has built all over the years and possibly he must have made new friends.

“Certainly, we are going to lose some but we will definitely gain some. Yes we are going to lose some but at the end of the day it’s going to balance out. I don’t see the APC losing the next election.

“To be honest with you, I think his shoe is going to be bigger for anybody to fill. But one thing I can assure you is that nature doesn’t habour a vacuum.

“You know at a time, Musa Yar’adua was about the biggest politician in the north. When he died, people were wondering, Oh, who is going to be the rallying point within the North?

“But as long as we have it after him, Buhari emerged at the rallying point, I’m very sure that another person will emerge. Who that person will be, I cannot tell you for now.”

On his part, a member of the ADC coalition, Salihu Lukman, suggested that with the absence of late President Buhari, politicians, especially from the north, must now be humble to relate with citizens with higher level of humility, if they must win election.

Lukman noted that Buhari was one of the prominent figures in contemporary Nigerian politics, adding that his influence paved the way for many politicians in the northern part of the country.

Lukman, also a former chieftain of the APC, stated this on Tuesday while fielding questions on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme.

His words: “Buhari was certainly a great politician, you know. And in contemporary Nigeria, I won’t say all of our history, he stood out as one of those politicians who commanded a lot of popularity, and his popularity, especially in the northern part of the country, cannot be in any way doubted, and to a large extent.

“His popularity made it possible for the merger of APC in 2013/2014 to be consummated. And through that, I would say we were able to succeed, to consummate the merger process that produced the APC, largely because that translated into a teamwork – people like Bisi Akande, Asiwaju Bola, Ogbonnia Onu, a lot of them were able to work together.

“I think we must be very frank to draw lessons from that. And moving forward, if we are going to form a coalition and we are hoping to produce a government, we must strategize in such a way that from now moving forward up to the time of winning election, the party never gets sacrificed.

“Former president Muhammadu Buhari, in contemporary Nigerian politics, was one of the prominent figures.

“I’m aware, being somebody from the north, I know many politicians look forward to him raising their hands and for him endorsing them, that translated into victory in many places in the north.

“And that in a way made politicians to be lazy. Most people who aspire for positions instead of going into good negotiations and relationships with citizens, so that it translates to vote, now concentrate in terms of being in his good books.

“Today, we don’t have any figure like that, which is why I am one of those in the coalition who keeps raising the point that leaders of the coalition must remember we don’t have a figure like late President Buhari, who when he raises your hand it translates to victory. This means that politicians should begin to engage citizens with more listening ears and dispositions.

“The challenge of having somebody like late president Buhari, now absent in Nigerian politics, is that they must win election, except if they want to rig. They must be humble to relate with citizens with a higher level of humility.”

Speaking to Ekwutosblog in an interview, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, was of the view that the presence of Atiku, Amaechi,and El-Rufai in the ADC portends a disaster for APC.

According to him, Buhari’s departure will affect APC and Tinubu unless they manage it ahead.

Odo suggested that APC has nothing to worry about the votes of ‘Buharists’ if it’s able to sustain the idea of Buhari as a figurehead to follow, even after his death.

He said: “The demise of former President Buhari has left people questioning the fate of APC towards 2027 elections.

“However, I see beyond the sudden incident. The crack was already there.

“Remember, then VP Osinbajo became a contestant after what seemed like a consultation with his late boss, President Buhari. It appeared like Buhari wanted to renege on whatever agreement he entered into with Tinubu. That was when Tinubu started shouting, ‘Emilokan!’

“If you pay attention, you’ll see that it never healed. The betrayal of trust or what seemed like it still haunted APC.

“Remember that Buhari came with his CPC group to form APC with Tinubu’s ACN and the newPDP guys. Recent incidents have shown that the CPC and the newPDP groups have left APC for Tinubu and his core team from ACN. El Rufai, Atiku, and Amaechi, all are now in the ADC.

“This means a lot as Buhari bowed out. Hate or love, Buhari was initially adored in the North. Most of his followers remained in the APC.

“I’ve observed that northerners play a centralised, multitude politics. This means that they usually prefer to follow the political path of a leader. This makes the followers easier to manage in elections.

“If APC is able to sustain that idea of Buhari as a figurehead to follow, even after his death, then the party has nothing to worry about the votes of Buharists.

“However, two other factors seem to make this unsurmountable. One, the Buhari government impoverished tens of millions of Nigerians, including and especially Buharists. A hungry man has no admiration for a political ideology. Their only focus is survival. And they will hate anyone who brings suffering on them.

“That’s why we saw videos of jubilations from the north upon the announcement of Buhari’s death. Additionally, like Rehoboam, President Tinubu’s government has multiplied whatever yoke his predecessor put on the people.

“Secondly, many political leaders from the North are jostling to become the darlings of the North. Think El Rufai, think Atiku.

“All they’re now in the ADC. This signals disaster for APC. Beyond that, it seems there’s an internal squabble in the presidency. Permutations are rife that the VP Shettima is sidelined in Aso Rock. And Tinubu plans to drop him in 2027. We all saw the fight at the APC North East convention. They said they won’t support Tinubu if Shettima is dropped. Remember, that Shettima too comes from CPC, the Buhari party.

“Talking about the bankable 12 million votes Buhari had before 2015, I disagree. He was able to win due to the alliance.

“However, it is despicable that Bayo Onanuga had to drop the video about how Buhari was able to become president through the support of Tinubu and ACN, on the same day that Buhari’s remains were being lowered.

“Buhari’s departure will affect APC and Tinubu unless they manage it ahead.”

Politics

He was my mentor – El-Rufai reveals how Buhari made him Kaduna gov

Published

10 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A key member of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, coalition, Nasir El-Rufai, has disclosed how the late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was instrumental in his emergence as former governor of Kaduna State.

Describing Buhari as his mentor, El-Rufai disclosed that the late ex-President encouraged him to contest for governorship in 2014 and stood by him through his victory.

He disclosed this while mourning Buhari’s death in a clinic in London.

Posting on X, El-Rufai said Buhari stood up for Nigeria during war and peace.

He recalled how Buhari directed him to lead the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Renewal Committee after the 2011 elections.

He wrote: “I mourn the departure of President Muhammadu Buhari. He was a leader who stood up for our country in war and peace.

“I had the privilege of working with him in the CPC. President Buhari was my political mentor. He nudged me to contest for the governorship of Kaduna State, encouraged me by attending the flag-off of my campaign in November 2014, and stood by me to victory.

“I am profoundly grateful for his support during my tenure as governor and for the remarkable access he afforded me, even during rare moments of disagreement on policy matters.”

Politics

Nigeria’s political class destroying our country – Senator Seriake Dickson warns

Published

11 hours ago

July 15, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, has accused Nigeria’s political elite of systematically destroying the nation’s democracy and institutions.

Dickson made the accusation in a speech at a one-day workshop organized by the Nigeria Civil Society’s Alliance for Democratic Change (NCSADC) in Abuja.

Dickson, who served as a two-term governor of Bayelsa State warned his fellow politicians of “unknowingly committing class suicide.”

According to him, their actions have not only weakened the nation’s democratic institutions but has also pushed the country further into crisis.

“The Nigerian political class has killed this country, and you guys [civil society] should not let it happen. “They are killing Nigeria; they are making this country look small.”

The Bayelsa born lamented the widespread practice of politicians moving from one party to another.

He said that politicians have formed the habit of manipulating institutions such as the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to rig elections and silence opposition.

He expressed frustration with the subversion of institutions like the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, accusing politicians of manipulating them to rig elections and silence opposition.

“Our own democracy is the wishes and caprices of the president or a governor. They don’t even care how the world looks at Nigeria,”

Dickson slammed the judiciary, describing it as “helpless” and often reduced to reading “body language.”

He stated that court rulings have become predictable tools in the hands of those who control power.

Dickson further accused the ruling political elite of abusing federal institutions for electoral gain, using security operatives, soldiers, and the police to intimidate, harass, or even kill civilians during elections.

“They want to control INEC, they want results written for them. They use DSS, police, and the army, not to protect the people but to kill and suppress them during elections. That is the hallmark of a failed country.”

The lawmaker highlighted the growing disconnect between elected officials and the people.

He said many Nigerian politicians no longer relate to their constituents, nor do they feel accountable to them.

“They don’t even take calls from their people. Their homes are too big, too beautiful. Their people can’t even access them,” he lamented. “They know they don’t need the people to win elections. The system allows them to impose themselves.”

He charged civil society groups with the responsibility of holding the political class accountable, urging them to rise and defend democracy from total collapse.

“If a political class does not believe in free and fair elections, in the rule of law, in an impartial judiciary, then they are not just destroying the country, they are destroying themselves. That’s class suicide.”