Former Group Managing Directors (GMDs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) have lauded the management under Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) Mele Kyari for their significant strides in advancing NNPC’s strategic objectives across key sectors.
Meeting on Saturday in Abuja, the former GMDs commended NNPC’s efforts in oil and gas production growth, gas infrastructure project delivery, progress on refinery rehabilitation, and other petroleum product supply and energy security issues.
The group, which includes Chief Chamberlain Oyibo, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, Engineers Funsho Kupolokun, Abubakar Lawal Yar’Adua, Austen Oniwon, Andrew Yakubu, and resource person Abiye Membere, acknowledged NNPC Ltd’s notable progress in increasing crude oil and gas production, funding upstream operations and investments, enhancing gas supply and infrastructure for domestic and export markets, as well as refineries rehabilitation, carbon emission reduction, and gas resource commercialization.
The former GMDs emphasized the need for sanctions against activities hindering oil and gas exploration and production in Nigeria, describing attacks on crude oil and gas facilities and illegal refining as criminal acts and economic sabotage. They called on security agencies to curb crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism to foster investment and growth in the oil and gas industry.
“We, the former Group Managing Directors of NNPC, express our unwavering support for the current leadership and their commendable efforts in advancing the company’s strategic objectives across key sectors. On 20th July 2024, NNPC hosted a CEO Forum attended by us and senior management staff, providing insights into NNPC’s transition post-PIA, challenges, opportunities, and global energy industry dynamics,” the communique read.
The forum highlighted NNPC’s oil and gas production growth plans, gas infrastructure project delivery, refinery rehabilitation progress, and petroleum product supply and energy security issues.
The former GMDs commended Mele Kyari as the first Group CEO to implement the PIA and expressed hope for addressing its limitations over time. They acknowledged significant progress in increasing crude oil and gas production, funding upstream operations, gas supply and infrastructure development, CNG and LPG delivery, refineries rehabilitation, carbon emission reduction, and gas resource commercialization.
The group expressed satisfaction with NNPC’s achievements and encouraged the management team to continue advancing strategies to improve operations, grow the portfolio, and manage talent.
They also praised the continuation of recruitment policies based on diversity, inclusion, and performance-based career progression via a transparent process.
The former GMDs noted the limited public information on NNPC’s operations since its transition to a private commercial entity, leading to misleading commentary. They empathized with the management team over onshore operation challenges, including the destruction of over seven thousand illegal refineries and removal of over five thousand illegal connections.
Reiterating the need to sanction hindrances to oil and gas exploration and production, they emphasized that crude oil and gas facility attacks and illegal refining are acts of criminality and economic sabotage. They urged security agencies to stop crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism to allow investment and growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The former GMDs appreciated the PIA’s provisions for host communities’ development and sustainable funding, trusting that government security agencies will ensure the cessation of crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism.
They also acknowledged the support of all tiers of government and Nigerian citizens for NNPC, trusting this will be sustained by the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
 of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) have lauded the management){kind=link}