.As Corporation cautions against panic buying
The Public Policy Research & Analysis Centre (PPRAC), has commended the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), for his leadership qualities, which it said helped to turn around the fortunes of the Corporation.
The Centre said through such sterling qualities, Kyari was able to turn the Corporation from a loss-making position into a profit-making venture, for which he earned its “2020 Zik Prize for Public Service Leadership,” during an award ceremony in Lagos, at the weekend.
Kyari, according to a statement yesterday, signed by Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad, was handed the award by the Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.
The ceremony was also witnessed by the Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero; Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage (rtd), and many other dignitaries.
Speaking on behalf of the Centre, Mac Wabara said Kyari was recognized following his distinguished leadership role and sterling achievements in the NNPC, which are all evident through the various reforms he instituted at the Corporation through transparency and accountability.
He said: “Mele Kyari continues to seamlessly transform the operations of NNPC, including deepening domestic gas utilization, rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries and public disclosure of NNPC accounts, the first in NNPC’s 44 years of existence.
“Under Kyari’s watch at the NNPC, the company declared a profit after tax of N287billion in 2020 after losses were reduced from N803billion in 2018 to N1.7billion in 2019. This is unprecedented in the history of the NNPC.”
Wabara further explained that Kyari also consistently played a huge role in the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), stressing that with the coming of the legislation, the NNPC is now well-positioned to operate efficiently, like its global peers.
Responding, Kyari said in the last two years, the NNPC has automated its processes and systems; reduced its costs of operations and focused on delivering value to Nigerians, in line with his Management vision of Transparency, Accountability & Performance Excellence (TAPE).
He added that the enactment of the PIA placed a huge responsibility on the NNPC to do things differently and be much more accountable to its shareholders, the over 200 million Nigerians.
He said the Zik Leadership award will spur him and his Management team to work even harder towards becoming an International National Oil Company comparable to its global peers.
Aside from Kyari, other recipients of the prestigious Zik Leadership Award included the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule; and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim.
Also recognised were the Minister of State for Health, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora; Director-General/CEO, the Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr Bashir Jamo; and MD/CEO of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Uche Orji.
Mele Kyari continues to seamlessly transform the operations of NNPC, including deepening domestic gas utilization, rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries and public disclosure of NNPC accounts, the first in NNPC’s 44 years of existence.
Enough fuel stock
In another development, the NNPC has again cautioned members of the public against panic-buying, as fuel queues resurfaced in some parts of the country.
Muhammad, in a statement, said: “The NNPC has over 1.7 billion litres of petrol in stock and more products are expected to arrive into the country daily over the coming weeks and months.
“It is therefore unnecessary to entertain any fear of scarcity of petrol throughout the festive season and beyond.”
He also denied knowledge of any plan by the government to increase the pump price of petroleum products, saying that this had already been refuted by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), last week.
Furthermore, he said NNPC is also engaging all stakeholders to ensure smooth supply and distribution of products to every part of the country during the festive season and beyond.
