“He remains the only president that has never interfered in the operations of the corporation. That is very unprecedented, and it has gone a long way to help us deliver on our mandate, especially the drive towards domestic gas utilization’’
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has continued to enjoy a great deal of autonomy devoid of presidential meddlesomeness under President Muhammadu Buhari, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, has said.
Kyari said Buhari had given the corporation’s management a free hand to operate, saying it has helped it to deliver on its mandate.
“He remains the only president that has never interfered in the operations of the corporation. That is very unprecedented, and it has gone a long way to help us deliver on our mandate, especially the drive towards domestic gas utilization,” he said.
He spoke in Sokoto while delivering the Usmanu Danfodiyo University’s 2021 First Quarter Public Lecture Series entitled, “Navigating Energy Transition and the Imperatives of University-Industry Collaboration.”
Urging governments and institutions on the African continent to adopt technology and innovation, Kyari said it would help to achieve energy sufficiency and its economic multiplier effects on the people.
“African governments and institutions must rise to the occasion to leverage technology and innovation to support energy sufficiency, industrialization, job creation and economic growth,” the NNPC boss said in a statement by Dr Kennie Obateru, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, and copied Persecondnews.
NNPC as Africa’s biggest national oil company, Kyari said it was already building on the convergence of new technologies and innovative business models, and play an important role in the future of energy.
“NNPC has set the necessary machineries to lead Africa in transition to low-carbon energy and renewables. We are taking firm position in this transition by institutionalizing the necessary enablers for success.”
In line with this drive, he said NNPC had established a Renewable Energy Division and completely transformed the NNPC Research and Development (R&D) Division to NNPC Research, Technology and Innovation Centre as part of its key initiatives to transit to an Energy Company of Global Excellence.
He noted that the oil industry alone cannot drive substantial innovation without sustained collaboration with universities, research institutes, manufacturers, policy makers and regulators.
He said NNPC welcomed beneficial relationship with the academia and industry experts who demonstrate capacity for productive research and innovation in the energy sector.
According to him, energy transition cannot be complete without the right investment climate, capital, effective regulation, stakeholder’s commitment, supportive infrastructure, and an innovative business environment that can accommodate the anticipated changes.
The NNPC helmsman observed that further diversification of energy sources will improve global access to energy and reduce the absolute number of people without access to energy, especially in developing countries.
Kyari said the new energy transition must be fashioned towards creating a balanced landscape that supports the development and energy needs of diverse groups of people across the planet.
“As global energy consumption grows from 2018 levels by about 50% by 2050, oil and gas will continue to be a crucial component of the world’s future energy because the world will keep burning significant proportion of fossil fuels to sustain the anticipated progress and growth, especially in Asia and Africa.’’
Also speaking at the occasion, the chief host and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal, said the NNPC under the GMD was being repositioned to align with the realities of tomorrow, especially as the oil industry awaits the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) by the National Assembly.
He called on the current National Assembly to ensure the passage of the all-important bill, stressing that the lawmakers must not allow the efforts of the GMD and his colleagues within the industry to be in vain.
Earlier, the Chairman of the occasion and Governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar Bagudu, said NNPC under Mallam Kyari had recorded remarkable strides, one of which was the tireless efforts seen in transforming the corporation into a knowledge-driven organization through collaboration with the academia and other stakeholders.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of UDUS, Prof. Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, who thanked the GMD for honouring the university’s invitation despite his busy schedule, said the university was open to partnership with the corporation, especially in the area of oil exploration in the Sokoto Basin.
Pastor Tunde Bakare, the founder and senior pastor of the Citadel Global Community Church, formerly known as Latter Rain Assembly, said on Tuesday that President Buhari had disappointed Nigeria with his handling of the nation’s affairs.
According to him, the expectations of Nigerians have not been met by the current administration.
Speaking during a virtual interview by Mr Dele Momodu, the publisher of Ovation, believed that there is a general feeling of disappointment among Nigerians who expected “change’’.
He bemoaned the lack of leadership, especially with the rising cases of kidnappings and killings, causing non-state actors to take law into their hands.
“We are praying hard that the county will survive and become strong again, this is not what we all call the Nigeria of our dreams.
“Nigeria will survive and will become the Nigeria of our dreams but right now, things are not together, especially with the drum of disintegration which is louder than before.
“Nigeria is better together, if we go back together to the basics of how we came together, looking at 1960 and 1963, we can still be together. We are not there yet, but we are getting closer.
“The truth of the matter is it is still the same Buhari, in the midst of many competing interests, we respond differently. The President is still himself, some have even asked me if he is not somebody else,’’ Bakare, who was 2011 Vice-Presidential candidate to Buhari, said.
“Power changes people, has power changed him or is he making the best situation of the circumstances? He will be the one to answer it
“The expectations of Nigerians, including everyone who woke up to say we need a breath of fresh air, has not been met. There is a feeling of disappointment.
“Citizens have right to demand for good governance. People deserve the government they get. We rejected PDP and embraced APC’s change but it appears we have been shortchanged,’’ the cleric said.
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