When one
takes a cursory and reflective appraisal of the spate of criticisms against the
NNPC against the backdrop of the fact that oil and gas have been used as a
potent tool for the socio-economic advancement of Norway, Brazil, Saudi Arabia,
Kuwait, Qatar, Malaysia; one cannot but empathize with the informed, who
falsely accuse NNPC of ills perpetrated by the same government that should
protect her; and the uninformed who innocently castigate NNPC workers for no
fault of theirs.
Whereas
other oil producing nations have efficient, effective, reliable and enviable
infrastructure, health, educational and agricultural systems with sustainable
industrial growth, Nigeria’s case reflects a paradox of these ideals.
The desire
of the country was to increase the National Oil Reserve base from 36.22 billion
barrels to 40 billion barrels with a daily production of 4.5 million barrels by
the year 2010. Five years over and above that timeline, we are not doing up to
half of that expected optimum because of cyclical and vicious cycles of
vandalism, massive crude oil theft and lack of serious direction as typified by
the conspiracy of the ruling class in the non-passage of the PIB.
There is no
gain saying that Nigeria has lost dominant grip on her oil and gas business.
Nigeria has remained a net importer of dollar-driven white petroleum products,
instead of the other way round. Ever before the slump of crude oil prices, the
level of profits in the older Joint Venture agreements had drastically reduced.
The
governors not benefiting maximally from the beggarly Nigerian rent economic
system, which has worsened with the slump in crude oil price, made it easier
for the NNPC to be consigned to the slaughterhouse.
With the
above sordid state and the forecast that the present oil reserve is expected to
last for just a little above thirty years, if no additional reserve is added,
one has to be worried stiff for the future of the country. There is nothing in
the horizon that points to any serious plans for diversification and growth of
other sectors. Worst still, the games of crude theft and vandalism of petroleum
pipeline products are not abating. It is for these reasons that every right
thinking person must support the oil and gas initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The new Group
Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Ibe
Kachikwu has been given the marching others to recover some “lost
trillions”. We should support him to effectively carry out his mandate.
While this
goes on, I hope that every inch of this journey shall not be vindictive or
opaque. It must be so transparent to the extent that even if past Heads of
States or Presidents are identified in the findings by any of the Committees
set up by the Federal Government on NNPC or other oil and gas related issues,
the names of the culprits must be published and they should be made to face the
wrath of the law. Let the workers’ teeth not ache for the apple eaten by the
political class through systemic and cyclical political maneuvers.
If this government
truly wants to reposition the oil and gas industry for the future we all dream
of, it must be ready to go beyond the window dressing of untimely retirements
of hardworking innocent staff; and deal with the tap root of the endemic
political interference in the running of the NNPC, which has become the
Achilles heels of the organization.
There is no
doubt also that there is still lack of clarity in the current financial
regimes, royalties and taxes in the oil and gas sector. This is vivid with the
confusing and conflicting figures reeled out during reconciliation processes
among the agencies responsible for the receipts of the funds meant for the
federation account.
While the
anti-corruption mantra of the government should be encouraged and supported
albeit as regards the NNPC, all actions should be cautiously taken in the
restructuring, reorganization or re-positioning of the NNPC. The actors
involved in this process should be guided by a sense of history and Mr. President’s
promises of creating and not destroying job. It is therefore, an imperative
that whatever must be done to clean up the rot in the oil and gas industry,
every inch of the journey must be transparent, not selective and must display
utmost respect for the dignity of man.
The proposed
use of forensic audit to investigative process of all the agencies involved in
the oil and gas inflows and outflows is a welcome development. However, this
anti-corruption drive must not be selective. This government must go beyond
2010 if it is sincere in truly ridding the country of corruption. (vanguard)
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