The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mallam Mele K. Kyari has expressed optimism that through positive engagement and collaboration between the Executive, the Legislature and other stakeholders, the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would smoothly scale through the remaining legislative hurdles.
Mallam Kyari who described the PIB as the future of Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry, expressed joy over the “renewed commitment on the part of everyone to get it passed.”
He spoke today in Abuja at the 3rd Valuechain Annual Lecture and Awards with a theme: ‘The Role of Media in the Nigerian Petroleum Sector Reform and Investment’.
The NNPC GMD reiterated the corporation’s commitment to sustaining its unflinching support to the government and the media in efforts at educating the public on the legislation.
He extolled the virtues of the Nigerian Media for what it stood for over the years: engendering responsible journalism; telling the truth to power, and above all, championing the cause of the common man.
“As the proverbial Fourth Estate of the Realm, the Nigerian Media has always been true to its most critical role of a life-long commitment to selfless service for the public good,” he added.
Kyari said, the corporation was opened to partnerships with the media in terms of capacity building especially as it relates to the PIB.
“I am of the opinion that every Nigerian deserves to know what this legislation means for the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry. It is therefore duty-bound on the media to continue to scrutinize the provisions of the bill in order to provide validation and even additional value,” he added.
The NNPC boss noted that the corporation was never afraid of any scrutiny, therefore, would continue to play its strategic role as a key enabler of Nigeria’s economy.
“Our commitment towards entrenching Transparency, Accountability and best-in-class Performance Excellence in all our operations is still unshakeable.
“Since coming on board, we have been very open in our dealings with all our partners and stakeholders. From the unprecedented publication of our Audited Financial Statement (ATS) and monthly financial and operational reports to crude term contracts and several other bids and contracting processes, we are not relenting until this great Corporation attains global excellence,” the GMD added.
Delivering his Lecture on ‘The Role of Media in the Nigerian Petroleum Sector Reform and Investment’, the Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim said
the Media should be well equipped to play the expected critical role in the reforms of the oil and gas industry.
Earlier in his Opening Remarks, the Publisher, Valuechain Magazine, Musa Bashir Usman observed that the Nigerian media coverage of the reforms in the oil and gas sector was poor, therefore, urged the media to amplify the sections of the PIB for speedy passage.
He said, the essence of the reforms in the oil and gas sector was to liberalise the sector to attract more investments.
Apart from the lecture, some notable Nigerians were honoured with the Award of Excellence for their contributions to the development of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
The Award recipients are; the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, His Excellency Chief Timipre Sylva, the Group Chief Executive officer (GCEO) of Oilserv Group, Engr. Emeka Okwuosa, Former Group Executive Director, NNPC Alh. Aminu Baba-Kusa, and the Managing Director of Spectrum Engineering, Engr. (Dr) Abubakar Isa.
