NNPC among most transparent organisations in Nigeria, says Baru
The Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru, on Wednesday stated that the organisation was currently among the most transparent in the country.
In a goodwill message at a stakeholders’ workshop on the extractive sector validation organised by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Baru stated that efforts were on to disabuse the mind-set of Nigerians that wrong things were happening at the NNPC.
Represented by the Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division, NNPC, Mr. Mele Kyari, he argued that things had taken a turn for the better at the national oil firm, especially in the last two years.
Baru stated, “We have never had it so good in this country in the last two years in terms of transparency of our transactions, validation of our activities, the unfettered and unobstructed participation of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who has never asked us to do anything different.
“Today, we need to get people out of the mind-set that something wrong is happening in the NNPC. Nothing wrong is happening. We have passed that stage. We are now probably one of the most transparent companies in this country.”
He added, “We have seen a number of governments; worked with a number of them, but probably, we have not had the opportunity to put our cards on the table as we did in the last two years. That makes it easy for us to align with the EITI’s objectives and opportunities that are there to do even greater things for our country.
“Most particularly, I’m sure our colleagues in the NGOs will recognise today that things are just different; and together, all of us will make our country greater, and I believe this is the core objective of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. I am assuring the EITI Board and all stakeholders that things are different.”
While making his own presentation at the event, Kyari stated that since May 2015, the oil firm had taken several measures to promote transparency, such as the elimination of dual pricing for domestic crude allocation and automation of its transactions.
He said the NNPC had increased the auditing of its operations, including third party and the direct sale of crude oil to refineries, reputable traders, upstream companies and Nigerian entities.
Kyari added that off-takers were of international standards with the inclusion of strong domestic downstream companies to build and strengthen capacity, while the NNPC was currently publishing its operational and financial performance for public consumption
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