-By Julius Ogar
Nigeria’s Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has commended the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) for its ongoing reforms aimed at changing the fortunes of the corporation for the better.
Barkindo, also a former Group Managing Director of the NNPC, expressed his confidence after inspecting the NNPC Pavilion at the 24th World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
A release from the office of the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu, states that the OPEC scribe said he was glad to see the corporation’s Management pursue the dreams of its founding fathers despite the challenges of contraction in investment that have affected the global energy industry.
“I am glad that you continue to march on with your projects despite the downturn in the Industry. We have seen the industry globally suffer in terms of contraction in investment which affected capacity. You have not only been able to stay on course, but you also continue with these projects which are critical for the development of the corporation and the industry in Nigeria”, he declared.
Affirming his confidence in the new leadership of the corporation, the OPEC scribe said that the competences of the newly appointed Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva and that of the NNPC GMD, Malam Mele Kolo Kyari, were positive steps towards bringing the much-needed direction and development in the continental oil and gas industry.
“I know both Timipre Sylva as a friend and Mele Kyari as a colleague for a very long time. I have worked with both and I know that if they work together, they will make a good team that will provide the leadership that the corporation and the industry require”, Barkindo stated.
Of note is Barkindo’s delight with Kyari’s transparency and accountability drive, as entrenched in his Transparency, Accountability Performance Excellence (TAPE) vision, which he sees as indispensable key elements that would boost investor confidence.
“To lead such a sensitive and capital-intensive industry like oil and gas, you must have transparency and accountability as one of your core principles in order to drive change. I am glad I know Mele Kyari for a very long time. He is a very capable and straightforward individual with high level of integrity even as a very junior officer. So, he has a track record. I remain confident that together with his team, and with the support of government, he will accomplish the task”.
Briefing the OPEC scribe earlier at the event, Mr. Adetunji Adeyemi, the Chief Operating Officer Downstream, who represented the GMD at the conference, shed more light on strategic projects of the corporation and also assured OPEC of the current NNPC leadership’s commitment to deliver on their mandate.
The World Energy Congress is a triennial event organized by the oil cartel.