-By Benjamin Ike
It was a veritable roll-call of who-is-who in the oil and gas industry penultimate week as almost all former and serving Group Managing Directors (GMDs) and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), captains of industry including CEOs of Media houses, Heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs); as well as Dr Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti State Governor and Chairman Nigerian Governors forum, among others gathered at the NNPC Towers in the fledgling capital city of Abuja for the much avaunted handover ceremony from the then outgoing NNPC GMD Dr. Maikanti K. Baru to the incoming GMD Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari as the new helmsman.
Taking the guests through a brief audio-visual biography of Dr. Baru which showcased his achievements in the 28 years of service with the NNPC, particularly as the 18th GMD of the Corporation, the now outgone GMD in his valedictory speech recalled with nostalgia his relationship with almost all the former GMDs starting from Chief Marinho to Mr. Joseph Thlama Dawha.
Adorning a symbolic traditional headgear sewed for that occasion for him by no less a personality than the pioneer Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Chief Remi Ayodele Marinho who served in the seventies, Dr. Baru who was obviously elated, said he put in 1099 days in office and was glad to leave behind competent hands capable of steering the affairs of the Corporation, insisting that he could not have achieved much without their cooperation just as he put on record his profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for giving him the privilege to serve his country.
In his own speech, the new GMD Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari promised to carry along the stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to deliver the corporation while collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to get rid of corruption in the oil and gas sub-sector, pledging to make the NNPC a global brand through best practices.
Wondering how a nation could own four refineries and yet be importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petroleum products from outside the country, Kyari maintained that before the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office, Nigeria will be a net exporter of petroleum products.
And also speaking the following day to State House Correspondents after he was formally presented to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Villa by Baru, Kyari assured that he understood the enormity of the task ahead of him and would take all necessary measures to maintain the integrity of the country’s biggest revenue earner.
While pledging to further automate the operations of the oil conglomerate to check corruption in line with the anti-corruption stance of the Buhari Administration, the new GMD restated that the NNPC under his watch will work with the EFCC to check infractions in the system. Said he.” We are going to work with EFCC and other institutions that are involved in controlling and contending against all forms of corruption so that this country can benefit from its resources. “There will be no corruption where there is no discretion. So we will automate our system so that discretion is reduced to the barest minimum. We (will) need the help of EFCC wherever we see infractions in our system.”
On the task ahead Kyari boasted “I understand the enormity of the assignment given to me, the trust that is associated with this work and the high expectations of Mr. President for us to make the company a global company of excellence and to deliver to the citizenry the benefits of the oil and gas industry.
He went on; “We are focused on ensuring that we deliver this in the shortest possible time and in the most efficient way. I assure all of us that we will do this work with integrity. I will ensure that by 2023 Mr. President will look back and confirm that he has not misplaced his trust on us.”
The former NNPC helmsmen that graced the handover ceremony included the 1st GMD, then known as Managing Director, Chief Remi Ayodele Marinho who served in the late 1970s; the 2nd, Chief Odiligi Lolomari; the 5th, Dr. Thomas John, now the alternate Board Chairman of the Corporation who as GMD had the rare privilege of hiring both Baru and Kyari about two decades ago; the 7th Chamberlain Oyibo; the 10th, Prof. Funsho Kupolokun; the 11th Alhaji Abubakar Yar’Adua; and the 16th, Mr. Joseph Thalma Dawha.
The 12th His Excellency Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary-General sent in his goodwill message, among others.