The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, has inaugurated a new initiative of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) code-named ‘Operation White’, which is an 89-man team saddled with the task of tracking the distribution of petroleum products imported into the country.
Sylva launched the initiative at a ceremony that held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja on Thursday.
The minister also commended the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, and his management team for coming up with the initiative.
“I must say that I am very impressed with the caliber of the team members of ‘Operation White’ and am not surprised because every organization that I know is as strong as its leadership.
“The NNPC under the leadership of Mallam Kyari epitomizes strong leadership. Am happy with the enthusiasm on the faces of the members and I am sure that we will succeed,” said Sylva.
The team comprising Operation White were drawn from different government agencies to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution of petroleum products across the country.
According to the minister, the team would help to authenticate the actual volumes of products imported and consumed in the country and ensure that the nation attains energy security.
Speaking further, Sylva said he was optimistic that the new initiative would stem the smuggling of petroleum products by some corrupt operators, stressing that the savings from the exercise would go a long way in supporting infrastructural development of the country.
He, however, charged members of the team to carry out the assignment with commitment, zeal and patriotism.
In his rremarks, the GMD encouraged the team to deliver on the assignment with a deepened sense of patriotism & excellence.
He pledged that the project will monitor & track the entire petroleum products’ movement & enshrine visible transparency across the value chain adding that NNPC was ready to support the Federal Govt in its quest to guaranteeing energy security for the country.
The GMD reiterated that the oil firm under his leadership would continue to be transparent by ensuring that the entire operations of the Oil & Gas Industry remain visible to all Nigerians
“The selection of ‘Operation White’ team was very thorough and people of great competence and high-level integrity were head-hunted for this national assignment.
“Today, we’re good to go & we will see our transactions end-to-end as it’s the case in other countries. We are poised to support the HMSPR to ensure Nigeria’s energy security is guaranteed so that our principal, President Buhari would be proud of us,” kyari noted.
SOURCE: TheWhistler