NNPC absolves FG of rumoured interference with the corporation

Chinazor Megbolu |

The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has debunked allegations the Federal Government is interfering with it’s activities.

The Group Managing Director, Dr. Mele Kyari during chat with newsmen debunked the claims that President Muhammadu Buhari is interfering with the activities of the agency.

He explained that the President doesn’t dabble into the operations of the NNPC.

Kyari said the organisation enjoys the full support of President Buhari in its operations.

“I can tell you that the privilege we have today in this company is the unfettered control without any distraction or interference to make decisions and be accountable and responsible for our decisions. This has never happened until this government.

“I can tell you this because I have been around for 29 years and have worked closely with the top management of the NNPC for about 15 years.

“This is the only President who has never asked NNPC to do something. I have the personal privilege of having access to Mr. President, to his private audience and I can tell you that under no circumstances has he controlled what we want to do.

“He only wants to know and be sure that what we are doing is in the best interest of the country,” Kyari said.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the deregulation of the downstream industry of the petroleum sector was a very hard decision for the President as he understood the effects it would have on ordinary Nigerians.

According to him; “the President was really worried about the regulation as he understood the pains Nigerians would go through shortly after coming out of the COVID-19 lockdown.

“But he had to support the decision because the government can no longer afford subsidies with harsh economic impact of the pandemic”