During the inauguration of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), President Bola Tinubu urged the new members to prioritize the welfare of the Niger Delta region.
Tinubu commended the Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, for his hard work but warned the board against non-performance and entitlement. He emphasized the need for corporate social responsibility in the Niger Delta, addressing environmental damage caused by decades of oil operations.
Tinubu directed the board to focus on the nation’s transition to cleaner natural gas energy and tackle issues like oil theft, pipeline sabotage, and production declines.
The Chairman of the NNPCL Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure, expressed appreciation for the President’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy and outlined the board’s focus on increasing production while addressing challenges in the Niger Delta.
“Niger Delta must be seen as the goose that lays the golden egg, and we must treat that region with the deserved respect and care. It is not asking for too much to ensure quality and constant water supply, schools, medical facilities, and roads.
“It is not about us. It is about the well-being of the entire country and the lifeblood of the nation. We should care more about the environment. We will do more for security to minimise stealing and vandalisation,’’ Tinubu’s Chief Press Secretary, Ajuri Ngelale, quoted him as saying at the inauguration.
“We need to show that we are committed to the welfare of our country.
“Take a look at the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and know what the pitfalls are. The Cabinet members and Board should decide what we can do differently for production increase, profitability, and governance. It is in your hands. I will work with you,’’ he said.
The Chairman of the Board, Chief Pius Akinyelure, commended the President for the removal of petrol subsidy noting that the nation would have drowned in debt if not for his decisiveness.
“Our focus is to increase production. We must address the problem of stealing and pipeline vandalisation in the Niger Delta. We are aware of the efforts in the past, but we will do more,’’ said Akinyelure.
