The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) on Monday urged the new management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to be transparent in its operations to disabuse the mind of Nigerians who see the national oil company as overly opaque.
PETROAN’s National President, Dr Billy Gillis-Harry, who spoke on Channels Television, argued that the NNPC has over the years created an environment wherein Nigerians are always suspicious of the organisation, advising the company to keep its books open henceforth.
The oil retailers also decried a situation where local refineries do not have access to adequate supply of crude oil, calling on the authorities to work towards making sure that in the coming years, 3 million barrels are reserved for the refineries that are springing up all over the country.
He called on the government bodies concerned, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the NNPC to ensure that this proposal works.
“So NNPC has created that kind of environment where it’s now difficult for the public to trust them with anything. And I think it will be in the best interest, not just of the management, but of Nigeria, that that mindset should be changed by the current management. Bayo Ojulari is coming from the private sector, a very well-organisedprivate sector, because he’s coming from a Shell background.
“So I believe that he and his team, and Mr. Kida (Chairman), who is also coming from Total have gone through a very regulated and very efficient system. And I think that they should bring that experience to bear on how the Nigerian oil industry should be.
“And NNPC should rise up from the doldrums and raise its head up and say, for so many years we didn’t do it right, but now we want to do it right. And I think that there is no time that is better than doing that,” Gillis-Harry emphasised.
He reiterated some of the demands of the industry, which include: raising crude oil production, transparent operations and creating a smooth relationship with host communities in the Niger Delta.
“Our demand is simple, which is that transparency should be key. The production of crude oil should be increased. We should be able to do as much as possible to make sure that the host communities of the Niger Delta are friendly, to encourage the businesses to come in,” he pointed out.
Besides, Gillis-Harry aligned with the current divestments in the oil sector in Nigeria, expressing the view that indigenous companies are already taking over without any issues.
“We appeal that there should be a very special crude oil production plan for the local refineries, because with the number of refineries coming up in Nigeria, and hopefully with NNPC working hard to make their refineries work, Nigeria should be a refining hub, where we should then be earning additional foreign exchange by exporting refined petroleum products.
“So, we are looking at a situation where they should aim to keep 3 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil for refining in-country. And so, regardless of what has happened in the years where we hear that most of the crude oil that has not been even produced has been sold ahead for five years (ahead). Errors could be made, and I think it takes people to see those errors and be able to ensure that they are corrected.
“So, I think that this management should start the revamping process, showing Nigerians the value and capacity that we have as a country to stand on our own and be the men and women that we should be, because we are leaders,” he advised.
To ensure that there’s transparency in fuel pricing, Gillis-Harry stated that PETROAN was floating a platform to track and monitor the movement of prices and to make sure that the required industry data was made available to the public.
On the issue of the Port Harcourt refinery, he stated that PETROAN has requested that there should be transparency in the repairs, and was willing to give the best support to Ojulari and his team.
However, he stated that the temporary closure should be for the effective good and benefit of Nigerians. PETROAN insisted that the 30 days timeline set should be adhered to. “Right now, we cannot say for sure what is the progress (of work),” he added.
Emmanuel Addeh
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