Energy Reforms Advocates praise President Tinubu for removing Mele Kyari, urging swift investigation into fraudulent refinery projects in NNPC

[dropcap]E[/dropcap]nergy Reforms Advocates (ERA) have commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his bold decision to remove Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited.

Also read: President Tinubu reshuffles NNPC board to boost efficiency, investor confidence

This move, announced on Wednesday, is being hailed as a significant step toward reforming Nigeria’s oil sector and addressing long-standing corruption issues

In a statement, Abdulkadri Isah, President of ERA, lauded the President’ decision, calling it a “courageous step” that paves the way for the much-needed overhaul of the country’s oil industry.

Isah emphasised that Kyari’s removal would enable a thorough investigation into alleged fraudulent refinery projects that were initiated under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“The dismissal of Mele Kyari signals a new dawn in our nation’s commitment to eradicating corruption in the oil and gas sector.

We commend President Tinubu for demonstrating the political will to confront these challenges head-on,” Isah said in the statement.

ERA is particularly focused on addressing issues related to unaccounted funds and ghost refinery projects, which they claim were part of the previous administration’s mismanagement.

According to Isah, the next phase of the reform should involve a comprehensive audit of past projects to ensure transparency and accountability.

“The probe into fake refinery projects must be swift and thorough. Nigerians deserve to know how billions of dollars were allocated to non-existent or uncompleted projects while the country continued to rely on fuel imports,” Isah added.

ERA also called on Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies to play an active role in supporting the investigation.

The group warned that any failure to expose the scale of past mismanagement would severely undermine any potential for lasting reform in the sector.

“This investigation should not end with a change in leadership. There must be consequences for those who mismanaged funds and deceived Nigerians.

The government must set a precedent that corruption will no longer be tolerated,” Isah asserted.

With Kyari’s removal, ERA expressed optimism that the newly appointed leadership of NNPC could restore public trust and steer the company towards fulfilling its mandate of boosting Nigeria’s refining capacity.

The reform agenda, they argue, could significantly reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel and attract critical investments into the local oil industry.

The NNPC shake-up also includes the appointment of Bashir Bayo Ojulari, a former executive at Shell, as the new GCEO, alongside Ahmadu Musa Kida, who has been appointed as the non-executive chairman of the board.

These changes are seen as part of the government’s broader strategy to revitalise the oil sector and increase both crude oil production and refining capacity.

Also read: Primate Ayodele’s prophecy on NNPC leadership reshuffle comes true

ERA’s statement concludes with a call for long-term reforms aimed at improving the efficiency and accountability of the NNPC, stressing that competent leadership is essential for the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.