A call was Thursday made for a probe into the financial records of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited under the administration of Mele Kyari, former Croup Chief Executive Officer (GCEO). The National Transparency Network made this call at a press conference.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 2, removed Kyari as the GCEO of the national oil firm and named Bayo Ojulari as his replacement.
Defending the decision, the president cited the need for “enhanced operational efficiency, restore investor confidence” to make the NNPC more commercially viable.
Speaking during the press conference on Thursday, Fabian Opialu, the group’s coordinator, said the reform of the company could not be complete without thorough accountability of previous leadership.
He said the billions of Naira expended in the refurbishment of the Port-Harcourt and Warri refineries should be investigated.
Said he: “Nigerians were led to believe that these funds, allocated by the Buhari-led administration in 2021, were intended for a comprehensive overhaul”.
Opialu claimed that the Port-Harcourt refinery had not met the demands of Nigerians.
Stated he: “We appeal to the media to amplify this call and maintain pressure on the authorities. Likewise, we urge all stakeholders and groups to lend their voices to this cause for a better Nigeria.
“It is only through our collective vigilance that the heart of our nation can be preserved from kleptomaniac interests”.
Opialu added that an investigation into the spending of the NNPC in recent months would enhance accountability in the entity.
