By Queen Kunde
Hundreds of Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, including professionals, youths groups from different social cultural groups across the country have commended the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Dr. Mele Kyari, for his outstanding achievements in the oil and gas industry and passed an overwhelming vote of confidence on him.
The various groups spoke on Monday at a national conference in Abuja with the theme, “Improving Public Trust Between NNPCL and Civil Society Organizations” where they also passed a vote of confidence in Dr. Kyari and his team, commending their efforts to enhance transparency, accountability, and performance.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (COCSO) President, Mohammed Yusuf in his address praised Dr. Kyari, for his outstanding achievements in increasing the nation’s crude oil reserves and reducing the burden of petrol importation.
“Since assuming the office, Dr. Kyari has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the principles of Transparency, Accountability, and Performance Excellence (TAPE) – a blueprint that has transformed the NNPCL into a beacon of excellence, both at home and abroad,” Yusuf said.
Also speaking, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Professionals for Peace and Development (ONPPAD) highlighted Dr. Kyari’s transformative leadership, emphasizing transparency, accountability, and operational excellence.
President of the group, Uche Nwakama praised the NNPCL leadership under Kyari for the successful rehabilitation and revitalization of the country’s refineries, including those in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri, which has reduced reliance on costly petroleum product imports and created numerous job opportunities for youths in the region.
In his address, Dr Okpanachi Paul, coordinator of the North Central Youth Professionals said since taking the helm at the NNPCL, Dr. Kyari has spearheaded a number of initiatives that have directly benefited the North Central region of Nigeria.
“One of the most significant accomplishments is the successful commencement of the construction of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project,” he said.
He said further, “This ambitious project, which has seen a savings of $300 million from the initial amount, has the capacity to make available around 2.2 billion cubic feet of gas per day, with the potential to double the delivery capacity in the future. This infrastructure development will not only enhance energy security for the region but also create numerous job opportunities for the youth in the North Central states.”
Barr Akintola Olawale Bello, National Coordinator, Oduduwa Democratic Frontiers in his address said since assuming office, Dr. Kyari has demonstrated unwavering commitment to the transformation of the NNPCL, positioning it as a globally competitive and financially stable national oil company.
According to him, one of Kyari’s most remarkable accomplishments is the successful signing of the $3.15 billion Alternative Financing Package with Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO) and other partners for the development of NPDC’s OML 13.
He further highlighted that under Dr. Kyari’s leadership, the NNPCL has made significant strides in the gas sector with the signing of the NLNG Train 7 project, which is expected to deliver over $20 billion in revenue to the government and create 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, noting that this is a clear demonstration of his vision to transform Nigeria into a gas-driven economy.