Northern Groups Reject Call For Sack Of NNPCL Boss, Others 

The Joint Northern Action Groups has kicked against the call by some groups to sack and probe the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari.

The group also kicked against the call to suspend the Executive Vice President (Upstream), Adokye Tombomieye, theManaging Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Ali Muhammed Zahra and Managing Director, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Bala Wunti.

The Spokesman of the Groups, Comrade Abdulhameed Enaji, expressed concern about the ongoing campaign by sponsored groups of individuals masquerading as members of fictitious Northern Nigerian Youth groups calling for the removal of Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive of NNPCL while addressing the press on Wednesday.

“The Joint Northern Action Groups is holding this press conference today to challenge the dubious protest staged in Abuja by some fictitious groups calling for the sack and probe of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

“The obscure groups Northern Youth Advocacy for Good Governance Initiative and Arewa Youth Forum also called on the federal government to suspend the Executive Vice President (Upstream), Adokye Tombomieye, the Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) Ali Muhammed Zahra and Managing Director, National Petroleum Investment Management Services Bala Wunti.

“We note with deep concern the ongoing campaign by sponsored groups of individuals masquerading as members of fictitious Northern Nigerian Youth groups calling for theremoval of Mele Kyari as the Group Chief Executive of NNPCL”, Enaji said.

He however, expressed delight that most discerning Nigerians and the Federal Government appear to dismiss the protest as it was orchestrated by individuals who were only interested in advancing their own selfish interests, and not the collective good of Nigerians.

“By now everyone, but chronic detractors, must be aware that NNPCL under theleadership of Mele Kyari has recorded enormous achievements in the oil sector.

“These achievements have been beneficial to Nigerians and have propelled the Nigerian economy forward.

“One major achievement is the reduction of environmental pollution. NNPCL has put strategic measures in place to ensure that theenvironment is safeguarded and preserved. As a result, the levels of pollution have drastically reduced which has made the environment safer for Nigerians.

“Another significant achievement recorded by NNPCL is the absence of black soot over Port Harcourt in recent times. This is a result of NNPCL’s commitment to environmental safety which has resulted in cleaner air for thepeople of Port Harcourt.

“Foreign ships coming to steal crude oil from Nigeria waters have been drastically reduced following the stringent measures put in place by NNPCL under Mele Kyari. This has resulted in a significant drop in illegal crude oil sales and has helped the Nigerian Government in generating more revenue,” he added.