The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, on Wednesday in Abuja dismissed the assertion that the Federal Government had commenced the unbundling of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.
Kachikwu, who is also the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, made this known while fielding questions from State House correspondents.
He said that what the NNPC did was reorganisation of the corporation to achieve greater efficiency in the oil sector of the nation’s economy.
He said: “We have not unbundled NNPC.
“We had a press conference yesterday where I explained this.
“What we have simply done is reorganisation.
“We have five business entities focused on business – Upstream, Downstream, Refineries, Gas and Power, that are there before.
“There is also ventures that capture all our little companies that were not having proper stewardship.
“They are run by individuals who report to the GMD.
“The NNPC is still a whole.
“There is nothing new that has happened.
“I have tried to explain this and I am sure the NNPC workers are members of the family, they will understand.
“We are going to have a meeting and they will be made to understand.
“Perhaps the engagement has not been good enough.
“NNPC has not been unbundled in the sense of breaking up NNPC into distinct institutions.
“I am concerned.
“I don’t want the industry shut down.
“I am sure we are going to resolve the issues very soon.”
Meanwhile, the Governors of Benue, Plateau and Bauchi States – Samuel Ortom, Simon Lalong and Abdullahi Abubakar respectively – on Wednesday paid condolence visit to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The governors commiserated with Buhari over the death of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, James Ocholi (SAN).
Ortom told State House correspondents that he did not only commiserate with Buhari on the death of Ocholi, but also briefed him on the happenings in his state.
He said: “I decided to come and brief Mr. President and to appreciate him for standing by Benue in their times of challenge of herdsmen invasion of the state.
“I’m also here to commiserate with the President over the death of our brother, the Minister of State for Labour.
“The whole of Benue was in mourning state because Ocholi was a very good friend to the entire people of Benue.
“He was with me during the Christmas.
“He was with me just three weeks ago.
“We pray that the Almighty God will bless his soul and those of his family members.”
NAN.
