…Says ‘it’s disrespectful’
Former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has berated the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., (NNPCL), over an invitation extended to him to inspect refineries, noting that it is disrespectful.
The state oil company had through its spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, invited the former president for a tour of the Port-Harcourt and Warri refineries.
The corporation’s invitation followed an interview on a television programme on Thursday, during which Obasanjo recounted failed efforts to privatise oil plants in the country.
The former president expressed frustration over the mismanagement of refineries, noting that despite significant expenditure since 2007, no results had been achieved. He explained that his successor, Musa Yar’Adua, rejected a $750m offer from the Chairman of the Ɗangote Group, Aliko angote, to manage the Port-Harcourt and Kaduna refineries.
According to Obasanjo, the NNPCL was aware of its limitations in managing the nation’s refineries but informed Yar’Adua that the corporation could operate them, leading to the rejection of Ɗangote’s offer.
“When I was president, I wanted to do something about the three refineries we have: Port-Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Aliko got a team together, after I asked Shell to come and run it for us. And Shell said they wouldn’t. I said: ‘Please come and take equity’, they said no. I said, ‘Okay, don’t take equity, come and run it’, they said no”, he explained.
“Aliko got a team together, and they paid $750m to take part in PPP (Public–Private Partnership) in running the refineries. My successor refunded their money, and I went to my successor; I told him what transpired; he said NNPC said they wanted the refinery and they could run it, and I said: ‘But you know they cannot run it”.
Obasanjo added: “But I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than $2bn had been squandered on the refineries, and they still would not work”.
The former president stressed that if a company like Shell rejected his offer to manage the refineries based on their reasons, he would believe the company. He expressed confidence in Ɗangote’s ability to manage his privately-owned refinery effectively, contrasting it with the Government’s inefficiency.
In response, the NNPCL spokesperson, Femi Soneye, insisted that the refineries were working. According to him, the NNPCL had not only carried out turnaround maintenance on the plants but also embarked on a complete overhaul of the refineries to meet world-class standards.
He explained further, saying: “We extend an open invitation to former President Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries to witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited”.
Reacting to the invitation in an interview with newsmen yesterday, Obasanjo however said such an open invitation was disrespectful to his office and person. The former president, while speaking through his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, stated that the oil company had not sent any formal invitation to him as of Thursday, January 2, 2024.
“Is that the right way to invite a former president of the country? Who says Baba has even seen the statement, or read the news? It is a total disrespect for the office of the former president.
“Ask the NNPCL that: as of January 2, have they written to him? Is there any official letter addressed to him, inviting him to the refinery? It is an absolute insult; and the former president cannot dignify such with a response”, Obasanjo’s aide stated.
