I read through the position of a stakeholder and brother in the struggle for a better deal in Urhobo nation and Nigeria at large, Mr. Zik Gbemre regarding the recent change of leadership at the nation’s apex oil industry regulator, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL that has brought in seasoned technocrats of the likes of Mr. Bayo Ojulari as Group Managing Director/CEO; Mr. Babs Omotowa, non-Executive Director and of course Mr. Roland Ewubare as Group Chief Operating Officer, GCOO of the apex oil regulatory company.
It attests to the crying need to recalibrate the company from its bogey of needless bureaucracy into a vibrant and truly responsive company that operates within the premises of equity, justice and impact on the host oil and gas producing communities.
Having said that, and in sync with the reasonable counsel of Zik Gbemre, it is high time the NNPCL and its subsidiaries completely handed off the running of the acquiring companies that purchased the assets of Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC. The political shenanigans are just enough. These new investor companies should be allowed to breathe and deliver on their objectives without duress from the NNPCL.
The albatross nature of the NNPCL that continues to spin and extend by proxy to OML 34 for example is sending a very wrong and disturbing signal to stakeholders. All this new rigmarole by the NEPL that lacks a deeper understanding of the operational dynamics must be made to stop and allow the new operator ND Western, amongst others, run its full course in the same rhythm as Seplat.
The fact is that the new Group Chief Executive Officer should take bold steps like the President did in bringing him in to man the saddle to rewrite, restore and reset the operstionalisation of the NNPCL, setting clear boundaries for its subsidiary NEPL and allowing the current acquiring companies that bought the assets and liabilities of Shell function unhindered. This is the only way these new appointments will be deemed a game changer, especially for stakeholders in the South South region.
There should be a clear cut separation of NNPCL and its subsidiary NEPL from the private oil companies. The locals are not finding this apparent clogging comfortable by any stretch, especially with regard to OML 34.
Let the NNPCL continue to play the role of chief regulator for which it was established and allow the IOCs and private oil companies stay committed to operations for which their vast expertise is not in doubt.
The frequent altercations between the host communities and the companies are traced to the needless meddlesome involvement of NEPL and methinks this could and should be done away with through strict corporate directive from the GMD/CEO of the NNPCL, Mr. Bayo Ojulari.
The end result will most certainly inure in favour of your leadership and avail all stakeholders the benefits being anticipated from your esteemed elevation.
I congratulate you all again on your new and challenging assignments.
Austin Kpomah
17-04-2025