How NNPC tackled DPR, pushed Buhari to return revoked oilfields to Addax
The clash is another example of how government agencies appear to work at cross purposes and succeed in having the president do their bidding.
Days before the restoration of four oil mining licenses to Addax Petroleum, the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) launched a blistering tackle on its sister agency, Department of Petroleum Resources, with a strong appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to reverse DPR’s revocation of the OMLs and reject a reallocation to another company.
The NNPC in a letter to the president on April 20 argued that the revocation of the oilfields would have implications on the Nigerian economy and the diplomatic relationship between Nigeria and China. Addax is owned by Sinopec, a state-owned Chinese firm, the nine-page memo seen PREMIUM TIMES shows.
Reps panel threatens to summon Buhari
The Reps panel is investigating the controversy surrounding some oil licenses. 3 min read
The House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum (Upstream) has given the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 14 days ultimatum to appear before it. Should the NNPC fail to appear, the committee said, it will summon the Minister of Petroleum, President Muhammadu Buhari.
The committee is investigating the revocation and reversal order on the operating licences of OML 123, 124, 126 and 137.
The oil assets have been the subject of dispute between Chinese-owned oil companies and the federal government. The dispute led to the revocation and restoration of the mining licenses by the Buhari administration.
President Muhammadu Buhari
Certainly, Nigeria needs a partner like China and the revocation of the Addax leases would have resulted in serious reputational damage to the country, with possible unintended but dire diplomatic consequences. Kudos Mr. President for rising up to the occasion!
The decision by President Muhammadu Buhari to overrule the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) on the revocation of Addax Petroleum’s Oil Mining Leases (OMLs) 123, 124, 126 and 137 is quite instructive and significant in the context of the interplay of variegated interests in the determination of the bigger picture, as exemplified by the survival of the national economy. It is quite instructive because it has shown that for Buhari, personal interest is neither here nor there, absolutely having no place in this critical business consideration that has implications for national economic sustenance. It is also remarkably significant because the approval has bolstered the contemplation of n
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Sarki Auwalu
The Director/Chief Executive Officer, Department of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Sarki Auwalu, in this interview spoke about the achievements and strategic business plans of the regulatory agency. Obinna Chima brings the excerpts:
We would like to know if you engaged Addax Petroleum to find out the challenge they were having before the decision to revoke their licences was taken and what condition did you give to the new company that is taking over the assets?
First, there is no company that we do not have constant interaction with. The DPR is the lifeline of every oil and gas company in Nigeria. We assess their performance, we give them visibility, when they produce, we give them extra parlay, and we manage their reserves. So, the issue of interaction is there.