Buhari resumes, meets AGF, NNPC boss
ABUJA— Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday met separately with Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Cooperation, NNPC, Maikanti Baru, amid growing concern over his health.
Advertisement
The President’s meeting with the AGF and NNPC GMD came barely 24 hours after rights activists, led by Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, called on him to proceed on medical leave.
Malami, who is a member of the Presidential panel investigating the suspended Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, and Director-General of National Intelligence Agency, NIA, Ambassador Ayodele Oke, told State House correspondents after the meeting that the committee would submit its report on Tuesday.
Also speaking with State House correspondents after his meeting with the President, Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Baru, said he briefed the President on the activities of the NNPC and its subsidiaries.
Oil production now 2m bpd Baru said he also told the President that the volume of oil production in the country now stood at two million barrels per day from 1.2 million.
He attributed the oil production increase to the relative peace and stability in the Niger Delta. He also said the briefing touched on fuel supply across the country, crude oil and gas productions and the ability of the corporation to supply gas to the power sector.
He said: “I briefed Mr President on the state of the NNPC and its subsidiaries and also nationally to get him briefed on the situation of fuel supply, crude oil productions, gas production and by extension ability to supply gas to the power sector.
“We had an extensive briefing as you could see. I passed here over two hours. I spent quite some time with him to discuss these national issues.
“He was happy with the state of the corporation and told us to continue with the efforts that we are doing and if we need any executive attention, we should not hesitate to come back to him.”
Asked if there were intentions by the NNPC to review the prices of petroleum products, Baru said it was not the mandate of the corporation to do so.
According to him, NNPC sells products according to the prices officially stipulated by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA.
FG determined to stop PMS importation by 2019 In a related development, Dr Baru reiterated the determination of the NNPC to stop the importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol by 2019.
He spoke to newsmen on the sideline of the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston, Texas, U S. Baru, who was represented at the conference by the Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, Mr Saidu Mohammed, said the feat was achievable.
He said all the nation’s three refineries were producing petroleum products between five and six million litres of PMS daily.
He said: “That is part of what is making the PMS market in Nigeria stable today, we believe that the set target of exiting PMS importation in 2019 is achievable.
“As a result of lack of turnaround maintenance over the years, it will take more years to get the refineries fully back to their nameplate capacities. “We will also bring in new refineries that will co-locate with existing ones, we are on course and I see us becoming a net exporter of products.”
Credit: Vanguard Nigeria
