The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari, has promised to support plans by the Media Initiative on Transparency in Extractive Industries (MITEI) to carry out sentisatision campaigns with a view to deepen advocacy for the establishment of a Beneficial Ownership (BO) register in Nigeria by the end of the year.
Kyari made the promise Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation of MITEI, led by its National Coordinator, Mr Bassey Udo, in his office at the NNPC towers, Abuja.
In his remarks, the GMD said the corporation would support MITEI and work closely with the group to ensure Nigerians are well sensitised about the benefits of Beneficial Ownership in the extractive industries.
“I look forward to working more closely with you, we will work with you on the Beneficial Ownership workshop. Because we know that this will be beneficial to Nigerians”, the GMD said.
“We will work with you as we progress to deliver value to Nigerians. NNPC is a focal organisation in the OGP and EITI. I want the international community to know that the corporation and country (Nigeria) is changing. You lose nothing by being accountable and transparent,” he added.
In line with the foregoing, the GMD said, the corporation is set to commence the publication of details of its petroleum products supplies.
Addressing the MITEI delegation, the GMD stated that beyond publishing the corporation’s Monthly Financial and Operations Reports, arrangements were on to make public all petroleum products supply transactions in the country to further deepen the culture of transparency in the system.
“We will continue to be transparent to our stakeholders, We will not just publish our financial records, but very soon, we will publish more things that Nigerians need to know, particularly details of petroleum products supply and distribution which is an area most people don’t understand”, Kyari assured.
Kyari explained that his relationship with MITEI was based on the principle of “common good” since the objective of the group aligns with the core values of the corporation.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of MITEI, Mr. Bassey Udo, commended the Transparency, Accountability and Performance Excellence (TAPE) initiative of the GMD as a visionary move to reposition the oil and gas sector.
Udo said the group’s visit was informed by the need to seek the corporations collaboration in ensuring, amongst others, that Nigeria establishes a BO register by the end of the year.
He informed the GMD that Just last week, MITEI, in partnership with NEITI and other stakeholders formed the Beneficial Ownership Reporting Network (BORN).
The network, he explained, is committed to facilitating the realization of the beneficial ownership objectives in the Nigerian oil and gas industry in line with the global EITI principles in the extractive industries.
“As a firm believer in transparency and accountability, we are convinced that you will use your good office to ensure the Beneficial Ownership Register is up and running in Nigeria by the December 31 deadline” Udo said.
“We are planning a workshop on Beneficial Ownership to educate Nigerians on its benefits. We want to use this opportunity to solicit your support as one of our key sponsors,” he added.
While congratulating Kyari on his appointment as GMD, MITEI pledged it’s readiness to work with the corporation to entrench transparency and accountability not only in the NNPC, but the entire oil and gas industry.
MITEI is a national network of extractive sector journalists working to promote transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
Source: Extractive 360