IPMAN calls for split

The constant controversy and bottlenecks in the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has become a source of concern to major stakeholders.

The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN),Western Zone, Alhaji Debo Ahmed has called on President Buhari to split NNPC into two.

He referred to NNPC as an octopus, adding that if it is split, the organisation will be more effective.

Ahmed said “The NNPC is doing everything both offshore, on-shore, upstream and downstream and it is under only one person, group managing director.”

He added that "If NNPC is being managed by a private organisation, it won’t be like this; actually there will be public motive. The bigness of this corporation makes taking of decision to become so slow and as such if it is being split into two it will work efficiently. One will be doing other logistics and the other for basically for operations. If the organisation is split into two they will be effective, efficient and they will respond to issues.”

Ahmed also complained of the inefficiency of the NNPC. Citing an example, he said “We marketers pay N120,000 yearly for the renewal of our bulk purchasing and we have over 15,000 marketers nationwide, that is over N1.4 billion; up till today they have not renewed the bulk purchases and what is bulk purchase, just a paper for their legal department to sign."

Adding that he is “in support of the probe of the oil sector and the probe should be extended to all the depots.”