FORMER President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has stated that the selling of national assets to finance the Budget is a wrong and calamitous step.
He insisted that the Federal Government should work on reforming the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), to enable more efficient running of the nation’s economy.
The former President disclosed this during a courtesy call by the General Managing Director of the Nigerian Nagional Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Baru Maikanti, to his residence in Abeokuta, on Wednesday, adding that “What I do understand is reforms. I believe organisation like the NNPC should be reformed.”
According to Obasanjo: “I don’t understand this talk of selling our national assets. Selling the assets is wrong, but the reform is what I think should be done, so that we can run the business of the economy in the way it should be run. I have said it at d NACOFED confab in Abeokuta yesterday.”
“If there is any organ that can help us quickly get out of recession, it is NNPC. If you work hard, you can get around the situation”, Obasanjo added.
Encouraging the GMD of NNPC further, he remarked that “I want to encourage you and hope that the little difference we have started seeing will continue. It is our dream to see NNPC grow as an NOC, just like its peers in other countries.”
Speaking during the visitation, Dr Baru commended the positive influence of President Obasanjo, especially in his discussions with President Muhammadu Buhari on issues germane to the development of the country, saying “I also commend your vision towards efficiently transforming the NNPC for better performance, growth and profitability”.
“We appreciate your call for diversificaton into agro-biz and other energy sources. We are currently rejuvenating our Renewable Energy business”, he added.
Dr Baru however promised that NNPC would remain keen on making kerosene available to all, adding that “we are working hard to flood the market so that prices will come down especially in Sout East.
“We’ll continue to work hard towards realizing lofty dreams of seeing NNPC grow into a transformed NOC without any interference”.
