Commentary: The Role Of NNPC In Nation Building

^{WRITTEN BY ABUCHI NWOZOR}
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) says it will build more depots across the country to ensure seamless supply of petroleum products.

The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Dr. Maikanti Baru, disclosed this in Abuja while inaugurating the board of one of its downstream companies, the NNPC Retail Limited.  Dr. Baru said that the addition to the Corporation’s existing twenty-three depots nationwide would ease products supply and distribution in the country.
The Nigerian National Oil Corporation NNOC, the predecessor of NNPC, was created by military decree in 1971; making Nigeria a member of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, a year after the war. Membership of OPEC stipulates the presence of a National Oil Company (NOC). The Company covers all activities of oil industry, including exploration, transportation, refining and marketing of petroleum and allied products.
In 1975, Nigeria constructed two refineries in Kaduna and Warri. The same year, Nigerian National Oil Corporation made a breakthrough in negotiations with oil majors, a joint venture agreement, which was signed with oil producers in the country, allowing Nigerian National Oil Corporation to farm into their oil acreages as a non operating participant. In 1976, Nigerian National Oil Corporation began exploration activities that led to the discovery of oil offshore Nigeria. The NNPC, by law, manages the joint venture between the Nigerian Federal Government and a number of foreign multinational corporations, which include Royal Dutch Shell, Agip, ExxonMobil, Total & A, Chevron, and Texaco (now merged with Chevron).  No doubt, since inception, NNPC has been very effective. The NNPC has been a major player in national development. Its funds have been very beneficial to the construction of major highways, the Federal capital territory, Abuja, as well as national monuments.
NNPC operates at the highest social, environmental and safety standards within the country’s oil and gas industry. Its corporate social responsibility strategy is hinged on supporting education, improving public health and developing local economies in all its areas of operation.
Today, the NNPC has been managing its products to ensure that there is no scarcity in the country. That explained the reason for the series of awards conferred on its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, who recently bagged the Zik’s Leadership Award for his exceptional managerial ability. He has also been conferred with a Distinguished Service Award by the Ahmadu Bello University Alumni Association, his Alma-Mater.
These and other awards spurred him to accept challenges in NNPC which is yielding dividends. According to the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Sir Ndu Ughamadu MFR, the dynamic Group Managing Director, Dr. Baru, has promised to revitalize ailing refineries in the country to make petroleum products more available to the citizenry.
The NNPC has kept the nation’s economy afloat and has expressed its preparedness to venture into lubricants production, marine and industrial services to boost its revenue profile. Its vision is to expand beyond the shores of Nigeria and thus achieve its target by attaining the goals of the corporation. NNPC, no doubt, has performed creditably in the comity of OPEC.