Ijeoma Agudosi
The All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation (APCPCO) has said General Muhammadu Buhari will lift the veil of secrecy and shadiness that have characterised the transactions of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, if he is elected.
In a statement signed by Director of Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the campaign organisation assured that if elected into office, Buhari would promote credible bookkeeping in the day-to-day workings of the NNPC.
The statement read in part: “Buhari will create a level playing field for all operators and investors in the oil and gas industry. There is an urgent need to have a clear and transparent regulatory and fiscal framework for the upstream, midstream and downstream activities.
For about 14 years, the petroleum sector has undergone several reforms to bring its operations – legal, regulatory and organisational framework – in line with international best practices.
“Buhari will shore up the nation’s capacity to absorb any shock arising from the flexibility in the global oil and gas market. He will ensure the following reforms: comprehensive review of the entire petroleum revenue collection and reporting system to ensure full disclosure and accountability to Nigerians, create a level playing field for all investors, operators and service providers in the oil and gas sector and reduce wastage and improve efficiency to ensure maximisation of government revenue.”
In the same vein, a group known as Buhari Support Organisation, has said that despite that Buhari’s regime had less oil revenue accruals, the military was better catered for than what is now obtainable.
The group’s media coordinator, Chidia Maduekwe, in a statement said: “Verifiable records listed below has it that even with less oil revenue accruals to both the Buhari and Ibrahim Babangida regimes as compared to the heavy windfall, which continued after Jonathan came into power about six years ago, the military then, were by far, better taken care of with modern equipment, welfare and high morale than now. Their glowing global performance then can attest to this simple fact.”