.........U.S. throws weight behind minister

Posted by Adeola Yusuf


The ill-health of President Muhammadu Buhari has placed critical oil industry decisions that were hitherto of the exclusive reserve of a substantive oil minister on Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

This development is unsettling some Northern cabal who are known as the “president’s men.” President Buhari, who through a letter to the National Assembly in 2015 declared his decision to “oversee” the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, had before his latest trip to the United Kingdom for medical follow-up, according to New Telegraph investigation, asked the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources to “go ahead with some critical decisions, including, but not limited to overseeing the forthcoming oil bloc allocations if necessary.”

A source at the Presidency told this newspaper that the announcement of Kachikwu as a substantive minister, which is likely on the President’s return, would largely depend on the way he discharges responsibility now that the president is away. A cabal in the Presidency, members of whom are majorly of Northern extraction, he stated, is opposed to these developments.

“They murmured when the President allowed Dr. Kachikwu to take over as the substantive Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) because the post is for a substantive minister. Now they are greatly unsettled that the status of a full minister has fallen on his laps, particularly due to the ill-health of the President who is abroad on an indefinite medical trip,” he said.

Besides, Kachikwu had been entangled in silent battle against some core oil and gas industry stakeholders who still believed that despite his long years of work at Exxonmobil Corporation, his background as a lawyer still disqualifies him as a core oil and gas industry person. He said: “Go to top notch hotels in Lagos and Abuja, you are likely to run into these men who are geologists and petroleum engineers of various statuses.

The other time, at Four Point by Sheraton, they freely refered to him as a disco dancer.

“All these still come down to the fact that they still do not see him as one of them. But as fate will have it, he will make more core and critical decisions now that the ill-health of Mr. President is getting too long and the industry has to be kept running.”

Meanwhile, the minister has secured the backing of the United States to “go ahead” with his reforms. A delegation of the United States Departments of State and Energy made this known after a meeting with Kachikwu in Washington DC. The meeting had in attendance Ambassador Mary Bruce Warlick, Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the Department of State who led the U.S. discussions during the meeting, which was grouped into two sessions – the reform session and investment session respectively.

“The Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs stated that Nigeria remains a critical priority for the US in Africa and bilateral relations, which are increasingly rooted in the shared values of both nations are delivering results,” a statement by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources read. She further commended Nigeria on the significant steps taken in the oil and gas industry reforms, especially in the area of shared insights gained by the U.S. team from reviewing the National Oil policy, The National Gas policy.

The Fiscal policy and the draft of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill and Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill developed by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. Kachikwu, while responding to the comments and feedback given by the Acting Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy, said the Federal Government of Nigeria, under the leadership of President Buhari, had clearly set out the choices that have to be made as a nation over the next four years and have also taken significant steps in achieving this through the continuous implementation of the 7BigWins – the Nigerian Petroleum roadmap; which focuses on stabilizing the business environment, enshrining openness and transparency, developing and entrenching new policies and regulations.

“He also hinted on the launch of a pet project – “Project 100”, which is aimed at maximizing and unleashing talents by identifying 100 Nigerians who have access to finding and are willing to make a change in the industry and collaborating with them to find solutions to the industry’s problems with a view to set Nigeria on the path of glory,” the statement, issued by Director, Press, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Idang Alibi, stated.

The minister further reiterated the positive impact that the ongoing engagement in the Niger Delta and oil-producing states, led by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, is yielding results as evidenced by the near zero militant incidence and normalcy in production activity being restored in the region.

https://newtelegraphonline.com/news/kachikwu-secures-full-oil-minister-status-roles/

Mr Kachikwu, tell NNPC to recruit ooo... All these ones you people are talking no concern me .

Vexed....

Good. Mr Buhari I understand is a straight up man. he believes in due process and his illness has cracked the so called cabal. this country is blessed by good leaders in the presidency. but, just like GEJ allowed these bad eggs to spoil his wonderful vision about Nigeria. PMB learnt the mistakes he made and applied caution. otherwise, this cabal will destabilize his good will, just like Babachir lawal and the rest. we are getting there,no matter how slow we are going .we will be there.

What is wrong with these northerners?

Good.
God punish any northern cabal.

Glad to hear Kachukwu's name in the public scene after a long while. And i wonder why these so called northen cabals are vexed about him been a full minister. It only tells us that there is something suspicious happening with Buhari at the head of the ministry.

This is long overdue as Kachikwu has achieved a lot both as NNPC head and Petroleum minister. Those who understand the industry will always praise him.
From negotiating the govt out of the huge burden of Joint venture cash calls amounting to billions of dollars, to fixing the refineries and major loading depots. He's finally seen that the repaired refineries will operate at a big loss to govt hence the handing over to ENI(Agip) and the Original manufacturer for complete overhauling and possible collocation of new refineries beside the existing ones.
This is the first time in our history that I go to NNPC's website and I see monthly reports of oil production and earnings for the govt.
I just hope he sends the PIB on time before the end of this tenure to open up the petroleum industry.
Kudos to Kachikwu. The fictitious cabal can go to hell.

I think the person below me would have something to say..

Off to go secure my Ortom wheelbarrow. Hussle must pure..

Meanwhile, this is HungerBad and Ishilove. They tied the fvcking knots last saturday in a very secretive ceremony. I was there live and took this pic personally.

What does america want from nageria?

Disillusioned "born to rule" illiterates.

clevadani:
Good.
God punish any northern cabal. ALL ENEMIES of Nigeria.

Fixed.

Buhari as a substantive oil minister when the presidency he can't take care of, really shows how confused this nation is!

amanda2013:
What does america want from nageria?

Is it America that made the vegetable to hijack the post of oil minister when his brain can't read ordinary letter that was written by Abba Kyari and he signed without seeing the uncommon word 'cordinator'?

Things will gradually fall in place whether the enemies of this country likes it or not,you can't use force or hate propaganda just watch God bring up capable men to the forefront for us,those oil bloc's will have to be revisited

rifasenate11:
Good. Mr Buhari I understand is a straight up man. he believes in due process and his illness has cracked the so called cabal. this country is blessed by good leaders in the presidency. but, just like GEJ allowed these bad eggs to spoil his wonderful vision about Nigeria. PMB learnt the mistakes he made and applied caution. otherwise, this cabal will destabilize his good will, just like Babachir lawal and the rest. we are getting there,no matter how slow we are going .we will be there.

So in your clear non zombified mind, you think PMB clamped the wings of the cabal? This is a great 21st century joke my man!

omenkaLives:
Serious? Errm, where can I locate her? Wanna send her a message to you.

lol

HungerBAD:


lol

Nigeria for show

omenkaLives:
I think the person below me would have something to say..

Off to go secure my Ortom wheelbarrow. Hussle must pure..

Meanwhile, this is HungerBad and Ishilove. They tied the fvcking knots last saturday in a very secretive ceremony. I was there live and took this pic personally.

Chairmen, why derailing the thread?!
Dat guy called Mynd44 no dey look face before him do wetin him know how to do best o!!

ok

Kachikwu does not know work.
He does not deserve that role.


The Northerners will pocket him

Great

omenkaLives:
I think the person below me would have something to say..

Off to go secure my Ortom wheelbarrow. Hussle must pure..

Meanwhile, this is HungerBad and Ishilove. They tied the fvcking knots last saturday in a very secretive ceremony. I was there live and took this pic personally.

chai