Adeola Yusuf And Johnchuks Onuanyim

…to implement efficiency, profitability framework


The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has declared plans to grant full autonomy to several units of the corporation. The corporation has over 25 entities under its control including seven operational units, two partly owned subsidiaries and 16 associated companies.

The plan to grant auton- omy to the units is part of the lead policy framework; 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFA), which the corporation promised to imple ment.

Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru, stated this yesterday while receiving the reports of the eight committees mandated with the task of developing appropriate strategies to drive the implementation of the 12 BUFA in the Corporation aimed at institutionalizing efficiency, profitability and growth in the Corporation.

The components of 12 BUFA, initiated by Baru, include: Ensuring security of NNPC assets; developing new business models that would grant autonomy to the various units of the corporation; settling Joint Ventures Cash Calls; ramping up crude oil production and reserves growth; growing NPDC as the corporation’s cash cow and focusing on gas development for both domestic and export markets.

Others are: Upgrading existing refineries and creating opportunity for refining expansion; focusing on renewable energy and frontier exploration; revamping the oil and gas infrastructure; pursuing profitable ventures and common services; ensuring professionalism and accountability of the corporation and catering for the welfare of staff who are regarded as critical stakeholders for the success of the vision.

Describing the preliminary work done by the various 12 BUFA committees as “a commendable effort,” Baru said the document would put NNPC on the path of growth and profitability.

The GMD directed the Chief Operating Officers (COOs) of the corporation to start immediate implementation of the policy framework, adding that they could revert to management, should there be any grey areas requiring further intervention.

Baru, according to a statement by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs, Ndu Ughamadu, said in such cases, the documents would be subsequently reviewed jointly by NNPC management and the committees, followed by full implementation.

Baru reckoned that though the planning stage of transformation initiatives is usually slow, the implementation of the 12 BUFA would herald phenomenal growth that Nigerians can attest to.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Group General Manager, Corporate Planning & Strategy (CP & S) of the Corporation, Mr. Umar Ajiya, commended the various committees for an excellent job.

He added that the committees’ work was a very important step in setting the corporate scorecard for each of the BUFAs which are all geared towards improving efficiency and profitability for the corporation. It would be recalled that in December 2016, Baru inaugurated the eight committees and charged them with the task of preparing grounds for the implementation of the 12 BUFAs, using earlier templates used by the 20-Fixes and other similar initiatives.

The committees include those of Upstream, Refineries, Gas & Power, Downstream, Finance & Accounts, Ventures, Corporate Services as well as Corporate Planning & Strategy (CP & S).

The seven operational units, two partly owned subsidiaries and 16 associated companies under the corporation includes, National Petroleum Investment and Management Service (NAPIMS), Crude Oil Marketing Division, Marine Logistics, Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC), among others.

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