By Chineme Okafor in Abuja
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has officially responded to allegations of inappropriate management practices levelled against its Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, saying President Muhammadu Buhari directed it to do so.
In a lengthy statement by its Group General Manager, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, in Abuja Monday, the corporation said so far, only $3 billion worth of contract expenditure had been signed off by it since Buhari took office, adding that out of the total sum, $1.2 billion of such financing loan was signed off by Kachikwu, with the balance done by Baru.
Providing details of its project executions so far, the corporation stated that Kachikwu’s allegations against its management were baseless because according to it, due process was adhered to in all of its procurements and contract executions.
“Following the publication of alleged lack of adherence to due process in the award of NNPC contracts, the president ordered the Group Managing Director and management of NNPC to consider and respond expeditiously to the allegations.
“It is important to note from the outset that the law and the rules do not require a review or discussion with the minister of state or the NNPC board on contractual matters. What is required is the processing and approval of contracts by the NNPC Tenders Board, the president in his executive capacity or as minister of petroleum, or the Federal Executive Council (FEC), as the case may be,†said the corporation.
