We want fair, accurate, objective reportage on petrol pricing – NNPC

AS the controversy on who should fix the price of petrol and whose responsibility it is for the product to always be available, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has urged practitioners to always adhere to the principles of fairness, accuracy, and objectivity in their reporting, especially on issues concerning the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

The national oil company made this appeal at a media engagement held in Benin City, Edo State capital yesterday with selected journalists.

At the interactive session, the convener, Mr. Solomon Oseagah, while admonishing journalists to imbibe the ethics of the profession gave an insight into the workings of the NNPCL.

According to him, “It is not the duty of the NNPCL to determine fuel prices, but that of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA), which is saddled with the responsibilities of regulating the midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria which includes technical, operational, and commercial activities.”

On the issue relating to the delays in the operations of the national refineries, Mr. Oseagah disclosed that finishing touches were being put into the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries, stressing that soon, they would be commissioned by President Bola Tinubu.

Oseagah reeled out some of the achievements of Mr. Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL, in the oil and gas sector which include, a major leap in daily crude production from 900,000 barrels to 1.6 million barrels; his fight against oil theft which he said has yielded positive results, amongst many others.

He added that since the market has been deregulated, oil marketers are at liberty to fix petroleum prices.

On the Dangote Refinery controversy, the convener disclosed that the Federal Government has been magnanimous to the promoters of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemical Company, as “it has provided the company with several support to begin its operations.”

He further dismissed the insinuations that the government was in fisticuffs with the Dangote refinery, stressing that the NNPCL under Kyari would continue to maintain professional standards and transparency in its operations which will be beneficial to Nigerians.

Vanguard