Apparently looking for a desperate window to further increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has mobilised its former group managing directors (GMDs) to canvass for a new price regime, arguing that the petrol price capped at N145 per litre was no longer justifiable.
In their words, the petrol price ceiling is not congruent with the current foreign exchange liberalization policy.
The NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Alhaji Garba Deen Muhammad, made this known in a statement in Abuja, at the weekend.
Garba Deen said that the former GMDs advised for the review of the price cap at a one-day meeting of the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, and the former GMDs of the corporation.
The former GMDs at the meeting were Chief Edmund Daukoru, Chief Odoliyi Lolomar, Dr Thomas John, Mr Lawrence Amu, Dr. Jackson Gaius-Obaseki, Mr Funsho Moses Kupolokun, Dr Abubakar Lawal, among others.
The former oil chiefs commended NNPC for resolving the fuel supply crisis, and urged the corporation to emplace measures that will ensure sustenance of seamless supply of petroleum products nationwide.
“The PMS price cap of N145/litre is not congruent with the liberalization policy, especially with the Foreign Exchange rate and other price determining components such as crude cost, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) charges,” it said.
PMS price was among 11 challenges identified by the former bosses of the corporation which they suggested ways forward.
Other challenges examined include insecurity, corporation reputation, state of the refineries, petroleum product supply, funding of the joint ventures and frontier exploration services, National Petroleum Investment and Management services (NAPIMS), relationship with stakeholders, NNPC revenue base, debt profile and Pension deficit.
On insecurity, the former NNPC chiefs said that there was urgent need for government and security agencies to refocus as well as engage the various host communities.
They suggested the establishment of social and traditional structures to develop an actionable partnership framework toward finding a lasting solution to the present unrest.
The GMDs were concerned about the increasing negative perception of the Corporation by Nigerians especially in terms of opaqueness and accountability.
“They, therefore, called on the Corporation to educate Nigerians on NNPC activities as a commercial entity managing the nation’s assets in trust,” Garba Deen added
On the refineries, they advised that the refineries be rejuvenated using the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
“Also, the refineries must be restructured to operate as an Incorporated Joint venture (IJV) similar to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model with credible partners having requisite technical and financial capabilities,” it said.
The GMDs advised that funding of Joint Venture Operations should be the first line charge to oil revenue to ensure sustainable production and reserve growth.
They endorsed the presidential order to ensure exploration in the Chad basin and Benue Trough and urged Baru to focus more on the Chad basin that had recorded more prospects.
GMDs expressed concern on the level of NNPC debt profile and advised it should establish the true state of its current financial status and decide most appropriate capitalisation model.
They called for a review of the NNPC pensions and advised that NNPC should explore avenues to close the pension funding gap including the restructuring of the current model.