‘Minister, Not Interfering In PPMC’

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Group General Manager, Public Affairs, Dr Levi Ajuonuma, says the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, is not interfering in the operations of Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

Ajuonuma made the clarification in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos last Thursday, adding: “it has become clear that such is not possible as both agencies are not administratively within her direct supervision.’’

He said the PPMC managing director reported  directly to the group managing director of NNPC, while the PPPRA, an agency under the Presidency, did not report to the minister. 

“Any insinuation to the effect that the minister interferes with the day-to-day running of either PPMC or the PPPRA is not only unfair, but a blackmail which will not be tolerated,” he said.  

Ajuonuma said that the decision to grant product import permit to prospecting companies was the sole prerogative of PPPRA through its Chairman, Retired Col. Ahmadu Ali, who never reported to the minister.   

“As minister of petroleum resources and the chairman of the board of NNPC, she is saddled with the duty of ensuring unimpeded supply and distribution of petroleum products throughout the country,” he said, adding that, “in the course of carrying out this role, there is the need for interaction with these agencies from time to time.

“This is to ensure that we do not relapse into the dark days of product scarcity,” he said. 

The NNPC spokesman urged the media to always verify their facts before going to the press.