A group, Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability, have again asked President Bola Tinubu to add new hands to the management team of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as a step to reposition the organisation to play a lead role in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

Addressing newsmen on Friday in Abuja, the groups led by the Convener Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative, Comrade Danesi Momoh, Convener Guardians of Democracy and Development Initiative (GoDDI), Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta and Convener Independent Public Accountability Watch, Mallam Suleima Musa, warned that the poor management of the NNPCL would only increase the hardship and tension currently being witnessed in the country.

 Momoh who questioned why the Presidency and National Assembly were pretending they were not aware of the happenings at the NNPC Limited, warned that the next nationwide protest would commence from the premises of the NNPC Limited if a total overhaul of the management staff was not carried out soonest.

Two days ago, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, said the company has nothing to do with substandard importation of petroleum products into the country.

He also stated that officials of the company were neither criminals nor persecuting anyone.

Speaking when he appeared before the Senate ad- hoc committee investigating the alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry in the country, said the oil industry in the country was bleeding.

Kyari said he has faced undue media attacks from persons doing everything to create the impression that NNPCL was sabotaging the nation’s economy.

He said:  “It is our duty to protect the overall interest of this country by the provisions of the law, Mr. Chairman, we are not in breach of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, the Company and Allied Matters Act, CAMA, and other enabling regulations and laws that govern the activity of the oil and gas industry.

“NNPCL is a company owned by over 200 million Nigerians. And I happen to be the chief executive officer of this company. And the law is clear around what the chief executive of this company will do.

“By our memorandum and article of association, the Petroleum Industry Act, and all other enabling laws, including CAMA, which was legislated by this National Assembly, we are clear that the board and management of NNPCL must maximise value for this company.  This company cannot have negative profits for three years.

“CAMA says you can shut it down. Mr. Chairman, it is our job to protect this company. But it is also our job to protect other businesses around us. This company has grown; we are proud to say this. From a lost company for 43 years to a profit-making company today.

”Everybody believes, by sheer misinformation which my minister has highlighted, that NNPCL is responsible for creating any economic sabotage in our country.

“Refining business is straight business, you must secure your feedstock and you must secure a market. This is basic, even for NNPC refiners, we have done nothing to sabotage any domestic refinery, any one of them and there are many of them.

“We do not lie to this country. And we do nothing to sabotage the economic interests of this country. As a matter of fact, NNPC is the economic interest of this country.

“Secondly, and more importantly, NNPCL has nothing to do with imports of products that are substandard. It is very clear, Mr. Chairman, there are rules, there are regulators. We follow the rules. ”Nobody will bring product into this country that doesn’t meet the specifications. If it does happen, it’s a crime. And it couldn’t have passed through any regulatory institution. It is impossible.”

However, not satisfied with his response, Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency and Accountability, on Friday called on President Tinubu to overhaul the organization.