By Michael Eboh

A COALITION of civil society organisations, CSOs, has described individuals kicking against the reorganisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, as cabals who are bent on frustrating efforts to end the prolonged fuel crisis witnessed across the country.

The group, under the aegis of  Children and Women’s Rights Network, in a statement in Abuja, expressed support for the restructuring of the NNPC, saying it will help increase productivity and efficiency while denying corrupt persons and unscrupulous cabals a foothold in the on-going process.

The statement signed by the Executive Director, Children and Women’s Rights Network, Mr. Moses Adedeji , lamented that these cabals, are faceless but determined forces unnerved by ceaseless monitoring.

It added that the involvement of security agents in tackling pipeline vandalism and fuel distribution, are now mounting strategic challenges towards ensuring that fuel scarcity is prolonged.

According to Adedeji,  since   the former managing director of the PPMC, Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue’s declaration of December 27, of involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Department of State Security, DSS, and other security agencies, some high-level oil sector cabals have mounted a subtle but disingenuous campaign against her.

Disingenuous campaign

The group stressed that Nnamdi-Ogbue’s approximately three decades of work experience within NNPC’s organisational structure and her academic accomplishments do not reflect any form of soiled record.

The group noted that less than 24 hours after her appointment as Managing Director of NNPC’s Retail, powerful cartels involved in the illegal diversion of fuel have stepped up their revenge mission against Nnamdi-Ogbue, whose new ideas are truncating their illegal business, by using faceless platforms to call for her removal.

The group said: “During her December 27, 2015 official visit to Mosinmi Depot and Ajebo pipeline in Obafemi Owode local government area of Ogun state, she explicitly stated that ‘We are looking at all ramifications on how to bring these criminals to book; they have to be treated as criminals and pipeline products thieves’.