Mallam Mele Kyari, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), has asked members of the NNPC Greenfield Refinery Limited (NGRL) Board of Directors to investigate all possible solutions to end the current petroleum product importation crisis.

Mallam Kyari gave the charge at the NNPC Towers in Abuja yesterday, when he inaugurated the Board of the Corporation’s newly registered subsidiary, NNPC Greenfield Refinery Limited (NGRL).

The NNPC Greenfield Refinery Limited is a Corporation subsidiary that was established in December 2020 with the mission of overseeing the construction and management of new refineries.

The GMD, who also serves as Chairman of the NGRL Board of Directors, pushed members of the Board to focus on profitability in order to stay afloat and prevent collapse.

Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, said in a statement, “As a business, this is a tremendous opportunity for us, and this company’s balance sheet must improve favorably.” Going forward, I can tell you that under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), if you continue to post negative for three years, you are out. So there isn’t much of an excuse.”

He urged the new business’s Board of Directors and Management Team to put in place a solid structure with the necessary talents, technology, and funding to drive the company’s operations, and he expressed optimism that the company will be able to fulfill its mission.

“Our company needs to grow, and we won’t be able to do so unless we can process our product, whether it’s liquid or gas. We have accomplished nothing if we do not monetise it. This is a brand-new chapter for us, and we’re determined to make it work,” he said.

All of the NNPC’s actions in the areas of new refineries, condensate refineries, and equity purchase in credible private refineries, according to the CEO, are aimed at maintaining the country’s energy security.

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Engr. Mustapha Yakubu, Alternate Chairman of the Board and Group Executive Director, Refinery and Petrochemicals, stated in his remarks that the company’s operations would be guided by cost-effective principles in accordance with the new Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), with profitability being the primary focus.

Engr. Bege Talson, Group General Manager, Greenfield Refineries and Project Division (GRPD) and Managing Director of the NGRL, said the Division was collaborating with third-party investors to build greenfield, modular, and condensate refineries with a combined capacity of 250,000 barrels per stream day (bpsd).

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has given his approval for the review of 368 grazing reserves in 25 states throughout the country.

Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, said the evaluation would establish the extent of grazing reserve encroachment in a statement released yesterday in Abuja.

“The President’s instruction came after he approved the recommendations of a committee convened by the President’s Chief of Staff, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari,” the statement stated.

“Among other things, the committee advised collecting field data on 368 Grazing Reserves across 25 states to assess encroachment and encroachers, stakeholder interactions, and sensitization,” according to the report.

“The Committee also advised that maps and geo-mapping/tagging of sites be produced, that findings be analyzed and reports be prepared, and that suitable communication on Grazing Reserves and activities be designed.

“Based on existing security concerns and other pre-existing socio-economic factors, the number of Grazing Reserves and states was calculated.

“The President requested that the task be completed as soon as possible in order to improve understanding and implementation of the Grazing Reserves.

Governor of Kebbi State and Vice Chairman of the National Food Security Council, Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman of the NEC Sub-Committee for National Livestock Transformation Plan, David Umahi, Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar and D. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar are

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“The Technical Sub-Committee is made up of representatives from the main committee’s seven members, as well as the Ministry of Justice, the Surveyor General of the Federation, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), and the National Space Research Development Agency” (NASRDA).

“Among the Committee’s Terms of Reference was to collect information from states and confirm the status of all Grazing Reserves, as well as assess the percentage of available land and those with existing encroachment issues for case-by-case resolution in collaboration with state governments and the FCT.

“The Committee will also make suggestions for ungazetted Grazing Reserves to be gazetted, as well as build a database of National Cattle Herders and guarantee that Grazing Reserves are adequately communicated to all stakeholders.

The Committee’s first meeting was conducted on May 10, 2021.