Ahmed Dikko's Transformative Efforts At PHRC

 

By Adewole Kehinde

The Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Mr. Ahmed Dikko, is on course to end the protracted rot in the establishment and ensure it works at full capacity again.

The Port Harcourt Refining Company has witnessed rejuvenation in the last two year since the current Managing Director took over the reins of the company. Before March 2020, the refinery was comatose and regarded as a waste of public resources because it had gulped billions and yet had not worked.

Due to the failure of successive administrations to do the needful, the company has failed to serve the purpose it was built.

Since the approval of $1.5bn by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery, Engr. Ahmed Dikko, has rolled up his sleeves to drive the company to yield the right result with the ongoing extensive rehabilitation of the Refinery.

Since he took over the helm of affairs in March 2020 as the Managing Director of PHRC, Ahmed Dikko has been putting his best foot forward to making PHRC proud again. With the signing of an agreement with EPC Contractors, Maire Tecnimont SpA on April 6 and followed that up with the technical kick-off of this project on May 6, the project activities have swung into action after the contractor shared the detailed project execution plan, the PHRC broke up into discipline sessions with various groups for engineering, quality control, and construction among others.

The ongoing rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refinery is one of the key planks of this policy.

Given the significance and magnitude of the task, only a thoroughbred, a professional knowledgeable not only in the technical aspects of the job but one also nuanced in the matter of administration and coordination, would effectively deliver on the assignment particularly as President Buhari has set the rehabilitation of the refinery, Nigeria’s largest till date, as one of the priorities of his administration.

It was thus not surprising that the NNPC would turn to Dikko, a man who had in the decades he has worked with the corporation beginning from his first stint at Kaduna Refining and Petrochemicals Company limited, where he worked in the Operations and Engineering & Technical Services Departments, he has traversed units and departments within the NNPC until finally rising to the position of Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refining Company Limited (PHRC) in March 2020.

He was charged with the key task of delivering the Rehabilitation Project of the Refinery and bringing its facilities to optimal production capacity and sustainable operations. Phase 1 of the Rehab Project which is the integrity study and inspection has been completed. The Project is in the second Phase with the signing of the EPC contract for the rehabilitation with Maire Tecnimont SpA and the subsequent Technical kick off meeting in May, 2021.

Although the approval of the $1.5 billion may seem gleeful for PHRC and indeed the public, it was greeted with mixed feelings. However, Dikko’s reaction remains optimistic. This is as he says they are putting in the energies required nonetheless to ensure they cover all angles.

He expressed, “This way, they can deliver a refinery that can run sustainably and profitably over a long period of time. A lot of people were making all sorts of comments, probably, out of not having the correct information but this is the first time in NNPC that this kind of approach has been taken. So much consultation and transparency went into this process. Right from the bidding process, to the selection of the contractor, and the eventual award of this project.”

In the process of selecting the contractor, he revealed that PHRC had to use reputable international EPC companies to bid for this exercise. In the words of the MD, “this is a very big plus, and the bidding process was quite open and transparent. We utilised other external stakeholders in all these processes that we are doing so that they can contribute and see the openness in it. Clearly, the Bureau of Public Procurement, NEITI, ICRC, and Federal Ministry of Finance among others were there with us. This is unprecedented in the history of project development in NNPC and we are very sure it will yield the right result.”

Notwithstanding, Dikko acknowledged that they got approvals from NNPC management for a robust project management consultant and owner engineer, who would support them as owners in this process to make sure that they truly deliver the project based on what has been scoped earlier in phase one of the project.

“Part of what is in our contract is to make sure, as much as possible, that we use the original manufacturers of these equipment and things that we need to change during this project. Then there is the presence of a lot of the licensors of these process plants here with us like UOP who are licensors to the FCC unit and Axxeis to the KHU are also part of these.

“So you can see it is a robust combination of experience and international bodies that are part of this project. And then to crown it up, we that are here locally as owners in Port Harcourt have a dedicated team that has shown resilience, professionalism, and commitment to ensure that exactly what is captured in our scope of work is what is going to be delivered,” while crossing his heart, “I will like to assure Nigerians and other stakeholders that we would surely get this right; we would put in the energies that is required, and we would make sure that we cover all angles so that together we can deliver a refinery that can run sustainably and profitably over a long period of time.”

Indeed, Dikko, a veteran engineer, declares that the rehabilitation activity is very dear to the staff and management of the company. This is as he shows concern on the safety around the pipelines particularly from the main plants to the jetty. According to the PHRC chief, “We know very well that we truly need to put these barriers together so that we can protect our right of way, our pipelines and also the people who are around these facilities.

He, however, chipped in that in the first phase of the project, they needed to have a robust engagement with the communities so that they can relocate those who are encroaching on the right of ways properly. This, he added, would enable them to have sincere discussions with the communities so they can understand that the benefit of staying away from the right of way of the pipelines is for their safety first.

Dikko acknowledged that host communities engagement is one of the key priorities for the success of this project and PHRC management recognised this right from the earlier days of the award of this contract, hence, the company, through Public Affairs, has been doing a lot of engagement with these communities.

Interestingly, PHRC plans to put out the information correctly about this project as well as manage the expectations of these communities. While their approach is to get the communities to buy into this project and be part of it, the contractors have nominated a community rep that is working closely with the PHRC Public Affairs team in the manner to ensure that the right information is given to the communities. “The expectations are managed and together we can work as partners to deliver this project without any hindrance,” expressing that everything is good, thus, he is very delighted with the efforts so far.

Critics have queried what the government would achieve by injecting such a humongous amount of money into the rehabilitation project. For the purpose of clarity, there are quite a number of benefits in bringing the nation’s refineries back on stream. The project, when completed, would ensure increased revenue and energy sufficiency in the nation and prevent unplanned shut down as well as increasing GDP.

Other benefits will include local production of Aviation Turbine Kero and reduction in foreign exchange demand through reduced importation of petroleum products, satisfying local energy demand, strengthening the Naira by reducing the demand for Forex, and creating thousands of jobs across the value chain (crude supply, operating and maintaining the refinery, product supply etc) including several third-party contractors that will supply outsourced services or goods.

The refined products also will serve as feedstock for small-scale local manufacturing. The most significant and visible benefit is energy security for the country.

For Dikko, he is neither resting on his oars nor allowing the challenges to slam their efforts. While he describes the ride so far as very good, he’s pleased with the cooperation of all staff members of PHRC and the commitment. “So this is what I would like to appeal to everybody around PHRC and indeed NNPC to contribute and dedicate anything possible to make sure that this project succeeds because the whole Nigeria; 200 million Nigerians are waiting for this and we cannot afford to fail.”

Adewole Kehinde is the Publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached via 08166240846, 08123608662

Abuja Estate Landlords Worry Over Diversion Of Five Residential Houses To Hotels

 

The Homeowners Association of sprawling estate In Gwarimpa, Karsana District, the Mab Global Estate, are living in fear over the brazen diversion of the residential homes in the estate to hotels.

As a result of this, homeowners in the District have petitioned the Department of Development Control, Federal Capital Development Authority.

In the petition signed by the President, Ahmed Ihedioha and General Secretary, Kufre Charles, they urged the department to address the situation and ensure that the buildings were returned to their original purpose.

The last count, three of such home owners have diverted their residential homes to hotels with attendant security implications to bewildered residents and landlords of the estate.

The operators of the hotel, it was gathered, have not got approval from the regulatory authorities in Abuja, to convert the houses in a gated estate to commercial use.

With three hotels in operation, all manner of guests with questionable characters, criminals, drug peddlers now see the estate as a safe haven.

To the consternation of the landlords of the estate, the hotel guests move into the estate at odd hours and expose the entire community to danger.

Penultimate week there was a breakdown of law and order in the estate as two groups engaged each other at the hotel located at Plot 400 and the fight spread to the gate into the night.

Worried by this weird turn of events, the Homeowners Association of Mab Global Estate, a community of 634 houses held its Annual General Meeting to deliberate on the threat posed by the illegal hotels in the estate

The estate agreed with unanimity that the Executive led by Engr Ahmed Ihedioha, wrote to the Development Control to alert the regulatory body of the brazen violation of the estate master plan.

The estate through EXCO wrote Development Control on November 21, 2021 and the regulatory body acknowledged receipt of the petition dated December 1, 2021. No action has taken place on the letter.

The hotel owners are quoted to have said that they have the support of some allies in Development Control in spite of the fact that a Development Control allegedly refused to grant approval to convert the houses to hotel since the estate is a gated community.

Lagos EndSARS Panel Report; Sanwo Olu Deserves Commendation – Youth Alliance

 

The Integrity Youth Alliance has commended the Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu for not interfering in the Lagos State EndSARS Panel.

According to a press release on Tuesday, 16th November, 2021 jointly signed by its National Coordinator, Kelvin Adegbenga and National Publicity Secretary, Danjuma Lamido, they pointed out that the panel had operated independently while commending members of the Justice Okuwobi-led panel for a job well done.

It will be recalled that in October 2020, young people across Nigeria took to the streets calling for disbanding an abusive police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) and for ending brutality in movement tagged #EndSARS, the statement said.

The statement read further, “As a result of the violence which led to several police stations being burnt, policemen killed, suspects in police custody released and weapons carted away; the Lagos State Government had to invite the Nigerian Army to intervene in the fallout of the #EndSARS protest.

"The situation was quickly degenerating into anarchy. It was at this point that Lagos State Government requested for the military to intervene in order to restore normalcy, the statement said.

The Alliance reiterated that the world over, it is the custom that the army intervenes when a situation overcomes the police and paramilitary services. The occurrences that took place from October 18 were nothing short of lawlessness and violence.

“It was these incidents that made the Governor of Lagos State ask for military intervention and in our opinion, that was the correct thing to do since the Police had been overrun and Policemen were fighting for their dear lives.

“It is on record that the Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel highly praised  the Lagos State Governor for compensating those deserving cases of police abuses while a special case was made for victims of the Lekki Toll Gate Incident of October 20, 2020.

“True to his word, the Governor of Lagos State granted total independence to the Panel, as they worked according to their conscience and based upon their common convictions, the statement said.

It will be recalled that the Governor Sanwo -Olu invited the military to restore normalcy and it the duty of the military to follow all laid down procedures for Internal Security operations and confines of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) for Internal Security operations.

"We commend the Justice Doris Okuwobi-led panel for its revelation in a 309-page report submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Monday and called on the Federal Government and Lagos State to critically look into the 32 Recommendations by the Panel for implementation, the statement concluded.

Nnamdi Kanu’s Defence Team Walked Out On Justice Binta Nyako

Contrary to the report from Bar Ejiofor, the lead counsel and some section of the media, that Nnamdi Kanu’s defence teams were locked out of the Federal High Court room during the proceedings.

The proceedings resumed after Justice Binta Nyako entered the courtroom, Mohammed Abubakar, announced an appearance for the prosecution.

However, the defence team, led by Bar. Ejiofor were nowhere to be found, prompting Justice Binta Nyako to ask Nnamdi Kanu of his Defence team whereabouts.

In his response, Nnamdi Kanu said his lawyers were protesting the denial of access to Mr Fein, the IPOB lawyer from the United States, who was in Court premises to observe the day’s session.

But the Judge, who was visibly unhappy about the walk-out, said she will not dismiss the application, against the wish of the Prosecutor, Mohammed Abubakar, who asked the court to dismiss Nnamdi Kanu’s pending applications

It will be recalled that a diplomat from the British High Commission, who was in the courtroom to watch proceedings was allowed because she had written the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, seeking the consent of the court to attend  sitting.

Nnamdi Kanu US lawyer, Bruce Fein should have followed the same process the diplomat from the British High Commission took by writing the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.

Thereafter, the Judge adjourned the suit till January 19 and 20, 2022 for trial.

It was gathered that few Journalists and lawyers were allowed into the courtroom in observance of the COVID 19 Protocol and due to the  capacity of the court room.

Nnamdi Kanu is being tried on charges of treasonable felony regarding his separatist activities. The trial was scheduled to resume before Justice Binta Nyako, for arguments on an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the case.

The separatist, who was granted bail in April 2017, fled the country after the invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, by the military in September that year, a situation one of Nnamdi  Kanu’s lawyers, Alloy Ejimakor, described as the “rule of self-preservation.”

Justice Binta Nyako subsequently revoked his bail for ditching his trial, and ordered his trial to be separated from the rest of the co-defendants’.

While the trial of the rest of the defendants has made some progress, Nnamdi Kanu’s case has been stalled since 2017.

On June 29, 2021, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, announced that Nnamdi Kanu had been rearrested and brought back to Nigeria to continue facing his trial.

Kennie Obateru: As NNPC’s Mr. PR Bows Out In Style

 

By Charles Affiong

The Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry has been in the news, lately. This time around, the industry was hugging global and local limelight for the right, nay positive reasons. It all began at the Aso Rock Villa where President Muhammadu Buhari (in his capacity as Minister of Petroleum Resources) announced a whopping N287billion profit after tax by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). He also, in a historic feat, gave his assent to a 20-year-old Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), signifying a major Act that will change the fortunes of the nation’s oil and gas industry for the better.

There were also some positive news from the hallowed chambers of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) where the Federal Government okayed the sum of $1.5bn for the rehabilitation of the Warri and Kaduna refineries. There was also the news from the magnificent towers of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), where a major reshuffle in the Top Management of the Corporation was announced. Thus, for the oil and gas industry, the last few days were unprecedented, as they have recorded some very remarkable developments.

Lying quietly in between such exciting and high-profile happenings was the story that NNPC’s quintessential image maker, Dr. Kehinde Obateru, will be taking a deserved bow from the public service, and by extension, from the public limelight. This is after about thirty years of meritorious service to his fatherland through the NNPC. Rising from a Protocol Officer to a Minister of Petroleum in the early 90s to hold several Public Affairs position in NNPC, Dr. Kennie, as he is fondly known by friends and colleagues, will be proudly going home having attained the statutory 60 years retirement age, which came while he was holding an enviable position of being the Official Spokesperson of Africa’s largest Corporation.

Without mincing words, Dr. Kennie’s retirement from public service was extra special. And this is for many reasons. One, here is a man who had for three decades of his illustrious life, given his all towards promoting the NNPC brand. In Dr. Kennie, you are talking of a PR man that has bestrode the business of corporate image making like the proverbial colossus. You are talking of a man who has upscaled the art of reputation management in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to global standards. You are referring to someone who came to the PR profession not by mere happenstance, but by dint of hardwork, commitment and adequate preparation.

Simply put, in Dr.Kennie, you are referring to a man who lives PR, eats PR, drinks PR and even sleeps PR, as you will come to know soon. Looking at his exploits in his early days as a News Reporter/Sub Editor for a national newspaper and as a Sales Executive for an independent petroleum marketing outfit, you will agree that the man was cut out for the image-making profession. From his humble beginnings, it was obvious that Dr. Kennie’s early journalism background had some impact on getting him to fall in love with Public Relations.

As a Reporter, the young Kennie has interviewed hundreds of VIPs and company spokespersons, a golden opportunity that has sharpened the requisite job competencies needed for survival in the critical business of PR, especially media relations and stakeholder management. At the same time, the oil marketing job has availed him the opportunity of learning how to sell even the toughest of ideas, brands and businesses. Therefore, when in 1992, an opportunity to work at the NNPC Public Affairs Department came calling, Dr. Kennie jumped at the opportunity. 

From there onwards, you could see that Dr. Kennie was made for the top. Gradually, he rose and rose through the ranks, serving in several PR leadership roles across NNPC’s business value-chain. These include Manager, Media Relations in the Corporate Headquarters (2007 –2008); Manager, Public Affairs, Port Harcourt Refinery (2008 – 2010); Manager, Public Affairs, NAPIMS-NNPC (2010 – 2015) and General Manager NNPC London Office (2015-2020).

Therefore, when in March 2020, the NNPC announced Dr. Kennie as its Official Spokesperson, friends, colleagues and associates considered it a right choice, akin to a round peg in a round hole. And so, since March last year to his very last day in the office, the Kwara-born PR guru spent the last 18 months helping to enhance the positive visibility of the NNPC brand, which, under the exceptional stewardship of the GMD, Mallam Mele Kyari, was already witnessing rave reviews for its entrenchment of Transparency, Accountability & Performance Excellence (TAPE) vision.

Dr. Kennie had also prepared academically before providence smiled at him to pick up the coveted role of NNPC image-maker. He is an alumnus of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos, University of Ilorin and University of Stirling, Scotland, United Kingdom. He also holds a certificate in news reporting, a Bachelor’s degree in Performing Arts and an M.Sc in  Public Relations. In 2012, he was awarded a doctorate in Management [Honoris Causa], by the Commonwealth University, Belize. Dr. Kennie is a member of the international Public Relations Association (IPRA), a senior member of the Africa Public Relations Association (APRA), a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) and a Member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

His appointment in March 2020 as the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of the NNPC did not therefore come as a surprise. In fact, if there was one outstanding thing the appointment did, it was simply to underlie the confidence which the management of the Corporation has reposed in him to deliver on his new task of boosting NNPC’s corporate reputation. One of such major responsibilities was selling the TAPE mantra to NNPC’s internal and external stakeholders, a task well-delivered by Dr. Kennie.

Dr. Kennie will be remembered for being a journalists’ – nay stakeholders’- delight, any day. Although soft-spoken, he never shied away from responding and attending to the deluge of inquiries that flood the organisation on a daily basis. His tenure has witnessed one of the most peaceful and harmonious era in terms of relationship between the NNPC and its critical stakeholders. Gone were the days when the media, especially, will be engaged in a cat-and-mouse race, as a result of some inquiry to the Corporation.

Several stakeholders who have worked with him will attest to the fact that Dr. Kennie was an epitome of humility; a self-driven goal-getter, an amiable PR practitioner and an embodiment of competence and professionalism. Professionals within the industry always talk about the goodwill and improved positive mileage which the NNPC is currently enjoying via its successful entrenchment of the TAPE mantra. Majority of such professionals have confessed that such remarkable milestones were well-known to Nigerians, with Dr. Kennie as the chief PR man at the helm.

On Friday, the 24th day of September, 2021, Dr. Kennie will be taking a bow, as he will officially hand over the reins of NNPC’s Group Public Affairs Division (GPAD) to his successor, Mr. Garba Deen Muhammad, another experienced and capable hand. To the glory of God, Dr. Kennie will be leaving the stage as an accomplished professional and a fulfilled public servant, who will look back at the NNPC with a smile that simply says: “I came, I saw, and I conquered.”

In few months to come, NNPC, and the Nigerian Oil & Gas Industry will never be the same again. The NNPC will particularly be witnessing a major growth in its 44-year history. It has been predicated on delivering more value going forward. It will soon be incorporated and governed by the principles of Companies & Allied Matters Act (CAMA). It will declare profit and present dividends to millions of its shareholders (Nigerians). It will also be a fully integrated energy company purely driven by profitability and performance excellence. I reckon in those coming months, Dr. Kennie would proudly tell his grandkids that I was part of it all.  

It was Edward Louis Barnays, the American Publicist and globally acclaimed pioneer and father of modern Public Relations who once said: “Look for a situation in which your work will give you as much happiness as your spare time.” Going by Barnays’ priceless words, it definitely looks like he was referring to the retiring NNPC image maker, as there will be so much joy, happiness and merry-making for Dr. Kennie in his spare time.

Happy 60th birthday, Dr. Kennie Obateru, NNPC’s Mr. PR. Enjoy the best of your spare time.

Affiong, a Public Affairs commentator writes from Lagos.

RE: NNPC In Procurement Fraud: Two Highest Bidders In Slop Oil Sale Are The Same People

By Muhammad Sani

I read with dismay and growing alarm a news report of the above heading in the Premium Times of 11th September, 2021. Dismay because over the years the online medium has carved a niche for itself for serious and professional reportage, and alarmed because its treatment of this particular issue falls far short of expectations and requirements of investigative journalism. This does not bode well for its reputation and rating.

It particularly rankles that there is a complete disconnect between the headline and the main story. While the former promotes an alleged fraud or irregularity in two companies with same directors emerging as highest bidders in a slop oil sale, the story itself delves into and harps on local companies being muscled out of a bid to export a kind of petroleum product that should not have been sold abroad in the first place! 

Also, the story is punctuated by and riddled with sweeping statements, over generalizations, unsubstantiated claims and speculations dressed up as facts and scoop.  Attributions were largely vague and sometimes dripping with mischief, leading one to an inevitable conclusion that the whole thing was a hatchet job.

For instance, the main meat of the story was that there were “behind-the-scene manoeuvres in which three bid-winning companies possibly took cues from NNPC insiders and decision makers,” in contravention of the Procurement Act. Surprisingly, there was no shred of evidence to support the allegation.   Interestingly, the first and second bid winners, who seem to have two directors in common (Premium Times failed to state what law this violates even though that is what its headline is all about) ended up not paying for the allocation and lost the bid, notwithstanding that they are export companies which Premium Times laboured to suggest that they have enormous financial and technical capacities.

Premium Times equally claimed that the sale of slop oil was “taboo transaction” and injurious to the economy, but did not so much as bother to find out who really authorized it and what benefits the country stands to gain from it.

Must we always insist on seeing things only from the negative lenses? Is it professional for a news medium to base its argument and arrive at a conclusion purely and exclusively on antecedent (as if things must always remain the way they are) and self-serving, skewed opinions of unnamed “industry stakeholders,” “industry watchers” and such nebulous individuals?

On the whole, the Premium Times treatment of this issue is yet another pointer to how vested interests can use the media to fight their own war. But much more than that, Premium Times really ought to have done better!

Muhammad Sani, writes from Guzape, Abuja

Youth Alliance Says Mele Kyari Can’t Be Distracted

 

The Integrity Youth Alliance has condemned the smear campaign against the unprecedented performance of the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mallam Mele Kolo Kyari

According to a press release on Monday, 13th September, 2021 in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the Alliance, Kelvin Adegbenga said that instead of saluting the efforts and performance of the NNPC Management team under Mele Kyari, some sponsored elements are busy dishing out unsubstantiated publication with no substances.

"One of the platforms used for this hatchet job is, unfortunately, the Premium Times, which used to be credible. But lately the paper is fast losing focus and credibility.

One solid evidence of this is the story on the sale of slop oil by the Port Harcourt Refinery.

The paper admitted its sloppiness by revealing that "it initially thought the company that won the bid was not registered with the CAC".

But when Premium Times realized its blunder, it created a phantom company with a similar name and said that was the ozone that was not registered"

Having failed in that concoction the paper then screamed that the companies that came "First and second belong to the same Directors"

How pathetic. How is owning more than one company in Nigeria a crime?

"For the fact that we have a former Chief of Staff, Late Abba Kyari; Super Cop DCP Abba Kyari and most outstanding NNPC GMD Mele Kolo Kyari having the same names, doesn’t mean they are the same person, the Group said.

Responding to the baseless allegation by Point Blank News, that the there is “orchestrated plot to loot $1.5 billion using the Turn Around Maintenance of the Port Harcourt Refinery, PHR, by the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mele Kyari, Managing Director, Port Harcourt Refinery, Ahmed Dikko, and some members of the Buhari cabal”, the Alliance said that due diligence was carried out in the public and Italy’s Maire Tecnimont was awarded the $1.5bn Engineering, Procurement and Construction, EPC, contract after meeting all the requirements and approval by the NNPC Tenders Board, President Buhari in his Executive capacity as Minister of Petroleum and the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

"The question we want to ask Point Blank News is: Have they visited the Port Harcourt Refinery to see that Maire Tecnimont is not carrying out the Engineering, Procurement and Construction?

"With the caliber of organisation and agencies set up to monitor the rehabilitation which include Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), ministry of finance, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), the two labour unions in the oil and gas industry – Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).among others, there is no way 'a huge chunk of the $1.5billion meant for the TAM of the Port Harcourt Refinery' will go for the 2023 general elections, the statement said.

On the allegation that Tecnimont is a 'little know' Italian Company, the statement said, "Tecnimont is an international leader in the field of plant engineering, rooted in the pioneering experience of Italian industrial technology shaping the new frontiers of Engineering Innovation. Tecnimont embody the contractor spirit of the Group in Engineering, Procurement & Construction of large scale projects worldwide.

"Since 1927, as engineering center of Italy’s chemical and energy conglomerates, and then as independent brand since 1973, Tecnimont long experience in managing complexity is complemented with a flexible business model ready to quickly adapt to market evolvement.

"The Point Blank News team should have visited the Refinery to monitor the rehabilitation that engaged over 3,000 employees with only 70 expatriates engaged instead of publishing a baseless hearsay.

“The EPC contractors are already on site, mobilized fully and working with the NNPC project management group. They have commenced all the activities, the statement said.

“Those making desperate effort distract the NNPC Management team under Mele Kyari have failed as transparency and accountability remained the cardinal pillars of his management.

“Mele Kyari has walked the transparency and accountability talk by opening up the books of the Corporation the way no other management before his has done.

“The key accomplishments in this regard include: The publication of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 Audited Financial Statements of the Corporation and its 19 subsidiaries registered under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 1990 as amended alongside that of the National Petroleum Investment and Management Services (NAPIMS) to provide clarity on Joint Venture finances.

“It is not surprising that no other credible media organization published the empty allegations as the Point Blank News and Premium Times are known for publications of unconfirmed news, the statement concluded.