Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, asserted that NNPC personnel are not involved in the importation of substandard petroleum products into Nigeria.
Kyari made this statement on Wednesday in Abuja while appearing before an ad-hoc committee led by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, which is investigating alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry.
Kyari addressed accusations suggesting that NNPC is undermining the nation’s economy, stating that he has been unfairly targeted by the media. “As the GCEO of NNPC, I have endured baseless media attacks aimed at portraying NNPCL as sabotaging the economy,” he said.
Emphasizing the integrity of the company, Kyari declared, “We are not criminals and we are not thieves. We will protect our dignity so we can serve this country faithfully.”
Kyari also highlighted the ongoing challenges within the oil and gas sector, mentioning that while he is aware of certain critical issues, he cannot discuss them publicly until the appropriate time.
He requested that future committee sessions be broadcast live to ensure transparency and allow all Nigerians to follow the proceedings.