Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry Plagued by Deeper Structural Issues, Says Veteran Journalist

A prominent Nigerian journalist, Dr. Reuben Abati, has dismissed calls by some members of the House of Representatives to sack the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), Mallam Mele Kyari. According to Abati, the problems plaguing the Nigerian oil and gas industry are not the result of one individual, but rather the consequence of deeper structural issues that have been ignored for decades.

Abati, a veteran journalist and former Senior Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan, made this statement during an interview on Monday. He emphasized that the sector’s problems are not solely the responsibility of Kyari, but rather a result of the country’s leadership and governance issues.

"I think the bigger story is that we have seen some people in the media saying Kyari is the problem with the Nigeria Oil and Gas industry. We have seen people put up an advertisement for and against the sack of Mele Kyari. No, Mele Kyari is not the problem," Abati said.

The veteran journalist criticized the advertisements by a fragment of House of Representatives members clamoring for Kyari’s sack, saying it is an unfair and unreasonable way to address the problems plaguing the industry. He argued that the focus should be on addressing the systemic issues rather than blaming individuals.

"What Kyari, in my own understanding, is trying to do is to make an effort to solve the problem. But to assume that one man is the cause of the problem will be very unfair, wrong and unreasonable way to go," Abati said.

Abati also emphasized that the way Nigeria has run its affairs is the problem, not Kyari. He stressed that leadership is what is required to address the issues plaguing the oil and gas industry, not crucifying an individual.

"So, the members of the National Assembly who are saying they want to take Kyari’s head, no, they have their own heads in the wrong place. He is not the cause of the problem," Abati added.

The ball, according to Abati, is now in the court of the leaders to address the systemic issues plaguing the oil and gas industry.