Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, industry, Mines and Agriculture, (PHCCIMA) has frowned at the depth of colossal corruption in the nation’s oil sector.
President of the body, Dr. Vincent Furo made this position known while speaking to newsmen at his office. He said the rot in the industry has made it virtually impossible for the country to attain its full and enviable potential as the world eight biggest producer of crude oil. Furo noted thatNigeriahas nothing to show for its massive oil production due to recalcitrant corruption in the sector and lack of political will by government to pursue vigorously measures that will address corruption in the industry.
“If you want my sincere advice, I think NNPC should be totally reorganized and replaced with an entirely new man power that is committed and result oriented to operate the national corporation”, the PHCCIMA boss was quoted as saying. He maintained that with reviewed copies of investigation showing billions of dollars missing fromNigeria’s oil revenue as a result of huge discrepancy and irregularities in NNPC, every right thinking Nigerian would agree that the best option is total reorganization where fresh and transparent individuals will be brought in to run NNPC.
According to him, NNPC is too large and stenches with corruption as a result of fraudulent activities between the corporation and multinational companies in the country.
“Where is patriotism and national conscience”, he asked, expressing regrets that a manager in NNPC entrusted with the job of monitoring the quantity of oil loaded for distribution, shows little or no concern about actual figures but rather sits at the comfort of his office and waits for a fat envelope to be sent to him by his cohorts in corruption. “It is high time government and relevant authorities wake up from its slumber and ensure that no one is left in a position unmonitored for a longer period to reduce the debilitating effect of corruption in our oil sector.
The PHCCIMA helmsman also decried the fact that some NNPC managers are richer than states in the country, stressing that the trend must be brought to a halt. He reiterated the need for us to take a queue from advanced countries where refined systems that monitors and assesses productivity in staffs are put in place to ensure no one remains in a position arbitrarily.
According to him it is only in this country that an individual occupies an office for donkey years and continuously reduces his/her age to avert retrenchment and to perpetually remain in office to benefit from embezzlement.
He therefore urged the federal government to wade into the unwholesome activities of civil servants inn the country by setting up private agencies who will monitor the conduct of managers as well as to receive constant reports of proceedings accruing from oil, instead of allowing for a longer un-audited account that will linger and accumulate for as much as a quarter of the year or more.
“Government must take forceful measures to ensure that all money embezzled from the coffers of government are refunded and recovered to the last kobo, even if it means taken possession of properties of such individuals before sending them to jail with hard labour to serve as deterrent to others.
On the role of the judiciary in administering justice to corruption charges in the oil sector,, he emphasized the need for the judicial system to be up and doing in their responsibilities through ensuring that corrupt individuals are giving the punishment they deserve for defrauding and embezzling the country to serve as restraint.
