The Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Mele Kyari, on Wednesday, opened up on threats to his life.
He said he was receiving death threats following since his team commenced the implementation of reforms in the NNPC.
Kyari disclosed this in Abuja at the Legislative Transparency and Accountability summit organised by the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption.
The NNPC GMD said the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act had ruffled some people and the changes are affecting the old order.
“Without mincing words, I want to say that this industry is on a threshold of change, there is massive change going on and it is very expensive and of the personal cost to many people including myself.
“There is a threat to life, I can say this, I have several death threats but we are not bothered about this, we believe that no one dies unless it is his time.
“But this is the cost of change, when people move away from what they are used to something new that will take away value and benefit from them, they will react.
“That reaction is benefits to all of us and we will work together to make sure it works out,“ he said.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, said that over six decades, the oil and gas industry has played a critical role in the economy of Nigeria.
He said that the industry has provided millions of jobs, directly and indirectly, adding that income from the oil and gas sector has funded the administration of government to the tune of hundreds of billions of dollars over the years.
According to him, “we are living in a world made possible by income from oil and gas and the fossil fuel industry.”
He, however, said that the world is changing towards a future where the economic value of oil and gas is far diminished from what it used to be.
“Amid this evolving paradigm, the oil and gas industry still faces unique challenges here at home. Due to theft and various acts of economic sabotage, we are experiencing a massive decline in crude oil production and export volume.
“Our country is the victim of bad actors determined to achieve great personal wealth at our collective expense.
“At a time of severe financial constraints, the perpetrators of this brazen heist threaten our ability to meet the demands of governance and nation-building.
“Their actions effectively amount to treason against our country, for which they must be held accountable,” he said.
