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Outgoing minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani Alison-Madueke, has said that said those angling for her exclusion in the next cabinet are doing so because she has created a transparent process and level playing field that has denied them the opportunity tocontinue ‘business as usual’ in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

 

She dismissed them as those simply afraid of President Goodluck Jonathan’s reform agenda in the oil and gas sector of the economy.

 

Fielding questions from our correspondent, against the backdrop of criticism mounting against her nomination as a minister in the next dispensation, Alison-Madueke insisted that there is no going back on ongoing reforms of the sector by Mr. President.

 

“They are fighting President Jonathan because since assuming duties as president of this country he has taken the uncharacteristic step to break the cartel in the petroleum sector that had almost strangulated the economy for over a decade. That is why the frenzied and sudden campaign of calumny by the cartel, all in a bid to deter me from carrying out Mr. President’s reform agenda,” Alison-Madueke stated.

 

She said never again will Nigerians and the government allow the return of the age-long cartel in the country’s oil and gas sector which, has before now deprived millions of Nigerians the benefits of adequate and regular supply of petroleum products across the country.

 

While she remains concerned by the activities of those who are bent on frustrating ongoing reforms of the sector, the minister maintained that despite the unjustified criticism and unfounded allegations against her, her greatest joy since she came on board as minister of petroleum resources is that, “a vast majority of Nigerians are happy with President Jonathan for the far reaching decisions the government has taken to stabilize the sector”.

 

According to her, “this explains why they voted massively for Mr. President in the just concluded general election”, stating that the ministry under her leadership has performed well in the up and down stream sector of the economy.

 

She noted that those fighting her in the media “were doing so because we have been able to frustrate their efforts in strangulating the economy through their devilish black market and questionable profiteering at the expense of the Nigeria people.   “I would not want to join issues with those criticizing me because they are crying foul that through us Mr. President has broken the old order where the common man had to spend nights on queues in petrol stations and pay higher prices for products.  We have also ensured that the business in the entire oil and gas industry of the economy is no longer business as usual. They can no longer undermine government's good intentions for the sector and cause untold hardship for millions of our people,” she said adding that the ministry under her leadership has also initiated a 24-months rehabilitation programme for the three refineries in the country, following Mr. President’s directive.

 

She maintained that this was the first time the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, “is undertaking such gigantic and extensive rehabilitation project without asking the Federal Government for funds."

 

The minister said “once the comprehensive rehabilitation of the refineries is completed, the country will considerably reduce importation of PMS (Petrol) and become self-sufficient in kerosene and diesel production, thus ending the long years of sufferings of the ordinary Nigerian”.

 

She stated further that President Jonathan last month launched a gas revolution that will create over one million jobs for Nigerians and also open up the economy in the areas of fertilizer blending and production of other petrochemical products in the country.

 

She also spoke on the ministry’s efforts in pushing for the passage of the local content bill and the ongoing Petroleum Industry bill, stressing that, “we are doing everything possible to ensure that the bill is passed into law before the end of the sixth National Assembly”.

 

“We have done all these things for the interests of Nigerians and Mr. President has been very supportive of our programme and we are working hard to ensure that we do not disappoint Nigerians,” she said.

 

A senior industry source that also spoke to our correspondent on the issue said her effort in dismantling cartel in the chain of distribution and supply of petroleum products in the country is commendable.

 

“With the passage into law and efficient implementation of the Nigerian Content Bill, it is evident that out of the approximately US$20 billion annual spend in the petroleum sector of the economy, about 45 per cent retention in the country has now become achievable. It is the passion and the efforts of the Minister that saw the passage of the law and this effort is worth commending”.

 

Industry expert who spoke to our correspondent, on the condition of anonymity agreed with the Honourable minister that “before now, investments in the gas sector was considered as very unrewarding but since the current minister assumed duties, she has reversed the fortune. Before now, it was inappropriate pricing that has been the bane of the industry but with her efforts, Nigeria has been able to put in place an appropriate fiscal system and commercial framework that has encouraged upstream and midstream investors to start investing in the sector”.   The source stated further that “the new gas pricing is projected to gradually increased from $1 per 1000 standard cubic feet (scf) of gas to $2.5 in the next two years and this has spurred investment in the natural gas resource development. This has also reassured manufacturers of access to clean and affordable fuel for their industries.”

 

The new investment in natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the source said “is going to displace and replace kerosene, diesel and fuel oil as preferred fuel for home cooking and the industry because it is cleaner and cheaper,” stressing that “gas revolution is one major step in re-industrialization of the nation. It has the capacity to create job across the country”.

However, a petroleum lawyer, who is privy to happenings within the industry aver that contrary to Dezeani Allison-Madueke`s claims, her arrogance may be her greatest undoing. It has caused her to be excluded from the list of ministerial nominees from her state.

Who gets ministerial appointment is the exclusive privilege of President Goodluck Jonathan, the source added.

Moreover, Section147, subsection (2) of the Nigerian constitution, declares that any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President”.

The lawyer further stated:

Also, the preceding subsection (1) is very clear on this matter, it states “that there shall be such offices of Ministers of the Government of the Federation as may be established by the President”.