Kyari Deserves Our Standing Ovation -By Adewole Kehinde

“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today” -St Francis of Assisi.

Petroleum is a vital source of energy and essential raw material in the manufacturing process all over the world. Nigeria’s demand for refined petroleum products has outgrown the nation’s supply because of growth in population and socio-economic activities.

Every aspect of life in Nigeria is connected and dependent on happenings in the oil and gas sector; Electricity generation and transportation rely exclusively on diesel and petrol products, which drive the Nigerian economy.

The Nigerian passenger system depends on the road system, which consumes a high quantity of petroleum products. In Nigeria, oil consumption by the transportation sector accounts for 80% of total petroleum products. Road transport dominates over 90% of all transport in terms of kilometer coverage

The recent recall of adulterated fuel across the country took effect on supply the supply chains thereby causing shortage in supply of Petroleum Motor Spirit otherwise known as Petrol.

It is on record that for the past three years, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mal Mele Kyari has put an end to long queues in our filling stations and all the festive period within the three years has never experienced a shortage of Petroleum Motor Spirit.

How did he succeed in ensuring that Nigerians enjoy an adequate supply of Petroleum Motor Spirit across the country? Well since he assumed office, he had taken calculated steps to ensure more openness in the activities of the Corporation and, the Transparency, Accountability, and Performance Excellence (TAPE) agenda has brought about greater transparency and accountability in NNPC’s management of Nigerian oil and gas revenues to date.

On resuming office he had to face many challenges ranging from a shortage of PMS, scarcity, hiked pricing and adulteration, product diversion, hoarding at retail outlets, pipeline vandalism, and cross-border smuggling to neighboring countries among others.

The TAPE Agenda has ensured that both management and operations staff carry out their duties with the highest level of ethical standards to break away from the old perception of the Company as a center of sleaze.

Let me, first of all, commend the most transparent and accountable CEO of NNPC Limited for his bold actions. This is the first time an institution of our Government has come out transparently and boldly, to admit to a lapse or failure in its management procedure.

Like in the words of Peter Drucker, “Effective leadership is not about making speeches or being liked; leadership is defined by results not attributes,” Kyari has gone further to apologize to the Nigerian public which is an innovative dimension in the Nigeria government’s attitude to such lapses on such issues.

His action has indicated that there is hope for a better future after all.

I am sure that for the past one week, Mal Mele Kyari had not slept for 6 hours daily aside from directing Oil Marketing Companies to sustain sufficient distribution of Petrol in all retail outlets nationwide.

He has been visiting the depots to ensure adequate supply is sustained. I was to see him at one of the depots saying “as I speak to you at this moment, loading has commenced in all depots in the country, dispatches of trucks are ongoing in all the depots in the country.” That is a man that matches his words with actions.

He has assured Nigerians of over 300 million liters of Petroleum Moto Spirits which has replaced the 100 million liters recalled and more of the product is expected to arrive into the country daily over the coming weeks and months.

Mall Mele Kyari deserves Nigerians standing ovation for sustaining an adequate supply of Petroleum products for the past 3 years without major interruption thereby eliminating incidents of scarcity.

I must commend the role of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in supporting Mal Mele Kyari and his management team in sustaining an adequate supply of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as Petrol.

Nigerians must start supporting leadership that is as transparent and accountable as the present leadership at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited as it is recorded that Mal Mele Kyari is the first GMD to have accepted lapses and immediately took adequate steps in correcting the anomalies.

On behalf of a progressive mind like mine, I am extending our sincere appreciation to Mal Mele Kyari and his management team for sustaining an uninterrupted supply of Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as Petrol.

I will conclude this write-up with the wise words of Douglas MacArthur “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent”.

Adewole Kehinde is the Publisher of Swift Reporters and can be reached via 08166240846, 08123608662