I don't have presidential mandate to privatise refineries – Kachikwu

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Ibe Kachikwu,  said President Muhammadu Buhari did not  give him  any  mandate to privatise the three refineries in the country.

The minister disclosed this yesterday  at  the official presentation of  International Standard Organisation (ISO) 9001: 2008 certificate to the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Eleme, Rivers State, by Buratia Veritas of  France.

He reiterated that there was no plan to sell the refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna. Kachikwu also said the president only gave approval  for investors to invest in the refineries, by providing funds  to enable them operate.

The minister commended the management and staff  of PHRC for being certified by Bureau Veritas of  France, thereby, making history as the first indigenous refinery in Africa to be so certified.

Dr. Kachikwu, who was represented  by the Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer,  Refineries, Mr. Anibor Kragba commended the staff for the certificate. He urged  them re-double their efforts to surpass  current achievements and added, 'I see agents of change.'

Earlier, in his  address, Managing Director of the refinery, Dr. Bafred Audu Enjugu, commended the entire workforce for  their steadfastness and sacrifice in ensuring that the company carried on, even in the face of teething challenges.

Dr. Enjugu also commended contractors for  doing business with the company and not backing out, despite that they were being owed by the company.

He also commended President Buhari  for favouring  local refining of  crude oil and described the certification as the beginning of a journey.

'Our focus is to satisfy our customers, not to sit back and wait for complaints from our customers. We need to go out,  to know how customers feel,' he said. - The Sun.