Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has described as cheering the increased production of crude oil by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
This comes as the NNPCL announced on Thursday that it has reached the mark of 1.8 million barrels per day of crude oil production.
It said it would hit the two million barrels per day target set by President Bola Tinubu by December 2024.
Also within the week, the NNPCL announced key leadership appointments, as it named Adedapo Segun its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
Similarly, the state-owned oil firm also announced Mr. Isiyaku Abdullahi as the Executive Vice President (EVP), Downstream, and the appointment of Mr. Udobong Ntia as the Executive Vice President (EVP), Upstream.
Reacting to the developments, the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike said the key progress being made by the company showed that there was hope at the end of the tunnel.
Okwu, while describing the 1.8 million barrel production as a phenomenal achievement, hailed both the NNPCL management led by Mele Kyari and security agents for the collaboration and dedication that led to the achievement.
He said, “We are greatly delighted that the nation is on the steady march to progress and a total revamp of the economy with this latest feat by the NNPCL.
“The Ohanaeze Youth Council Worldwide lauds the leadership being provided by Chief Mele Kyari, which led to this heart warming achievement.
“Judging by where we are coming from, where our production capacity went far below, it is no mean feat that the country now boasts of 1.8 million barrels per day.
“The NNPCL under Kyari has done well and should be supported by all well meaning Nigerians to sustain this progress.
“Also to be noted is the ongoing overhaul of some key positions within the NNPCL. This is also a step in the right direction.
“We urge Kyari to ensure that this is sustained, in such a way that only people with capacity to match the ongoing giant strides should be retained.”
The Ohanaeze youths, however, urged Kyari to further look into the NNPCL pricing template in order to ameliorate the sufferings of Nigerians.
“While we appreciate his achievements and the gains recorded under Kyari’s leadership, we urge him to ensure that the price of petrol is reviewed downwards.
“Nigerians are going through a lot and only a downward review of petrol price will bring immediate relief,” Okwu advocated.