PIA: NNPC will cease to exist within six months, says Mele Kyari

The federal government says the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) will cease to exist within the next six months as specified by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Speaking with Arise TV on Monday, Mele Kyari, group managing director of NNPC, said the national oil company would be transformed into a private company that would pay taxes and dividends to its shareholders.

He said the new company would be incorporated under the Company Allied Matters Act (CAMA).

On Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari signed the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law .

Kyari explained that all liabilities and assets of the NNPC will be transferred to the new company.

He noted that some toxic assets may be excluded.

“Coming back to the NNPC, the provision of the law clearly states that the corporation will be transformed into a CAMA company. This meaning of this is that the company will just be another privately owned company, in a sense,” Kyari said.

“This company will pay taxes, royalties and dividends to its shareholders. This isn’t the situation today because the corporation has no such obligation. This has stalled its development, its growth and its prosperity.

“According to the new Petroleum Industry Act, a new company will be incorporated within six months . That means all assets and liabilities of the NNPC will be transferred to the new company.

“Not all of them, by the way. The bill is very clear. Some toxic assets of the corporation may not be transferred. The federation or shareholders can decide to keep some of the assets and leave some with the corporation.

“Therefore, you are going to have a much more efficient, much more slimmer, much more commercial national oil company.”