…wants relocation of NNPCL, oil & gas regulatory agencies to south-south
Lagos—The Technical advisor on business development to Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Engr Elvis Donkemezuo has commended President Bola Tinubu’s proposed policy to relocate departments of some government institutions and agencies to their area of operations.
Donkemezuo who also doubles as Publicity Secretary of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) Yenagoa Branch said the policy is a step in the right direction aimed at making the affected institutions function more effectively.
He however urged President Tinubu to also relocate the headquarters of the NNPCL and oil & Gas regulatory commission to the south south including the downstream, midstream and upstream regulatory agencies of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Donkemezuo in a statement released to newsmen on Thursday argued that the move will ensure effective monitoring of the daily operations in crude oil production.
“I am certain that it will also ensure compliance and accountability in the oil and gas industry,” he added.
The Bayelsa Governor’s aide pointed out that the lack of on-ground monitoring has caused severe economic loss to the country through the menacing crude oil theft epidemic and production outflow inconsistencies.
Further giving credence to his argument, Donkemezuo noted that “In the UK, oil and gas companies and regulatory authorities are situated in Aberdeen—the Oil and Gas hub of Great Britain.
“The same obtains in the United States where the headquarters of oil firms are sited in the state of Texas which is the oil hub in the United States and not in the Capital city of Washington.”
He further took a swipe at those opposing the proposed move by the president, saying that institutions must be close to their operational bases for proper oversight and effectiveness.
