President Muhammadu Buhari Sunday in New York restated his determination
to fully sanitize Nigeria’s oil industry and make it totally free of
corruption and shady deals.
Speaking at a meeting with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the
70th General Assembly of the United Nations, President Buhari said that a
necessary first step in this direction had already been taken with the
appointment of a new management for the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation (NNPC) and its subsequent reorganisation .
The President said that the prosecution of those who misappropriated the
NNPC’s revenue under past administrations will soon commence.
President Buhari thanked President Xi Jinping for China’s ongoing help in
curbing crude oil theft from Nigeria.
The President applauded China’s interception of shiploads of crude oil
stolen from Nigeria, and which were to be sold and proceeds paid into
private accounts.
“We know your stand on corruption, and we are grateful. Your continued
cooperation in curbing oil theft from Nigeria will be appreciated,”
President Buhari told the Chinese leader.
He also assured President Xi Jinping that under its new leadership, the
Nigerian military had been re-trained and re-equipped, and was now making
steady gains against Boko Haram.
President Jinping told President Buhari that China, which is already
involved in Nigeria in diverse areas like railway, airports, agriculture,
and in the Mambilla Hydro-power project, among others, will increase its
investment in the country’s agricultural sector to support the achievement
of domestic food security.
He also promise further Chinese investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas
industry, and more support for human capital development in the country.