The Minister of Petroleum Resources Ibe Kachikwu, has frowned at leakage of a Confidential Memo he sent to President Muhammadu Buhari to the media.
According to a statement by Director of Press in the ministry, Idang Alibi, the communication under reference is a normal procedural correspondence by the Minister to the President relating to developments in parastatals under his supervision.
Prompt News reports that the Mr. Kachikwu, in the confidential memo in question had accused the Group Managing Director, GMD, of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, of insubordination in the last one year.
In the memo, he specifically referred to the recent appointment of key officers in the NNPC, which he said was without his knowledge as the chairman of the NNPC Board.
Thus, in his reaction to the leakage of the confidential memo to the media, the MInister said:
“It is most distressing to the ministry of petroleum resources that a confidential communication to the President on the performance of one of its parastatals can be made public.
“The focus of the communication was on improving efficiency and deepening transparency in the oil and gas sector for continued investor confidence.
“It is noteworthy that the President has been fully supportive of the efforts of the Ministry to entrench good governance and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
“The Ministry of Petroleum Resources remains focused on achieving measurable progress in the implementation of the ongoing oil sector reforms in line with the mandate of the President.”
