The Mayor of Urhoboland, Eshanekpe Israel, aka Akpodoro has berated those attacking  Chief Group Executive Officer, (CGEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL), Mele Kyari over

 the pause in Port Harcourt refinery loading of petroleum produts.

Akpodoro who is the head of the Association of Urhobo Mayoral Family Crown, (AUMFC) said critics are either ignorant or hasty in their knocks on the management of the NNPCL or are deliberately mischievious and chose to remain blind to the processes involved in kickstarting a newly rehabilitated plant that was shut down since 2019.

In a statement Monday, he noted that well-meaning Nigerians who are knowledgeable know that there are procedures for opening an abandoned plant. “Opening such a plant must follow a full process of emptying the ‘dead products’ and clean the plant before new liquid is pumped into it to avoid sediments and other impurities therein but for deliberate misunderstanding of the process, some were in a haste to blackmail the system particularly the Kyari-led NNPCL,” he said.

He stated that soon the Port Harcourt refinery will commence full operations while others like the Warri Petrochemical Company Limited, will commence operations also.

He recalled that the refinery in Port Harcourt, which was a 65,000 barrel/day plant, has been expanded with an increased capacity of 150,000 barrels/day. “The NNPCL did a test run of the facility last week, followed by the cleaning of the plant preparatory for full operation,” he said.

Some persons, according to the Mayor, have found occupation in calling out Kyari’s management out at every given opportunity without any proof of wrongdoing.

“For us, we are solidly behind the efforts being made by the current administration to revamp our moribund refineries, and we expect a glut of the Petroleum products soon in the country. We encourage the administration of the government of Nigeria in all its efforts to renew the hope of Nigerians.

“We support the ongoing efforts at reforming the country’s tax administration that I have seen will bring succour to the masses. I commend President Bola Tinubu, who is working round the clock to reposition the nation’s economy even though some recalcitrants are bent on scuttling the novel ideas of a new tax regime. I have studied the tax reform bill and concluded that it is the way to go at this time of our national rebirth. This administration means well, and it is the best thing to happen to our nation since independence. Our value system as a people paticularly that of dependent on government for everything without contributing to the growth and development of our country is gradually being eroded. No more waste, Nigerians are being taught by our economic realities to live within their means and work harder to face the realities of austerity measure. It is the best,” he said.