Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari, has claimed that the country is experiencing low investments because some citizens are paid to de-market the country and discourage investors.
Kyari said: “We do not promote our country in a manner that will encourage investors. It is a huge cultural challenge. The reality is that people are paid to do this.”
Kyari made the claim, yesterday, while speaking as a guest lecturer at the Faculty of Science 2024 Lecture of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Kyari spoke on the topic, “Energy Security, Sustainability and Profitability in Nigeria: Advances, Challenges and Opportunity.”
He lamented that 75 per cent of Nigerians does not have access to clean cooking fuel, while about 50 per cent does not have access to electricity.
Kyari said: “About 75 per cent of the country doesn’t have access to clean cooking fuel. People depend on charcoal, pulling down trees and burning them, because they don’t have a choice. About 50 per cent does not have access to electricity in Nigeria. Until we close this gap, we can’t talk about sustainability.”
The Dean, Faculty of Science, OAU, Prof. Olufemi Adesina, said the faculty, through the Centre of Excellence for Combined Energy Smart Innovations and Technologies (CoE-CESIT), sought to attract and develop expertise in emerging areas of energy science and technology research relevant to addressing both industry and educational needs.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Adebayo Bamire, stated that the CoE-CESIT intends to be on the leading edge of new smart petroleum and energy systems technology and offer a wide array of resources to the country, including training opportunities, cutting-edge research, commercialisation, development-based research, through industrial partnership.
