NNPC gets recognition for transparency, Kyari promises new heights

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has been named the ‘Government Agency of the Year 2020 (Transparency)’ by the New Telegraph Newspaper, in recognition of the efforts of the Mallam Mele Kyari-led management to entrench the culture of transparency in the system.

The award was presented on Tuesday in Abuja by the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of New Telegraph, Mr Ayodele Aminu, the NNPC said in a statement on Wednesday.

Aminu was quoted as saying that the emergence of the NNPC as the most transparent government agency in 2020 was based on the corporation’s recent openness and accountability to the public.

He noted that the noticeable efforts to deepen transparency in the NNPC as evidenced by the publication of its 2018 and 2019 audited financial statements was a major factor in considering the corporation for the award by the management and board of the New Telegraph.   

“Before now, the accounts of the NNPC had been shrouded in secrecy. But Mele Kyari was brave enough to say this is the way we are and let the public see that there is nothing hidden,” the newspaper boss said.

The Group Managing Director, NNPC, Kyari, said the corporation had since realised that it pays to be transparent and accountable at all times.

He reiterated the management’s resolve to drive the corporation along the line of Transparency, Accountability and Perfomance Excellence agenda, noting that the media interest in the activities of the corporation and the oil and gas sector was a welcome development.

Kyari said given the value of the award, he would do more to justify the trust.

“This award would be a major impetus towards our unflinching efforts to change the narrative around the NNPC brand, and will surely imbue us to take the transparency drive to new and enviable heights,” he said.