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Kachikwu vows to resign if Nigeria still imports fuel by 2019

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Kachikwu vows to resign if Nigeria still imports fuel by 2019

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, has vowed he is going to resign his position in 2019 should Nigeria continue to import oil by the time.

Kachikwu stated this on Monday during an interview on a BBC programme, Hardtalk, anchored by Stephen Sackur.

Sackur spoke with Kachikwu in a 23-minute encounter, as part of the BBC’s Trading Fortunes season which focuses on global trade.

Sackur, during the interview, reminded the minister how it seemed Nigeria has turned a corner when President Muhammadu Buhari won the Nigerian presidency in 2015.

Noting that the election was the first ever peaceful, democratic transition that brought with it a promise of cleaner, better governance, and major economic reform, Sackur asked Kachikwu, “Two years on, how has it gone? Can oil-dependent Nigeria transform itself into a modern trading economy? Nigeria remains dangerously over-reliant on oil…?”

Replying Kachikwu answered, “Oh, yes, clearly over-reliant, but whether that is dangerous… I look at the positive side of oil also in terms of what it’s done to a country over the years. But when the price slumps, it’s dangerous.

“But we’ll love to see a lot more diversification, a lot more efforts going into agriculture, emphasis on tourism and services…”

After the minister was reminded that despite Nigeria’s growing reputation as a rising global economic power, it has entered a recession, Kachikwu responded that the numbers are actually getting better.

Replying Sackur’s question on when Nigeria would become self-sufficient in terms of refined petroleum?, Kachikwu said, “2019 is the target time, I target 2019. If I don’t achieve it, I will walk (resign). I put the date and I’ll achieve it.

Read also: Those who want Buhari dead hired marabouts and bishops to perfect their plans –Buhari’s aide reveals

“I have delivered on all that I have promised when I came into office. First, I took Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and made it a profit-making organisation. This is the first time such is happening. I reshaped the organisation.

“I removed cash call deficits of over $6billion and renegotiated it. I will deliver on the refineries and I’m committed to it. I will deliver a future for oil that makes sense for Nigeria.

“I can’t pretend that we’re going to solve in one day all the problems that happened in Nigeria in the past…”

Reminded by his interviewer that the government is running out of time, the minister replied again, “Don’t worry; I put the date, I’ll work it,”

Asked what happens in a case he fails to achieve it, Kachikwu insists, “I’ll walk. That’s accountability.”

Meanwhile, Sackur earlier asked Kachikwu if he knew the state of Buhari’s health, if he had seen him or heard anything about him, to which Kachikwu responded, “Well, he is in London; he’s undergoing hospital treatment. I don’t know the details of that. I obviously wouldn’t know. But let me say this… he’s back in London, he’s continued some levels of meetings… He has a very efficient vice-president who is sitting in for him in his absence…”

 

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