2023: I’ll name, shame oil thieves if elected – Atiku

There will no longer be a hiding place for oil thieves and their accomplices, no matter how highly placed in the country if the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) takes power next year. This was the pledge of the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar when he interacted with a broad spectrum of corporate Nigeria under the aegis of the Business Dialogue Stakeholders Forum at the Eko Hotel in Lagos on Saturday.

Doyens of the industry at the session were Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Jim Ovia, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu, Herbert Wigwe, Muhammad Hayatudeen, among others.

Atiku also said he would, in the interest of national development, confiscate all oil bloc allocated to some Nigerians who have failed to make them operational.

The former vice president, who promised to sustain frequent interactive sessions between government and the country’s business class when voted to power, equally outlined the ways he would tackle what he described as an ailing economy.

On his plans to boost the oil and gas sector, Atiku recalled that under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the quota of oil production was earmarked for an increase to four million barrels per day.

That plan, he explained, would be resuscitated and sustained beyond the projected figure when he is voted into office next year, pointing out that in order to do this successfully, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and any other enabling law would be invoked.

“When we were in government we started this process. However, there were hiccups. We were unable to pass the legislation to encourage IOCs to partake in the sector. We will go back to where we started,” he said.

He added that the Brass and Olokola LNG projects started under the Obasanjo administration would be given more attention under him.

“We will continue if we have the opportunity. As you know, joint ventures are good because they are investor-driven,” he said.

He reiterated his commitment to privatise the refineries in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri, saying: “I swear to God, I’ will privatise them.”

Turning to fiscal challenges of forex, monetary policy and the N20trillion way and means balance facing the country, Atiku said, “I believe we should have a forex policy that allows a convergence. I don’t believe in a multiple forex policy that currently applies.”

According to him, the monetary policy would be such that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would be independent.

“Monetary policy and other related items would be liberalised. Without prize stability, the economy does not work for anyone; and job creation and poverty eradication cannot be attained,” he said.