The federal government yesterday gave the Mallam Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force 60 days to sanitise oil deals in the upstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry.
This was among the terms of reference given to the task force by the minister of petroleum resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, during the official inauguration of the task force in Abuja.
Other terms of reference given the team led by the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) include working with consultants and experts to determine and verify all petroleum upstream and downstream revenues, taxes, royalties, etc., due and payable to the government, and take all necessary steps to collect all the debts.
It is also to obtain agreements and enforce payment terms by all oil industry operators, design a cross-debt matrix between all agencies and parastatals of the petroleum? ministry and develop an automated platform to enable effective tracking, monitoring, and online validation of income and debt drivers of all of the ministries parastatals and agencies.
The team is also to work with world-class consultants to integrate systems and technology across the production chain to determine and monitor crude oil production and exports and ensure, at all times, the integrity of payments to government as well as submit monthly reports and other reports as necessary for ministerial review and further action.
“We are very mindful that, over the years, several panels and committees have been set up to reform the petroleum industry and, over the years, many of these efforts have been stalled. The time to break these entrenched interests is now,” she noted.
In his response, Ribadu, who read the riot act to players in the oil industry, assured Nigerians that it would no longer be business as usual in the sector.
Ribadu also expressed regrets that the oil sector, which is the lifeblow of the nation, had been characterised by so much waste.
He said: “The sector has been the basis of so much waste. If you ask the average Nigerian on his assessment of the conduct of the oil and gas industry, many will put it to between poor and appalling.”
Assuring Nigerians that the task force would do a diligent work, he said “those who play by the rules will enjoy all the best support but the unscrupulous players will get a red card announcement that the game is finally over”.
He said: “The truth is that Nigeria is today at a crossroads. In the effort to reinvent our country, we must reach to the elevated moral standard that brings value to our people. Citizens desire nothing but to see a Nigeria defined by high ethics and noble norms.”
Other members of the task force are Mr. Steven Oronsaye, vice chairman; Mallam Abba Kyari, Ms. Benedicta Molokwu, Mr. Tony Idigbe (SAN), Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), Anthony George-Ikoli (SAN), Mr. Supo Sasore (SAN), Dr. (Mrs) Omalara Akanji, Prof. Olusegun Okunnu, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, Mr. B.O.N Otti, Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, Mallam Samaila Zubairu and Mr. Ignatius Adegunle.
Ex-officio members will comprise a representative each of the Ministry of Finance, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation(AGF), Office of the Accountant General of the Federation, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).