Journalists in Akwa Ibom State have identified reactionary information sharing and management approach by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, as reason for negative perception of the company by Nigerians and called for a more proactive approach in information sharing.
They described NNPC as a child of circumstance, taking bullets from Nigerians for other government agencies because of lack of information.
Journalists, drawn from different media houses in the state and national correspondent, made this known in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom during a media roundtable at AKMAG hostel on Tuesday, September19, 2024.
Setting the floor opened, Head of NNPCL media team, Solomon Oseagah said he was in the state capital to draw a line between fact and fiction regarding what people think NNPC is and what the company stands for.
He said it was wrong for people to conclude that NNPCL was the cause of hike in the price of petrol, adding that the company, though owned by government, is a limited liability like other key players in the sector, and does not have power to detect for Nigerians prices of petroleum products.
“The issue is all about energy sector and correcting the negative perception about the NNPCL. There is a body regulating NNPCL. NNPCL is not responsible for fuel hike or scarcity in the country.
“We are here to build relationship with Akwa Ibom journalists. We are not here to say the NNPCL is right or wrong but we must separate the truth from fiction; which is what people think NNPC is versus what it is,” Oseagah said.
The media roundtable which was interactive, afforded opportunity for both national and state-based journalists to clarify the responsibility of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA); Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA); Petroleum Equalization Fund (Management) Board (PEFMB), and the midstream and the downstream division of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
The highpoint of the media parley was an advocacy for NNPCL to sponsor journalists on training in Energy reporting.
