TheCable

The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) says the reorganisation of its management structure is in line with the federal government’s aspirations for the oil and gas industry.

The agency also said the move was to ensure the delivery of its regulatory mandate.

In March, the DPR had asked some deputy directors across several units to proceed on compulsory retirement with immediate effect.

The agency proceeded to appoint new persons to fill the vacant positions in the regulatory agency.

According to Daily Trust, President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the DPR to immediately recall 11 deputy directors who were compulsorily retired in March.

This followed a petition by the affected directors seeking president’s intervention over their retirement on grounds of “incompetence and disloyalty”. 

The directors involved in the issue included M.M. Zagi, Sani Hassan, A.Buba, E.Amadasu, A.R.Shakur, U.B. Nkanda and M.A. Alaku.

Others are A.E.Antaih, Bassey Nkanga, Isa Tafida and J.M.Ajewole.

But in a statement on Monday, Paul Osu, DPR’s head of public affairs, said the reorganisation followed the appointment of Sarki Auwalu as DPR director by President Muhammadu Buhari, who gave him (Auwalu) the approval to reorganise the agency.

He said the restructuring process necessitated the retirement of some management staff to pave the way for smooth implementation of the exercise.

Osu added that it led to the realignment of job functions, creation of new strategic business units, as well as promotion of deserving staff to various positions.

“The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) wishes to reiterate that following the appointment of a substantive Director/CEO, Engr. Sarki Auwalu, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria/Honorable Minister for Petroleum Resources, Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the corporate reorganisation of DPR to align with the government’s aspirations for the oil and gas industry and to ensure delivery of its regulatory mandate,” the statement reads.

According to Osu, the reorganisation has brought a new lease to the affairs of the agency given the successes recorded in the entire oil and gas industry value chain.

“These include the successful conclusion of the marginal field bid round award program after eighteen years wait, the inauguration of the National Oil and gas excellence centre (NOGEC), a centre designed as a one-stop-shop to create value, safety and cost efficiency for the oil and gas industry, conclusion of first of its kind Nigeria Gas flare Commercialization program ( NGFCP), a program to commercialise gas flare and protect the environment amongst others,” the statement further reads.

“The reorganisation has most importantly created industrial harmony, which has ensured oil and gas business sustainability.”