Posted on: 05:52 Mon, 15 Feb 2016



Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr
Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday said that although his
former job was more rewarding financially, he
decided to serve Nigeria for the love of his
fatherland.

Speaking in Abuja, Kachikwu who is also the
Group Managing Director, Nigeria National
Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), revealed that
his acceptance to serve the country cost him
“at least a million dollars every year.”

According to him, all hands must be on deck to
build enduring institutions that would secure
the future of the country and improve on the
standard of living of Nigerians.

“I believe that this country needs help. I believe
that it is about time we began to perform for
the young and upcoming. I believe that the
sheer capacity of this country is unimaginable.

I do not know of any country in the world with
our population, our resources, our intellect, our
flamboyance, our family nexus, everything is
together.

“The call to public service for me was unique. I
was Vice President of Exxon Mobil West Africa
and I was suddenly called to serve.

“In serving, I lose a lot of money, if not at least
a million dollars every year by virtue of being a
minister, but the thing is, I am directed by the
voice of God,” he said.

Kachikwu said the current economic crunch in
Nigeria can be surmounted with the right
leadership.

He said Nigerians would not feel the impact of
the challenges posed by drop in the price of oil
if government properly harnessed other natural
resources.

“Everything in this country is together; the only
thing that is not together is leadership and in
God’s name, we are bound to change that.

“In every little space that you have, and in my
own case petroleum, you have to make an
absolute change and so I am not worried about
price of oil.

“It can be five dollar for all I care. I am worried
about the direction of the industry; I am
worried about changing things the way they
have never done before.

“I am worried about creating opportunities that
exist; I am worried about improving the
standards of living; I am worried about
encouraging opportunities in the sector.
“I am worried about opening up those
opportunities that have existed for years,” he
said.

Kachikwu called on Nigerians to embrace the
new philosophy of the present administration
geared towards charting a new course for the
country.

He called on Nigerians to bury their differences
and contribute their quota to the development
of the country.