Dr Ibe Kachikwu:Minister of state for petroleum

The new Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has responded to the complaints of oil marketers over the non-payment of the N413 billion subsidy claims already approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He gave an assurance that the payment would be completed next week, explaining that the money needs the approval of the National Assembly.

According to him,  the money is undergoing a process that requires the approval of the National Assembly. He said the process would be concluded next week.

Dr. Kachikwu gave the promise when he resumed work as minister of state in the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja yesterday where heads of parastatals and directors under the ministry received him.

Kachikwu, it was understood, will also continue in his duty as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC “for a while”.

Kachikwu’s assurance came at a time fuel queues are mounting in many states, with oil marketers threatening to stop importation of petroleum products over non-payment of their claims.

He said, “The money was approved by the President. It has not reached them (marketers) physically because there is a process that our Constitution requires in terms of approving such a set of extra-budgetary expenditures. The president is taking time to write the Assembly to appraise them of the need to this.”

He urged the marketers to be patient “as the president is working very hard to ensure the issue is resolved.”

*Reported by Daily Trust