NNPCL: Social Critic Solomon Oseagha Calls for Improved Infrastructure, Accountability in Cross River

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Calabar — Social critic Solomon Oseagha has called for urgent attention to the infrastructural development and economic policies affecting Cross River State and Nigeria as a whole. Addressing journalists in Calabar on Saturday, Oseagha emphasized the need for stronger synergy between the government and relevant sectors, particularly in the oil industry and transport infrastructure NEGROIDHAVEN can say.

Oseagha expressed concern over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) pricing strategy in the deregulated oil market, highlighting the potential for cheaper alternatives. He noted that if cheaper petroleum products could be imported from Kazakhstan, prices could be significantly lower than what is currently offered by NNPCL. He further explained the critical role of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in regulating the oil sector, including issuing licenses for refineries and ensuring supply chain integrity.

“The NMDPRA, also referred to as ‘The Authority,’ is now the engine room of the oil sector, handling everything from regulating prices to issuing import licenses and overseeing supply distribution,” Oseagha said, urging the public to hold the agency accountable for the fair distribution of petroleum products across states.

The critic also decried the high cost of transporting goods from Lagos to other parts of Nigeria, including Cross River, due to inadequate infrastructure. He pointed out that while Lagos is the main hub for importing goods, the long distance and poor transportation systems—particularly through waterways and railways—contribute to inflated costs for consumers. “A container that lands in Lagos and travels to Abuja now costs around 1.6 million naira, compared to previous costs of 450,000 naira. The situation is worse for Cross River state,” Oseagha said, attributing the price hike to inefficiencies in the transportation system.

Oseagha called for the dredging of Cross River waterways to allow larger vessels to dock, which would reduce transportation costs and benefit the region economically. He also emphasized the need to revive railway infrastructure and complete critical projects, such as the superhighway and deep seaport, which have stalled over the years.

He stressed that the development of infrastructure in Cross River is essential for the region’s economic growth, urging the government to prioritize the completion of ongoing projects. “We must hold the government accountable and tell stories that will benefit our people. The completion of projects like the superhighway and the dredging of our waterways will directly impact the price regime and overall development of our region,” he concluded.

Oseagha tasked the press to look beyond holding public institutions and officials accountable through their publications but, to explore the possibility of collaborating especially with the NNPCL in such a way that critical infrastructural development would be attracted to the area. According to him, there is the tendency for journalists to be stuck with the traditional responsibility of holding public officers accountable and this, to the detriment of the development.

Fejiro Oliver a journalist who accompanied Oseagha, said “I think it is possible to have both sides of accountability and development orchestrated through our journalism”.