Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has said he approved the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, joint venture financing contracts as disclosed by the state oil firm.
Mr Osinbajo’s revelation is coming on the heels of comments over NNPC’s approval of the contracts without bringing in the state minister of petroleum, Ibe Kachukwu, whose’s complaint letter to President Muhammadu Buhari leaked out.
But the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, confirmed the approval in a series of tweets on his confirmed Twitter handle, @akandeoj on Thursday.
Mr Akande said Osinbajo approved the recommendations for the contracts as part of necessary actions to deal with the backlog of unpaid cash calls and incentive investments.
He added that the approval was given after due diligence and adherence to established procedure.
The media aide revealed that Osinbajo approved the contract in his capacity as the Acting President when President Muhammadu Buhari was away on medical vacation.
“In response to media inquiries on NNPC joint venture financing, VP Osinbajo, as Ag President approved recommendations after due diligence and adherence to established procedure.
“Action was necessary to deal with huge backlog of unpaid cash calls which Buhari administration inherited and also to incentivise much needed fresh investments in the oil and gas sector,” he said.
