Buhari: trial of NNPC looters to start soon

President Buhari at the United Nation's Industrial development Organisation (UNIDO)'s side event during the 70th UN general Assembly on 26th Sept 2015

Government will sanitise the oil industry and free it from corruption and shady deals, President Muhammadu Buhari said on Sunday in United States.

He said those responsible for the corruption in the giant oli firm will soon be prosecuted.
The president spoke in New York during a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China on the side lines of the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations.
He said the first step in this direction had already been taken with the appointment of a new management for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsequent reorganisation.
He said that the prosecution of those who misappropriated NNPC’s revenue under past administrations will soon commence.
Buhari commended President Xi for China’s assistance to Nigeria to curb the theft of crude oil.
He applauded China’s interception of shipload of crude oil stolen from Nigeria which was to be sold and their proceeds paid into private accounts.
“We know your stand on corruption and we are grateful. Your continued cooperation in curbing oil theft from Nigeria will be appreciated, ” he said.
Buhari told his Chinese counterpart that under his leadership, the Nigerian military had been re-trained and re-equipped and was now making steady gains in the fight against Boko Haram.
President Xi said China was involved in the development of Nigeria in diverse areas like construction of railways, airports, agriculture, Mambilla Hydro-power project, among others.
He promised that China would increase its investment in Nigeria’s agriculture sector to boost food security.
Xi also promised that his country would invest in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry and assist in the development of human resources.