I Lose At Least $1m Every Year By Virtue Of Being A Minister – Kachikwu

Ibe KachikwuThe Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, says he loses at least $1 million annually as a result of his decision to serve in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Mr. Kachikwu made the disclosure on Sunday in Abuja when he appeared before the House of Representatives’ Ad-Hoc Committee set up to investigate the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s offshore processing and crude swap arrangement for the period 2010 to date.
The Minister, however, said he has no regrets leaving his lucrative position at Exxon Mobil, where he was vice president before President Buhari appointed him Group Managing Director of the NNPC.
He said: “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”.
“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”, Mr. Kachikwu stated.
Speaking further, the NNPC boss urged Nigerians to support and inculcate the new philosophy of the present administration, which is aimed at turning the fortunes of the country around.
“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 added.

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