Stakeholders, oil industry executives, Nigerians applaud Senator Abe’s appointment as NUPRC boss

By Austin Asadu
It was unsurprising that a huge sigh of relief as well as jubilation and untold exhilaration enveloped the entire nation with the appointment of Distinguished Senator Magnus Ngei Abe, former SSG of Rivers State as the Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
While stakeholders, and oil industry executives expressed delight at the resounding appointment of the two-term Senator and former Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA to this pivotal position in the strategic oil sector, it was the spontaneous reaction of the average Nigerian that solemnly testified to Senator Magnus Abe’s solid reputation as an irrepressible and indefatigable champion of the interests of the dispossessed and disenfranchised of society.
Given that the dynamics of the petroleum sector directly impacts on the lives of the average Nigerian in the form of transportation costs, prices of foodstuffs, goods and services and the overall inflationary rate, the timely call of Senator Magnus Abe to helm the NUPRC is much deserved and must celebrated as a sucour to the pangs of the long suffering denizens of this nation.
Those who know Senator Abe well, are aware that the Rivers born political titan does not tolerate laxity, indolence, sloth or corrupt practices in the line of duty despite his amiable and convivial disposition.
As the trailblazing SSG under the Governor Rotimi Amaechi administration, Senator Magnus Abe restructured, repositioned and recalibrated the Rivers State civil/public service for a more credible and responsive service delivery to the people while raising the state’s IGR, income and finances to astronomical heights.
As Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, he famously read the riot act to the road agency’s executives to ‘better sit up or be sent packing’, no more, no less.
As the freshly minted NUPRC boss, there is little doubt that the rugged Magnus Abe will bring his considerable wealth of administrative experience, depth of knowledge, breadth of technical expertise, professional savvy and remarkable conflict resolution capability to bear in bringing a deserved end to the crisis of confidence presently prevailing in the NUPRC.
Some may call it a magic wand, but it is abundantly clear that the astute Senator Magnus Abe has the sincerity of purpose, force of courage and firmness of principle and conviction to take our beloved NUPRC to greater heights of outstanding achievement and exemplary performance.
He has done it before and he can do it again.