The Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress (NDYCPP) on Sunday applauded the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, for transforming the Nigerian oil sector.

The NDYCPP, a group of youth leaders from the nine states of the Niger Delta region noted that under Kachickwu, Nigeria became an influential member of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as well as secured increased quota for the country to earn more revenue from oil sales.

They said that the recent election of Kachikwu for a record time as President of African Petroleum Producers Organization (APPO) was an indication of the respect the country currently commands under President Muhammed Buhari.

The group’s president, Pastor Tiedo Olayinka-Jude, who made the commendation while speaking with newsmen in Yenagoa the Bayelsa State capital, said the group plans to hold a reception to celebrate Kachikwu’s achievements.

According to the group, the coming of Kachikwu, first as Group Managing Director of NNPC scaled up the performance index in the sector to new heights of effectiveness and efficiency.

The group observed that Kachukwu has changed the narrative of the sector to an upward swing with the management of NNPC and other relevant subsidiaries of the ministry.

“They have been able to eliminate the perennial fuel queues across the country, to a large extend stabilise the price regime of petroleum products, increased oil export.

“Oil output rose from an abysmal low level of about 800,000 barrels per day in 2016 to over 2 million barrels per day, brought peace and stability to the often volatile Niger Delta.

“Kachikwu approached the job with his diligent and cerebral analytical approach on how issues are being addressed, bringing in his huge wealth of international exposure and experience to bear,” Olayinka-Jude said.

According to the youth leader, Kachikwu achieved all these because of the goodwill he commands among the people, especially the youths, irrespective of party affiliation.

He noted that Kachikwu is seen as a thorough-bred technocrat who is sincere and caring about the development of the region unlike the typical self-seeking politician.

Olayinka-Jude said Kachikwu enjoys the support of Niger Delta governors in his efforts in galvanising the IOCs to adhere to international practices in their dealing with host communities.

These efforts are aimed to forestall avoidable frictions in the operations of oil firms; boosting the ease of doing business and investors’ confidence and the nation’s image internationally.

“As someone from the international oil circle, he has a firm grasp of the intrigues in price permutations, quota-settings, quality evaluation.

“Recall that he came when oil price at the international market was at its lowest in recent times but how he was able to weather such fluctuation is yet another feat.

“In fact, Kachikwu is one of the very few top government functionaries this administration has paraded that even other countries are craving to have.

“Youth leaders across the Niger Delta under aegis of the Niger Delta Youth Coalition for Peace and Progress have unanimously resolved to host the minister to a grand reception.

“This is because he is a worthy ambassador from the region for service to the nation and because of his superlative performance as an astute public administrator from the Niger Delta,” he said.