Liberia’s NOCAL Fires Back at Critics Over Presidential Oil Block Allocation
National Oil Company of Liberia has strongly defended President Joseph Boakai’s executive allocation of oil blocks following criticism from an anonymous industry expert who labeled the move “premature and disruptive.” NOCAL Vice President for Finance and Investment Emmanuel Azango dismissed the claims as baseless while challenging the culture of anonymous commentary in national discourse.
The unnamed expert accused President Boakai of taking “unilateral and unnecessary” action without prior legislative consultation. However, Azango clarified that the executive allocation process is legally structured to involve the Legislature at appropriate stages, stating that “the Authority shall grant petroleum rights to NOCAL through Executive Allocation in consultation with the National Legislature.”
Azango explained that NOCAL operates within a clear regulatory framework including oversight by the Liberia Petroleum Regulatory Authority and legislative ratification. The company maintains options to develop petroleum acreages independently or through partnerships, with all agreements requiring legislative submission for ratification.
Expressing concern about politically charged anonymous criticisms, Azango warned that “Liberia has increasingly become a nation where political and tribal divisions tear us apart, often at the expense of unity and progress.”
Source: liberianobserver.com