NEWS
Ben Murray-Bruce Urges Tinubu to Recruit More ‘Mad Men’ to Deliver Results
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to bring more bold, uncompromising and results-driven individuals into his administration, arguing that Nigeria needs officials who are willing to challenge entrenched interests and take difficult decisions to move the country forward.
In an open letter to the President, Murray-Bruce described himself as a supporter of the administration who wants Tinubu to succeed, but stressed that genuine support should not amount to blind praise. He argued that one of the greatest services a supporter can render to a President is to speak frankly about areas that require urgent attention.
According to him, Nigeria needs what he repeatedly described as “mad men” not in the literal sense, but as people with the courage and determination to confront broken systems, upset powerful interests and reject mediocrity.
He pointed to Central Bank Governor Olayemi Cardoso as an example, noting that the institution had undergone a significant reset under his leadership, with greater emphasis on discipline and credibility in monetary policymaking.
He also cited National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, saying that despite the security challenges still confronting Nigeria, the country’s security architecture has demonstrated greater seriousness, coordination and strategic direction.
However, Murray-Bruce argued that two such figures are insufficient for a country of more than 200 million people.
He particularly challenged the President to identify equally determined individuals to transform Nigeria’s petroleum sector, especially refining and crude oil production.
The former lawmaker said Nigeria could no longer afford the contradiction of being a major crude oil producer while remaining heavily dependent on imported refined petroleum products.
He urged Tinubu to make the rehabilitation and commercially viable operation of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries a national priority, insisting that Nigerians have heard enough explanations about turnaround maintenance, contractors, technical reviews, committees and timelines.
What Nigerians need, he said, is functioning refineries producing petroleum products.
Murray-Bruce proposed that the government should be willing to explore different models, including partnerships with world-class technical operators, private investment, restructuring or concessions, provided the ultimate goal is to restore the refineries to efficient commercial operation.
He also pointed to the Dangote Refinery as evidence of what can be achieved in Nigeria, noting its 650,000-barrel-per-day nameplate capacity and suggesting an ambitious benchmark for the three government-owned refining complexes.
According to him, the three refineries should collectively target at least 325,000 barrels per day of reliable and commercially viable throughput, representing roughly half of Dangote Refinery’s nameplate capacity, before pushing for even greater output.
Beyond meeting domestic demand, Murray-Bruce said Nigeria should aim to become a major refining hub for Africa and a significant exporter of refined petroleum products.
On crude oil production, he challenged the Tinubu administration to find an equally aggressive leader capable of driving Nigeria towards its stated ambition of reaching four million barrels per day by 2030.
He called for an individual who would relentlessly tackle oil theft, bureaucratic bottlenecks, high production costs, dormant assets and slow approvals while attracting fresh investment into the upstream sector.
Murray-Bruce argued that Nigeria does not need more committees or officials whose primary role is to explain why ambitious targets cannot be achieved. Instead, he said, the country needs leaders prepared to pursue difficult objectives with urgency and determination.
He further warned ministers, regulators, agency heads and other presidential appointees overseeing critical sectors that public office should not become a place for complacency or comfort.
According to him, officials who are unwilling to confront powerful interests, take difficult decisions or prioritise Nigeria’s interests should make way for those who are prepared to deliver.
Murray-Bruce said Tinubu had already demonstrated a willingness to take politically difficult decisions and should now extend that approach to the recruitment of more highly driven officials.
He called for two additional “mad men” in the petroleum sector — one focused on increasing crude oil production and another dedicated to transforming the nation’s refining capacity.
With clear targets, presidential backing and strict deadlines, he argued, such officials should be given the freedom to challenge obstacles and pursue results without unnecessary interference.
The senator concluded with a clear vision for the administration: four million barrels of crude oil production per day, fully functional government-owned refineries and a Nigeria capable of refining its own crude while exporting petroleum products to the rest of the world.
For Murray-Bruce, the message is straightforward: Nigeria needs fewer excuses and more people in government who are prepared to take risks, confront entrenched interests and deliver measurable results.