Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has called on President Bola Tinubu to appoint more “mad men” into critical areas of government, describing them as people bold enough to challenge entrenched interests, confront inefficiency and deliver measurable results.
In an open letter to the President, Murray-Bruce said Nigeria needed officials who were willing to become unpopular if necessary to achieve results, particularly in the petroleum sector.
He described himself as a supporter of the Tinubu administration who wanted the President to succeed, but stressed that support should not prevent constructive criticism.
“Mr President, Nigeria needs more mad men in your government,” he wrote.
Murray-Bruce explained that by “mad men”, he meant men and women prepared to confront broken systems, challenge powerful interests and reject mediocrity.
“I mean men and women who are crazy enough to confront a broken system, step on powerful toes, offend entrenched interests and refuse to accept mediocrity simply because mediocrity has become normal,” he said.
Key Highlights
Ben Murray-Bruce urges Tinubu to appoint more ‘mad men’ focused on results.
He praised CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso for what he described as a reset in monetary policymaking.
He also commended Nuhu Ribadu for his work in the national security architecture.
Murray-Bruce wants the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries to become commercially viable.
He proposed a target of at least 325,000 barrels per day of reliable refining capacity from the government-owned refineries.
He urged Tinubu to find a leader capable of driving Nigeria towards the administration’s 4 million barrels per day oil production ambition by 2030.
He called for underperforming ministers, regulators and agency heads to leave government.
‘Cardoso and Ribadu Are Two Mad Men’
Murray-Bruce cited CBN Governor Olayemi Cardoso as an example of the kind of official he believes Nigeria needs.
“Whatever disagreements anybody may have with individual policies, there is no question that the institution has undergone a serious reset. Discipline and credibility have returned to monetary policymaking,” he said.
“That is one mad man.”
He similarly praised National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, while acknowledging that Nigeria continues to face significant security challenges.
“But there is a seriousness, coordination and strategic direction in the national security architecture that deserves recognition. Ribadu is prepared to work, confront problems and take responsibility,” he said.
“That is another mad man.”
Murray-Bruce argued that two such officials were insufficient for a country with more than 200 million people.
‘Make Refineries Work’
The former senator urged Tinubu to make the rehabilitation and commercial operation of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries a major priority.
He argued that Nigeria could no longer afford a system in which the country exports crude oil while importing refined petroleum products.
“We produce crude oil. We possess enormous reserves. We have decades of petroleum expertise. We have spent fortunes on refineries. Yet for years we became accustomed to exporting crude and importing the products refined from it,” he said.
“That is economic madness of the wrong kind.”
He called for what he described as “madness of the right kind” in the petroleum sector.
Murray-Bruce said the Federal Government should consider all viable options for making the refineries work, including partnerships with international technical operators, private capital, restructuring and concessions.
“But whatever model is chosen, the objective must be brutally simple: MAKE THE REFINERIES WORK.”
Sets 325,000bpd Refining Target
Murray-Bruce cited the Dangote Refinery as evidence of what he described as the possibilities for large-scale refining in Nigeria.
He noted that the facility was designed with a nameplate capacity of 650,000 barrels per day and proposed that the three government-owned refineries should target at least half of that capacity in reliable and commercially viable output.
“Let the three government-owned refining complexes target, at minimum, the equivalent of 50% of Dangote’s nameplate refining capacity, about 325,000 barrels per day of reliable, commercially viable throughput. Then push beyond it,” he said.
He argued that Nigeria should aim beyond meeting domestic demand and seek to become a major exporter of refined petroleum products to other African countries and the global market.
‘Find the Mad Man Who Will Deliver 4 Million BPD’
The senator also challenged the administration to appoint an official capable of driving Nigeria towards its stated ambition of increasing crude oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2030.
“Mr President, find the mad man who will deliver it,” he said.
He called for a leader who would consider current production levels inadequate in the face of the 4 million barrels per day target.
“Find somebody who will fight oil theft, confront bureaucratic paralysis, reduce production costs, unlock dormant assets, accelerate approvals, attract billions of dollars of investment and sit on the neck of every agency standing between Nigeria and increased production,” he said.
‘If You Cannot Deliver, Leave’
Murray-Bruce also issued a broader challenge to ministers, regulators, agency heads and other presidential appointees responsible for critical areas of the economy.
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“This is not a retirement home,” he said.
“If you cannot deliver, leave.
“If you are afraid of stepping on toes, leave.
“If protecting friendships is more important than protecting Nigeria’s interests, leave.”
He said officials should not allow bureaucracy, vested interests or political relationships to prevent them from pursuing national objectives.
Murray-Bruce concluded by urging Tinubu to appoint more officials with the determination to pursue difficult targets and hold them accountable for measurable outcomes.
“Give Nigeria a mad man for petroleum production.
“Give us another mad man whose only obsession is refining.
“Give them measurable targets, presidential backing and deadlines, and then get out of their way while they step on every toe that needs stepping on.”
He ended his letter with a call for 4 million barrels per day production, functioning refineries and a Nigeria capable of refining its own crude and exporting petroleum products.
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