Olisa Agbakoba, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and popular on-air personality Rufai Oseni have expressed diverse opinions on what could be the biggest problem affecting Nigeria's petroleum sector.

In a short and cordial debate on Arise TV on Thursday, July 11, both men differed on the challenges affecting the sector, however, they agreed that oil has yet to benefit the average Nigerian.

While Agbakoba opined that the biggest problem plaguing the sector is incompetence, Oseni believes corruption will always be the problem affecting the sector.

The conversation comes after Agbakoba called on President Bola Tinubu to step down as Minister of Petroleum Resources and appoint a substantive minister forthwith.

Agbakoba said that it was in doing so that the sector would begin to be vibrant and serve the Nigerian people better.

He made the call in Lagos while addressing select editors on the need for a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Speaking on ‘Rethinking Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Governance: A Policy Paper,’ Agbakoba said that the occupation of the position of a minister by the President was not in the interest of the country.

"I will tell you that the problem of Nigeria is not corruption but incompetence. My friend and journalist from the Netherlands told me that Nigerians focus too much on corruption when the problem is incompetence."

"When would we, whether it's commercial or state-owned natural hydrocarbons, surrender incompetently all our resources to people who want to chop the money? Do you think the IOC is here because they like us? They are here because they want to make money and there is nothing wrong with that," he said.

Reacting swiftly, Rufai Oseni said, "But I beg to disagree, sir. I have had dealings with many people who work in the NNPC, and they will feel very upset that you think there are no capable hands to run that place."

"In fact, if we call ex-NNPC staff, they will tell you that Nigeria still has some of the most competent people, but corruption is the personal interest that makes them subjugate their personal interest as long as they can do a deal with the IOCs and not that there is a lack of incompetence to run it. It is the corruption that makes you turn a blind eye."