By Moses Patience Chat
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and his counterpart, Mr. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who is the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), have urged staff in the Ministry to increase their support in realizing President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
This was made known at a town hall meeting in Abuja on Friday, where the need to reshape the narrative within the oil and gas sector was emphasized.
The Deputy Director and Head of Press and Public Relations Unit of the Ministry, Mrs Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa, underscored the Ministry’s vital role in Nigeria’s survival and the need for effective performance to address the nation’s challenges.
In the statement, Lokpobiri explained that having two ministers in the Ministry was a strategic decision to propel change and expand investments in the Oil and Gas Sector.
He described the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021) as a facilitating factor, and assured the staff that collaboration between him and his counterpart would lead to the realization of the president’s directive.
The oil minister noted that during their recent visit to the Port Harcourt Refinery, the contractors working on the refinery’s rehabilitation indicated that the initial phase would be completed by December 2023.
He also expressed willingness to engage stakeholders in the creeks to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
On his part, Expo outlined the Ministry’s significance in Nigeria’s economic growth and urged the staff to contribute their expertise to fulfill their mandates.
“We are here to work alongside you, understand you, and encourage you to bring your skills to bear,” he stated.
Ekpo further outlined their shared objective of expanding domestic gas penetration, including Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), for the betterment of the nation.
Speaking at the town hall meeting, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Gabriel Aduda, expressed confidence in the staff’s capability to achieve the ministers’ goals.
He listed initiatives such as providing staff buses to ease transportation and transitioning same to CNG to align with environmental concerns.
Aduda advocated leveraging the ministers’ experience to advance the industry and announced plans for frequent meetings to enhance communication and collaboration within the Ministry.
The engaging town hall meeting was attended by directors and staff from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, showcasing the Ministry’s dedication to transparency, collaboration and administration’s agenda.