— Seek Collaboration to Achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda
Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), have reached out to the Ministry’s staff to garner their support in realizing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. During a Town Hall meeting held in Abuja on August 29, 2023, the two Ministers emphasized the need to reshape the narrative within the oil and gas sector.
Minister Ekperikpe Ekpo underscored 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 expressed. He 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.
Minister Lokpobiri echoed the Ministry’s vital role in Nigeria’s survival and emphasized the need for effective performance to address the nation’s challenges. He noted that having two Ministers in the Ministry was a strategic decision to propel change and expand investments in the Oil and Gas sector. The Petroleum Industry Act was highlighted as a facilitating factor, and he assured the staff that collaboration between him and Minister Ekpo would lead to the realization of the President’s directive.
He stated that during a visit to the refinery, the contractors working on the Port Harcourt refinery’s rehabilitation indicated that the initial phase would be completed by December 2023. Minister Lokpobiri also expressed his willingness to engage stakeholders in the creeks to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, expressed confidence in the staff’s capability to achieve the Ministers’ goals. He highlighted initiatives such as providing staff buses to ease transportation and transitioning same to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to align with environmental concerns. Aduda stressed leveraging the Ministers’ experience to advance the industry and announced plans for frequent Town Hall 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 the administration’s overarching agenda.
Oluwakemi Ogunmakinwa (Mrs,)
Deputy Director & Head,
Press and Public Relations Unit
MPR
