…shun oil conference
Most members of the Federal Government’s delegation to the
annual Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, holding in Houston, Texas, United
States, go for private businesses, even with their trips are paid for with
public funds.
annual Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, holding in Houston, Texas, United
States, go for private businesses, even with their trips are paid for with
public funds.
A top Federal Government official, who did not want his name
mentioned, told our correspondent at this year’s conference that available
reports showed that many of the delegates to the event, believed to be the
world’s biggest gathering of oil and gas as well as maritime sector stakeholders,
come for ulterior and selfish motives.
mentioned, told our correspondent at this year’s conference that available
reports showed that many of the delegates to the event, believed to be the
world’s biggest gathering of oil and gas as well as maritime sector stakeholders,
come for ulterior and selfish motives.
He said that most of them disappear immediately on arrival in
the US to pursue private businesses, stressing that only about 25 per cent of
them are actually present at any of the venues of the four-day event.
the US to pursue private businesses, stressing that only about 25 per cent of
them are actually present at any of the venues of the four-day event.
“Look around this auditorium, how many Nigerian government
officials are here for the opening ceremony of the event, which is the most
important of all the four days,” the official said. The aggrieved official took
a swipe at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which he said had
turned the event to an annual jamboree, with several billions of taxpayers’
money squandered yearly.
officials are here for the opening ceremony of the event, which is the most
important of all the four days,” the official said. The aggrieved official took
a swipe at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which he said had
turned the event to an annual jamboree, with several billions of taxpayers’
money squandered yearly.
He said the corporation had not used the several opportunities
presented by the event for the benefit of the oil and gas sector in the
country. “One would have expected that at the end of each year’s event, the
corporation comes up with a report on the proceedings and activities at the
global conference in which over 2,000 government and private organisations are
in attendance and make a review to better the lot of the Nigerian industry,” he
said.
presented by the event for the benefit of the oil and gas sector in the
country. “One would have expected that at the end of each year’s event, the
corporation comes up with a report on the proceedings and activities at the
global conference in which over 2,000 government and private organisations are
in attendance and make a review to better the lot of the Nigerian industry,” he
said.
The official argued that if the NNPC, especially in the last
four years, had generated any report on its past experiences and findings from
the annual global event, it would have been able to come up with a roadmap on
how to improve the country’s oil and gas industry.
four years, had generated any report on its past experiences and findings from
the annual global event, it would have been able to come up with a roadmap on
how to improve the country’s oil and gas industry.
“It is not proper for anybody to spend this quantum of public
funds attending such an event for several years without a report. “This leaves
one with the impression that the event is a jamboree, where Nigerian government
officials come and squander public funds and go back without learning anything
concrete from their attendance,” the source said.
funds attending such an event for several years without a report. “This leaves
one with the impression that the event is a jamboree, where Nigerian government
officials come and squander public funds and go back without learning anything
concrete from their attendance,” the source said.
NNPC Group Managing Director, Mr. Andrew Yakubu, had, while
addressing newsmen during the opening ceremony of the conference on Monday,
said that Nigerian oil and gas community at the fourday event came basically to
display the technology available in the sector in Nigeria and also tap from
latest technology globally. He said that there had been increase in the volume
of the nation’s crude and petroleum products, boosting the prospects of
investment in the sector.
addressing newsmen during the opening ceremony of the conference on Monday,
said that Nigerian oil and gas community at the fourday event came basically to
display the technology available in the sector in Nigeria and also tap from
latest technology globally. He said that there had been increase in the volume
of the nation’s crude and petroleum products, boosting the prospects of
investment in the sector.
Yakubu, while declaring the Nigerian stand open on behalf of
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, called on the
international community to take advantage of the huge investment opportunities
in the industry in the country.
Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, called on the
international community to take advantage of the huge investment opportunities
in the industry in the country.
He said that the nation’s industry was very central and
strategic to the global industry, but regretted that indigenous participation
in the sector had not been high enough.
strategic to the global industry, but regretted that indigenous participation
in the sector had not been high enough.
Source: National Mirror
