Oniwon Wants Synergy On Petroleum Industry Bill
ABUJA, July 12, (THEWILL) - The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Engineer Austen Oniwon, has called on members of the Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders in the petroleum industry to partner with the Corporation to ensure the quick passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill.
Engr. Oniwon stated this on Monday in his office when the new Managing Director of Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, Mr. Philip (Xinmin) Wu paid him a courtesy call.
He said there was need for all the critical stakeholders in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria to work in concert in order to get a legislation that would strengthen the petroleum sector for the better.
"We really need to close rank to close all the possible gaps in the Petroleum Industry Bill currently before the National Assembly so that we can get a good law that we would all be proud of. This is because we may not have another opportunity to amend our petroleum laws for another 50 years," Engr. Oniwon submitted.
The NNPC boss noted that the changes in the existing laws were necessary and long overdue because the oil and gas industry is dynamic in all ramifications.
Engr. Oniwon urged Addax Petroleum and other oil companies in the country to key into the Local Content initiative, noting that the law is part of Federal Government effort to provide employment for the teeming unemployed youths across the country. He said it was a win-win situation for all the stakeholders.
He reiterated that the Corporation is committed to its business relationship with Addax Petroleum and urged the company to focus on developing its gas potential in order to support the Federal Government’s aspiration on power.
In his response, the new Managing Director of Addax Petroleum Development Nigeria Limited, Mr. Philip (Xinmin) Wu, congratulated the GMD on his appointment and expressed the commitment of his company to the Local Content initiative and the domestic gas obligation.