President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja promised to protect and support indigenous companies operating in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector while directing the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation to work more closely with them to resolve the problems tabled before him.
At a meeting with members of the Independent Petroleum Producers Association in the Presidential Villa, President Buhari commended their determination to increase the participation of Nigerians in the country’s oil industry and promised to do all within his powers to address the challenges which they currently face.
“We have the manpower for a more effective participation in our oil industry. We will give you all possible encouragement. You certainly won’t be ignored under my leadership,” President Buhari told members of the association, which represents about 20 Nigerian companies operating mainly on onshore fields.
The President particularly assured the Nigerian oil producers that the present administration will take appropriate actions to maintain and enhance security in their areas of operation, noting that better security will help to lower production costs, which, he said, had become unnecessarily high in the country.
Austin Avuru, who spoke on behalf of the Nigerian oil producers, told the President of challenges currently being faced by the group such as security and the funding of joint ventures with the NNPC.
Avuru told Buhari that the indigenous oil producers were already making significant contributions to the development of the Nigerian economy and could do more with the support of the present administration.
Also on Wednesday in Abuja, President Buhari commended ongoing efforts by the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation to generate more revenue through its various agencies.
President Buhari, who spoke at the end of a briefing by Nkechi Ejele, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, thanked her for “a very good presentation” and promised that his government will support the Ministry’s activities.
The Permanent Secretary presented a number of proposals to the President, including the easing of visas for tourists and the establishment of a tourism development fund.