Economic Crisis: How Nigeria can compete in the global crude oil market-Chevron Boss

Following the current economic crisis bedeviling Nigeria as a result of glut in the supply of crude oil at the International Market, The Manager, Offshore Assets, Chevron Nigeria, Engr. James Okereke says for Nigeria to compete successfully in the global crude oil and gas industry, she must improve her competitive industry position and remove obstacles to investments as well as developments.

Engr. Okereke made the assertion during a two-day media capacity building programme for selected journalists organized by Chevron Nigeria at Asaba, the Delta State capital.

According to the oil and gas guru, Nigeria has the resources to be more than Africa’s power house.

He disclosed that Chevron is in Nigeria for the long haul backed with large oil and gas resources’ base as well as technology and added that the world has experienced 50% production shortfall in crude oil production.

On Nigeria electricity challenge, Engr. Okereke opined that in order to make the power sector viable, there should be competition in gas pricing in Nigeria, which according to him has the 9^th largest gas resources in the world.

The Group General Manager, NAPIMS, Engr. Dafe S. Sejebor in a presentation titled, “securing the operational environment, eliminating oil theft and pipeline sabotage”, stated that the NNPC and its joint venture partners are working seriously to reduce crude oil theft in the country, especially in the Niger Delta.

Engr. Dafe Sejebor who was represented by the Deputy Manager Community Development ‘B’ of the Public Affairs Department, NAPIMS, Mrs. Clementina Mejebi Arubi, stated that crude oil theft leads to high risk deaths and sickness.

She revealed that vandalism of pipeline along the PortHarcourt-Aba, Enugu, Makurdi, Auchi-Yola line as the highest in Nigeria.

Mrs. Arubi listed ways to curb crude oil theft to include establishment of hotlines for prompt response, introduction of fuel theft indicator on vehicles with fuel censor and anti-siphoning devices.

Earlier in his opening address, the Manager Communications, CNL, Adesola (Sola) Adebawo explained that Chevron Nigeria Limited will continue to partner the media in order to let the world know about the company’s activities.

The Manager, Social Services and Planning Unit, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, PGPA, Olatunji Idowu while delivering a lecture titled “10 years of Global Memorandum of Understanding, GMoU, Chevron Community Engagement Strategy in the Niger Delta’ said since 2005 the GMoU was introduced, all the eight Regional Development Committees, cutting across Delta, Rivers, Imo, Ondo and Bayelsa States have executed community driven projects in the areas of health care, bridges, education, jetties, town halls, electricity, building the capacity of people of Chevron host communities and economic empowerment.

The General Manager, Nigeria Content Development, CNL, Raymond Wilcox stated that Chevron encourages partnership with indigenous contractors in the execution of jobs, both in training and creation of opportunities.

He outlined some of Chevron’s achievements to include the sponsorship of journalists in the Advanced Writing and Reporting Skills, AWARES holding at Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, giving of 5.1million dollars to an indigenous firm, Gramen to build their jetty and other operational activities, training of over 400 people in Ogere training school as well as strengthening the capacity of indigenous firms like Gramen and Nigitrade.

The Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of Africa Oil and Gas Report, Toyin Akinosho in his presentation advised journalists to evaluate the reports of foreign media before publishing them.

Our Senior Correspondent reports that the two-day media capacity building programme came to an end with a closing remark by the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA) CNL, Deji Haastrup.

He urged journalists to make themselves agents of change and help in Nation building. Mr. Haastrup stressed that CNL’s sponsorship of the AWARES and other programmes are aimed at developing the journalism profession in Nigeria.

High point of the two-day programme was the presentation of certificates to the journalists that participated.

The journalists include Fresh Angle International Newspaper Senior Correspondent, Celestine Ukah, Delta State Tribune Newspaper Correspondent, Ebenezer Adurokiya, Warri Bureau Chief of Pointer Newspaper, Dennis Otu, Guardian Asaba Correspondent, Hendrix Oliomogbe, Idris Momoh, Omor Julius of Thisday Newspaper and Sylvester Idowu.

Cross Section of Participants and CNL staff in a group photograph shortly after the the program in Asaba

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