*Says Nigeria has resources, leadership
*As global energy industry pledges country 40,000bpd in short-term
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
President Bola Tinubu played host to a delegation consisting of the global leadership of an Oil & Gas transnational giant, ExxonMobil, on Monday in New York, where he made his position known that Nigeria is no longer settling for crumbs and leftovers on the investment agenda of the world’s most prolific energy conglomerates.
From Left: ExxonMobil President of Global Upstream Operations, Liam Mallon, makes a presentation to President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, while being received in New York, United States on Tuesday September 19, 2023.
He said, “Nigeria has never been more ready for business than it is now,” according to a statement issued in New York by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale, and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER on Tuesday.
President Tinubu said that, following an illustrious private sector career as a professional accountant in the oil and gas industry, he has proven his capacity to take difficult decisions as President and is best prepared to solve problems and crush all bottlenecks standing in the way of new and large-scale capital flowing into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
“The knotty issues require direct supervision on my part. Despite many contending obligations, I will sit down and oversee the process of removing these encumbrances to job and wealth creation for the Nigerian people. We know the industry. We grew up in it. We are positioned to solve the problems, and we are pragmatic, and we will solve the problem,” the President firmly assured.
ExxonMobil President of Global Upstream Operations, Liam Mallon, assured President Tinubu that he is aware of the new and personal commitment that the President is bringing to bear on behalf of Nigeria and is well placed to reciprocate the President’s efforts with new investment as he pledged new production of nearly 40,000bpd in its Nigerian operations in phase one of a new investment push in Nigeria.
“What you told us was that your team would collaborate with us, and that has proven true. We have made significant progress since we last met. We are growing our production, and we are working hard on expanding in the deepwater production. We appreciate your efforts, and we will respond in kind. The time is right. Thank you for your leadership,” the ExxonMobil President stated.
