By Bassey Nkponam
UYO
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo, and that of Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, have lauded the Akwa Ibom governor, Pastor Umo Eno, for his development strides and visionary leadership which they testified were impactful beyond the State.
Ekpo and Lokpobiri, who made the commendation, weekend, when they led the Governing Board of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, NCDMB, on a courtesy call on the governor at Government House, Uyo, having been in the State for a retreat, acknowledged with satisfaction, the visionary and impactful leadership strides of Eno in Akwa Ibom.
Ekpo noted that the NCDMB retreat would not have been best hosted in any other location in Nigeria other than in a peaceful and serene Akwa Ibom where leadership is captained by a peace-loving governor.
He explained that NCDMB, with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was all about building local content and regulating activities of companies that were operational in the country.
Lokpobiri, on his part, said he was particularly happy that Akwa Ibom has become home of retreats for most corporate organizations, noting that the NCDMB retreat was to be held initially in Abuja, but the Council later chose Akwa Ibom due to its outstanding peaceful ambience and impressive infrastructure propelled by a visionary and impactful leadership, led by Governor Eno.
He lauded Eno for sustaining and deepening the peaceful nature of the State and the expansion of infrastructural amenities the State has been known for over the years.
Lokpobiri observed that Akwa Ibom has been very lucky to be blessed with exceptional leaders who have been making impressive developmental marks in their various periods of leadership in the State, and particularly celebrated Eno for his remarkable sense of peaceful and unifying disposition, vision and developmental initiatives.
The minister, who noted the significance of the NCDMB in the country, recalled that in the past 15 years, the board has facilitated the creation of strong local capacity that has filled the gap created by the exit of some foreign oil companies in the country.
The State governor, Eno, appreciated the two ministers for the honour done the State in the hosting of the NCDMB retreat, and advocated for qualified indigenes of the State to be absorbed into the NCDMB for true justification of its status as a local content promoter.
According to him,”we have observed that in the NCDMB, we don’t have our sons and daughters within the board and management. We are also part of the local content. Let our people be equally engaged to work in the organization and to contribute their quota for its greater impact and meaning in the lives of our people”.
He assured the NCDMB of the State government’s continued collaboration and support for its programmes and activities, and congratulated Obongemem Ekperikpe Ekpo on his recent election as President of the Ministerial Meeting of Gas Exporting Countries Forum.
Eno also celebrated the managing director of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, who was also elected as Secretary-General of the forum, thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his support and the two ministers for the critical role they were playing in the petroleum gas and oil sector within and outside Africa, as well as their recent donation of a power plant to support the oxygen production facility in one of the hospitals in the state.
The governor highlighted his administration’s vision and passion to making Akwa Ibom a vibrant tourism hub in Nigeria through the ongoing construction of the ARISE Resort; the 5,000-seat Ibom Convention Centre; 200-room 14-Storey Ibom International Hotel and Ibom Shopping City, all for the comfort and recreational delight of tourists and investors in the state.
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