06 March 2012, Sweetcrude, ABUJA – The United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs, Ambassador Wendy Sherman has commended the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.
Speaking at the end of a breakfast session with the minister at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, Ambassador Wendy Sherman, stated that the United States will continue its partnership with Nigeria in the oil sector, as well as other areas of common interest.
“We had an excellent meeting with the Minister. She is a visionary who is looking ahead to a sector that will bring great benefit to the people of Nigeria and I know she is working very closely with the Nigerian President to ensure a very bright future for all Nigerians,” stated Ambassador Sherman.
Ambassador Sherman, who was accompanied by the Special Envoy for International Energy Affairs, Carlos Pascual, and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Terence Mc Culley, pledged continuation of the US/Nigeria bilateral trade relationship.
“The United States looks forward to continuing with a strong partnership both here in Nigeria, in the region, and throughout the world,” added Ambassador Sherman.
Welcoming the US delegation, Alison-Madueke described the US as a worthy partner in the oil and gas industry, noting that the Federal Government is determined to sustain the relationship.
In the last two months, the Minister has established specialised task forces/committees in the Petroleum industry. The task forces/committees are saddled with the mandates of fast tracking ongoing oil sector reforms, and providing value addition in the Federal Government’s drive to ensure that Nigeria reaps bountifully from the proceeds of God-given hydrocarbon resources.
In addition to the US commendation, last week the Minster convened a two-day National Refineries Workshop in Abuja. The aim of the workshop was to seek out an integrated solution to the challenges confronting the nation’s traditional refineries.
Day one of the session saw the attendance of all downstream stakeholders within the NNPC Group, as well as officials of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources seeking to galvanize all options in the drive to increasing the nation’s refining capacity through the rehabilitation and upgrade of existing refineries.
