Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, has urged the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, to sustain the legacies of his predecessor, Engr Tony Attah.
Recall that former Managing Director, Engr. Tony Attah left NLNG on 31st August, 2021 to return to his parent company, Shell.
Speaking, the governor enjoined the new NLNG boss to emulate his predecessor and sustain the existing cordial relationship with the state government.
Governor Wike spoke recently at the send off ceremony of former NLNG Managing Director, Tony Attah, which held at the company’s corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.
The governor said Attah will be remembered for overseeing the commencement and completion of NLNG corporate headquarters building in Port Harcourt and for ensuring that all fabrication works for the company’s $10 billion Train 7 were done in Rivers state.
According to him, 7.5 percent Value Added Tax from the NLNG Train 7 project, will be used to transform the State.
Governor Wike also said that Dr. Mshelbila’s tenure would achieve more, urging him to continue from where Engr. Attah stopped.
He also urged Dr. Mshelbila and the board of the NLNG to collaborate with the Rivers state government to develop a vast reclaimed expanse of land opposite the NLNG corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.
“Everybody should come back here. This is where it is happening. Dr. Philip Mshelbila, opposite you, we have sand filled the area, provided infrastructure. Come and partner with us.
“Chairman (NLNG board, Edmund Daukoru, the Amayanabo of Nembe) you are from Niger Delta, tell your people to come and get a place here. They should not be living in Lagos and flying in and putting the cost on your head. Let them come here. The safest place is here. Rivers state is very safe.”
The governor used the occasion to reaffirm Rivers State government ownership of OML11 which was formerly operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company.
NLNG is owned by four Shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49%), Shell Gas BV (25.6%), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France (15%), and Eni International NA N. V. S.àr. l (10.4%).