Tinubu tells ExxonMobil: Nigeria prepared for business
as energy giant pledges 40,000 bpd production in the short term
By Oviri Kelvin, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has stated that Nigeria is now more prepared than ever to engage in business with the Oil and Gas transnational giant, ExxonMobil.
He emphasized that Nigeria will no longer settle for meager opportunities and will actively pursue a stronger presence in the investment plans of one of the world’s most prolific energy conglomerates.
Tinubu made this announcement on Monday, 18 September, 2023, in New York during a meeting with a delegation from ExxonMobil, which included the company’s President of Global Upstream Operations, Liam Mallon.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu, drawing from his successful private sector career as a professional accountant in the oil & gas industry, expressed confidence in his ability to make challenging decisions as President.
He assured that he is well-prepared to resolve issues and remove obstacles hindering substantial new investments in Nigeria’s oil & gas sector.
“The complex challenges demand my direct oversight. Despite numerous responsibilities, I am committed to overseeing the process of eliminating these hindrances to job creation and wealth generation for the Nigerian people,” Tinubu declared.
“We are intimately familiar with the industry. We have grown within it, and we are well-equipped to address these issues. We are pragmatic, and we will find solutions,” the President affirmed.
In response to Nigeria’s President, ExxonMobil’s President of Global Upstream Operations, Liam Mallon, acknowledged Tinubu’s renewed and personal commitment to Nigeria.
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He expressed his readiness to reciprocate these efforts with new investments, pledging to increase production by nearly 40,000 bpd in ExxonMobil’s Nigerian operations as part of the initial phase of a new investment initiative in Nigeria.
“You informed us of your team’s willingness to collaborate with us, and that commitment has proven true. We have made significant strides since our last meeting,” Mallon stated.
“We are actively expanding our production and making strides in deepwater production,” he added.
The delegation expressed their appreciation for Nigeria’s dedication to its goals and leadership stance.
