By Kolawole Ojebisi
Embattled Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, who has been suspended from the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) by the party’s EXCO in Bayelsa State, has said that an ongoing Oil Floating Production Storage/Offloading facility in Lagos State has the potential of boosting Nigeria’s crude oil production by an additional 40,000 barrels per day by next month.
The project is a joint venture between Nigerian National Petroleum Company LimitedNNPCL. and Century Nigeria Limited, in partnership with West African Exploration and Production company and NNPC Energy Services Limited.
Lokpobiri’s claim is coming days after award-winning first class scholar, journalist and former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Reuben Abati lashed the Minister verbally for always making empty promises.
Abati, who is co-host of The Morning Show, an ARISE Television breakfast programme, had lambasted the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Lokpobiri, over a previous comments attributed to him to the effect that Nigeria was expecting a $50bn investment in the oil sector before this December.
It would be recalled that Lokpobiri had said that with foreign/local investors’ concerns being addressed, coupled with the “audacious’’ efforts to boost oil production to about 2.7 barrels per day, Nigeria remains a titan of African energy.
“Toward this end, the country is expecting $50 billion worth of investments in the sector before the end of the year,” Lokpobiri had declared.
The Minister made the statement last Tuesday in Abuja in the heat of fuel crisis rocking the country.
However, while reacting to Lokpobiri’s statement in full public glare, Abati said the Minister should stick to the “task” he was adept at executing which is defending Nyesom Wike.
Abati said: “He does not know what he is talking about. He constantly puts his foot in his mouth. Let him just stay in his allegiance to Nyesom Wike where he can speak with great certainty.
“The other time, he was saying the refineries will produce so, so, so ….no refinery is producing anything ..
“Now he is saying $50 billion worth of investment by December…because Tinubu is a miracle worker. December is just two months away. If the Minister has nothing to say, he should keep quiet’’,
Despite Abati’s lashing, Lokpobiri still claims that the ongoing project will boost the country’s crude oil production by additional 40,000 bpd.
This latest statement issued by Lokpobiri’s Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Nneamaka on Saturday, noted:
“The work being done here is a reflection of the kind of investments we want in the oil sector. With projects like this, we are not only building local capacity but also expanding our crude production beyond current quotas.”
Lokpobiri added: “This facility alone will contribute an additional 40,000 bpd, which is a step in the right direction for our economy.”
Lokpobiri commended the collaboration between NNPCL, Century Group, and other partners, identifying the project as a critical element in Nigeria’s efforts to significantly increase crude production and meet global demands.
“The work being done here is a reflection of the kind of investments we want in the oil sector. With projects like this, we are not only building local capacity but also expanding our crude production beyond current quotas.
“This facility alone will contribute an additional 40,000 bpd, which is a step in the right direction for our economy,” the minister was qouted as saying.
He further underscored the importance of increasing Nigeria’s oil output, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting partnerships that aim to revitalise the sector.
