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By Joel Anekwe, Port Harcourt
Former managing director/chief executive officer of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG, Engr. Tony Attah, at the weekend handed over the symbolic key to NLNG to his successor, Dr. Philip Mshelbila.
This was as Attah expressed hope that the company would go beyond building of the Train 7 project, which commenced recently, to build other trains.
The event brought to an end to the leadership transition period at Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) at a Farewell and Welcome ceremony held in honour of the executives.
In his farewell remarks, Engr. Attah said, “I thank the staff and our partners who helped achieve our set goals. It was a collective success.
“I would like to see the five years as foundational. Earlier, the ambition of the company was to build only two trains which was referred to as the Base Project.
“But we went on to build Trains 3, 4, 5, and 6. Then, we went into a break for 15 years. We pressed reset, released the ‘pause’ button, and got Train 7. But Train 7 is about the same capacity as Trains 1 and 2. For me, Train 7 is another base project, and we should go on to build other trains. I strongly believe we will.”
Receiving the NLNG key, new managing director/chief executive officer of NLNG, Dr. Mshelbila, said he was honoured to lead the company and vowed that the company would remain the leading LNG company in Africa and Nigeria’s most successful business model.
“It is with a great sense of responsibility that I stand here today, honoured to be the managing director of NLNG. The challenge before us is huge in a world marked by uncertainties and transitions, but I am not daunted. I am not daunted because I stand with a set of seasoned senior and extended management teams who are worth their weight in gold.
“I am not daunted because, together with the management team we have as members of staff, people who possess the right acumen and resilience, with deep passion and commitment to move Nigeria LNG forward. These are the people who built the company to where it is today. I am humbled to lead them today.
“We will complete Train 7 and take more FIDs to secure our place in the global market. We will complete the Bonny-Bodo Road and so many other social projects to fulfil our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria,” he said
In a keynote speech, the governor of Rivers State, Barr Wike, said the country needs technocrats like Engr. Attah, conferring on him the second-highest honour in Rivers State.
He added that the former MD stood firm and made NLNG great, adding that NLNG and Rivers State would never forget him. He also said that Dr. Mshelbila’s tenure would achieve more, urging him to continue from where Engr. Attah stopped.
The NLNG board chairman, HM (Dr.) Edmund Daukoru, in his remarks, commended Engr. Attah for performing to expectation and overcoming the challenges posed by the oil price crash in 2016 and COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, amongst other vital wins. He assured Dr. Mshelbila of the board’s unflinching support to help achieve the company’s set goals.
The ceremony was graced by governor of Rivers State, Barrister Nyesom Wike; governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; the executive secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote; NLNG board chairman, HM (Dr.) Edmund Daukoru; NLNG board members; NLNG senior and extended management team; and dignitaries in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and beyond.