Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has called for synergy among agencies to complement efforts in boosting the efficiency of the oil and gas sector.
The Vice President made this known at the 4th Edition of the Value Chain Magazine annual lecture and awards in Abuja on Monday tagged “Effective Synergy between Oil & Gas and Maritime sectors for a greater value creation.”
Prof. Osinbajo who was represented by the Minister Of State or Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timiprye Sylva said the lecture provides a veritable platform to chat a course for the Development of the sector.
He said, “The need for synergy between the oil and gas and Maritime sector cannot be overemphasized as both serve as the engine room for developments in the country.
“The relevant agencies must therefore collaborate to ensure that transportation of petroleum products and the overall safety and efficiency of the sector is improved.”
Speaking on some of the efforts of the federal government to address challenges, he said “We are working hard to resolve issues bothering on regulations as well as concerns of indigenous ship owners over lack of patronage.
“We take cognizance of these genuine concerns and we are working hard to ensure that it is resolved in no time with the help of the collaboration between sister agencies.”
Also speaking on the subject matter, the Director General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Bashir Jamoh affirmed that the COVID-19 pandemic has further deepened synergy between maritime agencies and it’s sister agencies in the oil and gas sector.
His words: “NIMASA is synergizing with other agencies and multinationals to ensure the efficiency of the sector is enhanced and we have gone further to launch the deep blue project to further promote the Development of the sector.
Also speaking, the Director General of the Department of Petroleum Resources, Engr. Auwalu Sarki states commended the Value Chain Magazine for putting up the annual lecture while adding theat the federal government is committed to Development of the oil and sector with policies such as the Nigerian Energy Support Programme.
“He said the oil and gas sector occupies an enviable position in every sector which is why we at DPR find it important to collaborate with the Maritime sector because they are the transporters of our products as there are about 700 million barrels of crude oil being transported from Nigeria to other parts of the world annual.
“Therefore the need for synergy to improve trade in the products as well making the product available and affordable is important.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Publisher of the Magazine, Mr. Musa Bashir Usman said since the inception of the lecture, it has provided a platform for stakeholders to meet and deliberate as well as explore the opportunities of driving growth on the oil and gas sector.
He said this year’s theme presents an opportunity to brainstorm and see areas of synergy between the key players and regulators in the oil and gas and the Maritime sectors