By Ovie Adasaji
Governor of Rivers State, Barr. Nyesom Wike has charged the new Managing Director of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, Philip Mshelbila to emulate his predecessor, the outgone MD, Tony Attah in sustaining the existing cordial relationship with the state government.
Speaking at the send-off ceremony held in Port Harcourt in honour of Attah, Wike charged the new MD and the NLNG board to collaborate with the Rivers state government in achieving more landmark developments.
“Everybody should come back here. This is where it is happening. Philip, 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.”
Commending the outgone Managing Director, Attah whose tenure elapsed in August, particularly for his role in the company’s Train-7 project, the governor said the former NLNG boss had done creditably well in ensuring that all fabrication works for the company’s $10billion Train 7 project will be done in the state.
Wike also appreciated Attah for the convivial relationship which the company maintained with the government and people of Rivers state under his leadership, adding that he (Attah) will be remembered for overseeing the commencement and completion of NLNG corporate headquarters building in Port Harcourt.
The two-time Rivers governor said it Attah had through the convivial relationship he nurtured and sustained with his government, proven that is also possible for other oil multinationals and their representatives to cultivate better relationships with state governments in the Niger Delta.
The governor remarked that by ensuring the speedy completion of the NLNG headquarters in Port Harcourt, Attah had proven the claim of insecurity in the Niger Delta by IOCs indefensible.
“IOCs will say there is insecurity in Port Harcourt, insecurity in Warri, insecurity in Bayelsa but there is no insecurity in taking the oil and gas.”
The governor declared that posterity will forever be kind to Attah for all his good deeds while he reigned in the NLNG.
He further added that any government committed to the development of the country must engage technocrats like Mr. Attah.
