Akwa Ibom State governor, Umo Eno, has expressed appreciation to the two ministers from the state, Ekperikpe Ekpo (Gas Resources) and Senator Heineken Lokpobiri (Oil), for the honour done the State by hosting the National Content Development and Management Board (NCDMB) retreat in the state.
Urging the duo to be good ambassadors of Nigeria and Niger Delta, the governor appealed to the ministers to promote local contents by enlisting qualified indigenes of the state and the region into the NCDMB.
Addressing the ministers during their separate courtesy call to him at Government House, Uyo, the state capital at the weekend, the governor reminded them to ensure a reflection of the local content policy in the recruitment exercise.
“We have observed that in the NCDMB, we don’t have our sons and daughters within the Board and management. We are also part of the local content. Let our people be equally engaged to work in the organisation and to contribute their quota for its greater impact and meaning in the lives of our people,” he stated.
Governor Eno assured the NCDMB of the state government’s continued collaboration and support for its programmes and activities.
He congratulated the gas minister Ekpo, on his recent election as the President of the Ministerial Meeting of Gas Exporting Countries Forum, and the Managing Director (MD) of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) Ltd, Dr Philip Mshelbila, who was also elected as Secretary-General of the Forum.
“We thank President Bola Tinubu, for his support and we salute you for the critical role that you are playing in the petroleum gas and oil sector within and outside Africa.
“We greatly appreciate your recent donation of a power plant to support the oxygen production facility in our hospital,” he applauded.
He also explained the vision and passion of his administration to make Akwa Ibom a vibrant tourism hub in Nigeria through the ongoing construction of the ARISE Resort; the 5,000-seater Ibom Convention Centre; the 200-room 14-storey Ibom International Hotel and Ibom Shopping City, all for the comfort and recreational delight of tourists and investors in the state.
In their separate responses, Ministers Ekpo and Lokpobiri described the leadership and development strides of the administration under Pastor Eno, as visionary and impactful beyond the state.
Ekpo, noted that the NCDMB Retreat, ongoing at the Four Point By Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene LGA, “would not have been best hosted in any other location in Nigeria other than in a peaceful and serene Akwa Ibom where leadership is captained by a peace-loving governor.”
Obongemem Ekpo, explained that NCDMB, with headquarters in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state, “is all about building local content and regulating activities of companies that are operational in the country.”
On his part, Senator Lokpobiri stated that he was particularly happy that Akwa Ibom has become a home of retreats for most corporate organisations due to her peaceful, serene, accommodating and security- conscious disposition.
According to him, the NCDMB Retreat was initially slated for Abuja, but the Council later chose Akwa Ibom “because of its outstanding peaceful ambience and impressive infrastructure propelled by a visionary and impactful leadership led by governor Eno.”
He, therefore, commended Governor Eno for sustaining and deepening the peaceful nature of the state as well as the expansion of infrastructural amenities the state has been known for over the years.
Senator Lokpobiri, who underscored the importance of the NCDMB in the country, recalled that “in the past 15 years, the board has facilitated the creation of strong local capacity that has filled the gap created by the exit of some foreign oil companies in the country.”
