Lai Mohammed visits Rivers state, expresses shock over national assets

The minister of information and culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has described NLNG Limited as a shinning example of the Nigerian success story in management and technical competence.

The minister stated this on Bonny Island, Rivers state, on Tuesday, March 7 after a facility tour of the plant of the NLNG, a company that is being managed 100 per cent by Nigerians and which has 95% Nigerian staff.

"Until I came here I did not know that Nigeria has a humongous asset as the NLNG. I have been reading about NLNG but coming here and having a first hand experience and information, the briefing and the tour of the place have actually changed my mind completely about the NLNG.

"I am inspired, excited and proud to be a Nigerian. This probably is the best success story of this country and my pride largely derives from the fact that this company is run by Nigerians.

"The management entirely represents Nigeria and when you look at the complexity of the operation, I'm also very proud that this is coming from Nigeria," he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said the NLNG is the incubator for the growth of the nation's oil and gas industry, and that if adequately encouraged, the company will replicate in Nigeria the kind of transformation that Qatar did with its gas reserves.

The minister urged the media to continue to project the NLNG positively to ensure that the vision of the company is realized.

In his remarks, the managing director of the NLNG, Mr Tony Attah, said the time has come for Nigeria to unleash its gas potential and power the economy, especially as the country has the ninth largest gas reservoir in the world with a proven 187 trillion cubic feet.

Mr Attah said in order to realise the dream, the NLNG is embarking on the ambitious project for the construction of Trains 7 and 8, which will attract $25 billion Foreign Direct Investment and the creation of 18,000 jobs in the construction phase alone.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has issued a warning to former president Goodluck Jonathan over the abduction of the Chibok school girls.

In a statement released on Monday, March 6, the minister of information, culture and tourism Lai Mohammed said Jonathan must stop engaging in finger pointing over the issue of Chibok girls.

Mohammed said because the girls were abducted during Jonathan's regime, pointing fingers is an unnecessary distraction for the present administration.