“The Federal Government is very desirous to increase investment in the oil and
gas sector”- Lokpobiri
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri on
Wednesday March 12, 2025, toured the TotalEnergies’ offshore fields of Ofon and Egina
as part of a one-day familiarization visit.
The visit was intended to intimate the Minister with TotalEnergies’ investment plans,
ongoing projects and challenges faced by the company in the areas of capex and
community relations.
On hand to receive the Minister were the Managing Director, Matthieu Bouyer, the Deputy
Managing Director JVA, Olivier Cassassoles, Deputy Managing Director, DWA, Victor
Bandele and the Executive General Manager, HSEQ, Eragbae Aikhoje.
In his remarks at the end of the tour, the Minister, Senator Lokpobiri commended the
company for being a shining example of what the Federal Government expects from
International Oil Companies.
“The Federal Government is very desirous to increase investment in the oil and gas sector
to boost its production level. So, I must commend TotalEnegies for being a shining
example of what the Federal Government expects from IOCs. So let us work together
and see how we can improve the sector and continue to do what we can to support your
company for our mutual benefit”
The Minister, however, noted that the Government is not unmindful of the problems of the
International Oil Companies (IOCs). Let’s have a meeting, see where the problems are
and arrive at a win-win situation. “We are not trying to give problems to anybody, it’s going
to be a win-win approach because government is not unreasonable to people’s
problems”, he added.
Thanking the Minister for the visit, the Managing Director, Matthieu Bouyer said
TotalEnergies is ready to partner with the Federal Government in achieving its objectives
of boosting production levels through the implementation of the various new projects lined
up by the company.
He stated that these projects which are tied-back to existing fields will not only increase
production but also bring more revenue to the Federal Government.