…As FG set to enhance relations with Morocco in energy, housing***
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, said the Corporation would soon go paperless in its operations.
Baru stated this while inaugurating two committees to achieve the purpose.
A statement issued by the NNPC Spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, on Monday in Abuja, said the committees were: The Systems Applications and Products (SAP) steering committee and the Group Process Council (GPC).
According to him, the committees will aid the Corporation transform its operations from paperless to digital form.
He said the committees would be responsible for a holistic implementation of SAP and emplace enterprise resource planning which would serve as enablers for the achievement of the Corporation’s success.
Baru said SAP was the platform for driving the transformation agenda of NNPC and the 12 Business Focus Areas which include: Ensuring security of the industry assets, Developing new business models, Providing viable alternative funding to Joint Venture Cash Calls, Increasing the nation’s production and reserves base and Growing NPDC oil and gas production.
Others are: Effecting refinery upgrade and expansion, Embarking on renewable energy drive and frontier exploration, Rehabilitating the nation’s oil and gas infrastructure, Strengthening NNPC ventures and common services, Enhancing staff professionalism and Accountability as well as their welfare.
He said the platform had the potential to significantly influence the Corporation’s ability to compete, operate effectively and create value.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government says it is working out modalities to partner with Morocco in housing and energy.
The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Mustapha Shehuri said this interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of the Crans Montana Forum in Dakhla, Morocco.
Shehuri said he had met with his Moroccan counterparts and begun discussions on investment opportunities.
“Our energy sector needs a lot of investment and I have seen the successes recorded here and we are going to partner with them to advance the energy sector in Nigeria.
“I also had a meeting with the Minister of Housing.
“Housing is a very serious problem in Nigeria; we have about 17 billion in deficits of housing and we have started a pilot scheme of the national housing programme.
“To provide more houses, we will need investment from outside; the framework is there but financing the project is a huge task.
“I have also invited our Moroccan counterparts to Nigeria so we can discuss how we can partner to provide affordable houses for Nigerians,” he said.
The minister also said that the forum was a platform for enhanced international cooperation.
Also speaking, Sen. Foster Ogola (Bayelsa West), a representative of the ECOWAS Parliament, also said the forum was a “network of development partnership and creating synergy”.
“The Crans Montana Forum is not a forum for Morocco to win sympathy to be a member of West Africa.
“The application of Morocco to be part of ECOWAS is not yet formal; none of the ECOWAS articles of association provides for any country applying to be a member of ECOWAS. It only provides for exit.
“Until provisions are made for admittance, it is impossible to do anything,” Ogola said.
The Crans Montana forum, held annually since 1986, is aimed at strengthening solidarity in the economic, social and environmental development of the continent.
It is also aimed at enhancing relationships with countries globally, notably in the framework of the South-South Cooperation.
High points of the forum include presentation of the Prix de La Fondation 2018 award to Mrs Debbie Remengesau, First Lady of the Republic of Palau.
Other recipients were Mr Mustapha Cissé Lo, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, and Mr Michel Martelly, Former President of the Republic of Haiti.
The prize is presented every year to some exceptional personalities working tirelessly for a more “humane world”.
Another award presented was the Crans Montana Forum’s Gold Medal.
The medal, a high-profile honorary distinction that celebrates exceptional achievements and actions toward humanity was presented to Mrs Obiageli Ezekwesili, Nigeria’s former Minister of Education.
Ezekwesili is also a former African Vice-President of the World Bank.
Mr Sun Xiansheng, Secretary-General of the International Energy Forum also received the award.