Chief Timipre Sylva, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources
-By Felix Douglas
…Actualization of major projects in the industry within one year
…NIPS marks the opening of other industry events
Giving his closing remarks at the 4th Nigeria International Petroleum Summit (NIPS), the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva referred to the event as Nigeria’s version of Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). The Minister was optimistic that by 2021 some marginal field winners would have struck first oil which will transform into liquidity for the industry.
He said: “few days after the closing ceremony of NIPS 2020 Nigeria and the rest of the world went into lockdown looking back I still marveled at the sequence of event and the fact that NIPS 2020 happened at all. But this year, I must confess that going ahead with preparation despite uncertainties is a demonstration of faith of the entire team behind the event.
“This is the first industry event of this magnitude to be held physically in any part of the world which is a clear testament of the hand of God and an evidence that NIPS is indeed, God’s own event.
“As we gather here to mark the closing ceremony of NIPS 2021, it is my firm belief that we are also marking the opening of other industry events as the world kick start the transition from what is known as the new normal back to the old normal even though I know things will still take more time to be exactly the same again.”
The Minister added that the event clearly demonstrate resilience of Nigeria energy industry despite crisis of Covid-19 pandemic. The unprecedented attendance was never envisaged.
“We knew that the industry has been waiting for this kind of opportunity and we prepared fully for it.
“It has indeed being an intensive four days of agenda setting for new approaches to the future of hydrocarbons not just for Nigeria but for Africa region as a whole. I believe that most of us if we leave here not inspired, but with renewed hope that our industry will soon get back to the great performances of the pre-Covid-19 era.
“I leave you with a message of hope. You will recall that at NIPS 2020, Waltersmith refinery was a mere projection, the FID of NLNG Train 7 was only mentioned in whispers and the commencement of the Ajaokuta-Kuduna-Kano pipeline project was a dream still in the pipeline.”
However, at NIPS 2021, these projects are celebrated as realities and milestones.
Sylva pointed out that they are demonstration of how far the country has gone with focused leadership of President Mohammadu Buhari administration.
“The icing on the cake for me at this year’s summit is the affirmation by industry stakeholders that this administration decade of gas vision is not only practicable but a sure way of using the country’s vast natural gas resources to put Nigeria in the league of top industrialized nation by the next decade. We must not derail this vision.”
He showed appreciation to all keynote speakers, panelists and active delegates of the conference for sharing valuable knowledge and experience.
The Minister urged participants to study communique of the summit when it is uploaded on the event’s web site and published in national dailies.
“The recommendations derived from this conference should not only be vital input for policy making but for us in government and also for all of us stakeholders in this industry.”
Sylva expressed his gratitude to sponsors, staff at the ministry and parastatals who collaborated with Brevity Anderson the event producers putting together the event.
Thus, “in the spirit of global agenda for energy transition and need to remain relevant ahead moving forward, the NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL PETROLEUM SUMMIT quietly did a rebrand and from this moment, it will be known as NIGERIA INTERNATIONAL ENERGY SUMMIT (NIES). See you in 2022 for NIES.”
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