The Managing Director of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Dr Philip Mshelbila has promised to sustain his predecessor’s legacy of making the company Africa’s leading LNG firm and Nigeria’s most successful business model.

Dr Mshelbila made this pledge at a Farewell and Welcome Ceremony held in honour of his predecessor, Tony Attah, at the company’s Corporate Head Office (CHO), Amadi-Ama, Port Harcourt, where the latter handed over the symbolic NLNG Key to him thus marking the ceremonial commencement of his tenure.

In a statement signed by NLNG’s General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, the company stated that the symbolic Key handover marked the climax of the leadership transition period at Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG), which witnessed two other events at the company’s Residential Area and the King Perekule Palace, both in Bonny Island.

The Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, His Majesty, King Dr Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, had hosted Tony Attah, his wife, Omah, successor, Dr Philip Mshelbila, and top management of the company to a farewell ceremony at the King Perekule Palace, Bonny on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.  

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The statement said the ceremony was graced by the Governors of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike; and Edo State, Godwin Obaseki; Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB), Simbi Wabote; Chairman, NLNG Board of Directors, His Majesty, King (Dr) Edmund Daukoru; NLNG Board members; NLNG Senior and Extended Management Team; and dignitaries in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and beyond.

Receiving the NLNG Key, Dr. Mshelbila expressed gratitude for the honour of leading the company, pledging further to ensure that the business and corporate social responsibility (CSR) objectives are achieved in the drive to fulfil its vision of “helping to build a better Nigeria”.

“It is with a great sense of responsibility that I stand here today, honoured to be the Managing Director of NLNG. The challenge before us is huge in a world marked by uncertainties and transitions, but I am not daunted.”

“I am not daunted because I stand with a set of seasoned senior and extended management teams who are worth their weight in gold. I am not daunted because, together with the management team we have as members of staff, people who possess the right acumen and resilience, with deep passion and commitment to move Nigeria LNG forward. These are the people who build the Company to where it is today. I am humbled to lead them today.”

“We will complete Train 7 and take more FIDs to secure our place in the global market. We will complete the Bonny-Bodo Road and so many other social projects to fulfill our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria,” he said.

In his farewell remarks, outgoing Managing Director of the company, Tony Attah praised the company’s management team and partners for the successes recorded during his stint at the helm of affairs, urging for more ambitious projects such as more trains for the LNG plant in Bonny Island.  

“I thank the staff and our partners who helped achieve our set goals. It was a collective success. I would like to see the five years as foundational. Earlier, the ambition of the Company was to build only two trains which was referred to as the Base Project.”

“But we went on to build Trains 3,4,5, and 6. Then, we went into a break for 15 years. We pressed reset, released the ‘pause’ button, and got Train 7. But Train 7 is about the same capacity as Trains 1 and 2.”

“For me, Train 7 is another base project, and we should go on to build other trains. I strongly believe we will.”

In his keynote speech, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike eulogized Attah, conferring on him the second-highest honour in Rivers State, saying that “the country needs technocrats like Engr. Attah”.

He noted that the former Managing Director stood firm and made NLNG great, stating that NLNG and Rivers State would never forget him, adding that Dr Mshelbila’s tenure would achieve more, urging him to continue from where Attah stopped.

In his remarks, the NLNG Board Chairman, His Majesty, King Dr Edmund Daukoru commended Tony Attah for performing to expectation and overcoming the challenges posed by the oil price crash in 2016 and COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, amongst other vital wins, assuring Dr Mshelbila of the Board’s unflinching support to help achieve the company’s set goals.

The Deputy Managing Director, Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, represented by the General Manager, External Relations and Sustainable Development, Eyono Fatayi-Williams, described Attah as a visionary leader who triggered the development of key strategies to mitigate risks to the business, assuring Dr Mshelbila of the commitment of the management and staff to the success of the company.

The tenure of Tony Attah, a seasoned global gas expert, as Managing Director of the Nigeria LNG came to an end on Tuesday, August 31, 2021. He returns to his parent company, Shell.