nlng - the magazine

on the Rock

T H E M A G A Z I N E

VOL 8 NO 2 2009

t h e I N h O U S e M A G A Z I N e O F N I G e R I A L N G L I M I t e D

2 NLNG - The Magazine

NLNG - The Magazine is the corporate magazine of Nigeria LNG Limited.The views and opinions within the magazine however do not necessarily reflect those of the Nigeria LNG Limited or its management.

Editor-in-Chief: Siene Allwell-BrownManaging Editor: Ifeanyi MbanefoEditor: Yemi AdeyemiDeputy Editor: Elkanah ChawaiWriters: , Emma Nwatu, Glory Joe, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku, Effiong Henshaw, Dan Daniel, Emeka Agbayi

All correspondence to: Yemi Adeyemi, Editor, NLNG The Magazine, Nigeria LNG Limited, C&C Building, Plot 1684, Sanusi Fafunwa Street, Victoria Island, PMB 12774, Lagos, Nigeria. Phones: 234 1 2624190-4, 2624556-60. e-mail: [email protected] consultancy, design and production: Taijo Wonukabe Limited, 2 Anifowoshe Close, Surulere. Tel 01-6283223, 08023130829. e-mail [email protected], web http://www.taijowonukabe.comPrinted in Nigeria by PrintPro Projects Limited, 2 Anifowoshe Close, Surulere, Lagos, Nigeria.

Celebrating ‘2010’

Don’t you just love numbers? They speak volumes. William Cowper, a Scotsman, wrote the song, “God moves in a mysterious way, His wonders to perform,” but Scott Adams,

not a Scotsman, but a well-known and prolific writer of adventure, took it much further when he wrote that, “the creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.”

Nigeria LNG has been 20 years as a corporate entity; 10 years in operations; has had 10 past winners of the Nigeria Prize for Science and Nigeria Prize for Literature; and if you think that is all in this return to Abuja year of the NLNG Grand Award Night, we have 10 people in the spotlight for 2009 prize awards…

I could go on with the numbers but I think the numbers busi-ness is best left for scientists like Professor Andrew Jonathan Nok, 2009 winner of the Nigeria Prize for Science, who clinched the award for his seminal work in discovering the gene responsible for the creation of Sialidase (SD), an enzyme which causes sleep-ing sickness (Trypanosomiasis) - an African problem. His work reminds us all of why we set up the prizes in the first place—to find solutions to our problems. Despite my limited skill with numbers, I can’t leave the counting of Nigeria LNG’s achieve-ments, to Professor Nok. We, as a Company, have come a long way and are blazing the trail with unprecedented success in helping to build a better Nigeria. That is why we themed this year’s Grand Award Night “Trails and Triumphs”. Our drive and commitment towards sustainable development, a crucial pillar in the way we do business, have assured us the many successes in being a depend-able partner in the development of our country. We couldn’t have made it any other way.

Our Grand Award Night (GAN) edition is always a read-ers’ keep. Meet Professor Nok in one of the most enlightening interviews we have ever done. The beauty of being the Science winner is that you get celebrated long before a Literature winner is named. But our nine poets nominated for the Literature Prize will also get their place in the spotlight in this edition, before the judges make their decision known. LNG business is all about the product LNG and its shipment. Our success story will there-fore not be complete without our other half - NLNG shipping activities. We never finish our business without our CSR driven programmes. This is where we never work in mysterious ways. They are all in this edition to make a complete read.

Join me to congratulate the eminent scientist - Professor Jonathan Nok, the winner of the Nigeria Prize for Science 2009. Let’s reserve our cheers for the prospective winner of the Nigeria Prize for Literature and our great company, Nigeria LNG Limited for the trails blazed and its triumphs.

Siene Allwell-Brown

from the editor-in-chief

p23

the Prize Programme of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Stellar GANish for Literature and Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

A Nok for sleep. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Grand Award Night in history (2004 - 2008)... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

‘09: Nine are chosen... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

CORA rolls out the drums. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Celebrating our 20/10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Signed, shipped, delivered . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Nigerian Content Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Putting people first . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Chima Ibeneche, p5 Andrew Nok, p6 Temi Okesanjo, p25

NLNG - The Magazine 3

Contents


Programme of Events6:00pm

Arrivals / Cocktails

6:30pmNational Anthem

6:35pmIntroductions

7:00pmWelcome speech

7:10pm

President’s remarks

7:20pmChairman’s remarks

7:25pm Goodwill message

by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Nigerian Head of State

7:30pmIjodee dance performance

7:40pm Keynote speech

by Chief Emeka Ojukwu, Ikemba I of Nnewi

8:10pmDinner

8:30pmGo the Distance

(Solo performance by Ugo Ibeneche)

8:35pmPrize presentation (Science)

8:45pmPrize presentation (Literature)

8:55pmVote of Thanks

9:00pmAnthem

9:01pmDepartures

Good evening everyone, and welcome. A couple of hours from now, we shall crown Nigeria’s 2009 laure-ates for science and literature. The Nigerian Academy of Science and the Nigeria Academy of Letters will present to this August assembly, the new kings and queens of Nigerian Literature and

Science.Here’s the good news. No one in this hall expects Soyinka, Achebe, or J.P.

Clark to be announced the winner tonight. The works of these giants, who defined African literature in the last century, are not under consideration.

For the same reasons, Professors Chike Obi, Ayodele Awojobi, Barth Nnaji, Dr. Philip Emeagwali or indeed Emeritus Professor Umaru Shehu will not be named winner of the 2009 prize for science.

We have, it appears, passed the stage of having just a handful of men and women define this country in whatever sphere of life.

Take football. There were Emmanuel Okala, Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Haruna Ilerika – men who served Nigeria and the Super Eagles com-mendably on the world stage. They have all gone on well-deserved retirements but the national team is still contending for the World Cup with another genera-

tion of vibrant football professionals. So shall we continue to evolve; one generation must succeed the other.

You might argue that some gen-erations are greater/better than others, but that would be besides the point, because however great

or small a generation is, our responsibility is to ensure a continuity; in an atmosphere

free of rancour. Far more importantly, the

greatness of any generation is only assured if the succeeding genera-

tion is greater than the former. It is the

future that pre-

serves the value of the past and the present.But then, I am getting ahead of myself. My urgent task tonight is to welcome

you to this August occasion. It’s an honour for me to be your host, this evening. And I am most delighted that you found the time to answer our call.

The Grand Award Night has become momentous and memorable. It is an evening of making history. All who have been in attendance, at any edition, can attest to this and will always remember these very special evenings. Tonight shall not be an exception.

The Grand Award Night gala has become Nigeria’s magical event where writers and scholars previously unsung, unrecognised, and unrewarded, achieve recognition and success despite our collective preference to recognise only power and money. If this description reminds you of Cinderella, it may be because there will always be a day for a true princess no matter how fate appears to hide her behind rags and a hateful stepmother. Our search tonight may not be any different from the prince’s search for the owner of the glass slipper.

Now you understand why we must wind down before midnight. We need to ensure that no one turns into a pumpkin!

Every year, we celebrate works, scholars and writers we consider exceptional. And we are always enthusiastic to share them with others. At the last count [and still going], beginning from the inception of the Prizes in 2004, for literature are Dr. Gabriel Okara, Prof. Ezenwa Ohaeto [of blessed memory], Prof. Ahmed Yerima, Mabel Segun, Prof. Akachi Ezeigbo and Kaine Agary.

And for science, Prof. Akpoveta Susu, Dr. Kingsley Abhulimen, Prof. Michael Adikwu, Dr. Ebenezer Meshida and now Prof. Andrew Jonathan Nok.

They have amongst them very remarkable works that have also won interna-tional acclaim. Some of these works were presented to the Nigerian public for the first time at The NLNG Grand Award Night.

The thinking that led to this prestigious gala for the award of The Nigeria Prize for Literature and The Nigeria Prize for Science has many roots. The first and most obvious is that Nigeria LNG Limited is eager to support the efforts of the government and people of Nigeria in providing a conducive atmosphere for science and literature to thrive.

The second is that we are committed to preserving and nurturing Nigerian life, culture and tradition as well as contributing to the growth of her economy.

The third is that there are some eminent persons in this hall who toiled tire-lessly to make the NLNG Dream a reality. Because of what they did, and because

of what they are doing, Nigeria LNG Limited has become a very successful company.

We promote science and literature to give others the same opportunity you gave us; to give writers and scientists a shot at success; to give writers and scien-tists who have more or less operated at the margins of our society, the pleasure to sit with full merit amongst the business and political elite and be able to spread their fragrance of joy and wisdom in this struggling nation of ours.

Yes, all the foregoing reasons are true. But when we celebrate here in Abuja,

M A N A G I N G D I R E C T O R ’ S S P E E C H

Stellar GANish for literature and science

continued on page 29


Chima Ibeneche


Growing up, Andrew Jonathan Nok had great interest in lizards and toads. No, not as delicacies, but as a reservoir of some secret cure to diseases.

He would catch them, cut them, com-pare organs, stitch them up with a seamstress’ needle and thread with a luminous goal that one day, he would discover something that will impact on the well-being of humans on earth. Though, he had a surgeon’s hands, they didn’t turn out to be that of a surgeon, but a discoverer’s. This was not, by any means, a childhood story of a regular child.

His quest for knowledge on the way a living organ-ism functions and the inspiration from his elder brother, who was a surgeon, led him to a biochemistry degree at Ahmadu Bello University in 1983 and a lecturing job at the university in 1984. From 1985 to 1993, Nok bagged his master’s and doctorate degrees in biochemistry, marking the beginning of an epochal milestone in the area of Trypanosome parasites.

With a strong conviction that African problems must be solved by African scientists, Nok developed his scien-tific skills with a bias for Parasite Enzymology and the development of DNA vaccines for tropical disease. He

focused on finding panacea for Trypanosomiasis, popu-larly known as Sleeping Sickness, through the develop-ment of a DNA-based vaccine. He is also involved in the work on Lieshmania, finding a DNA vaccine against the parasite key in compromised immune systems of AIDS patients.

Nok, in every measure, is a very successful researcher who has won world-recognised grants for his research in Trypanosome parasites and malaria.

He is the first ever African to win a grant from the Japan-based Mizutani Foundation for Glycoscience for which he received ¥3,000,000 (three million yen) in 2004, and from Ahmadu Bello University, $2, 000, 000, for the development of DNA vaccine encoding Cysteine Protease Gene against malaria. Other grants include a World Bank grant for the development of DNA vaccine against Trypanosomiasis and equipment grants from the Third World Academy of Science and the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation in Germany.

A fine scientist with over 80 research publications in national and international journals, Nok is recognised as one of the top three most productive scientists in ABU Zaria and has been given national honour as a Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR).

A

for sleep

T H E P R I z E

Nok

T H E P R I z E

Nok, a professor of biochemistry, is winner of 2009 Nigeria Prize for Science. His winning work is the discov-ery of a gene responsible for the creation of Sialidase (SD), an enzyme which causes sleeping sickness, a critical link in the eventual production of Trypanosomia-sis vaccines. The Committee for The Nigeria Prize for Science described his work as having “the potential of leading to the development of a scientifically elegant and sophisticated solution to a predominantly African problem.”

In this interview with Yemi Adeyemi and Elkanah Chawai, Nok points the road to success and shows his mastery in DNA research.

What were you doing when you heard that you won the science prize?A friend of mine was travelling to Lagos and he called me to find out if I

saw The Nation newspaper on September 16. He wanted to know if I really got the prize. I got confused but he insisted that it seemed that I had won something.

Immediately after church, I had to run around looking for that newspaper. Incidentally, when I got the newspaper, I couldn’t find the news story until my wife looked at it again and saw it. That was how I got the news. In between, I got some text messages from Lagos and from abroad. Some people even gave me some calls from abroad that they saw the news on the internet.How did you feel?

I felt highly excited and accomplished because having very senior elder colleagues that are distinguished to sit down and say that they find me due and worthy to get such an award is one thing that remains very permanent in my memory. I don’t think I got this kind of excitement when I was awarded Member of the Order of the Federal Republic. It is an excitement that ema-nates from things that deal with merit.What prompted your research on sleeping sickness?

Sleeping sickness, otherwise known as Trypanosomiasis, is a disease that affects both human beings and domestic animals. It is an ailment that cuts across both man and animals. However, interest in this research area is weak because it is a disease that affects majorly, the poor people—the people who graze their animal within the tsetse belt are those who get infected by the trypanosome parasites. It is unlike malaria that cuts across the rich and poor strata. You will also find that research in the area is not very rigorous for the same reason. So it has to do with the economic boundary for those who are infected.

This disease affects people in Nigeria and Africa and we want scientists from Nigeria and Africa to be keen on looking for ways to alleviate this problem. You don’t have to look out to the United States or Europe to come and solve a problem which is local here. My interest was pivoted along this path that I have to impact on my immediate community and then the larger community if it becomes academic.Finding the gene responsible for the disease is one thing. Finding the cure or a total eradication of the disease is another. Do you intend to continue until you find a solution for complete eradication or is your discovery a take-off point for other researchers to build upon?

Before we started this, we were trying to look at the mechanism of

the pathology of Trypanosomiasis. One thing you can observe during Trypanosomiasis is the loss of the red blood cells which scientists describe as anaemia. Within the first or second week, you will realise that an animal or a human, as the case may be, acutely infected by the disease is killed and the reason is that the animal loses so much of the red blood cells that it is not able to contend with the disease. So when we set out, we discovered that it was a particular enzyme system which kills and breaks down the red blood cells and so the very first thing was to arrest it. It is more or less like a survival strategy by the parasite. If we are able to stop the parasite from damaging the red blood cells, which means having healthy red blood cells, there will be an opportunity to take up the parasite. Now, what does that show us? We tried to use some inhibitors, natural and synthetic, and we found out it ameliorated the incidence of anaemia. After that, we got interested in finding out the gene. These parasites are like killer machines and they are very clever kind of organisms. They don’t make what they don’t need. They require every piece of bacteria you find in them because they have to survive. It is the same with the enzymes Sialidase as being expressed by the gene which we discovered.

We intend to go further. Our ultimate goal is the control of the disease. The control is suffering from lack of adequate drugs—drugs that can cure the chronic and late stage of the disease in humans. Since 1945, there hasn’t been any drug to take on the parasite once it is at the terminal stage, that is, once the parasite crosses the blood brain barrier. At that stage, you begin to see insanity. In one of our papers, we have been able to link up psychosis to the presence of this enzyme at the terminal stage. The parasite keeps a retinue of different genes of these enzymes at each and every stage to dilapidate organs and to be able to survive in any organ it goes into. We want to see whether we

“This disease affects people in Nigeria and Africa and we want scientists from Nigeria and Africa to be keen on looking for ways to alleviate this problem.”


T H E P R I z E

can develop a vaccine; a vaccine that goes off the conventional way vaccines are designed. Our ultimate aim is to see how we can ameliorate the disease and knock it out to ensure good food production, animal protein and good quality of life.Was it all smooth for you during the research? Was there any time during the research you thought of giving up? What kept you going?

Basically, when you go into scientific research, there are no two ways about having a lot of shortcomings. There will be problems because of lack of electricity and problems associated with getting materials that we make use of especially when we are trying to look at the gene of parasites. We can’t even go to Lagos or anywhere in Africa, except for Egypt and South Africa, where we can import the nucleotide to run PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) to amplify the gene. We have to import some of these materials and sometimes go to the Customs to get this cleared. When they see the cargo, they believe you are a business man.

At times when you do these things, it is not like the results come out immediately. We have been trying to get the gene from the Sialidase since 1993.

In all of these, we have been able to gather a lot of experience. Down here in Nigeria, one has the flexibility to actually get the parasites from the wild but again you need molecular tools to know exactly the kind of parasite you are dealing with. Some of my Ph.D students get frustrated mid-way because if the parasites they bring are not on the same line, they have to start over. It can be frustrating. They go through a lot psychologically to secure some of these materials. They are not just expensive but the investment in time and capital is quite immense. I have had ups and downs but one ultimate thing is that I really want to get the result that will impact on the society. And that keeps my spirit going. Sleeping sickness is not one of the ravaging killer diseases in Nigeria. Did the research on sleeping sickness prove easier to do than breaking grounds

with other more deadly diseases?The research on Trypanosomiasis is very essential because more than

169 million cattle are at risk of the disease annually. If you look at it in terms of food production, that makes it quite serious. Besides, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed the disease amongst one of the five criti-cal diseases that it is interested in. Asides that, we can be 80 percent sure that any drug discovery made that has to do with Trypanosomes can also work against cancer because the mode, manner and survival of cancer cells, and the metabolism of cancer cells is similar to the metabolism you find in Trypanosome parasites. So the research maybe “pedestrian,” but can veer into other areas. When you look at the knowledge world, you will find out that break-through researches can actually be pushed into other areas and it can be quite convincing. The German government is interested in what they call the rare and non-explored diseases. We have signed an MOU with the University of Bremen under the German Research Society and our work has to do with checking the developmental stages of Trypanosome right from the wild, through the insect to where we have arrived now. That tells you that the developed world is now keen to recognise what ways they will be able to assist in alleviating this disease.

You may not think that it is like a disease that keeps people scared like AIDS or Ebola but in the long run, you have people who do not have adequate food to eat or inadequate nutrition and it impacts negatively on the physical development of the population and the country’s growth. Take note that this is not just in Nigeria but Africa at large. Would you describe yourself as a regular child growing up? What was your inspiration growing up?

Yes, I was a regular child. I grew up under strict disciplinarian kind of parenting. We went to boarding school. My parents gave us everything we needed to be good students like buying books but pocket money was highly minimal. We were allowed to play games like soccer and we had quite a

“The research on Trypanosomiasis is very essential because more than 169 million cattle are at risk of the disease annually. If you look at it in terms of food production, that makes it quite serious.”


T H E P R I z E

number of friends then when growing up like Useni Dikko, Aminu Dikko and Nasir el-Rufai whom we used to play soccer and table tennis with in Saint Johns in Kaduna. Growing up was very regular and times were better. We went to L.E.A schools, not big private schools. We got excited that though we were not from the upper class but from a humble background, we had the opportunity to school with children of people who were big in the society. Growing up along with them helped one cut across different kinds of barriers and to know that one can actually aspire to higher heights in life.Where and when did your penchant for research and discoveries start? What was the lure?

I think it started from childhood. Growing up, I was highly inspired by my late elder brother. He was a consultant surgeon. He had tremendous influence on me. I used to take the liberty of catch-ing lizards and open them up to look at the stuff inside. And we try to stitch it with needle and thread. Sometimes, we do it with toads just to compare them. It is amazing that all these things are living things. In those days, we were told that if you have some form of ailment, the lizards can be cooked and the extracts could cure different kind of diseases. It was amazing. But then I used to know that this had to do with something much more than the animal; it’s not really some voodoo science but something is out there that we don’t know. This was actually the lure into science.

Subsequently, when I went to secondary school, I had interaction with mates of like minds.What role did your parents play in your career choice?

Not much really. My parents gave us the leverage to make choices that we so wished. We were surprised that our parents easily availed us the funds to purchase science books, which were more expensive than literature books. I think indirectly, that was more like an encouragement for us to pursue our career along that line. I ended up going for Biochemistry and my elder brother ended up being a medical doctor.Would you say that biochemistry was a calling for you or was it one of those courses you had to settle for while trying to do something else? Did you ever consider Medicine?

There were three things in my mind. I thought of Medicine, Building and Biochemistry. My mind tilted to Building because of peer influence on me. People used to say there were quite a number of things one could benefit from being a builder but at the end of the day, when the sub-dean of the faculty of science then looked at my records at A Levels, he said it was better for me to go for Biochemistry. I remember that my elder brother was quite excited. I was also fascinated by one Professor Mary Hallaway who worked with Sir Han Krebs, a German-born British physician and biochemist. He discovered the Krebs cycle and she was a student under him. In those days, we use to think they were abstract human beings; even to see a student of Sir Han Krebs in Ahmadu Bello University and having the opportunity to talk with her was an immense excitement for some of us and that was how I ended up in Bio-chemistry. I caught up with the excitement and developed interest to find out molecular events in life.What do you do for leisure?

I like listening to music. I like blowing the saxophone and the Scottish bagpipe and I do some writing sometimes.

Where did you learn to play the musical instruments especially the Scottish bagpipe?

I learnt the Scottish bagpipe when I was in the Boys Brigade as a child. The activity can be quite exciting, trying to exercise your lungs. Above that, I actu-ally like the Scottish kind of bagpipe music. What inspires you?

First and foremost, I am a strong believer in God. One particular challenge is that one has to conquer his environment from whichever field he finds him-self and I am convinced each time that I have to contribute something even without being given and I can only do this through the kind of things I do. That’s why I find it difficult to hang out oversees to pick up a job. I had offers in Germany, Japan and the United Kingdom but I feel there is a lot more to that and what I consider is the challenge to come back and see the things I can do. I feel proud each day when I look back. I have high-flying career people and past students that passed through me. I am proud that I have been able to graduate 25 Ph.D students; I am proud that I have been rated one of the top three most productive scientists in Ahmadu Bello University by the Organisa-tion of the Islamic Countries. I feel glad that out of this, I have been able to meet with 29 Nobel Prize winners this year. I stayed with them for up to 10 days. To even be invited to sit with them is something that is most gratifying. I feel a lot of fulfilment in this and it’s like a farmer seeing his crops grow; they look green and you know it’s harvest time. The farmer doesn’t really think about the money that he is going to make out of it but seeing the beauty out of it is something. I feel fulfilled but also feel that I have a lot of other things ahead. So these are some of the challenges that keep me going.If you were to describe yourself in adjectives, what will they be?

I am simple.What other remarkable research works have you been involved in?

I am working on snake venom. We are interested in some enzymes which are equally involved in the high pathology observed during snake biting. We are equally looking at chemotherapy against snake bites. In some research cen-tres in Israel, they are trying to see if snakes can cure AIDS. These are animals in the wild and in most cases they don’t get sick. So it is fascinating to find out what they have that makes them survive a number of things other animals cannot survive. We are also interested in research on Insect Biochemistry. In all your works, which one is closest to your heart?

That will be the Trypanosome research on Sialidase, dealing directly with

“I feel proud each day when I look back. I have high-flying career people and past students that passed through me.”


T H E P R I z E

the break-down of the red blood cells. This has been able to give us a lot of interesting observations like realising that the red blood cell can be a direct indication of quality of life because of the kind of salination on it. The salina-tion makes it susceptible or less susceptible to damage not only to Trypano-somes but also to malaria parasites. That is why the work on Trypanosome is quite close to my chest.What other prizes have you won and what place will the Nigeria Prize for Science take?

I am the first Nigerian to win the Mizutani Foundation research grant from Japan. Also, I have been able to get grants from the Alexander Von Hum-boldt Foundation; the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science; and the Lady Davis Foundation Award which I executed at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. But then, the Nigeria Prize for Science is one of the top prizes. What is next for you after the Nigeria Prize for Science?

I have a team and our major focus is to get a DNA vaccine, try it out and see if we can partner with some companies that will be interested in market-ing the product. We are looking at other segments of the gene of the Trypano-some parasite. It may not necessarily be the Sialidase gene. There are other genes that are critical to survival of the parasite. We intend to use functional genomics to determine those segments that are useful.

If that gets us well, we can move into other diseases and share information with other scientists in that area. We are very sure that such breakthroughs will hit the world and make our country more respected.What are you spending your $50,000 on?

I am very excited about collecting the medal. The money will be used to develop our laboratory, train some of our young scientists and get some of our materials. Then, part of it will go to my family for being there for me.Your colleagues are currently on strike over the government not rewarding them enough. Are you contented with your job? What are the perks?

Most of us found ourselves in this job because we wanted to do it. We believe it’s a calling. Academics in Nigeria, just like anywhere in the world, live a life of contentment. If there is no petrol around, I can trek to my lab and trek back home.

But the government will have to be more realistic in funding research. I was in Bonn, Germany and I saw a post-doctoral with a research fund of 65 million euros. She is not the professor of the lab; she is just one of the staff of the lab. Believe me; she will get breakthroughs. Most of the funding I use to sustain my research I got from outside. If you give a Ph.D student N100,000, what does he want to discover? 500 grams of a particular chemical cost N345,000 and it’s something you use and throw away; you can’t regenerate it. University funding is capital intensive. Why are lecturers saying that at least 30 per cent of the country’s fund should be committed to research? If the world gets a breakthrough in finding alternative sources of energy, we will be in big trouble. Look at the issues of Niger Delta; they are issues that deal with bio-remediation. Finding an answer to this is not just going out there to clear the waste; you can clone some micro organism that can eat up those fuels and you will have a clean environment. They can plant their trees again after that. They can clone and make trees that can reconvert some of the carbon sources and even bear fruits. But the quantum of funding on research in Nigeria is extremely poor.

The strike by lecturers is not just about increase in salaries but it has to do with serious funding of research and once the funds are there, the government can begin to back out and give full autonomy. In Kano, doctors do kidney transplantation. Who has taken interest in ensuring that the facilities there are top rated? No one wants to think that in Scotland, they are trying to work on breeding pigs with human hearts so they can have a large reservoir for transplantation to humans. Why can’t government bail out research?Is Professor Nok a family man?

Yes. I have been married to Amina since 1990. We have three children—two girls and one boy. Anita is the first and she is about going off to the university to study Chemical Engineering; Amanda is second and she is just in S.S.S 1 while Nathan is just in class three. Who is the woman behind Professor Nok?

Amina, my wife has been very supportive. Even though it is not her area, when she gradually realised that I can’t be home always, she started to cultivate the habit of going to the lab with me. I was able to train her on a few things to help me. She is not a scientist but at least, she can run electropherograms for me. She can wash my test-tubes and capture some things that I want in my computer. At times she stays three to four hours with me and she appreciates how weighty and demand-ing my job is. But she wasn’t unaware of this before we got married that as a scientist, you have to go an extra mile to live very happy at home.What would people not catch Professor Nok do?

You can’t catch me idle—I mean in its totality. I can’t go into anything I can’t benefit from. So I rather brainstorm for several hours than sit up for one hour and go into issues that add no value to me. That is why I rather gravitate around people who are better than me and pull me whether they are younger than me or not than to hang around people who are not very serious in thinking. You can’t find me in a party spirit.

“I have a team and our major focus is to get a DNA vaccine, try it out and see if we can partner with some companies that will be interested in marketing the product.”



The Grand Award Night in History

(2004-2008)

2004Public Presentation of the joint winners of the Science Prize

Dr. Gabriel Okara, Prof. Charles Nnolim and Prof. Dan Izevbaye

From left: Semaila Kewa, fomer Deputy MD – NLNG, Kingsley Abhulimen, Prof. Akpoveta Susu and former Chief Justice of the Federation, Mohammed Uwais

Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka congratulates Prof. Akpoveta Susu and Kingsley Abhulimen, joint winners of the Science Prize

Former Head of

State, Gen Yakubu

Gowon also

congratulates Prof.

Akpoveta Susu and

Kingsley Abhulimen

The NLNG Management Team, led by former MD, Dr. Andrew Jamieson show appreciation to guests

Prof Gabriel Ogunmola, former

President, Nigeria Academy of Science

presents the winners to Dr Chris

Haynes, former MD of NLNG


2005

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Mr. Dele Olojede, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, delivering the keynote address

Prof. Ohaeto being

congratulated by

Dr. Chris Haynes

No winner for Science Prize ….Prof. Gabriel Ogunmola

Guests at the Grand Award Night

Hostesses at the Grand Award Night

Dr. Gabriel

Okara shows his

appreciation of the

Prize

Former MD of NLNG, Dr. Chris Haynes welcomes guests to the Grand Award Night

Members of the Literature and Science Committees with guests at the Grand Award Night

HRM King Edward Asimini William Dapa-Pepple III, Perekule XI, the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, makes a grand entrance

Joint winners of the

Literature Prize, Dr. Gabriel

Okara and Prof. Ezenwa

Ohaeto with former MD of

NLNG, Dr. Chris Haynes

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2006Dr. Chris Haynes, Former MD of NLNG, welcomes guests to the Grand Award Night

Dr. Ahmed Yerima shows off the Prize for Literature while Dr. Chris Haynes looks on

Mr. Shehu Ladan, Former Deputy MD of NLNG, presents the Science Prize to Prof. Michael Adikwu

Dr. Ahmed Yerima, winner of the Literature Prize being congratulated by fellow writers

Members of the NLNG family

Mr. and Mrs. Shehu Ladan with Dr. Chris Haynes

The trendy Crown Troup performing at the Grand Award Night

Prof. Ayo Banjo announcing

the winner of the Literature

Prize

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2007

General Ibrahim Babangida delivering the keynote address

Prof. Ayo Banjo announcing

the winner of the Literature

Prize

Uche Peter Umez, runner-

up 2007, The Nigeria Prize

for Literature

Omawumi

Magbele of

West Africa

Idol fame

thrilled the

audience

Guests at the award night

Prof. Akachi Adimora-Ezeigbo and Mabel Segun, joint winners of the Literature Prize show appreciation while Dr. Chris Haynes looks on

HRM King Edward Asimini William Dapa-Pepple III, Perekule XI, the Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom and Dr. Chris Haynes, former MD of NLNG

Mr. Shehu Ladan, Former Deputy MD of NLNG, giving the Vote of Thanks

General Ibrahim Babangida,

General Yakubu Gowon and

Chief Ernest Shonekan at the

Grand Award Night

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2008

Senate President, David Mark delivering the keynote address

Engr. Faithful AbbiyeSuku, Deputy

MD of NLNG, presents the Science

Prize to Dr. Ebenezer Meshida

Prof. Ayo Banjo, Senate President

David Mark, Alhaji Shehu Shagari

and Chief Ernest Shonekan

Royal Male Choir performing

Kaine Agary shows off her Prize

for Literature as Dr. Chima

Ibeneche looks on

Engr. Faithful AbbiyeSuku giving the Vote of Thanks

Musical Performance by Ugo Ibeneche

From left: Dr. Chima Ibeneche, MD of NLNG, Kaine Agary, winner of the Literature Prize, Dr. Ebenezer Meshida, winner of the Science Prize and Engr. Faithful AbbiyeSuku, Deputy MD of NLNG

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‘09: Nine are chosen...

O M O U w A I f O – L I t A N ySome friends believe that Omo Uwaifo

should have been a musician, as singing was a passion he excelled in while growing up. Writing was a later day development. But it is a craft Omo Uwaifo has taken very seriously having retired from the power utility company. His first published work, Let Them Bleed, under the pen name, Aimie Noho, was an expression of anger against a personal disappointment from certain quarters. But that expressed anger against a certain personality has come to be a recurring decimal in his writing.

Litany, his first collection of poems, has been shortlisted as one of the top nine works in the 2009 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature. A Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, he has also published books on Engineering. Litany is dedicated to the late Niger Delta environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa. According to a critic, in the collection, Uwaifo emerges the griot of modern Nigerian history in his, at once, clear-eyed recapitulation of the fractured story, the deferred hope and ineluctability of the Nigerian renaissance.N E N G H I I L A G H A - J A N U A R y G e S t U R e S

Nengi Ilagha hails from Bayelsa State and was at one time the speech writer to the Governor of Bayelsa State. Mantids, Nenghi’s first collection of poems won the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) Poetry Prize in 1995. He is married to Bina Nenghi-Ilagha, whose work in prose, Condolences, similarly received an honourable mention in the first edition of The Nigeria Prize for Literarture 2004.

His collection of poems, January Ges-tures, has been shortlisted as one of the top nine works in the 2009 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature. Ilagha describes the collection as “the starting point of a year-long odyssey.” And explains that it runs into February Fabric, the second book; the third book, the March Marbles; April Apparition; May Memoirs; June Jamboree; July Jubilee; August Altars; September Strange; October Octopus; November Nodules; and December Decibels. So it is a calendar long project and January Gestures is the first chapter of this calendar of faith.”

A firm believer in the development of young writers, Ilagha intends to spend the prize money of $50,000, if he wins it, on the construction of a Writers’ Village in Bayelsa.

G ’ E b I N y O O G b O w E I - S O N G O F A D y I N G R I V e R G’ebinyo Ogbowei was born 55 years ago in

Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He holds a Masters of Philosophy degree in African Literature from the University of Port Harcourt and was until recently, the Head of Department of English and Literary Studies at The Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State where he currently teaches African Poetry and Creative Writing.

A poet and social critic, his literary career began while he was an undergraduate at the University of Lagos. Since 1978, his poems have appeared severally in Idoto, Matatu, ARIEL, PRISM international, Black American Literature Forum and Okike. He was at one time the chairman of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State Chapter. His collection of poems, Song of a Dying River, has been shortlisted as one of the nine works vying for the 2009 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature. The poems in the collection are tied together by the idea of betrayal, ethnic cleansing, and environmental pollution. He also looks at the crises in various locations of the globe, fuelled by the toxic mix of poverty, corruption and ethnicity.

On his chances of winning the award, Ogbowei believes that “a good work of art is like cream with a bubble at the top. If it is good poetry, let it bubble to the top.”A D E M O L A D A S y L v A - S O N G S O F O D A M O L U G b e

Ademola Dasylva is a native of Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. He is a poet and biographer, literary theorist and critic. Dasylva, who holds a doctoral degree in African Literature from the University of Ibadan, is a member of numerous professional and academic organisations including Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA); Folklore Society of Nigeria; Western African Modern Languages Association and is the Co-coordinator, Ibadan Cultural Studies Group, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. In March 2009,Dasylva won the 2009 Africanist Research Award, at the University of Texas USA. He is widely published in local and international scholarly journals.

His collection of poems, Songs of Odamolugbe, won the 2006 ANA/Cadbury National Award for Poetry and has been shortlisted in the 2009 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.

According to Dasylva, “Odamolugbe in Ekiti dialect is somebody who has sufficient yam heads and can even give some to others to start their life. Metaphorically too, the society poet


Last year, the Literature Committee announced two books as the final shortlist for the 2009 Nigeria Prize for Literature which was a clear departure from the norm of three finalists. This year, they chose to announce nine books as final shortlist for the ninth year of the millennium. That and the fact that this year’s prize is based on poetry makes this award a special one.

Yemi Adeyemi provides a brief profile and weighs their expectations.

T H E P R I z E

is believed to have the knowledge, wisdom and philosophy so that when you impart that on others, it is like a rich farmer giving out yam heads for others to start their life and learn.”

If he wins, Dasylva intends to spend a substantial part of the prize money promoting the activities of the Ibadan Cultural Studies Group which was essentially established to promote excellence in cultural studies.A H M E D M A I w A D A – F O S S I L S

Perhaps, if he had not come in contact with the works of Hausa poets like the late Sarkin Zazzua Aliyu Dan Sidi, Ahmed Maiwada might have been an artist as he used to enjoy drawing while growing up. But the beauty in the words used by poets got him hooked to the world of creative writing. He, however, developed the confidence to translate his thoughts into words while studying at the College of Advanced Studies (CAS), Zaria where he studied Literature in English, History and Government before proceeding to study law at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.

Since his first collection of poems Saint of a Woman, Maiwada has published poetry in hard and electronic international literary journals and anthologies and has been described as one of the “emerging voices” in literature. His collection of poems, fossils, has been shortlisted for the 2009 Nigeria Prize for Literature.

Ahmed explains that fossils is multidimensional: “You can look at it from the level of the home or the level of the nation. Most homes are dysfunctional and are throwing out vagabonds and miscreants out into the society and that is why the crime rate is so high. If you dig deep into the Nigerian issue, you will find the solution in the home. On another level, it addresses the nation. I said to myself, if all the groups in Nigeria go their different ways, it will have disastrous effect on all. We all need one another and should stay together as country.”

Maiwada also loves developing young literary talents and is a literary critic. He lives in Abuja where he practises law and writes.O D O H D I E G O O k E N y O D O - F R O M A P O e M t O I t S C R e A -t O R

Okenyodo bagged a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, but his passion for literature prodded him into the literary world. He has worked for “about a decade” as a journalist with the Weekly Trust.

Okenyodo is also a firm believer in youth development and has collaborated with leading NGO - ActionAid, CISLAC, NOPRIN, CLEEN Founda-tion, the Nigeria Gender Budget Network (NGBN) and many others. In 2001, as part of his devotion to improve access to literature and educational development, he founded and led the Kaduna Writers’ League, which works with secondary schools and indigent pupils to improve their literary skills. Okenyodo is a member of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA).

from a Poem to Its Creator is Odoh Diego Okenyodo’s first collection of poems. It has been shortlisted as one of the nine works competing to win the 2009 edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature. M U S A I D R I S O k P O N A C H I - t h e e A t e R S O F t h e L I V I N G

Musa Idris Okponachi was born 53 years ago in Idah, Kogi State. Asides teaching, Okponachi loves meeting people and understanding their point of view on diverse subjects. His collection of poems, The Eaters of the Living, has been shortlisted to vie for the literature prize. A seasoned educator, Okponachi has taught at all levels of education; primary, second-ary, polytechnic and university. He is currently a senior lecturer at the University of Maiduguri. Okponachi’s works have been published in many publications, including Vultures in the

Air (Ibadan, Spectrum Books), Silence of Time (Maiduguri, Muse Publications).

Okponachi’s interest in the English Language was fuelled by the motivation he got from broad-casters during the Nigerian civil war. Based on this, he developed a strong interest in the language which led him to read a lot of books in many fields of human endeavours. He also became interested in literature and thus cultivated and sharpened his writing skills. Okponachi explains that he is a poet “because poems are telegraphic. It does not take a long time to encapsulate what you want to say.”

”The title of the collection actually comes from the Quran but is reversed. The Quran asked ‘would you like to eat the flesh of your dead brother’, admonishing gossipers. When somebody gossips against you, he has cheated you and when he cheats you, it is as good as eating you. That is where the title, The Eaters of the Living comes from,” he says. L I N D S A y b A R R E T T - A M e M O R y O F R I V e R S

Lindsay barrett, a naturalised Nigerian, was born in Jamaica. He worked as a journalist in Europe and Africa, before settling in Nigeria. A political analyst, poet, playwright and novel-ist, his celebrated works include Jump Kookoo Makka, which was performed at the Leicester University Commonwealth Arts Festival in 1967 and The State of Black Desire, his first book, which included three poems and three essays focusing on black alienation, exile, and black art.

A Memory of Rivers, one of his works, is on the shortlist of this year’s edition of the Nigeria Prize for Literature.

In addition to his profound commitment to crea-tive writing, especially poetry, Barrett is erudite in his coverage of global political affairs. He was for more than three decades a roving correspondent in Africa for the influential newsmagazine, West Africa. He has maintained weekly columns in several Nigerian newspapers over the years and his column “From the Other Side” in the Nigerian tabloid, The Sun, is one of the most widely read in Nigeria today.

He says poetry best expresses his experiences. According to him, “three writers on the shortlist have claimed to be influenced by me. If any of those writers win, I will feel that I won.”H y G I N U S O Z O E M E N A E k w U A Z I - L O V e A P A R t

With about 15 major screen credits, three published plays, a published novelette, three published collections of poetry and 12 published books under his hat, hyginus Ozoemena ekwuazi can be described in some many words. He is not just a literary artiste, he is also an administrator – having steered the course of both the National Film Institute (NFI) and the Nigeria Film Corporation (NFC) at various points in his long career spanning almost three decades in the literary world.

Ekwuazi’s collection of poems, Love Apart, won the ANA/Gabriel Okara poetry prize in 2007 and has been shortlisted for the Nigeria Prize for Literature. A lecturer at the University of Ibadan, Ekwuazi teaches Media Arts (Broadcasting and Film).

He loves imagery in poetry. In his words, “Poetry has a way of giving you a density of mean-ings because of the imagery. Poetry has affinity to music. It moves you. I have published three dramas. But I am more in tune with poetry.”


T H E P R I z E

CORA rolls out the drumsThe Committee for Relevant Arts on September 20 honoured the nine poets shortlisted for the 2009 NLNG-sponsored Nigeria Prize for Literature. By the lagoon, the nine poets

recited their poems and allowed guests into their minds as they revealed their motivation and what they intend to achieve. The event ...in pictures.

Hyginus Ekwuazi lets the audi-ence into his world

Jahman Anikulapo, Programme Chair-man – CORA, welcomes guest to the event

Otunba Tunji Sotimirin thrilled the audi-ence with a solo drama performance

Deji Toye moderating the event

Literature enthusiasts discuss the works Guests at the event

A photo-journalist in the ‘lens’

Nenghi Ilagha explains his poetry


T H E P R I z E

Ahmed Maiwada picks up Fossils

Nenghi Ilagha reads from January Gestures

G’ebinyo Ogbowei engaged the audience

A guest exploring one of the collections of poems

kaine Agary, 2008 winner – The Nigeria Prize for Literature

Jude Dibia, 2008 runner-up – The Nigeria Prize for Literature

Guests at the event

Some guests at the event Aspiring writiers at the event

Diego Okenyodo explains his collection of poems


F or anyone conversant with the world’s oil and gas industry, Nigeria LNG Limited needs no introduction. Established 20 years ago, began production ten years after, this company has

literally defined the LNG business in the last decade. It is the story of our 20/10.

It is a company that has brought hope, faith and respect to Nigeria and its other shareholders because of its immensely successful run on the world stage since September 1999 when it exported its first cargo.

It started just like any other Nigerian international company – lots of false starts and vociferous arguments about money, shareholding, and management – but soon became something unique: an always-prompt, always-predictable, always-reliable supplier of LNG and NGLs to the Atlantic basin.

To be sure, NLNG did not change the basic form of LNG business - It relied on the long-term take or pay contracts on the back of which the industry was built – but it grew aggressively, and became not just one of the fastest growing LNG projects in the world, whilst its sister company, Bonny Gas Transport, with 24 vessels, became one of the owners of the largest dedi-cated LNG fleet in the world.

Impressive as it is, NLNG’s bold strides on the world stage constitute only half the story; its benefits to Nigeria have become the stuff of legends. Imagine a company that has successfully diversified the revenue base of the country, contributing a whopping seven per cent to its GDP; a company that has attracted foreign and local investment to the tune of over $13 billion over a space of 10 years; a company that has reduced gas flaring by monetising Nigeria’s gas resources, rewarding share-holders with cash dividends to the tune of over $9 billion.

Furthermore, Nigeria LNG’s contributions have been critical to national development and its partnership with its host and pipeline communities has led to pal-pable peace in its area of operations in the Niger Delta, showing the possibilities which exist when careful plan-ning and stakeholding are applied to pressing issues of national significance.

As NLNG celebrates a decade of exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG), historians keen on some reflection on the project will review the hurdles the project faced, the creativity applied to ensure its triumphs and find in its contributions to the Nigerian nation, some valuable lessons for sustainable development.

Celebrating our

20/10

F E A T U R E

by e F F i o n g h e n s h aw


F E A T U R E

Early attempts to establish a natural gas project in Nigeria date as far back as the 1960s but the high cost of making such a scheme possible, its viability and the avail-ability of a ready market posed considerable concerns. Then again, the comparative advantage of exploiting oil, yet another resource found in abundance in Nigeria and the ready appetite for it in the international market, helped to douse any enthusiasm for a plan to develop the country’s potential for monetising its natural gas resources.

After some failed efforts, the renewed vigour by Nigeria in the 1980s for an LNG production facility was greeted with understandable scepticism from would-be buyers and indeed the international community. Many cited the long years of unstable governance under military rule and the associated shifts in policy as further examples of its impracticality. These analysts argued that the very nature of the LNG business, apart from involving a huge capital outlay for both producers and buyers, required a sturdy reputation of meeting commitments as guided by contractual agreements. They insisted that because the engine of all advanced nations run on the reliability of its energy supply, an inconsistent provision of natural gas—not an unlikely outcome for parties interested in a Nigerian project—would derail painstaking developmental efforts and slow, if not reverse altogether, the gains of their economies.

For any Nigerian project to be successful it would require thorough prepara-tion, hard work and an unprecedented commitment from all its partners including unequivocal support from the Nigerian government.

The coming together of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell Gas BV (SGBV), Total LNG Nigeria Limited and Eni International (N.A.) to form the Nigeria LNG venture was therefore closely followed with considerable apprehen-sion. If a success, such a project was capable of aiding Nigeria’s re-introduction into the comity of respectable nations, as a dependable energy partner capable of meeting its obligations.

More importantly, it would help diversify the nation’s economy away from oil, reduce the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions associated with gas flaring and likely provide a reliable springboard for other Nigerian projects to attract foreign partnership, bringing exponential growth to the nation. b E y O N D E x P E C T A T I O N

Interestingly, perhaps the first sign that the project would be a superb success, was in the start-up of its Train 2 project in 1999 ahead of Train 1 in 2000. Both facilities make up the Base Project with a capacity for 6.4 million tonnes per annum (mtpa). Train 2 exported its first cargo on October 9 and delivered it safely for Enel at the Montoir de Bretagne LNG receiving facility in France10 days later, helping Nigeria realise over 30 years’ aspiration of monetising it huge gas resources. Progressing quickly, Nigeria LNG recorded a major feat with the coming onstream of its Train 3 (Expansion Project) in November 2002. Trains 4 and 5 (NLNGPlus) began production in November 2005 and February 2006 and Train 6 in December 2007. These six trains combine to deliver 22 million metric tonnes of liquefied natural gas and supply 10 per cent of the world’s demand for a clean, efficient fuel, positioning Nigeria as an influencer in the global LNG market.

Whilst its shareholders’ financed the Base Project and reinvested their earnings to fund the Expansion Project and Train 6, economic historians will dwell longer on the source of funding for NLNGPlus (Trains 4 and 5). Distinctive for bringing together local and international banks including the African Development Bank for a syndi-cated loan, it is seen as one of the early origins which encouraged partnership between Nigerian and international banks. The collaboration involved five international and six Nigerian banks. The international banks comprised BNP Paribas, Citigroup, Credit Lyonnais, MCC and West LB and the Nigerian banks were Citibank Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, FSB International (now a part of the Fidelity Bank Group), Guaranty Trust

Bank, Union Bank of Nigeria and the United Bank for Africa. More telling than the confidence these diverse lenders had in the project to make

a good return, was the backing for the facilities of some of the foreign lenders by four respected Export Credit Agencies (ECA)—Export-Import Bank of the United States of America, Italy’s SACE, NCM of the Netherland’s and Export Credit Guarantee Depart-ment (ECGD) of the United Kingdom— all government agencies. This was taken as abundant proof of a renewed confidence by these foreign governments in Nigeria’s capacity to meet obligations as they fall due.

Hailed as the “largest such financing in sub-Saharan Africa” at the time, assessed and granted strictly on the merit of its creditworthiness, it was also the largest single loan—$1.06billion— generated in Nigeria and further affirmed the world-class standard of the NLNG project.

The success of the funding affirmed Nigeria to be conducive for foreign invest-ment and provided a springboard for similar well-structured businesses to attract international third party funding.

The NLNG project is now worth an estimated $13 billion in terms of investment and has contributed over $4.7 billion to the country’s general purse so far. When its seventh train comes on stream, it is expected that NLNG will contribute an annual income of $3 billion dollars to the country’s general purse.

New efforts at further monetising Nigeria’s gas resources through other LNG and gas utilisation projects have drawn inspiration from the success of Nigeria LNG Limited and rightly so. Opportunities abound for the nation in becoming a gas producing and exporting country and in totality will assure Nigeria its pride of place

in the world.The beginnings of Bonny Gas Transport (BGT),

NLNG’s shipping arm, was similarly audacious. One could easily see an eagerness to change the landscape of the Nigerian maritime industry. Its first four ships were acquired even as NLNG was yet in its formative stage. Seeing an opportunity to buy the ships pending shareholders final investment decision (FID)—the irrevocable confirmation to invest in an LNG project—NNPC and its partners in NLNG acquired the vessels and loaned them to existing projects pending the start-up of the Base Project in 1999. This ensured that the vessels became assets right from the point of acqui-sition. Some of the countries whose projects utilised the vessels include Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Qatar. The incorporation of BGT abroad and the registration

of its ships in Bermuda was pivotal and the only option for securing financing for the ships from foreign lenders.

In hindsight, this bold initiative has enabled huge gains for the company and con-sequently Nigeria. The nation can now boast of a fair share of its compatriots as com-petent seamen. In 2003, BGT attained a landmark when Hambali Yusuf became the first ever Nigerian captain aboard an LNG vessel. Marvin Abe and Charles Ohanwe followed in quick succession becoming captains in 2004 and 2005 respectively. Recently, Chris Anom achieved similar glory by becoming the first ever Nigerian chief engineer aboard an LNG vessel this year.

BGT’s continued efforts at Nigerianisation aim to ensure that by 2010, 85 per cent of all officers and 100 per cent of all ratings on-board its vessels are Nigerians.

As of September, BGT has delivered a total of 1,709 cargoes. From an initial four vessels, the subsidiary has grown its portfolio to 24 vessels, all celebrating Nigerian locations like Finima, Bonny, Lagos, Rivers, Bayelsa, Sokoto and Cross River, after which the ships are named. The ships deliver cargoes to countries like Turkey, Portu-gal, Spain, Italy and the United States of America effectively acting as ambassadors for Nigeria’s maritime industry. P O w E R f O R G R O w T H

For any Nigerian project to be successful it would require thorough preparation, hard work and an unprecedented commitment from all its partners including unequivocal support from the Nigerian government.


F E A T U R E

In its relationships with host communities, NLNG has similarly raised the bar to ensure their development tallies with the company’s growth. For one, the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for each of the company’s trains has a community relations project aimed at providing infrastructure for the company’s “neighbours” on Bonny Island and has led to the repair and construction of a number of major roads on the island.

Premised on stakeholding and sustainability, NLNG’s community relationshas enabled marked growth by its empowerment of cooperative groups to grow busi-nesses through micro-credit. Also, its partnership with the Bonny Kingdom to deliver the Bonny Vocational Centre (BVC) which trains youths in vocations like welding and fabrication, electrical installations, and business administration is changing the story of youths in the community. BVC delivers courses of international standards and awards graduates with certificates from the City and Guilds of London. Before the establish-ment of BVC, no such institution existed in Bonny.

But perhaps its most far-reaching initiative to kick-start the development of its neighbours is in setting up the Bonny Utility Company (BUC) which supplies reliable power to households on Bonny Island.

The Joint Industry Committee (JIC) comprising NLNG, Shell Petroleum Develop-ment Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPN) embarked on the lofty ideal of generating power for Bonny, in honour of an agree-ment reached with the Bonny Kingdom in 1998 to provide stable electricity in 1998. Nigeria LNG Limited spearheaded the effort that gave birth to the agreement and is responsible for 50 per cent of all costs on the project. Shell and Mobil bear 30 per cent and 20 per cent respectively.

Other stakeholders who supported its establish-ment were the community, the Bonny Local Govern-ment and the Rivers State Government.

Nigeria LNG, working with the community, agreed on modalities to make BUC sustainable. This meant that while electricity would generally be provided free of charge to the community, it would attract a fee if used beyond a certain quantity. With the buy-in of the community on these terms it was easier for NLNG to go at full throttle to generate sustainable power for Bonny. The local government donated the land for the BUC office and its technical yard, as well as exempting it from taxation. The Rivers State government, for its part granted the requisite permission to operate and further seconded linesmen to provide support.

Initially planned to reach 2,000 customers, BUC now caters for 8,858 fee-paying customers and is estimated to reach 90,000 dwellers who benefit from the electricity generated. Bonny indigenes currently enjoy 99.2 per cent power availability which translates to 362 days uninterrupted supply of electricity. This has encouraged growth of industries, generated jobs and improved household incomes, essentially improving the standard of living for the entire community. P U T T I N G C O U N T R y f I R S T

As a commercial endeavour, NLNG is an export-oriented company producing Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Condensate for trade in the international market. But with millions of Nigerians suffering under a severe lack of LPG (cooking gas) following the breakdown (in the 1990s) of the nation’s refineries (one in Kaduna, two in Port Harcourt and yet another in Warri) and decaying infrastructure stifling imports, the company saw the need for a new thinking.

Even if this would involve improvising a different business structure, requiring a huge capital expenditure, NLNG felt it would be well worth the investment in terms of benefits to Nigerians for making cooking gas available and affordable

Beginning April 2006 and involving over 267 stakeholders including banks,

wholesalers, retailers, bottlers and other industry players like the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Product Pipeline Marketing Company (PPMC), Oando and Hyson, NLNG organised a town-hall meeting to discuss the challenges facing the LPG sector in Nigeria.

Essentially, the company sought as priority, business interests that would be com-mitted to placing the well-being of Nigerians above profit. From this meeting emerged six off-takers: Le Global, Chimons, Hyson, Harig, Linetrale and Greenfield.

NLNG then devised an innovative solution that would bring immediate succour to the market— the ship-to-ship model of LPG transfer which enabled it to convey, while stationed on the high seas, LPG loaded on the mother vessel at its Bonny jetty to a smaller vessel which could berth conveniently at the Lagos port. LPG would then be received by the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) terminal, stored and shared between the off-takers for delivery to millions of Nigerians.

This design enabled NLNG commit to supplying 150,000 metric tonnes of LPG per annum. NLNG also bears partial cost of the mother vessel, B W Saga, chartered from Caverton Marine at $7.5million. The off-takers similarly agreed to collectively pay the other half of the cost for the mother vessel and the communal use of scarce facilities like storage which was one of the factors responsible for scarcity. Finally the off-takers pledged not to divert any of the quantities supplied to neighbouring markets and to reinvest some of their returns in developing the infrastructures that would prevent future scarcity. In essence, they guaranteed supply of cooking gas to Nigerians.

Some of the gains of NLNG’s involvement in the domestic LPG market have been instant. The price of a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas hovers between N2,100and N2,500 depending on location of purchase. This is more than 65 per cent reduction from N7,500 for the same quantity which the product sold for at the height of its scarcity.

Also with more Nigerians using this fuel, threats of smoke-related health problems associated with the use of alternative fuels like kerosene and firewood for cooking have been effectively contained. In the long term, it is expected that the investment in infrastruc-ture made by the six off-takers, will position Nigeria to remain as a vital hub in the workings of the regional LPG market. Chimons for instance has advanced with plans to construct an integrated LPG terminal with 30,000 metric tonnes capacity and Linetrale is looking at developing a state-of-the-art terminal in Lagos that

will provide storage and has placed orders for 20 trucks to service secondary depots.These commitments all testify to not only NLNG’s but also Nigeria’s can-do

attitude in solving problems to enable development when challenges arise.C H A L L E N G E A N D R E S P O N S E

Arnold Toynbee, the British historian, achieved critical acclaim for his work, Study of History, in which he based the development of great societies on a theory called Challenge and Response. According to Toynbee, great societies develop because they have individuals, organisations, or systems that are capable of responding creatively to whatever challenges hinder their development.

From government’s contributions to see the project take-off, through the stead-fastness of its partners in its incorporation to the project’s consistent engagement of Nigeria to find solutions to pressing issues, Nigeria LNG has shown an unparalleled commitment to see Nigeria flourish.

In 20 years of existence and just 10 years of export, NLNG represents the quintes-sence of what Nigeria can become when its potential for greatness receives due attention and our collective energies channelled aright to address problems facing our nation. It therefore stands as a worthy celebration of Nigeria.

the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract for each of the company’s trains has a community relations project aimed at providing infrastructure for the company’s “neighbours”


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It has been ten years now since a huge LNG tanker, LNG Lagos, took the first LNG cargo from Nigeria LNG plant in Bonny. The first shipment not only marked the beginning of a business that represents the biggest investment in Sub-Saharan Africa, but also represented a turning point in the nation’s shipping industry worth more than $3 billion in freights and labour.

Nigeria LNG Limited, through its shipping arm and wholly- owned shipping company, Bonny Gas Transport (BGT), has weathered the storm and remains the oasis in a stymied industry complicated by the global economic downturn.

NLNG’s shipping arm successfully controls 24 dedicated ships, getting the best economies of scale on 11 chartered dedicated ships and making profits from 13 BGT-owned ships.

Temilola Okesanjo oversees activities of the shipping arm of Nigeria LNG worth billions of dollars as the General Manager of NLNG’s Shipping Division. He has over 25 years of experience in the shipping industry, from oil tank-ers to LNG shipping. He spoke with Yemi Adeyemi and Elkanah Chawai on the success of BGT, ship manage-ment with its intricacies and development of the human resources in the industry. The excerpts:As the GM of NLNG shipping division, you also double as MD, BGT?

There is no MD of BGT. What we have in BGT is the President, Dr O. R Long-

John, and the Vice President, Mr Chima Ibeneche (MD/CEO of NLNG). I won’t call myself the Chief Operating Officer but I am something like that when it comes to managing BGT activities by NLNG.You trained in oil tankers and were already a captain before you joined NLNG. How did you manage your transition to LNG carriers?

My transition was more of utilisation of my ship management capacity. I have not sailed on LNG tankers but on oil tankers but I have the ship manage-ment capacity. Managing ships is managing ships, be it LNG Carrier, Oil Tankers, Container ships etc. The only thing is that you have to upgrade yourself on the peculiarities of the trade when you switch management of different types of vessels. With LNG shipping, you are building a dedicated ship for a dedicated trade and it requires a lot of customer focus within the context of the fact that, a particular project is dedicated for the delivery of cargo to some particular custom-ers save for some few spot trading. Whereas in the crude oil trade, it is more of spot delivery; the cargo can change hands so many times before delivery. Whereby you are dealing with Free On Board (FOB) scenarios on oil tankers, you are dealing with Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) scenarios on LNG with some FOB. It is more of relationship management with LNG shipping than what you have with oil tankers. With oil tankers, you have more fluidity but laced with high credibility requirement.With 24 ships, BGT, NLNG’s subsidiary, is one of the biggest dedicated fleet in the world right now. What accounts for this success?

All the shipping activities centre on NLNG. When you talk about 24 ships, you are talking of the number of LNG carriers that NLNG has requisitioned or chartered on a long term basis for lifting all the LNG production from Trains 1 to 6. These ships are chartered by the company for about 22 years. However, 13 of those ships are owned by Bonny Gas Transport (BGT), a fully-owned subsidiary of NLNG. For the remaining 11 ships, NLNG has the option to buy any of them. Basi-cally, how we have arrived here is due to the company’s planning for the shipping capacity that will be required in respect of the fulfilment of cargo delivery obliga-tions under the sales and purchase agreement for Trains 1 to 6.Would that mean that an expansion in the number of ships solely depends on an expansion in the company’s LNG production?

Signed, shipped,

delivered


That is true to some extent. There will be an increase in the number of ships that will be required to lift such increase in capacity. But it does not necessarily mean that it will translate into long term charter. Last year, when we had excess production, we chartered additional ships on a short term basis to carry such excess cargo. Also, when we were doing what we call the long distance cargo delivery for buyers which necessitated increase in distance, we had to charter more ships to fulfil this cargo delivery obligation. At the end of the day, we got more money for the company. Such delivery increases the amount of money paid by the buyer in respect of those car-goes and the shipping cost is relatively very minimal. We made more money.There is a planned expansion by NLNG. Is there any plan alongside this to expand the fleet?

What I meant by NLNG having “purchase options” on the 11 ships owned by other third party owners is that those ships are meant to provide the transportation required for the current capacity of the six trains. Whether you buy them or not, they will be there for the life of the plant. The only thing that the company has done in respect of that contract is to say at every period for which that option could be exercised, the company can look at the economics to determine whether it is cheaper to continue to charter the ships or buy the ships at the price that has been stated in the contract/ Charter Party Agreement for the respective ship. Talking about expansion, you will recall that the company has a plan to build another train -Train 7. That plan is still on the drawing board. Associated with that is the plan to acquire additional 10 to 12 LNG carriers. We have a new dream, and definitely we will have more ships on a long term basis, in order to fulfil the cargo delivery obligations that will be associated with such expansion.It cost about 967 million dollars to acquire the last set of ships for the company. With the economic meltdown, how much will it cost to build a new ship and would it be economically viable to do that now?

The last six ships acquired were for Train 6. Four of those ships were supplied by BW Gas and two by NYK. In terms of upfront capital investment, NLNG did not invest any money. The capital investment was that of BW Gas and NYK as ship owners and they chartered those ships to us once the construction was over. That is why the option to purchase those ships at certain interval is there in the contracts. Economics dictates where it is possible to have or reduce your upfront capital investment. It is like borrowing money from the bank and if you have it at a good rate, credit is good for business. What I am saying in essence is that for those ships, it was not NLNG investing money upfront. Even for the last BGT ships that came with Trains 4 and 5, some of the money was put down by NLNG and the other by the banks and that was part

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of the loans that was refinanced for BGT. BGT has actually paid back the loan that it borrowed from NLNG. NLNG is not investing any capital per se in the ships. BGT, BW GAS and NYK were the ones putting forward the capital and the plan is that for any of these owners, any expansion will have to be with their money and it improves the economics for that project. If you were to place a monetary value on BGT assets, what will the company be worth?

Let’s put it this way. The way it works is that whatever BGT owns is owned by NLNG. There is what you call joint economics between NLNG and BGT. The cur-rent asset of BGT is about 2 billion dollars. The Annual Report of BGT will provide an accurate answer to your question.You did mention that everything BGT owns is owned by NLNG. Compared to other assets of NLNG, what percentage will BGT take in the total assets?

Again, let’s put it this way in a rough estimate. In the whole 13 ships, six of them are old ladies worth about $100 million each today. The remaining seven are about $150 million to $160 million each. That will give you almost about $1.7 billion. Compared to the monetary worth of the plants, I would say that BGT is worth about 30 percent of NLNG assets.Since NLNG is a Nigerian company and it owns BGT, why is BGT flying a Bermudian flag?

With all due respect to the shipping administration and management in Nigeria, it is important for anyone in the shipping business to fly a flag that will support the business and will not encumber it; That is, fly a flag that its admin-istration has the wherewithal to ensure that the ships under its flag comply with all the International Maritime Organisation rules and regulations and codes and it has domesticated all such rules and codes of IMO. No ship owner will like to register its ship or fly a flag which does not have the manpower, surveyors and everything it needs to demonstrate to the international maritime community that it is in the league of best flags. Such ship owner risks the tendency of her ship being frequently subjected to what we call “Port State Inspection.” What that means is that, irrespective of the quality of people on the ship and the standards with which you run the ship, once they know that your flag is suspect, there is the tendency to send inspectors to your ship and turn it inside out. This will delay your port activities, increase your port costs, increase your operating costs and may even have impact on the way your customers see you. Particularly in our kind of trade which is a sort of round the clock business, you don’t have time to spend in the port. To that extent, in as much as we belong to Nigeria and we are Nigerian, the Board of Directors of NLNG and BGT have been doing everything to help Nigeria not only to upgrade her flag and registry, but have all that it takes to develop such a flag that we can, at the end of the day feel confident of, and can register BGT ships with. But until we get to that point, it will not be a good business strategy to bring those ships under the Nigerian flag.The company (NLNG) was exempted from paying taxes because of its pioneer status. Was this applicable to BGT? If not, how much tax or monetary contribu-tion can we say BGT has made to Nigeria?

For every dividend that was paid to the shareholder of BGT, 49% of it goes to Nigeria. And roughly, BGT has paid to its shareholders’ dividends over US$500 mil-lion. So at least in the last two years, a sum of about $250 million has gone into the coffers of the Nigerian government through NNPC. This is a rough estimate and

I am talking of BGT as a shipping company which is owned by NNPC with 49% shares. So, if you pay $100 dividend, the Nigerian government takes 49% of it. But BGT is a Bermudian company. Some people may want to ask why should BGT be also affected by the exemption?

BGT as a company is registered in a tax haven which is Bermuda. So the company is not subject to tax in the country of register. That is one. Now, money comes from the services it is providing to NLNG whether it is subject or not to tax. My understanding is that anybody providing shipping capacity to NLNG will be exempted from tax under the NLNG act. That is my understanding.What about port charges. Is BGT exempted from them?

Nigeria LNG is not exempted from port charges. So for every NLNG chartered ship that is loaded at Bonny Teminal, they pay port charges as required. You said an average of $250 million has been paid to the government. Is this the amount paid since the inception of BGT?

You will recall that BGT started in 1989 with four old ships and they were bought when the NLNG Project had not started. NLNG started production in 1999. The ships were bought ten years before the Project commenced, due to the foresight of the founding fathers. Later on, two of them were put into use and were working outside the country because the project for which they were bought had not started. Eventually, the third one joined the fleet of employment. The good thing is that during the time that NLNG was yet to commence production, money realised from the trading of these ships was being used to run NLNG office. So, that in itself was a contribution that the company was bringing to the country. And by

1999, when we started, the company was involved in expansion and so it was using some of its money to expand and buy new ships. Not until two years ago when the company was fully stabilised that it paid off the loan to shareholders which was more than $200 million. We agreed on the working capital that was required for the company including the money that would be used to refinance the repayment of the loan. Every other money that was left in the coffers of the business was declared as dividends to shareholders. The business has stabilised and it has continued to pay dividends to its shareholders and repay loans to its creditors.Since NLNG is already involved in helping to develop the Nigerian Ships Registry so that the country can have a reputable flag, when do you think this situation will change?

What I would love to see is a strategic action plan with milestones that will lead to the attainment of

such a flag and register and that can only be developed by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) with our support and we have expressed this to the agency’s Director General. Until that strategic action plan is laid out with milestones, we will not be able to say categorically when we will achieve this. It is something that we can achieve within the period of five

years if we are serious. Mark you. this is something that has to do with the regula-tory authority. It is not something Nigeria LNG can do on its own. We can only support. The initiative and the action have to come from NIMASA. What is your take on the factors militating against this?

I think I should turn this around. What are the factors militating against every situation in Nigeria? Until we are ready to do things the way it should be done, we will not get there. If you want to use that as one of the militating factors, that’s fine. There may be a lot of other things that is making us as Nigerians not do it the right

BGT has paid to its shareholders dividends over US$500 million. So at least in the last two years, a sum of about $250 million has gone into the coffers of the Nigerian government through NNPC.

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way and you can figure that out. What’s the rift between NIMASA and NLNG about?

Let me be very categorical about this. Nigeria LNG, as a very responsible corporate citizen, does not have a rift with any government organisation. We don’t do it; we don’t encourage it. We may have different opinions about different issues but we are always open to discussions to find the best solution to every area of disagreement. The issue in point is about the NIMASA 3% levies on freight for import or export. NIMASA is claiming that NLNG allegedly owed some money which would have been collected from the levy on freight for all the cargo that we have exported. It is the company’s view that this may not be correct under the Act setting up Nigeria LNG. This matter has been discussed at the National Assembly. We have sat down with NIMASA and we discussed it during the visit of NIMASA’s DG to NLNG. What is your relationship like with other regulatory bodies?

We engage various classification bodies and Port State authorities. We also take part in other shipping organisations. What we do in principle is to ensure we maintain very cordial relationship with regulatory or shipping organisation that are involved with BGT with the intention of ensuring mutual benefit for the company and for the organisation. To what extent has Nigeria LNG been involved in dredging and channel widen-ing of Bonny Channel?

We have been involved to the extent that we try to provide a roadmap and the support that Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) requires. We also try to show the way in making NPA see the need to do what we expect them to do so that it becomes mutually beneficial for them and for us in terms of our business. That is going very well. It is a good way to cooperate and mutually provide benefits for the country and company.In terms of development, what value has BGT brought to the country?

For the fact that everybody in Nigeria, particularly the shipping industry, knows BGT speaks volume of what it has brought to the country. When you look at the company itself in terms of capacity develop-ment in Nigeria today, I make bold to say that Nigeria LNG, through BGT, is the only company training and developing seafarers as officers on board ships—be it Engine & Deck cadets, Deck officers, Engine officers, Electrical officers and Ratings for the various jobs on the ships. Today, we have about 400 Nigerian Ratings, 130 Nigerian officers and 90 Cadets & TEOs serving onboard BGT ships. Within that context, when you look at the foreign-going shipping trade of Nigeria, BGT, in terms of capacity development, is the only one there; ditto for capacity development for onshore organisations. For the fact that I sit down here as a Nigerian managing the affairs of BGT is a big contribution to the country. What it means is that I have an opportunity to contribute to the management of asset that is worth billions. If you look around Nigeria today, how many companies are worth $2 billion?

If you look at image, BGT has brought good reputation to the country. How, you may ask? The refinancing of BGT’s $680 million loan was done with an achieve-ment of a rate of interest that is the lowest so far in African shipping finance and highly rated in the world. It shows the confidence that the international shipping and finance community has in the management and running of BGT despite all that is happening in Nigeria. The banks are still ready to give more because in that loan, we have the opportunity to draw more credit facilities. That shows you the

confidence they have in the company which in a way represents confidence in the country. BGT is owned by a Nigerian company and the finance sector is so confi-dent in its capacity to repay, having never defaulted on any of its previous loans. It shows you that we are developing a good reputation. Capacity development also leads to more job opportunities. Basically, you are reducing the number of people that are not employed in the country, apart from developing them and providing them with shipping skills.

You also look at the relationships we have had with various international organisations aside the banks, like ship yards. We build ships with different ship yards. We dry dock ships, a benefit of our relationships with ship yards. We have various customers and suppliers. We don’t default on our obligations. That is why most of them are willing to do business with us and also participate in future devel-opment of the company. All these, I believe, are things that the country can look at as positive contributions of BGT and Nigeria LNG.Do you think the benefits of these achievements by BGT and Nigeria LNG have spiralled to other shipping companies in the country? Do you think the confi-dence in Nigerian shipping companies have increased as a result of BGT?

Let’s ask the question: what lessons have other companies learnt from BGT and how have they caught the BGT fever? I see many ship owners wanting to know how we have achieved these feats and I try to give them advice and tell them those things they need to watch out for in order to develop a solid shipping business. There is nothing more important than making sure that you have quality assets—both hardware and software. Hardware means the ships and software means the

manpower. The second one is what I call, “credibility and good business ethics” because in shipping, “your word is your bond.” If you enter the market and you are not seen to be a credible ship owner, nobody will want to deal with you. But once you enter the market and you demonstrate that you are a credible ship owner, everybody takes you serious. That is shipping. And if you don’t have good business ethics and you also default on your payments and obligations, nobody will deal with you. But if all these things are present, that is credibility, good business principles and solid financiers coupled with quality assets; the sky is your limit irrespective of your nationality. Are you trying to say they are not learning from you?

They are learning from us but how far they are taking the lessons and the rate at which they are absorbing the lessons is another thing.What, in your view, is the recipe for running a suc-

cessful shipping company?Like I said earlier, if you want to run a successful shipping

business, you need three major things. The first one is that the assets must be solid and must comply with all the international standards. When you have this hardware, you will also need qual-ity manpower to run and maintain it to standards. With quality assets and qualified manpower, you now have the basis upon

which to enter into the business. When you are in shipping busi-ness, you are dealing with what they call the shipping market. The rules of engage-ment are such that if you are not credible, nobody will have anything to do with you. Credibility stems from your “word being your bond”. If you say you are going to do something, you have to fulfil it. You will need good business ethics for this. You can’t run these things with corrupt practices. You must be able to do things with best practice. And with that, you will not only be able to multiply you investment, but your relationships provide you opportunities that will grow your business.

In Nigeria today, I make bold to say that Nigeria LNG, through BGT, is the only company training and developing seafarers as officers on board ships.

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Where is the company on Nigerianisation now?What the company is doing, is what I call step by step human capacity

development in shipping. We started with the officers and we have a development schedule. When we reached a certain number of officers, we then brought the ratings so that a particular culture would have been developed on board which could be cascaded down to Nigerian ratings. When we reached that number, around 150 (officers & cadets), we developed a road map for the development of ratings with a view to completing the Nigerianisation of ratings position by 2010, because it is faster to develop the Ratings than the officers—it takes three to four years to become a junior officer from cadetship—with a focus on 85% Nigerianisation of the officers position around 2014 or 2015. So there is a schedule that we follow religiously but with a focus on quality and discipline. In as much as the numbers are being attained, we are also ensuring that where we need to weed out people for lack of quality and lack of discipline and dedication, management and shareholders will have no hesitation to do that. We fine-tune the programme/training schedule to ensure that each milestone is adjusted for any prevailing circumstances. We moved forward this year with the signing of the Ship Management Knowledge Transfer Agreement (SMKTA) with STASCO for the acquisition of ship management skills. This is a meticulously planned programme which started as far back as 2007 and the intention is that come June 2011, Nigeria LNG Ship Management Services (NLNGSS) will be in position to commence management of four BGT ships and by 2014, the company would have been managing nine BGT ships. We are partnering with Shell Trading and Shipping Company (STASCO). Our capacity development programme will give us a total acquisition of what it takes to run a shipping company because today we have the commercial capacity, we have the officers and now, we are training the top level people that will provide that technical management.

What does this kind of programme mean for the larger maritime industry in Nigeria?

What this means is that come 2011, you will see a Nigerian company in the name of NLNG possess-ing the capacity to provide quality ship management services which is a very essential ingredient for sustaining any shipping organisation because that is the core of shipping. When that is fully established in Nigeria, you can imagine how that is going to impact on the development of quality ship management in Nigeria in terms of the capacity to provide quality ship management services to other companies and the spread of the dividends that would have accrued from such skill acquisition.In line with the company’s commitment to national development, do we see this kind of arrangement in the future with other Nigerian shipping companies where NLNG can transfer knowledge?

One good thing about this company is its readiness at all times to impact positively on Nigeria. In our vision, we want to build a better Nigeria. If you look at the company itself, in every sphere of its operation, it endeavours to make sure that it cascades whatever value it has to the country in general. I am very optimistic that with the support of shareholders, there shouldn’t be anything that will make it difficult for the company to provide the opportunity for other people to learn from what we have acquired in terms of ship management skills.Two other LNG companies are in the works and you did talk about rendering services to other companies. Will the company service these companies when

they come on stream?In my view, Nigeria LNG Limited, as a responsible corporate citizen, should

not find it too difficult to provide opportunities for other entities to gain from whatever skills that exist in the company. I cannot see any major difficulty for NLNG shareholders in making it possible for other companies to share in whatever knowledge we have, particularly when they are Nigerian companies and part of the LNG family. Is there a possibility of NLNG chartering ships out to them and making money from that?

Currently, we only have capacity to lift our cargo. However, the company is chartering ships to other companies, as we are doing now, when we have reduction in gas supply. For example, LNG Borno was chartered to a third party and we made money from it. We made about a million dollars from such third party charter. So if there are opportunities that will add value to the company, I don’t think the

shareholders will oppose that.Nigeria LNG supplies LPG to the country. What is BGT’s role or the role of NLNG’s shipping arm in that?

BGT is not playing any role in the domestic LPG supply. The shipping divi-sion is however involved in the chartering and management of the LPG mother vessel, BW Saga, and it is also involved in ensuring the quality of the smaller ships that take cargo from the mother ship. The division also maintains the commercial management of the ship and makes sure that the cargo is loaded and the discharge to the mother vessel is efficiently done. The shipping

division is key as it ensures that the objective of the company, within the context of loading the cargo from Bonny Terminal and discharging it into the smaller vessels, is achieved.One of the factors responsible for the cost of cooking gas (LPG) is cost of the shipping component. What is your take on how to work around that cost?

If you take out the bottleneck at the discharge jetty and port and create opportunities for bigger vessels to discharge into the tanks, this will reduce the shipping cost. It will not only reduce cost but it will also reduce time and that will substantially reduce the cost of LPG.Why is this so difficult to achieve?

It’s not. It is just that it requires investment and planning. From my understanding, one or two com-panies are already thinking along this line.So what is your vision for NLNG shipping in the future?

The vision is simple and it’s something we have commenced work on. It is basi-cally turning Nigeria LNG shipping into a service-oriented and value adding outfit. What that means is that we want a robust, effective organisation that can provide efficient shipping and marine services to Nigeria LNG and, in doing so, not only reduce the cost of those activities but provide such services on a competitive basis and become the choice service provider for Nigeria LNG Limited. Now that we are in one shipping division, the next step will be to become a servicing company that will manage shipping services, manage BGT ships and provide waterfront activities for Nigeria LNG and we will be a company that will provide services for other people if the shareholders approve and in future, be floated on the Stock Exchange with other shareholders and Nigeria LNG having a stake in the new venture. That is the dream.Is that the direction you are driving your personnel to?

Any organisation that does not have a vision will die. There must be something driving you. The only way you can be efficient is having your own resources. It is not by sourcing resources which can be extremely expensive

Private sector participation in our economy will make a lot of difference but proper management and regulation will make that difference positive. We still have a long way to go but it is achievable.


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but may not have allegiance to you. The driver is to create that base of quality manpower with quality hardware or shipping that encompasses all that it takes to become an efficient, service-oriented outfit. We want to provide service with a service level agreement showing Key Performance Indicators and delivera-bles. From there, we will graduate into a company that can be measured by the services and the income it generates. In the area of personnel, you recorded a milestone recently with the first Nigerian ship engineer to sail on LNG ship emerged?

What you mean is that one of the people we are training in ship manage-ment is becoming a superintendent now.Who are we talking about?

We are talking about Yusuf Hambali as operations superintendent. Chris Anom and Ken Essien are being trained as engineer superintendent. Some others will soon join.What does this mean?

What it means is that, we are achieving the milestone we have set for ourselves along the path of ship management knowledge transfer. We are on course. How many people are on the line to achieve this feat?

In the engineering, we have one person that has been added to Chris and Ken. In operations, two are joining Hambali and that is according to what we have planned and required for taking over four ships come June 2011. We are training people in manning, procurement and IT and other ship management business elements.Will they be the first Nigerians to have achieved this?

I won’t say that. But when it comes to managing LNG ships, they will be the first.Could you shed more light on the planned manning company by NLNG?

NLNG Ship Manning Limited (NSML) is on track. We are sorting out some few issues which Shareholders will like to ensure that they are properly in place before the commencement of operations. All other things being equal, we should be able to see NSML on ground from early next year. Can you give a comparative look of the Nigerian shipping industry in the world? Where are the potentials?

The shipping industry is a very wide area. If you look at ship owning and ship management, except for BGT, you can’t point to any other reputable com-pany in Nigeria. If you look at Ship Agency and Ship Husbandry, we have one or two Nigerian companies there but the majority is owned by foreigners. For port management, the Nigeria Port Authority is there. Most of the ports have been concessioned. For most of these companies, I will love to think that they have the interests of Nigerians at heart but the jury is out. Then, the bits that NPA does, like the dredging have also been concessioned. I understand they are doing capacity development but again the jury is out. If you then look at the regulatory environment, NIMASA has a long way to go because a lot of things are not yet in place. The way our flag is and the way we have domesticated the regulations still leaves much to be desired. So, on the whole, the Nigerian ship-ping industry that I knew when I started this career has gone down. If you want me to score the industry in terms of the participation of Nigerians and also the growth of the business and how it should be in the comity of other maritime nations, out of 10, I will give it 3. Any strength or potentials?

Nigeria LNG is a good potential because you see a company offering a ray of hope for the industry. If the concession is well managed with good regulation, it may be strength. The channel and water way management authority, if well managed, may be strength. It has come to show that private sector participa-tion in our economy will make a lot of difference but proper management and regulation will make that difference positive. We still have a long way to go but it is achievable.

I have yet another reason for this big party. To have an event where politicians are spectators and the ordinary person, the star!

The objective of these Prizes, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, is to produce stars – in the genres of literature and the various fields of science. And we are con-vinced that several years down the road, our sons and daughters who accept this challenge will be world-class writers and scientists and will change this country’s narrative of political instability and economic under-development to one of success and rapid progress.

My task, this evening, is not to tell you about the merits and demerits of these prizes; that is the work of journalists, critics and historians. I touched on the quali-ties just to remind us all about the purpose of these prizes, which is to honour the best Nigerian book and the best Nigerian research work in any given year.

When in November 2003 we proposed these prizes to writers, critics, and scholars in Nigeria, we were quite clear on our intentions; to bring about a re-awakening for literature and science, stimulating creativity and writing; giving writers, scholars, researchers and scientists a pride of place. We think we have achieved just that.

We commend our judges for their exemplary standards and steadfastness. They have demonstrated that this country is capable of delivering to high standards. I also urge them to hold the door ajar for the unknowns of literature and science. The fun will go out of the contest if the unknowns – rookie writer with his first novel – have no chance of making it through to at least temporary fame.

All other things being equal, we think we have given Nigeria something to be proud of. And we are determined to sustain and improve on our modest achievements.

In conclusion, we wish to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who tonight is represented by the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Alhassan Zaku, the Chairman of this occasion, Gen. Yakubu Gowon, GCFR, President Shehu Shagari GCFR, President Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, Rt. Honourable Ken Nnamani, former Senate President, The Chief of Army Staff, Abdulrahaman Danbazau, the Executive Governor of Kebbi State, His Excellency, Alhaji Usman Saidu Dakingari, Honourable Ministers, of Niger Delta Affairs, Chief Ufot Ekaete, of Information and Com-munications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, of Commerce & Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa, of State for Petroleum, Mr. Odein Ajumogobia [SAN], of Sate for Commerce & Industry, Chief Humphrey Abah.

I sincerely wish to express our deep appreciation for the presence of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Dr. Emmanuel Egbogah and the Special Adviser to the President on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tanimu Yakubu.

I cherish our relationship with these eminent Nigerians and publicly acknowledge the many acts of kindness they have shown to Nigeria LNG Limited.

Finally, the man who needs no introduction: Dim Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Ikemba Nnewi. The first Oxford-trained Nigerian soldier, the thinker, the philosopher, the warrior, and the orator, par excellence. Nigeria LNG Limited is grateful to the Ikemba for accepting to give the keynote speech this year.

On behalf of the management of Nigeria LNG Limited, I welcome you all.

Thank you all and God bless you.

SPEECH BY CHIMA IBENECHE, MANAGING DIRECTOR, NIGERIA LNG LIMITED AT THE 2009 GRAND AWARD NIGHT CEREMONY AT THE TRANSCORP HILTON HOTEL, ABUJA, 10TH OCTOBER 2009.

Stellar GANish for literature and science continued from page 5


T H E P R I z E

Before 2005, there wasn’t any real niche for local manufacturers and service providers in the oil and gas industry, average annual spending of $16 billion

on contracts and services. More often than not, many oil and gas companies went

out of the country to look for services that could easily be found within the country, even for services as commonplace as catering services.

The Federal Government, disgruntled by the fact that a whopping 85 per cent of $16 billion was being spent by multi-national oil companies and joint venture operators on service providers abroad, launched the Nigerian Content Policy in 2005 to protect local investors.

Nigerian Content

WorkshopB y E l k A N A h C h A w A i

Though regarded as a positive initiative, one of the major challenges for the policy since its inception is limited information on industry programmes and spending to guide service providers and investors.

As a good corporate citizen and in its commitment to sustainable development, Nigeria LNG Limited on August 25 organised a Nigeria Content Stakeholders Workshop in Bonny to tackle this challenge of information by throwing the doors open to enlighten local contractors on the pattern of spend-ing in the LNG industry and investment opportunities.

Over 80 investors, service providers, representatives from Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), international oil companies, and other LNG companies in Nigeria attended the workshop.

The Nigerian Content Policy is not new to Nigeria LNG. Since its incorporation, NLNG has made it part of its policies to prepare a Nigerian Content Plan, NCP, as a master plan for all of its projects. The plan is usu-ally developed from a survey that identifies Nigerian companies capable of providing services. And when there is none, the company moves to develop local capacity. Due to the foresight of NLNG’s Board and management, huge capital investments were made in Enchep, Dorman Long, Kabelmetal and Nigerian Foundries to build their manufacturing capacity to supply high quality materials for its projects. NLNG has trained no fewer than 6,000 workers, transferring skills and creating employment in the industry.

With this impeccable record, NLNG sought to contribute more to developing Nigerian Content by signposting the path to great opportunities.

However, participants had expectations and challenges. Many raised issues with capacity building and difficulties accessing finance to invest.

In response to the issues raised, NLNG’s General Manager for Production, Mats Gjers, stated: “NLNG will be here for many years to come and there will be a lot of jobs and services that need to be done in a long term. We have seen problems in the past years of getting foreign vendors in like security issues, the issue of commerciality and so forth. So if we can build capabilities together in a long term, it will be a win-win for everyone.”

He added: “We only need to invest in you to build your capabilities. We feel that this is the right thing for NLNG to do. We can find good relationships where we can work together, build capabilities in Nigeria and make sure we have real thinking capabilities and hope that in the coming years, you really understand what it is that NLNG requires because we will never compromise on quality and HSE.”

Remarkably, NLNG got an instant pass mark from Shell on capacity building. Shell representative at the workshop, Wakeel Olayiwola, said the Bonny Vocational Centre (BVC) designed to promote vocational and entrepreneurial skills in Bonny, is a world class training centre and the best capacity building programme by any company in the oil and gas industry.

Participants being enlightened about invest-ment opportunities in the LNG industry

A participant bares his mind Participants applaud NLNG

Tony Ogbuigwe, Manager – NLNG Plus Project (NPP) takes enquiries form participantsSome stakeholders in the LNG industry


T H E P R I z E

Putting People First Recently, NLNG sponsored an International Training Workshop for Journalists working in Rivers State. The workshop ran from July 13 to July 17 at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

The company partnered with TaijoWonukabe Limited and Thomson Foundation, a charity that trains journalists and others in media around the world, to bring the journalists in Rivers State up to speed with cutting edge practice and styles of news reporting. Here are some images.

Mr. Odein Ajumogobia (SAN), Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, and Dr. Chima Ibeneche, MD of NLNG, at the Opening Session of the workshop

Participants at the Opening Session of the workshop

Martins Huckerby of Thomson foundation, Taiwo Obe of Taijowonukabe, Dr. kudo Eresia-Eke of NLNG and Richard Ikiebe of Pan African University share a joke

Helen Scott and Martins Huckerby, both of Thomson foundation, confer with Mr. Dele Olojede, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist


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Documents

nigeria prize

better nigeria

counting of nigeria

i t e d2 nlng

literature prize

n e o f n

t h e i n h o u s e

limited skill