NNPC Pledges Co-operation With Navy, Total

PHOTO: GMD NNPC, ALHAJI SHEHU LADAN WITH THE VP, TOTAL AFRICA, JACQUES MARRAUD-DES-GROTTES AND MD, TOTAL UPSTREAM, MR. GUY MAURICE IN ABUJA TODAY.

ABUJA April 19, (THEWILL) - The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mallam Shehu Ladan, has promised to strengthen the relationship between the Corporation, the Nigerian Navy and Total Upstream Nigeria Plc.

Ladan made this pledge in his office today when he received the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ishaya Ikoh Ibrahim, and the Vice President of Total Africa, Mr. Jacques Marraud-des-Grottes, who paid him a courtesy call to felicitate with him on his recent appointment as GMD.

Speaking while receiving the CNS, Ladan said the navy is one government security agency that plays a key role in the oil and gas business and that he was privileged to have the Naval chief call on him.

He said he considered the visit as an offer of the Nigerian Navy’s support to him and promised to co-operate with and improve the already cordial relationship between the NNPC and the Navy.

The Chief of Naval Staff said both the Navy and NNPC shared similar fate in the way the public criticized them without an understanding of the challenges they face.

Vice Admiral Ibrahim said though the security situation in the Niger Delta has improved greatly as a result of the amnesty program, much still needs to be done as criminal elements have shifted their attention to the Bakassi axis and Calabar Channel.

He said the Navy required support to acquire more platforms to enable them police the nation’s territorial waters and secure its vast marine resources effectively.

In a similar but separate occasion, the Vice President of Total Africa, Jacques Marraud-des-Grottes, who led a team of his top management on a courtesy visit to the GMD to congratulate him on his appointment, sought NNPC’s support and approval for some of its projects.

He said his team would love to meet with NNPC team to straighten out issues concerning the projects.

The GMD, while welcoming him, said he was not receiving a visitor but an old friend since they had worked closely together in the past.

He said he hoped to leverage on the already existing relationship between him and Marraud-des-Grottes and the Managing Director of Total Upstream, Mr. Guy Maurice, to forge a stronger partnership.