…partners to enhance energy access and security
In a bid to strengthen collaboration and foster strategic partnerships, the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) engaged in a high-level interactive session with members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) from the North Central region.
It was organized by MCI Management Consultant Limited, a renowned public relations and event management firm, was themed “NNPC Stakeholder Engagement with ALGON” and served as a platform for deepening the synergy between the corporation and local government authorities.
The session aimed at enhancing cooperation in promoting NNPC’s products and services at the grassroots, protecting critical energy infrastructure, and exploring NNPC’s role in rural development initiatives.
In his opening remarks, Chief Communication Officer of MCI Management Consultant Limited
Onogwu Muhammed, emphasized that the engagement was an opportunity for stakeholders to deliberate on crucial issues affecting energy distribution and security at the local government level.
He highlighted the importance of the NNPC’s role in national development and the necessity of forging stronger ties with the local government—the tier of government closest to the people.
ALSO READ Order EFCC to retrieve my seized assets from buyers, Diezani begs Court
“As we all know, energy remains the backbone of our economy and a crucial driver of national development. The NNPC, as the custodian of Nigeria’s energy resources, has continued to play a pivotal role in ensuring energy security, economic growth, and sustainable development. However, for these efforts to be fully effective, there must be a strong synergy between the NNPC and local government authorities,” he said.
He further outlined three key areas where this partnership could yield significant benefits:Promoting NNPC’s Products and Services at the Grassroots Muhammed noted that many rural communities still rely on inefficient and expensive energy sources.
He stressed the need for local government authorities to collaborate with the NNPC in making essential energy products—such as fuel, cooking gas, and renewable energy solutions—more accessible and affordable to rural dwellers.
Protecting NNPC’s Energy Infrastructure Highlighting the persistent challenges of pipeline vandalism, illegal refining, and sabotage, Muhammed called for stronger collaboration between local government chairmen and the NNPC. He emphasized the role of local authorities in community engagement, security coordination, and awareness campaigns to curb these threats and protect national energy assets.
NNPC’s Intervention in Rural Development Beyond energy distribution, Muhammed acknowledged the pressing infrastructural needs of rural communities, such as access roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and clean water.
He encouraged ALGON members to leverage the engagement to highlight critical developmental gaps and explore ways the NNPC could support local governments through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and strategic partnerships.
Speaking on behalf of the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mrs. Oluwakemi Olumuyiwa, Head of Relationship and Stakeholder Management (HRSM), commended the organizers for facilitating such a critical engagement. She reiterated the commitment of Engr. Mele Kyari’s leadership to fostering inclusivity in NNPC’s operations, ensuring that rural communities benefit from both its products and CSR initiatives.
Olumuyiwa described ALGON as a “critical partner” in safeguarding energy infrastructure and raising awareness about NNPC’s services. She assured ALGON members that the corporation intends to replicate this stakeholder engagement across the remaining five geopolitical zones of the country to further strengthen its collaboration with local governments.
In his remarks, the National President of ALGON, Hon. (Engr.) Lawal Bello, represented by the National Financial Secretary, Hon. Zakari Iliyasu, reaffirmed the readiness of local government chairmen to work closely with the NNPC in securing critical energy infrastructure and promoting awareness at the grassroots.
“We at the local government areas are the custodians of local security. NNPC pipelines, for example, cut across all local government areas in Nigeria, making our involvement in protecting and securing the nation’s energy infrastructure critical. This interactive session will not only strengthen the partnership between NNPC and ALGON but also lead to practical solutions that enhance energy security, promote economic development, and improve the lives of our people at the grassroots,” he stated.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
and then