OGFZA IS ON COURSE TO ACHIEVE ITS MANDATE—TIMIPRE SYLVA, OGFZA CHAIRMAN

March 26, 2018 | Onne River State

The Governing Board of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) has commended the executive management of the agency for effective leadership. The chairman of OGFZA’s board, Chief Timipre Sylva, former governor of Bayelsa State, said during the inaugural meeting of the board of the agency at the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, Rivers State, that the managing director of OGFZA, Mr Umana Okon Umana, has demonstrated the right leadership in directing the affairs of the free zone regulator and in administering the oil and gas free zones under his control.

“Umana is leading OGFZA in the right direction,” Chief Sylva said.

In a media chat after the meeting, Chief Sylva outlined the vision and agenda for the new board. “One of the things we would like to achieve is to be able to provide power in Onne,” Chief Sylva said. “We are engaging a group of investors that will build a turbine for the free zone; that would one of the things we would like to achieve before the end of the year.”

The OGFZA chairman said efforts to improve the revenue position of the agency through effective IGR strategy would receive equal priority attention.

He added that his board would also do all that is necessary to resolve issues of conflict between the Nigeria Export Processing Authority (NEPZA) and OGFZA. “That will take a lot of our attention because we are going to make sure that we resolve those issues of conflict,” Chief Sylva said.

He said one of the board’s priority projects would be “to accelerate the take-off of the Brass Oil and Gas City.” The board chairman noted that the BOG City “was approved and licensed as a free zone a long time ago,” adding, “We have to make sure that Brass Oil and Gas City becomes operational as soon as possible.”

Observing that the governing board had little time in the face of so much to do, Chief Sylva said the situation called for hard work and firm prioritization in project execution.

He said the task the board has set itself would be accomplished because of its high quality membership. “I am very proud to be part of the board of such eminent Nigerians,” the OGFZA board chairman said. “We are all very seasoned people, very skilled people and it is easy for us to understand ourselves.”

Present at the inaugural board meeting were Chief Timipre Sylva, board chairman; Mr Umana Okon Umana, managing director; Engineer Kuyebi Temitope; Hon. Frank Owhor; Mrs Ngozi Jipreze; Murtala Adhama; Dr Emi Membere-Otaji and Mrs Ifuoma Isaac. Barr. Abdulwasiu Sule is Secretary to the Board.