The Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited has disclosed that its assets are now worth over $13billion, making the company an inspirational Nigerian success story and to some extend very attractive to sale.
Managing Director of the group, Mr. Tony Attah, stated this during a technical session at the ongoing 22nd Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, with the theme: “Creating a global Champion from Made in Nigeria: The NLNG story”.
Attah explained that the NLNG Act, shareholding and governance structure of the company were key factors responsible for NLNG’s success story.
Attah, in his presentation to the forum, remarked that the NLNG Act provides incentives, assurances and guarantees which significantly encouraged investment in the project, adding that experience has clearly shown that countries cannot hope to legislate investments into existence without addressing issues relating to accompanying incentives, guarantees, and assurances.
“These incentives made it attractive for international investors and financiers to invest even during a period Nigeria were perceived to be a pariah state. Those investments grew and they resulted in an inspirational Nigerian success story that the company is today, with assets now worth over $13 billion,” he said.
He lamented the undesirability of some current developments, 18 years after the major breakthrough which NLNG represents, where certain stakeholders in the country continue to make attempts to undermine the Act, adding that the courts have been firm on the provisions of the Act in instances where court cases were instituted by third parties to compel company to pay levies.
According to him, “These attempts are apparently continuing outside the courts, but we are hopeful that the country’s leadership will protect its commitment through the Act as well as avoid the portrayal of the country as one that does not honour agreements,” he advised.
He also drew attention to the fact that these enablements have allowed Nigeria LNG to be able to generate $85 bn in revenues, pay $5.5 billion in taxes as well as to commit more than $200m to corporate social responsibility projects especially in the areas of capacity building and infrastructure development.
“The ownership mix, with the Nigeria Government, through the National Oil Company owning just 49 percent, and having international companies owning 51 percent has brought tremendous benefits. Most importantly, it has allowed significant funding through international banks required for the construction of both the plants and the ships.
“Such a mix has ensured that the international companies bring to bear on the company, international standards and best practices. Thirdly, with a significant shareholding, the government, through NNPC, has been able to drive the national agenda for social and nationalistic causes such as the Nigerianization plan.
That plan has directly resulted in a corps of well-trained Nigerian professionals, many of whom have had the opportunity to understudy and eventually succeed expatriates over a period of time.
