PDP Congratulates President Jonathan on Alison-Madueke’s Election as OPEC President

Diezani Alison-Madueke

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on the election of the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke as President of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

This is contained in a statement issued by Olisa Metuh, the party’s National Publicity Secretary on Sunday in Abuja.

The statement said the election of the Minister as OPEC`s first female president, was a confirmation of the successes of the Federal Government Transformation Agenda.

It added that it was also a confirmation of the global confidence in Nigeria under the leadership of President Jonathan.

The statement added that development spoke volumes of the trust reposed in Nigeria by the international community.

“Alison-Madueke determined growth of the Nigerian operational capacity and local content in exploration and production, particularly through the facilitation.

“And approval of large-scale divestments by oil majors to indigenous companies is unprecedented in Africa’s oil history,’’ the statement said.

This, it added, was indeed part of the many landmark achievements of the exemplary government of President Jonathan.

The statement further added that as a leading exporter of oil, Nigeria was now advantageously positioned to contribute and help shape major decisions in the global oil market. with the Minister`s election.

It noted that with the vigorous implementation of the Transformation Agenda, Nigeria`s economy now ranks as one of the fastest growing in the world.

It added that Nigeria had become a top investment destination, the largest economy in Africa and the 26th largest economy in the world.

The statement further added that Nigerians and Nigerian businesses was now, excelling in critical sectors of global economy.

“Since the signing into law of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act by President Jonathan.

“Our government has, among other achievements in the sector, increased the level of indigenous Nigerian
participation in upstream and downstream activities by over 45 percent,’’ the statement said.

This, it said, had increased youth employment opportunities while government had also succeeded in eliminating long queues at fuel stations, through regular and sustained product supply.

“Today, gas infrastructure for the gas-to-power and gas-to-industry is being aggressively put in place.

“Over 450 kilometres of gas pipelines have been installed in the last three years with another 2,000 kilometres planned over the next four years,’’ the statement said.

It added that as a people-oriented government, the PDP-led government had already begun gas supply, growing from less than 500 million cubic feet per day over four years, to about 1.5 billion cubic feet per day presently.

The goal of government the statement said, was to attain four billion cubic feet per day over the next four years.

It assured that the PDP, would continue to consolidate on the gains of successes so far achieved in all sectors of the country`s economy through meticulous implementation of its policies and manifesto.