Dr. Eruani Godbless Azibapu, a wealthy businessman and the president of the Azikel Group, has stated that increased private investment will help Nigeria reach its goal of having the best production possible from its refinery capacity.
Eruani-owned Azikel Refinery, which has a projected daily output of 25,000 barrels, has made President Muhammadu Buhari's modular refinery regime, which was introduced in 2015, a reality.
A modular refinery is a streamlined refinery that requires a lot less capital than conventional full-scale refineries do. They are facilities for processing crude oil with daily capacities of up to 30,000 barrels and construction times of 15 to 18 months between the start of a project and the processing of the first barrel of oil.
Azibapu, who earned national plaudits following his recent award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR), helped to pioneer the first private hydro-skimming refinery in Nigeria.
Speaking on the modest successes Azikel Group has accomplished thus far, Azibapu whose company has pioneer status in modular refinery said as a private investor in the downstream oil and gas sector he owes his success to progressive thinking and creative approach to issues.
“We have a clear vision of what we want to be – leaders in petroleum refining, power generation, aviation experts and overall infrastructure development. I’m proud of the work we do and give you my personal commitment that we will deliver what we promise and do it safely and sustainably.”
Expatiating, he said the sector is such that it can accommodate as many investors as possible, stressing that all it takes is commitment and resilience on the part of the prospective player.
Azikel Group and her subsidiaries are driving progress, through petroleum product sufficiency, energy sustainability and infrastructural development.
Setting the wheels of industry in motion, the Azikel boss has continued to deliver positive change and improve the nation’s critical infrastructure, little wonder he made history for himself as the youngest Nigerian entrepreneur to be recognised and rewarded with the third highest national honour in the country.
During the official conferment of the award on Eruani at the International Conference Centre (ICC), Abuja, recently, the event was attended by heads of government, diplomats, top government functionaries and the crème de la crème of the society.
President Buhari, who decorated Eruani with the national medal, lauded his sterling leadership qualities in putting the wheels of industry in motion towards the development of infrastructure and energy sustainability in Nigeria.
President Buhari, who noted that the Federal Government alone could not solve the employment challenges in the country, lauded the Azikel Group boss for supporting the government in closing the unemployment gap in Nigeria with over 1,000 employees, comprising Nigerians, Americans, Britons, Dutch, Indians and Emirates, and still counting, as well as advancement made in the growth of industry thereby improving the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
He pointed out that Eruani through substantial investments had ensured that Nigeria attained energy sustainability and infrastructural development, a feat achieved by the ramped 25,000 bpd Azikel Refinery, which is the first hydro-skimming modular refinery in Nigeria.
Buhari believed that the liberalisation of the nation’s economy was to allow private sector participation to support the government’s programme, noting that with aggregate output capacity, the Azikel Petroleum Refinery and others would change the status of Nigeria from being net importers to becoming net exporters of refined petroleum products.
In his submission, former President Olusegun Obasanjo said Eruani is a pride to the nation for pioneering in-country petroleum refining thereby guaranteeing self-sufficiency in petroleum products and enabling both human and clean energy sustainability in Nigeria.
Obasanjo, who is known for not giving praises where none is deserved, thanked President Buhari for easily spotting Eruani as leading player in the nation’s private sector for the CFR award, even as he submitted that Eruani has made invaluable contributions in solving the national economic malaise.
“In 2005 when I first met Eruani as Special Adviser on Community Health and Chairman, State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS, I saw greatness in him because he identified what was necessary to be done, not for himself, but for the country, Africa and the globe. Since then, he has continued to make progress and success in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
“Many Nigerians are unaware of opportunities and their inability to recognise them simply means that they would not be able to take advantage of it. But on the contrary, Eruani is a man that recognises and maximises opportunities.
“What could a medical doctor be looking for at the Lagos Business School, London Business School and at the University of Pennsylvania Wharton Business School, in the United States? Now I know; initially what he (Eruani) smelt from a long distance was sand through which he redressed the problem of perennial flooding, sandfilling to reclaim and re-generate lost ancestral land, as well as capital intensive shore protection to save communities in the Niger Delta from being washed away by incessant coastal erosion.”
Former President Goodluck Jonathan also joined the fray to commend Eruani for the national honour, saying it attested to his hard work and patriotic commitment to the Nigerian economy through substantial investments made to support the federal government’s programmes and to move the private sector forward.
Jonathan noted that Eruani’s trajectory in industry and entrepreneurship didn’t come as a surprise, but on the heels of his passion for service, sense of patriotism and capacity building through the Azikel Group’s subsidiaries in power, aviation and dredging that had contributed immensely in rebranding the nation.
He noted that Eruani is a trailblazer for establishing the first private hydro-skimming refinery in Nigeria, stressing that it would contribute in cushioning the effect of scarcity of refined petroleum products in the country.
He was emphatic that his resilient spirit of determination to succeed amidst challenges would continue to serve as an inspiration to aspiring youths in the nation to aim at the top in productive entrepreneurship.
Jonathan posited: “Dr. Eruani is never tired of exploring opportunities to improve the lives of Nigerians. His brilliance saw him become a medical student, who also graduated with distinction from the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“As Special Adviser on Community Health and Chairman State Action Committee on HIV/AIDS, Dr. Eruani led a mitigation advocacy on the battle that focused the world on the Bayelsa strategy, an achievement that catapulted Nigeria to global recognition in Canada in 2006 at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto.
“While in office as Commissioner, Eruani earned the award as the Most Innovative Commissioner in Nigeria. Significantly, he has bagged several recognitions and awards, among which are an award for Business Excellence, Innovation and International Partnership from the United States Consulate in Lagos.
“The Consulate-General, F. John Bray also said that the National Honours of the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic by President Buhari on Dr. Eruani is well deserved.
“Eruani has continued to play a leading role in the new industrialisation of Nigeria by advancement made towards societal growth, redressing youth restiveness, creating massive employment by setting the wheels of industry in motion.”
In his submission, Dr. Temple Iluma, a medical practitioner, said Eruani had always wanted to do extraordinary things, noting that he built infrastructure that made his dredging firm the number one in the Niger Delta and Southsouth Nigeria.
In his response, Dr. Eruani thanked President Buhari for recognising his contribution to building the energy sector, among other critical infrastructures, for which he was decorated with CFR.
He lauded former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan for their fatherly roles and how they had supported him in his success story.
Also, the women of his Emadike community in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State rallied round their illustrious son and performed the traditional Wrapper Ceremony for him.
The ceremony symbolises more devotion for higher recognition and success for brilliant and significant contributions made by the erudite industrialist towards the critical infrastructure and energy sustainability in Nigeria.