By Godfrey Bivbere & Ifeyinwa Obi

Group Managing Director of  Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, has said that Nigerian oil and gas community was at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, to display the technology available in the country as well as tap from latest technology globally.

The NNPC boss, who declared the Nigerian stand open, said that there had been a steady increase in the volume of the nation’s crude and petroleum products over the years and called on the international community to invest in the huge opportunities in the industry in Nigeria.

He explained that the nation’s industry was central and strategic to the global industry.

Yakubi pointed out that Nigeria was working at remaining relevant in the global oil and gas industry, noting that  indigenous participation in the sector had not been high. He stressed that a few years back, Nigerian’s crude oil production was only 10 percent.

He said that Federal Government’s interest in the sector had led to a lot of divestments, adding that Shell Petroleum Development Company,  in particular divested from about five of its  operations in the last two years.