Thomas Steps in as NGA President

Ndubuisi Francis
The Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) is a critical stakeholder in the nation’s gas sub-sector. It is the professional body responsible for the promotion and protection of the interests of the gas industry in Nigeria.
Formed in 1999, its initial membership was drawn from the primary gas production and utilisation companies in Nigeria. The earliest members include

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Shell Petroleum Development Company(SPDC), Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), Chevron Nigeria Limited, Nigerian Gas Company (NGC), Elf Petroleum, Mobil Producing Nigeria, Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and Conoco Energy Nigeria Limited.

It has since grown to encompass the entire gamut of stakeholders and operators in the Nigerian gas industry – from gas producers, to transmitters, gas industry service providers, students, academia and government. The association presently has over 40 corporate members, 800 individual professional industry members, and more than 100 student members. The NGA is also a full chartered member of the International Gas Union (IGU), representing Nigeria on the council of the global gas body.

For such an august association, its catalytic role cannot be downplayed.
It was therefore another occasion to showcase its strategic role and contributions not only in the oil and gas sector but the nation’s socio-economic environment that the NGA recently held its 10th international gas conference and exhibition at the highbrow Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.
The event was declared open by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who delivered the keynote address.
A major highlight of the week-long NGA conference/exhibition was the change of baton in the leadership of the Association.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Frontier Oil Limited, Engr. Dada Thomas took over the mantle of leadership from the immediate-past NGA president, Bolaji Osunsanya at a dinner, which was held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hotels to draw the curtains on the conference/exhibition.

With over 36 years of experience in the oil and gas industry majoring chiefly in facilities engineering and project management, Thomas worked for 21 years with the Shell Group and managed a variety of increasingly complex engineering projects and general management roles in both Nigeria and Holland before setting up Frontier Oil Ltd.

He resigned from Shell in 1998 to set up Tri-Ocean Nigeria Engineering Ltd, a joint venture between Tri-Ocean Engineering Limited and Leed Technology Ltd, providing engineering and related services to the international oil companies in Nigeria.
In 2001, he bought out Tri-Ocean Engineering Ltd with other Nigerian partners and re-branded the company as Fairshores Ltd.

He was later to found Frontier Oil Limited (FOL )- an indigenous oil and gas production and development company with a proven track record of developing and bringing into production both crude oil and non-associated gas (NAG) from the Uquo Marginal field. The company was formed to participate in the 2003 federal government’s Marginal Field programme through which the company acquired the Uquo Marginal Field located in OML13, onshore Akwa Ibom State.

FOL, working with its financial and technical partner, has successfully brought the formerly stranded Uquo Marginal Field into production and, in doing so, created a brand new gas development, supply and distribution infrastructure in the South-east Niger-Delta. In addition, FOL is the operator of a joint venture operating a crude oil evacuation and delivery infrastructure from three marginal fields located in OMLs 13 & 14 to the Exxon Mobil Qua-Iboe crude oil terminal.

FOL’s experience, as operator of the Uquo Marginal Field, spans the entire hydrocarbon value chain, from seismic acquisition all the way through to production of crude oil and non-associated natural gas. Core activities include: the development and effective deployment of Quality, Health, Safety, Security and Environmental (QHSSE) processes and systems; judicious application of industry and national codes and standards.

It also include adherence to regulatory processes and compliance with regulatory requirements; effective management of third-party service provider relationships; development of a robust and fully functional best–in-class community relations/community development program with the Uquo Marginal Field’s host communities, among others.

The company is without a scintilla of doubt a professionally managed and committed indigenous operator with the ambition of becoming one of the leading indigenous E&P companies in Nigeria and a mid-size regional player.
Thomas, who is the CEO of the company had his education at Loughborough University of Technology, United Kingdom, and is a registered engineer in Nigeria and Alberta, Canada.

For such a man with a rich repertoire of experience, it was not surprising that the NGA found him worthy to step into the driver’s seat as President.
In his address at the investiture, Thomas thanked the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as well as the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Gas.

He also thanked the immediate-past NGA Council members led by Mr. Bolaji Osusanya for what he described as the excellent work and achievements in the last two years in revitalising the NGA.
He assured of the resolve of the new council to build on the successes achieved by all the past NGA councils, especially the immediate-past one.

He also thanked the International Gas Union, saying the NGA looked forward to deepening the existing relationship.
With his assumption of office as NGA President at a critical period when a paradigm shift is recommended, Thomas is expected to provide the required leadership that the NGA needs to align with the federal government’s Gas Vision”.
In his address at the conference/exhibition, Kachikwu had restated that “gas is identified as a critical area of focus in our agenda for the sector.”
Interestingly, a draft National Gas Policy was released to about 1,000 stakeholders for consultation at the conference/exhibition.

The draft gas policy promotes a competitive business environment for both current and new investors, articulates the vision for the sector and sets policy goals, strategies and an implementation plan for government’s medium to long-term targets for gas market development.
Thomas is better positioned to provide the leadership that NGA needs to key into the gas.