The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency, due process, and investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

He made this known during the sail-away and flag-off ceremony of the EMEM Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, developed by Oriental Energy Resources Limited (OERL) for the Okwok Field Development offshore Nigeria.

Lokpobiri described the launch of the EMEM FPSO as a “landmark milestone” that highlights Nigeria’s ongoing progress toward sustainably ramping up crude oil production.

In a statement by Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Nneamaka Okafor, Lokpobiri noted that the project symbolizes not only advanced engineering but also a vote of confidence in the resilience of the nation’s petroleum sector.

“This event is not just the launch of a vessel; it is a statement of confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and a demonstration of the kind of bold, forward-looking investments we need to achieve our national goals,” Lokpobiri said.

“With the commissioning of the EMEM FPSO, we are not just increasing barrels; we are also creating the revenue streams required to fund our national development agenda.”

The Minister also reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to fairness and transparency in project approvals, stressing that compliance and merit — not personal connections — remain the guiding principles.

“Investors and operators do not need to know me personally before their applications are approved. As long as you comply with the extant laws and regulations, your projects will receive timely consideration,” he said. “For instance, this is my first time meeting the Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, yet the approval of this project was based solely on compliance and merit.”

In his remarks, Alhaji (Dr.) Mohammed Indimi, OFR, Chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and industry regulators for creating an enabling environment for indigenous operators to thrive.

“In 2022, we made the ambitious decision to develop the Okwok Field entirely independently. The sail-away of the EMEM FPSO is a critical milestone in the field development process,” Indimi stated.

“The Minister didn’t have to know me or our company before providing the necessary support we required. This reflects the posture of this administration, and I commend him for that.”

Senator Lokpobiri commended Oriental Energy for its innovation, resilience, and contribution to national development, adding that the project exemplifies the success of Nigeria’s local content policy and the drive toward energy security.