By Ahmed Rahma
The Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr Sarki Auwalu, has said petroleum resources would be better managed from a central point in Abuja than Lagos.
The energy expert said this while explaining the rationale behind the relocation of the headquarters of the oil agency to Abuja from Lagos.
According to Mr Auwalu, the action was purely for the sake of centrality as it would bring them closer to their major stakeholders as they are in the state.
Speaking at a ceremony to lay the foundation of the building to be constructed by Julius Berger, Mr Auwalu noted that the organisation would continue to work hard to defend the confidence reposed in it in the industry.
He said, “Establishing the headquarters in Abuja is the best for the sector because the entire DPR stakeholders that need to work closely with the operations are in Abuja.
“We are looking for petroleum resources all over the nation with already seven existing basins which would be better managed from the central point.
“As a department, we will continue to justify the confidence reposed in us by the government.”
Commenting on the building, he said, “[Be] rest assured that this building will support DPR’s enabling businesses and creating opportunities for the industry to thrive, using our robust regulatory framework and service instrument.
“This DPR is the DPR of the 21st century, a century we use big data and artificial intelligence. Our work requires data to enhance and maximise revenue for the country.”
“Those things that are available to us, especially IT facilities are exactly what the building represents, we make it a 21st-century building whereby technology will rule and we will use intelligence to make our country proud,” he further stated.
In his comments, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, said that the construction of the headquarters was another milestone in infrastructure development efforts of the federal government.
“The construction of this building tagged The Barrel is yet another milestone achievement by President Muhammadu Buhari in the area of infrastructure development and its commitment to reposition the oil and gas sector for effective service delivery.
“DPR as a critical agency of government, regulates, monitors activities of the Nigerian oil and gas industry which drives all other sectors of the economy,” he said
Mr Sylva said the edifice, when completed, would provide a conducive environment to support oil and gas businesses across the value chain for operators, service providers, investors, international collaborators among others.
According to him, the design of the building reflects an innovative and timeless architecture that honours the Abuja Central Business District landscape, adding that the project will be completed in 24 months.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Modupe Gbadeyanka