Mr Obafemi Olawore, the Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), has retired from the organisation after 17 years in the saddle.

Speaking to newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday, the new Executive Secretary of MOMAN, Mr Clement Isong, said that Olawore’s exit would create a serious vacuum for the association.

According to him, Olawore has severally canvassed the need for liberalisation of the downstream sector of the Nigerian oil and gas industry to attract more investors.

Isong said that having mounted the saddle as the first executive secretary of MOMAN at a time of great uncertainty, Olawore was able to advance the objectives of the organisation while championing its position at major policy dialogue sessions.

“Olawore oversaw the affairs of MOMAN for 17 years excellently.

“It is on record that Olawore acquitted himself well on the job, liaising with all the major regulatory organisations such as DPR, PPPRA, PEF and others supervising the operations of the downstream sector as well as forging alliances with other industry groups on critical industry positions.

“A firm believer on the need for a deregulated downstream as opposed to operating in a subsidy regime where the government dictates prices.

“Olawore believes that Nigeria needs to borrow from successful market and competitive models where the market dictates prices and competition raises value and innovation to the benefit of the consumer,” he said.

Isong noted the fact that Olawore’s strides and achievements over the years create a strong launch-pad for the next phase of the history of MOMAN.

He said that also challenged him as the incoming executive secretary to not only preserves the organisation's enviable legacy but to also up the ante in the quest of creating the right policy and market environment for the downstream oil sector in Nigeria.

Responding, Olawore lauded the support of the management in proving enabling environment for him to work as the secretary of the organisation.

The retired MOMAN scribe said that Isong is equally an experienced industry professional who previously plied his trade at Total Nigeria.

He said Isong held various senior management positions across the company’s Africa operations from Nigeria to South Africa before taking up his new appointment as the executive secretary of MOMAN.

MOMAN is an industry group comprising all the major players in Nigeria’s downstream oil and gas industry which include Total, 11Plc (formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria), Conoil, Forte Oil, OVH Energy and MRS.

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