PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA
ADDRESS
BY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SENATOR (DR.) ANYIM PIUS ANYIM, GCON
AT THE
OFFICIAL OPENING OF
TOTAL HOUSE II
BY
TOTALFINAELF
THIS DAY, APRIL 24, 2002.
Protocol.
It is with a deep sense of joy that I stand before you this morning as part of this highly distinguished gathering to witness the official opening of Total House I, the second corporate office of TOTALFINAELF Nigeria Pl here in Abuja.
Indeed what is happening today is a testimony to the reality that excellence has its reward. We are here to commission the office of a company which has for 46 years continually invested in the Nigerian economy, creating a cocktail of employment opportunities and impacting positively on the entire Nigerian community through various community development initiatives. This landmark event is also a testimony to the fact that investing in the downstream sector of the petroleum industry is a worthwhile venture which in effect justifies the deregulation of this all-
important sector.
May I seize this opportunity to commend the management of TOTALFINAELF for the astute confidence it has in the Nigerian economy. At a time some multinationals and governments are branding Nigeria as unconducive for investment, TOTALFINAELF has for over four decades invested in our economy. The result of such confidence in the Nigerian economy is what we are witnessing today.
I have always believed that Nigeria is one of the best countries in the world to invest in. TOTALFINAELF has in the past 46 years proved me right. I am talking of a company that is currently the largest in the downstream marketing sector with over 500 retail outlets and other facilities spread across different geo-political zones of the country. Thank you TOTALFINAELF for demonstrating to the world that Nigeria is still the beautiful bride for any investor.
It is on this note that I invite all multinationals and investors who had been hesitant in ploughing their capital into the Nigerian economy to do so. Your return on investment is guaranteed. This is a promise.
I have earlier praised TOTALFINAELF for its community development initiatives. But I want to ask for more, not only from this responsible corporate citizen called TOTALFINAELF but also from other companies whose businesses are directly or remotely related to oil.
No doubt, some of these companies have done much but we need to do more especially for the people of the Niger Delta where the oil is produced. You have built schools, hospitals and civic centres.
This is good and commendable. But I have a message for you build more, award more scholarships and construct more roads At this juncture, I want to particularly note that TOTALFINAELF has consistently laid premium on health, safety and environmental quality as exemplified in its goal to achieve customer satisfaction through quality and safety service with respect to the environment.
Quite frankly, I feel highly challenged by the impressive growth profile of TOTALFINAELF which in 1998 became the first marketer to establish a huge presence in Abuja by erecting and commissioning TOTAL HOUSE 1. Today, just four years later, we are commissioning TOTAL HOUSE II. This is remarkable. And it only lends credence to the quality of your products and services. Please don’t for any reason lower the standard.
Thank you.