Shell appoints first Nigerian MD

LAGOS – Shell has for the first time appointed a Nigerian executive as managing director of its operations in the country, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant said yesterday.

And in a major shake-up to the company’s work in Africa, the post of the head of exploration and production on the continent will be moved from The Hague to Lagos, meeting a key demand of Nigeria’s restless oil unions. Basil Omiyi, 58, an oil engineer and board member, will become managing director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) on September 1.Omiyi joined the company in 1970 and is the production director at SPDC.”I am honoured to be the first of what I expect will be many Nigerians to hold the post,” Omiyi said.Meanwhile, Chris Finlayson, Shell Nigeria’s managing director, will be promoted to chief executive of Shell Exploration and Production in Africa, while remaining at the Lagos office.The announcement appeared to lay to rest fears that Shell’s Lagos office would be closed because of a reorganisation drive.The reported plan had triggered strike threats from oil workers’ unions, which have accused Shell of unfairly favouring expatriates for senior positions and of adopting a neo-colonial attitude to the African industry.Shell is the largest producer of oil in Nigeria, accounting for about half of its exports of more than two million barrels a day.Finlayson would retain the role of country chair for Nigeria, which meant he played the lead role on strategy and co-ordination of businesses, said Buerk.A confidential report funded by Shell said the company might have to quit onshore production in Nigeria, which supplies nine per cent of its oil, because of escalating civil strife.Basil Omiyi, 58, an oil engineer and board member, will become managing director of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) on September 1.Omiyi joined the company in 1970 and is the production director at SPDC.”I am honoured to be the first of what I expect will be many Nigerians to hold the post,” Omiyi said.Meanwhile, Chris Finlayson, Shell Nigeria’s managing director, will be promoted to chief executive of Shell Exploration and Production in Africa, while remaining at the Lagos office.The announcement appeared to lay to rest fears that Shell’s Lagos office would be closed because of a reorganisation drive.The reported plan had triggered strike threats from oil workers’ unions, which have accused Shell of unfairly favouring expatriates for senior positions and of adopting a neo-colonial attitude to the African industry.Shell is the largest producer of oil in Nigeria, accounting for about half of its exports of more than two million barrels a day.Finlayson would retain the role of country chair for Nigeria, which meant he played the lead role on strategy and co-ordination of businesses, said Buerk.A confidential report funded by Shell said the company might have to quit onshore production in Nigeria, which supplies nine per cent of its oil, because of escalating civil strife.