Patience Jonathan: "I Mentored Azikel Group Boss From His Early Days to Business Success"

 

Former First Lady of Nigeria, Patience Jonathan, has recounted her relationship with the President of Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani, saying she played a significant role in encouraging him to pursue bigger ambitions in business.

 

Jonathan made the remarks during a recent inspection of the Azikel Refinery in Obunagha, Bayelsa State, where she joined other dignitaries to assess progress on the $1 billion project.

 

According to the former First Lady, Eruani was considerably younger than the prominent businessmen within their circle, including Aliko Dangote and Aminu Dantata. She said she encouraged him to learn from established entrepreneurs and challenged him to think beyond his immediate circumstances.

 

Jonathan recalled that Eruani once told her he hoped to attain the level of success achieved by Dangote. Although she considered the ambition unusually high at the time, she said she prayed that he would eventually achieve his goals.

 

She also spoke about Eruani's efforts to secure approval for a refinery project. According to her account, he and other businessmen initially approached her about their plans during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. She expressed doubts that the government would approve the project, but was later informed that Eruani had received approval for refinery projects.

 

Azikel Refinery Nears Completion

 

The inspection came as the Azikel Refinery entered the final stages of development, following the arrival of its Crude Distillation Unit.

 

The refinery, located in Bayelsa State, has been redesigned to process up to 25,000 barrels of crude oil or condensate per day. It is expected to produce petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene and other petroleum products.

 

Azikel describes the facility as a full-slate hydro-skimming refinery, making it more sophisticated than the topping plants that have become common among Nigeria's smaller modular refineries.

 

The project was initially licensed for a capacity of 12,000 barrels per day but has since undergone several rounds of engineering modifications and expansion. The investment has consequently grown from the earlier financing figure of about $259 million to an estimated overall project value of approximately $1 billion.

 

The refinery is expected to become one of Nigeria's largest full-slate refining facilities and the first major privately owned refinery of its scale in the Niger Delta.

 

Project Expected to Boost Employment

 

The development has attracted attention from government officials, professional bodies and community leaders because of its potential impact on employment and industrial development in Bayelsa.

 

Niger Delta Development Commission Managing Director Samuel Ogbuku, who participated in an inspection of the facility, praised Eruani for maintaining his commitment to the project. Ogbuku noted that he had attended the refinery's groundbreaking ceremony several years ago and described the development as an example of the kind of investment capable of transforming the region.

 

The project is expected to create more than 3,000 direct jobs when fully operational, while the company says tens of thousands of indirect employment opportunities have already been generated during its development.

 

Hundreds of engineers and other technical personnel are currently involved in the final phase of construction, with a significant number drawn from Bayelsa and other parts of Nigeria.

 

The refinery is also expected to contribute to the development of local engineering expertise through opportunities for technical training, internships, research and professional collaboration.

 

From Medicine to Energy

 

Eruani's journey into the oil and gas industry began far from the refinery business.

 

Born in 1973, he trained as a medical doctor and worked in hospitals before joining the Bayelsa State civil service. He later worked in industrial medicine with Nigerian Agip Oil Company and served in government, including as Bayelsa State Commissioner for Health.

 

His transition into business was influenced by his family background and his interest in entrepreneurship. He subsequently established Azikel Group, which began with interests in dredging and later expanded into several sectors.

 

Azikel's operations eventually grew to include dredging, aviation, power, agriculture and petroleum. The group's dredging business became an important foundation for its expansion and provided the platform for Eruani to pursue larger industrial projects.

 

The refinery represents the group's most ambitious venture to date and is intended to establish Bayelsa as an important industrial centre in the Niger Delta.

 

Plans for Further Expansion

 

Eruani has said the refinery's development is part of a broader long-term strategy for the group. He has indicated that the facility could eventually be expanded to 125,000 barrels per day, significantly increasing its contribution to Nigeria's domestic refining capacity.

 

For now, the immediate priority is completing and commissioning the 25,000-barrel-per-day plant.

 

While the refinery has reached an advanced stage, Azikel has yet to announce a definitive commercial start-up date. Its eventual commissioning would add another significant privately owned refinery to Nigeria's growing refining capacity and could have substantial implications for employment, petroleum supply and industrial development in the Niger Delta.

 

For Eruani, the project represents the culmination of a business journey that began with relatively modest ventures and has evolved into one of the region's most ambitious private-sector investments.