NIGERIA - Funsho Kupolokun.

A Special Assistant to the President on petroleum affairs, Kupolokun is an engineer. Occasionally he deputises for Lukman. Addressing a conference on May 7, 2002, in Houston, Kupolokun emphasized the need for foreign investment, which he said was being encouraged and supported by the Nigerian government. He stressed that there were numerous opportunities available to U.S. and foreign companies for increasing their production.

Speaking on behalf of Obasanjo, Kupolokun often uses conferences and other such gatherings to promote the Nigerian oil industry and to air its plans. He had told a conference in Abuja in October 2000 that gas utilisation projects were a priority, with the government determined to eliminate gas flaring by 2008. He said "we will have two GTL plants in Nigeria within a couple of years", including one on which a Chevron-Sasol partnership has begun work. Kupolokun is keen on development of the gas market both locally and in the region. He says industry "must pay an appropriate price for gas-fuelled power if the sector is to take off".