ENGR. GONI MUSA SHEIKH

Engr. Goni M. Sheikh, a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Mining Engineers, Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE); Member, The Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN); Member, Council of Mining Engineers and Geoscientists and Member, Nigerian Mining and Geosciences Society has over 35 years of cognate experience in Mining, Oil and Gas operations and Management of several Mining Companies.

Engr. Sheikh commenced his career as Mining Engineer I with the Nigerian Mining Corporation, Jos in 1980 and was appointed General Manager/Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Kaolin Limited (A Subsidiary of Nigerian Mining Corporation, Jos) in 1990.

In 2000, he was appointed General Manager, Corporate Infrastructure and Projects of the Nigerian Mining Corporation, Jos where he was in-charge of all operations and development of new projects of the Corporation. He initiated the re-modelling of the Corporate Headquarters and pioneered new and improved production processes in many mining operations.

In October, 2000, the Ministry of Mines and Steel Development requested for his secondment to head the Bitumen Project as the Secretary, Bitumen Project Implementation Committee. While at the Bitumen Project, he designed and supervised the geological mapping and drilling of over 50 coreholes to delineate the Bitumen Resources into Blocks.

The first Bitumen Block bidding was carried out under his direct supervision. Extensive mapping, chemical analysis and trial Mining Operations were carried out, resulting in the then Mr. President visiting the site and performing the flag-off ceremony. Engr. Sheikh also designed and developed a local Bitumen Processing Plant for the production of road surfacing Asphalt. The products were tested in Ireland and found to be suitable for road construction.

In 2006, Engr. Sheikh was appointed as Special Technical Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development where he took lead role in technical report preparations and investment drive in INDABA South Africa and PDAC Canada. He served two Ministers in this capacity.

In 2007, Engr. Sheikh was appointed Director, Mines Inspectorate Department to oversee all Mining and Quarry operations nationwide; and the manufacture, importation and utilisation of commercial explosives. While in the Mines Inspectorate Department, Engr. Sheikh documented all operators nationwide, developed and implemented new and scientifically verifiable methods for assessing mineral production and royalty payments. The new process increased revenue generation from royalty by over 70%. He also chaired the Committee on the Production of Minerals and Metals Policy, Barytes and Bentonite Production and Gemstone Marketing. He was the brain behind the successful marketing of Nigerian Gemstones in Hollywood, U.S.A.

In 2008, Engr. Sheikh was appointed Director, Mining Cadastre Office to manage all Mineral Title Administration Nationwide. Over 9000 applications were evaluated and processed. The Installation and operationalisation of the Computerised Mining Cadastre Management System was completed during his tenure. A befitting office accommodation was also acquired and re-modelled. As Director, Mining Cadastre Office, Engr. Sheikh was also supervising the Bitumen Project, Chairman, Coal to Power Project, and responsible for Investment Promotion Materials Production.

In 2010, Engr. Sheikh was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development where he focused on human capacity development, Technical Audit of National Iron Ore Mining Company and Ajaokuta Steel Plant and established a mechanism for selling the Geophysical data generated by NGSA to Local and International Investors. Engr. Sheikh represented Nigeria in several International fora including AU Ministerial Conference on Mineral Resources and INDABA, South Africa. Engr. Sheikh was the Chief Coordinator and Facilitator of the highly successful International Gemstone Show in Hollywood, USA. Engr. Sheikh took active part in the negotiations for additional funding of Credit facility of US$80 Million to the Sustainable Management of Mineral Resources from the World Bank.

Engr. Sheikh was a key member in the Establishment of the Nigerian Institute of Mining and Geosciences and supervised the successful Technical Audit of Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe. Engr. Sheikh pioneered the local processing of Barytes and Bentonite for the oil industry, kaolin processing, Gold processing, processing of the Complex Riruwai Ore, and production of high grade Tantalite.

In July, 2010, Engr. Sheikh was deployed to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as the Permanent Secretary where he carried our far-reaching review of the Ministry’s projects and focused on Flare gas, pollution control, Critical technical data on royalty computation and payment, establishing a data bank of all gas flare sites and monetization of flare gas. Engr. Sheikh was the Nigeria Governor for OPEC for 2½ years and led the Nigeria delegation to OPEC on two occasions (Ecuador and Saudi Arabia). Significant Contributions were made at OPEC deliberations. He was also the Chairman, Board of Governors of OPEC for one year.  Engr. Sheikh was a Board Member of the Nigeria LNG, Bonny Gas Transport and the National representative of African Petroleum Producers Association (APPA). While at LNG, Engr. Sheikh played crucial roles in the development of the LNG Head Office in Port Harcourt. Engr. Sheikh represented the Minister at the EMIT, NCP and NDPHC Boards and played an active role in the development of the International Energy Forum Charter and represented the country at the Signature Ceremony where over 88 countries participated. Engr. Sheikh was an active Member of the PIB review team that produced the final draft Bill that was sent to the National Assembly. Other major achievements include:

  • Gas flare down and gas royalty reconciliation model development
  • Accelerated Gas Development and Utilisation programme: Signed several MoUs on flare gas reduction
  • Reactivation of many expired Indigenous Concessions
  • Initiated the Promotion of the Utilisation of Natural Gas and Development of a policy framework
  • Participated in the development of Greenfield Refineries
  • Participated in the production of the working documents on exploration in the inland basins
  • Successfully organised APPA Conference in Nigeria
  • Represented the Honourable Minister at the Committee of Ministers meeting of West Africa Gas Pipeline project

Ambassador Sarki interacted with non-governmental organisations and civil society groups throughout his career, thereby making him sensitive and alert to their significance and roles in deepening of democracy and good governance in countries around the world. He is a prolific writer and commentator on governance, democracy and public affairs, and is a contributing columnist in the Vanguard Newspaper of Nigeria with his own column called “Through the Prism”. He has also written numerous articles for the online journal, “Intervention”.

In 2007, Engr. Sheikh was appointed Director, Mines Inspectorate Department to oversee all Mining and Quarry operations nationwide; and the manufacture, importation and utilisation of commercial explosives. While in the Mines Inspectorate Department, Engr. Sheikh documented all operators nationwide, developed and implemented new and scientifically verifiable methods for assessing mineral production and royalty payments. The new process increased revenue generation from royalty by over 70%. He also chaired the Committee on the Production of Minerals and Metals Policy, Barytes and Bentonite Production and Gemstone Marketing. He was the brain behind the successful marketing of Nigerian Gemstones in Hollywood, U.S.A.

Engr. Sheikh was the Chairman, Hydro-Carbon Pollution Restoration Project (HYPREP), where he established and developed the technical and administrative framework. Engr. Sheikh was Chairman, US-Nigeria Bilateral Commission (Energy Group) and successfully hosted the US delegation and Energy Group Meeting in Nigeria.

In November, 2012 Engr. Sheikh was deployed to the Ecological Fund Office where far-reaching Project Management Techniques were developed by him resulting in the timely completion of over 100 projects. Projects worth over N30 Billion were successfully executed. Engr. Sheikh has acquired skills in project initiation, development and management. In his determination to achieve project goals, a strong synergy is developed with all stakeholders to ensure a win-win situation for all.

Engr. Sheikh has served on several Boards and worked closely with many International organisations and blue chip Companies; and won several academic and industry awards. He pioneered many production processes that led to substantial foreign exchange generation and conservation.

He has a passion for high level thinking and a huge capacity for hard work with integrity.

Engr. Sheikh retired as a Federal Permanent Secretary on 14th July, 2015 after putting in 35 years of service as required by extant guidelines. 16. In September 2015 Engr. Sheikh joined Oriental Energy Resources as a Chief Technical Adviser. In August 2018, Engr. Sheikh was given the position of Executive Vice Chairman, Oriental Energy Resources Limited. 16. Engr. Sheikh is a member of Board of Directors of the following companies: Oriental Energy Resources, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Julius Berger International, Germany, Nigserve Nigeria Limited and Ezekiel Petroleum Refinery.

Engr, Sheikh is a graduate of the Camborne of Mines, University of Exeter (1979) and Imperial College University of London (1982).