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Tag: Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG)

  • ‘Adopt NLNG model to turn refineries around’

    ‘Adopt NLNG model to turn refineries around’

    The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has urged the Federal Government to adopt the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) model to make Nigerian refineries work efficiently.

    The PENGASSAN President, Comrade Festus Osifo, insisted that the government must divest Its interests and allow private companies with the requisite expertise own majority of the shares and manage operations of the refineries.

    Osifo, in his remarks yesterday at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS) 2025 with the theme: “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment, and Incremental Production,” maintained that the only way to reduce the politics that was crippling and preventing the refineries from working, was for the government to divest.

    He said: “You remember, we have said this countless number of times  that yes, the refinery should work, but that there is a model that we have operated over the years, and that model is what we refer to as the NLNG model.

    “Bring the refinery to work, it is okay, but when the refinery is working, you divest. Let the government have minority shares in it. You bring the refinery company, not the tailoring company, not companies who are specialised in other industries, not companies who are not proponent investors, but you bring companies who know how to manage refineries.

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    “Let them come in and have the majority stake. As we have said, we have human resources in the refineries who understand how to operate the operations of the refinery. We have the human resources in Nigeria to make that refinery work but as we know, if you work in an organization and you are not given the tools to work, it is very difficult for you to work.”

    Osifo added, “There is a lot of politics going on over the years as far as the refinery operation is concerned. But for you to be able to reduce that politics, the government must divest.

    “You divest, you have minority shareholding with that, the majority decisions will be taken by the private sector. This is what we have advocated for at least 10 years now or even much earlier than that and that is the model we want the government to implement in terms of the refinery operation.”

    Speaking further, Osifo warned companies preventing their workers from unionising to desist or risk picketing by PENGASSAN.

    The Authority Chief Executive (ACE), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) Engr. Farouk Ahmed, said Nigeria must embrace best practices which includes Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and  Health Safety and Environment (HSE), to remain competitive in the global market, safeguard jobs, attract investment and create new opportunities for workers in the energy transition space.

    Represented by NMDPRA’s Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration, Bashir Sadiq, he said the Authority was committed to working with unions at the depot to shift policies, strengthen capacity, and drive the industry.

    He said: “The future of this industry rests in the choices we make today. We must champion safety, we must reduce harmful emissions, we must demand transparency and fairness and above all, we must protect the dignity and security of every worker.

    “Let us make our workplace safe, our government transparent, our industry openly respected, and our communities and workers empowered. An environmentally responsible and sustainable oil and gas industry is not just about regulations but about fairness, dignity of workers.”

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Ogbe, said the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry hinges greatly on the skills and competencies of Nigerians.

    Represented by the General Manager Human Capacity Development at NCDMB, Esueme Kikile, he maintained that developing the capacity of people was crucial, as it was the true oil that lubricates the wheels of the oil and gas industry.

    He said: “Assets and infrastructure are vital, but it is human that unlocks their value. The future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry will therefore depend not only on the size of our reserves, but on the skills and competencies of our people.

    “We must therefore prioritise, one, system education and vocational training at all levels; strengthen collaboration between government, labor, and industry to align capacity building with emerging opportunities. If we invest in our people, we can adapt to change and ensure that Nigeria’s oil and gas industry thrives for generations to come.”

  • Unready for science

    Unready for science

    Incredible! The winners of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG)-sponsored 2024 Science Quiz Competition, Nnanna Peace and Raphael Ataisi of Government Secondary School (GSS), Oyigbo, Rivers State, were reported saying, “To the glory of God, we came first. In our GSS Oyigbo, we lack computer and science laboratories in our school. We have no equipment in our school to experiment. So, we learn without experiment, we learn only theory.”

    They beat contestants from six other public secondary schools in the final of the competition, which was held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. It is unclear whether the same situation exists in the other schools. 

    NLNG’s General Manager of External Relations and Sustainable Development, Andy Odeh, said the competition “is an opportunity to test our children’s knowledge, ignite their creativity, and hone their problem-solving skills – essential ingredients for innovation.

    “Through this competition, we aim to promote scientific and technological literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, encouraging young people to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology.”

    He also said NLNG is “deeply committed to science education because we believe it is the cornerstone of development.” This year’s theme was ‘Artificial Intelligence: Innovating the Future.’  He added that the company’s commitment to science education extends beyond the competition, mentioning initiatives such as its University Support Programme, scholarship programmes, and infrastructure development in host communities.

    However, going by the remarks of the winners of the competition, there is still a lot more to be done to boost science education. The company should take urgent action to ensure that their school, and others in the same situation, have the necessary tools for science education.

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    Obviously, Rivers State, where GSS Oyigbo is located, also has a role to play in equipping public schools in the state for science education. The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Chinedum Chukuma, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Ebere Emenike, was reported saying, “Rivers State is very happy with what NLNG is doing by exposing our kids to these kinds of competitions and we urge other corporate bodies to emulate NLNG. These kinds of competitions expose our kids to critical thinking and instill a passion for innovation, which is the hallmark of STEM education.”

    It is easy to talk about STEM, an approach to learning and development that integrates science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and promotes scientific thinking and creativity by emphasising application and inquiry. But STEM needs an enabling environment.

    Is the Rivers State government aware of the situation at GSS Oyigbo as described by the winners of the science competition? It’s counter-productive and inexcusable.

  • NLNG spends N1.2B on scholarship in 20 years

    …Almost 3000 persons benefited across the country 

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), limited on Wednesday said that it has spent a whooping sum of N1.2 billion on scholarship awards for the youths in the country, since the scheme began 20 years ago.
    The Deputy Managing Director of the Gas company,  Sadeeq Mai-Bronu disclosed this at the median NLNG Scholarship day celebration, in Port Harcourt,  the Rivers State capital.
    The event was reportedly in commemoration of the company’s  interventions in education through scholarships.
    It served as a get together for old and new awardees of the scheme by the Company, just as it served as a time to take stock of the efforts of the company in the area over the given period, said Mai-Bronu.
    He said “First, NLNG has brought together the old and new beneficiaries of her various Scholarship schemes in the First NLNG’s scholars day to commemorate and celebrate our intervention in education in Nigeria. Secondly, we have brought youths together, people who are our hope for the future to give support to one another, rub minds and raise ideas on how to make the NLNG scholarship experience better.
    “We are excited because we see all sorts of possibilities in your eyes; possibilities that will engender prosperity in our great country, Nigeria. In the country at the moment, there is enormous clamour for more involvement of youths in leadership positions, both in the private and public sector, to help build our great country. The transformation of our nation cannot succeed without youths, like you, that is why NLNG continues to invest in Nigerian youths in order to secure the future of the country and help build a better Nigeria, in line with her corporate vision,” he added.
    Mai-Bornu also said NLNG started its education intervention programme for its host communities in 1998 with the Undergraduates Scholarship Scheme which was later expanded to include students from other parts of the country in 2003. He added that NLNG has awarded scholarships to 2,956 undergraduates in various universities in Nigeria.
    “The NLNG Post-Primary Scholarship started in 2012 to help high performing Primary six pupils in our host communities to access secondary education. The scheme started with 28 beneficiaries and in 2017, this number grew to 222 beneficiaries with about the sum of N800 million spent till date.
    “Twenty-six of the pioneer scholars of this scheme completed their secondary education in June this year and some have been admitted into various courses in different universities.

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    “The NLNG Post Graduate Scholarship programme was put in place to support the emergence of Nigerian experts in such fields as Environmental Studies, Engineering, Management, Accountancy, Economics, Information Technology, Geology, Banking, Law and Medicine.
    “The scheme was launched in October 2012 with an annual intake of between 10 and 15 beneficiaries to study in leading universities in the United Kingdom. The value of the scholarship is between USD$45,000 and USD$67,500 per awardee each year, depending on the course of study.
    “Fifty six young Nigerians have so far benefited from this scholarship. The twelve (12) scholarships to be awarded today will bring the total number of beneficiaries of this particular programme to 68.
    “NLNG will be spending about NGN200million to cater for tuition, accommodation, living expenses and return tickets to and from UK for all beneficiaries; bringing the total expenditure on this scheme since inception to about NGN1.2 billion,” he stated.
    He said there was so much narrative around what NLNG was doing in helping to secure the Nigerian youth’s future that it was easy to lose sight of why NLNG is doing this adding that “simply put, we are investing in resources with potentials and the most promising returns. Those resources are the youths.”
    Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen shortly after  the receiving the award said it was dream come through and pledged to make the best use of the opportunity to define their future endeavours.
    Fubaratamuno Green(Advanced Mechanical Engineering) , Sherley Abe(Radiotherapy and anchology) and Chimezi Oku(Petroluem Engineering) are among the others awardees that got  the chance to go for their  Post-graduate courses in United Kingdom universities.
    They noted that NLNG is owned by four Shareholders, namely, the Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by NNPC (49%), Shell Gas B.V.  (25.6%), Total Gaz Electricite Holdings France (15%), and Eni International N.A. N. V. S.àr. l (10.4%).
    NLNG offers Post-Primary, Undergraduate and Post-Graduate scholarships to students in her host communities and across the country.

  • University of Maiduguri produces 78 First Class graduates

    The University of Maiduguri on Monday said it produced 78 First Class graduates for the 2015/ 2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions.

    The Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Ibrahim Njodi, made the disclosure at a pre-convocation press conference in Maiduguri.

    Njodi said that a total of 17, 895 graduates would be conferred with various degrees and certificates during its 23rd combined convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, April 28.

    He explained that 3, 527 students were graduands of the Post Graduate School programmes comprising of 56 Ph.D graduates; 570 Masters Degree graduates and 2, 901 Post Graduate Diploma graduands .

    Njodi added that the statistics of the undergraduates showed that 8, 643 graduands would be awarded degrees, 7, 278 of the number were from the regular programmes, 573 from affiliated colleges and 714 were Distance Learning programmes.

    He disclosed that 5, 725 graduates would received diploma certificates, adding that 106 and 102 graduates would receive awards for the 2015/2016 and 2016/2017 academic sessions, respectively.

    The Vice Chancellor disclosed that three lecturers would also be conferred with the title of “Emeritus Professor”, for their outstanding performance and contributions to the development of the university.

    “We remain committed and resilient to excel in our academic pursuit inspite of the challenges posed by the insurgency.

    “The University continued with its services and achieved significant feat in the past nine years,” he said.

    Njodi disclosed that the university with support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund ( TETFUND ), United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ), corporate organisations and philanthropists executed viable projects in the school.

    He explained that the projects were designed to provide an enabling teaching and learning environment, as well as research, to enhance academic excellence.

    He listed the projects to include Senate Complex Building, Mega House, Veterinary Centre and Instructional Technology Centre.

    Njodi added that the projects were completed and billed for inauguration as part of activities lined up for the convocation ceremony.

    According to him, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ); Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and a philanthropist,  Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, pledged to execute various projects in the University.

    Njodi lauded the Borno State Government, stakeholders, security agencies and members of the public for their support to the University.

    NAN

  • FG, NLNG sign contract on Bonny-Bodo road

    FG, NLNG sign contract on Bonny-Bodo road

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has signed a tripartite agreement of N120 billion with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas ( NLNG ) and Julius Berger Plc. for the construction of Bonny-Bodo road.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, at the tripartite agreement and contract signing on Wednesday in Abuja said the project would revive and strengthen the nation’s economy.

    The 34 kilometres road when completed would boost socio-economic development in the country and improve the lives of Nigerians in the Niger Delta region living on Bonny Island, Ogoni, Okrika, Eleme and Andoni.

    Fashola emphasised that the project was in compliance with the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan which had infrastructural provision as one of its pillars.

    “The project portrays the commitment of the government to clean and build up as well as reposition the Niger Delta region recognising the private sector partnership in the country.

    “NLNG as a corporate organisation has decided to fund half of the project by taking 50 per cent cost of delivering the project while the Federal Government takes 50 per cent.

    He, however, said the project showed government’s strong credibility and desire to push forward its commitment towards the nation’s economic revival.

    According to the minister, the road on completion will connect communities in the Rivers bringing about development in the country.

    Earlier, the Managing Director of NLNG, Mr Tony Attah noted that NLNG agreed to provide 50 per cent counterpart funding, amounting to N60 billion to boost socio economic development in the region.

    “This is part of our effort to contribute to the advancement of the Niger Delta.

    “It will lead to the accomplishment of the dream of connecting Bonny Island to the rest of Rivers state by road and not only by sea.

    “Our greater joy is that the road will ease the plight of people of Bonny Island, the community that has hosted NLNG Plant and operations for so long.

    “Over the years our empathy with the host community especially with the respect to transportation challenges on Bonny Sea compelled us to open up our company business vessels to accommodate community members.

    On the company’s financial contributions to Nigeria, he said “it generated 90 billion dollars in revenue as at 2015, paid 5.7 billion dollars in taxes and committed more than 200 million dollars to corporate social responsibility projects.

    “The company also pays N6 billion annually to the Rivers State Government and N140 million annually to the Bonny Local Government Council,’’ he said.

    Attah further noted that through its corporate social responsibility, it recently spent 12 million dollars on building, refurbishing and equipping engineering laboratories of six universities selected from six geopolitical zones.

    The Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc., Wolfgang Goesh, thanked the Federal Government for its trust and confidence reposed on the company.

    Goesh assured that the company would deliver a qualitative and timely project.

  • Nigeria LNG reiterates commitment to cleaner environment

    Nigeria LNG reiterates commitment to cleaner environment

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) has reiterated its commitment to sustained supply of cooking gas to the local market, to boost domestic consumption and a cleaner environment.

    Mr Tony Okonedo, the company’s Manager, Media Communications, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos on Friday.

    Okonedo said that the Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Mr Tony Attah, restated the commitment during a visit to key Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) facilities in Apapa.

    Attah said that the assurance became necessary to ensure the use of cleaner energy for the health benefit of Nigerians and for a cleaner environment, in line with the mission of the company to help to build a better Nigeria.

    According to him, NLNG is the biggest receptacle for gas in the country and its contribution has changed the game in the nation’s gas industry.

    “We have since helped in the reduction of gas flared in the country from 65% to less than 20 per cent.

    “And as part of our vision to help build a better Nigeria, we are focused on the sustained supply of LPG in a bid to deepen its usage in the country.

    “Also, to promote a healthy environment, and reduce deaths from inhalation of smoke from the combustion of dirty fuels,’’ he said.

    Attah said that the volume of LPG in the market was less than 50,000 tonnes per annum, before the NLNG intervention in 2007, and since then, deliveries have been on the increase with 262,000 tonnes delivered in 2016.

    He, however, said the total domestic consumption was at over 450,000 tonnes, adding that the company was focusing on a better environment through steady supply of LPG.

    The Deputy Managing Director of Nigeria LNG, Mr Sadeeq Mai-Bornu, said that there were opportunities for partnerships with Nigeria LNG and businesses, to create employment from new business opportunities, thereby reducing poverty.

    Mai-Bornu said that Nigeria LNG was the arrowhead of the Federal Government’s drive to reduce gas flared in the country and was committed to ensuring reliable supply of the product for a cleaner environment.

    On his part, Mr Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations, Nigeria LNG said, “As part of NLNG’s constant advocacy in helping to build a better Nigeria, it is focusing on supply of LPG and has currently dedicated 350,000 tonnes per annum for the domestic market.

    He said that the visit of the management of NLNG was to explore new ways to enhance the flow of the product into the market, so that its price can be reduced and the product becomes easily affordable.

    “Before the intervention of Nigeria LNG in the local LPG market, the product, like all other petroleum products in the country, was imported and sold to marketers for distribution and retail supply to consumers.

  • NLNG to resume gas supply after pipeline explosion

    NLNG to resume gas supply after pipeline explosion

    The Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Ltd. says it is rectifying the pipelines which exploded on Feb. 22 in Rivers, to ensure resumption of industrial gas supply within the week.

    Mr. Tony Attah, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Monday in Lagos, that engineers had been mobilized to restore supply quickly.

    According to Attah, the gas transmission pipelines do not belong to the company but have same right of way with NLNG pipelines.

    “The pipeline that exploded belongs to a third party which houses our own pipeline too.

    “Our engineers are working with the other engineers to see that we restore the pipeline back.

    “The pipelines will be restored this week and gas transmission will commence immediately,” he said.

    He, however, said that the explosion did not affect the domestic supply of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), which is cooking gas, for local consumption.

    According to him, the company is committed to providing up to 250,000 tonnes of LPG, about 40 per cent of local consumption, to the Nigerian market annually.

    NAN recalls that on Feb. 22, the Right of Way housing two gas transmission system pipelines, one of which belongs to NLNG Ltd., exploded in Rivers.

    The General Manager, External Relations Division of NLNG, Kudo Eresia-Eke, said in a statement on Feb. 23 that the explosion occurred in Rumuji area of the state, but no life was lost.