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Tag: Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation

  • Osinbajo denies approving NNPC ‘Contracts’

    Osinbajo denies approving NNPC ‘Contracts’

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said that he only approved two loans for the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and not contracts.

    Osinbajo’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande had earlier said that the Vice President approved contracts for NNPC.

    Akande said the contracts were approved after due diligence by the Vice President when he acted as President when President Muhammadu Buhari was away in the United Kingdom.

    The VP’s aide said his principal approved the recommendations for the contracts as part of necessary actions to deal with the backlog of unpaid cash calls and incentivise investments.

    Akande said Prof. Osinbajo made the clarification in view of media enquiries that followed NNPC’s claim that the contracts were indeed approved by Osinbajo.

    Akande had tweeted: “In response to media inquiries on NNPC joint venture financing, VP Osinbajo, as Ag President approved recommendations after due diligence & adherence to established procedure.

    Read Also: I approved NNPC joint financing contracts – Osinbajo

    “Action necessary to deal with huge backlog of unpaid cash calls which Buhari adm inherited and also to incentivise much needed fresh investments in the oil & gas sector,” Akande had tweeted.

    But reacting to the statement on Thursday in Bonny Island where he flagged off the Bodo-Bonny Road, Rivers state, Osinbajo said he granted loans and not contracts.

    His words: ” They were financing loans, joint venture loans, that have procured so in some cases NNPC ventures have to secure loans and they need the authorization to secure those loans.

    “While the President was away, I granted authorization which is what the law provides.

    “The law actually provides for that authorization, so I did grant all of those, in fact, there were two of them but those are presidential approvals but they are specifically for financing joint ventures and they are Loans not Contracts”, the Vice President added.

  • No informed comment on Kachikwu ‘s memo yet – ACF

    No informed comment on Kachikwu ‘s memo yet – ACF

    The Pan-Northern social-political Organisation, the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said on Friday that it will not make any informed comment on the allegations levelled against the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.

    The Forum said, however, that it was not opposed to any action taken by the government to unveil the truth needed for an informed decision in the interest of transparency.

    Secretary-General of the Forum, Anthony Sani told The Nation that the ACF does not have all the facts to be able to make any informed comment in the issue.

    He said: “ACF does not have all the facts on this matter. More so that the ministry has come out and said the letter by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources was meant to draw attention to the need for due process in the management practices of contract award by NNPC. As a result, the forum is not in the position to make an informed comments on the issue.

    “However, given the fact that the matter is of public importance, ACF is never opposed to any actions taken by the government in order to unveil the truth needed for an informed decision in the interest of transparency.”

  • Apapa gridlock: Lagos bars truck drivers

    Apapa gridlock: Lagos bars truck drivers

    The Lagos State Government on Friday directed owners and operators of articulated vehicles/trailers and petroleum tankers to stay away from Lagos for now in order to address the recent traffic bottleneck that has taken over Apapa expressway and its environs.

    In a press conference jointly addressed by officials of the State as well as members of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the government regretted that the incessant traffic bottleneck had impacted negatively on the commercial activities of the citizenry, adding that the directive would be enforced to eliminate the current hardship being faced by motorists.

    Related: Urgent vacancies in Lagos LG Service

    Addressing the briefing, the State’s Acting Commissioner for Transportation, Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi said investigations revealed that the traffic lockdown was a direct result of the challenges being faced by operators of the ports’ which had made it impossible for them to load the articulated vehicles/trailers that have come from the hinterland to evacuate imported items from the ports.

    He said the gridlock was worsened by the current rehabilitation of some major roads and other minor roads which necessitated the closure of some roads in Apapa, noting that the situation had led to the traffic bottleneck and backflow of the articulated vehicles to as far as Ojuelegba on the Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere.

    Explaining the reason for the State’s directive, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the Apapa gridlock had also become a reoccurring problem due to the constant breakdown of operations at the Ports.

    “Clearly, it is the breakdown of operations at the Port that is the monster causing this reoccurring issue. We keep having this issue of gridlock in Apapa because issues that the Ports Authorities and the concessionaires are dealing with are recurrent and the spillover effect of those issues are causing all these.

    “If the Ports can’t determine how many trucks they are able to deal with on a daily basis; how they are informed about coming in and going out, then it will be a problem to deal with.

    “What we need to do is to keep on engaging with them, we keep on engaging with other states and so on. I mean people who have trucks in other states and already know that there is a logjam in Lagos, why send other trucks to Lagos? While clearing the mess that the Lagos State Government did not cause, can people not consider it logical to wait for few days for us to clear this and this is the reason why we are saying that trucks should stay away from Lagos in the interim.

    “The idea is not to say don’t come into Lagos. It is part of what makes the economy of Lagos what it is but we are saying let us deal with the logjam that we have presently and there is no way we can deal with it, we can only deal with the effect because the causes essentially have to do with the operations at the Ports and that is why we are appealing to them,” Ayorinde said.

    Ayorinde also said that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) had been unable to load product from its Mosimi Depot in Ogun State due to vandalisation, noting that tankers hoping to get fuel across to the South West States are stranded in Lagos.

    In the interim, the Government, however, urged the operators to utilise the Ogere Trailer Park and other parks outside the State to avoid further hardship for motorists on the road, assuring that all measures would be deployed to ensure quick resolution of the situation.

    On his part, General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA0, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, said the State Government has already instructed the Agency alongside Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Nigeria Police and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to enforce the order restricting trucks from entering Lagos for now, noting that the enforcement will subsist pending when the spillover of traffic is cleared.

    He urged residents not to hesitate to immediately alert State authorities through the 112 and 767 toll-free lines in the eventuality of any danger lurking.

    Also speaking President of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi said the present situation was worrisome as it is a time bomb waiting to explode if unchecked.

    He urged the Federal Government to take a cue from the Lagos State Government and collaborate to resolve the crisis as soon as possible.

    While pledging the readiness of members of his association to support efforts geared to restore sanity, Ogungbemi also called for a regulatory system in place to manage call-up of trucks through technology.

  • Niger-Delta agitators want NNPC GMD sacked

    Niger-Delta agitators want NNPC GMD sacked

    Militant groups from the Niger Delta under the auspices of Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators on Friday demanded the immediate removal of the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru and renounced the earlier stand not to recognize or work with the Pan Niger Delta Forum.

    The group which issued a quit notice to Nigerians from the North and South Western part of the country to leave the region, however, said it was formally withdrawing the quit notice and the suspension of the planned attacks on the oil installations in the region.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja after their meeting, the group said it has also decided to put on hold its earlier plan to declare the republic of Niger Delta on October 1.

    The statement signed by General John Duke and other leaders of the group said the decision to withdraw the quit notice and other threats was arrived at following the intervention of PANDEF and Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by its Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko. 

    The statement reads: “After series of meetings between the high command of the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators led by General John Duku and the leadership of the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum (NENYLF) led by the Acting National Chairman, Comrade Imoh Okoko coupled with the intervention of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), the Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators, which comprises of over 250 groups with their leaders and representatives officially withdraw our quit notice issued to the Northerners and Yorubas living in Niger Delta region, call off planned resumption of attacks on Oil & Gas installations across the Niger Delta region and beyond from September 10, 2017; suspend October 1, 2017 declaration of the Niger Delta Republic, declare support to Pan Niger Delta Forum, demand restructuring and removal of Group Managing Director of NNPC.

    “We have also resolved to work with PANDEF and give them our maximum support and we urge the federal government to continue dialogue and implement the 16-point demand presented by PANDEF on behalf of the Niger Delta region. 

    “This comes after an extensive consultation across the Niger Delta region, which we discover that it is only PANDEF has been working all round the clock to resolve the Niger Delta issues and have the people of proven integrity; it is a clear fact that working with any rival group such as Pan Niger Delta Congress (PNDC) is not for the interest of the Niger Delta. 

    “The meeting also resolved that the oil/gas companies should relocate their headquarters to Niger Delta region. We also resolved to put on hold the issue of the return of oil blocs own by Northerners and Yorubas to Niger Delta people and demand that the NNPC should revisit their recent appointments. We urge the federal government to replace the GMD of NNPC with an indigene of Niger Delta for the interest of peace, equity, fairness and justice. 

    “We also thank the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum, Pan Niger Delta Forum for the major role they played through series of meetings which result to our withdrawal of the quit notice and we, therefore, agree that from now on the Nigeria Ethnic Nationality Youth Leaders Forum should be our Representatives, mediators and contact point. 

    “We mandate them to liaise with the Oil, Gas, Marine and Servicing companies operating in Niger Delta region, Government and Agencies, NNPC, NDDC, Amnesty Office to address the issues affecting members of the Coalition in particular and Niger Delta youths in general, most importantly Employment/Empowerment of the Niger Delta youths.

    “We also use this medium to declare total support to the current board of Niger Delta Development Commission, as we warn all groups calling for the removal of the MD, Nsima Ekere to desist from it as such plan is evil and detrimental to the development of Niger Delta region; we, therefore, appeal to the Federal government to release funds owed NDDC for development, sustenance of peace in the Niger Delta region; NDDC has a major role to play in sustaining peace in the Niger Delta region.

    “We call on all our partners and groups within and outside the Niger Delta region as well as all the agitating groups in the Niger Delta region to support PANDEF and give them all the needed support to enable them to continue to dialogue with the federal government in order to move Niger Delta forward.

    “We wish to appeal to the Pan Niger Delta Congress to work with Pan Niger Delta Forum for the interest of the Niger Delta region; and we want to assure all the indigenes of Niger Delta and the general public that while we await the outcome of the dialogue between PANDEF and the Nigerian government, we shall not fail to respond to any issue that may threaten the collective well-being of the Niger Delta people.”

    Those who signed the statement included General John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs and Convener, Coalition of Niger Delta Agitators); General Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers); General Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors); Major-Gen. Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters); Major-Gen. Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters) and Major-Gen. Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice).

    Others were Major-Gen. Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network); Major-Gen. Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate); Major-Gen. Abiye Tariah (Niger Delta Development Network); Major-Gen. Joshua Ebere (Renewed Movement for Emancipation of Niger Delta); Major-Gen. Jeremiah Athony (Movement for Actualization of Niger Delta Republic); Major Francis Okoroafor (Niger Delta Freedom Redemption Army); Colonel Nelson Okochi Walter.

  • NNPC shake-up: Ohanaeze urges Buhari to promote unity, good governance

    NNPC shake-up: Ohanaeze urges Buhari to promote unity, good governance

    OHANAEZE Ndigbo – the pro-East apex socio-political organisation – has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to revisit the recent reorganisation at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC ) in the interest of peace, unity and good governance.

    In a statement at the weekend signed by its President-General, Chief John Nwodo, the group described as appalling the consistent and unrepentant disposition  of alleged disdain for the Southeast by Buhari’s administration as copiously displayed in the recent reorganisation at the NNPC.

    The Ohanaeze Ndigbo said it had thought that after the President’s declaration in a recent broadcast that Nigeria’s unity was settled and not negotiable, that he would take all necessary actions to achieve it, adding that the NNPC shake up has not shown that the administration meant what it said.

    Nwodo said that Buhari’s administration has shown in the new managers just announced, tilting clearly in favour of the North with the Southeast ignored as has always been the case since he came on board, has no plan to achieve the desired cohesion in an already fragmented nation.

    The Ohanaeze chief noted: “This brazen disregard, marginalisation and non-compliance with the federal character provisions in our constitution are the causes of lack of confidence which our youths have in our present governance structure.

    “As long as President Buhari continues to live out his speech abroad that his government will favour those who voted 97 per cent for him against those who voted five per cent for him so long will the dissatisfaction and unrest in our polity subsists.

    “There is no oil well anywhere in Northern Nigeria. Four of the five states in the Southeast have proven oil resources some of which provide our nation’s revenue yet our people are not found fit to be adequately represented in a key corporate institution like the NNPC.

    “Ohanaeze is therefore urging the President to revisit this recent reorganisation exercise in NNPC in the name of God and in the spirit of the ongoing festivity being celebrated in this season and in promotion of unity and good governance.”

  • 2017 budget: Senate gives to NNPC, CBN, 36 others marching order

    2017 budget: Senate gives to NNPC, CBN, 36 others marching order

    The Senate Tuesday gave marching orders to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, Central Bank of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service and 35 other Federal Government agencies to submit their 2017 budget proposals for approval or risk sanction.

    The upper chamber said that it was unbecoming that five months into the year, 38 statutory agencies of the Federal Government have failed to submit their budget proposal for the 2017 fiscal year.

    It said that the agencies continued to make huge extra budgetary expenditure against the law establishing them.

    Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah (Kebbi South) drew the attention of the Senate   to what he described as the abnormality of the agencies to submit their budgets for the approval of the National Assembly.

    Na’Allah noted it is wrong for agencies to spend money that has not been appropriated by the legislature.

    Na’Allah told the Senate that he intends to bring the issue to the floor as a motion so that Senators will understand the implications and the need to assist the government to fight corruption.

    He said, “I deliberately decided that I will bring it on the floor, so that Senators will understand the implications.

    “In our commitment to assist this government to fight corruption, we must stand on our feet that every spirit of our law must be obeyed by those holding public offices. I think that if you permit me I will like to come tomorrow by way of motion, so it can be debated on the Floor of the Senate.”

    “The only approach this Senate can take to assist this government in fighting corruption, is to insist that gross abuse of power and misuse of power must be stopped by every government agency. The only way we can build our institutions is to radically address the issue of abuse of power and misuse of power. I think that if you give me permission, I will like to bring it tomorrow as a motion.”

    Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who agreed with the submission of Na’Allah expressed displeasure over the failure by most government agencies to submit their 2017 budget proposals to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.

    Saraki condemned the practice where agencies of government spend money without statutory approval by the National Assembly.

    He ruled that the Senate would comprehensively debate the issue and take a resolution today.

    Saraki said: “We are already in May.  How can parastatals be operating without any budget, especially in this time of the fight against corruption and ensuring that there is transparency in governance? We need to take this matter seriously because clearly these agencies are just flouting the guidelines and breaking the law.

    “This is a very serious issue because as we all know, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, these budgets are meant to have been submitted to the National Assembly since August 2016.

    “They are supposed to have come with the Appropriation document. We have now passed the 2017 budget without the budgets of the parastatals. I think this matter really needs to come up as a motion because this is a very serious matter. We need to debate it.

    “Leader, this is a very important issue and we must debate it tomorrow and if there is any Committee in exception or that have received from agencies they oversight, then they will have the opportunity to at least clear the parastatals and Agencies, that have sent their budgets.

    “But if as at middle of May, we are saying we have not received any budget from them, then which money are they spending and with what authority? We need to look into that and take a decision that may be they can only pay salaries until they bring their budgets here and approvals given.

    “I think once and for all, we need to address this issue and put an end to this disregard for laws and areas of corrupt practices,” the Senate President said.

    Agencies that are supposed to submit their budget proposals for approval by the National Assembly included NNPC, CBN, Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASEI), Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA).

    Others are the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), National Maritime Authority (NMA), Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), National Sugar Development Council (NSDC), Nigerian Postal Service (NPS), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

    The list also includes the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), National Communications Commission (NCC), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and National Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

    Others are National Insurance Commission (NIC), News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Nigerian Copyrights Commission (NCC), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Radio Nigeria, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Federal Mortgage Bank, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), as well as Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGZFA)

     

  • NNPC supplies the cheapest, most reliable power to Nigerians – GMD

    NNPC supplies the cheapest, most reliable power to Nigerians – GMD

    Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), supplies the “most reliable and cheapest power’’ to Nigerians, Dr Maikanti Baru, the corporation’s Group Managing Director, has said.

    Baru made the statement in Houston on Monday while addressing newsmen on the sidelines of the 2017 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that OTC is an annual conference of experts in the oil and gas sector.

    The conference is organised to provide opportunity for the experts to brainstorm and network on issues and challenges facing the sector.

    Baru, who was represented by Mr Saidu Mohammed, NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power, said that several Nigerians were unaware that the corporation had long been part of Nigeria’s power sector.

    “We (NNPC) supply about 1,000 megawatts of power from the two power plants at Afam and Okpai.

    “These are the most reliable power plants in Nigeria and they provide the cheapest source of power for Nigerians.

    “Before that we had been talking to our joint venture partners notably Chevron and Total to build similar power plants at Obite and Agura.

    “But these companies are yet to build the plants; that is why we are in Houston to invite investors to build power plants in Nigeria,” Baru said.

    The GMD said that officials of NNPC were also in Houston to invite companies who have the capacity and competencies to come to Nigeria to invest in the power sector.

    He added that Nigeria’s participation in the conference was also aimed at increasing the nation’s gas reserve and to enhance the capacity of Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    Baru said that the NNPC had a target to raise the production level of NPDC within the next two years.

    He said, “essentially we want to raise the production capacity of NPDC to about 700,000 barrels with the support of other partners.’’

    He said that NNPC participated in the conference to solicit for capital, advanced technology and partners to invest in Nigeria’s power sector and transform the corporation to achieve set goals.

    NAN recalls that on March 29, Baru disclosed that NNPC was already working on a project to generate 4, 000 megawatts of electricity.

    He said that the corporation was exploring the possibility of investing in the transmission segment of Nigeria’s power sector.

    He said that contrary to the impression that the poor power situation in Nigeria was caused by inadequate gas supply; the real problem was inadequate transmission capacity.

    According to the GMD, the corporation has enough gas to generate 8, 000 megawatts of electricity.

    “But the transmission grid will not be able to support such volume of power without complications.”

     

     

  • NSCDC uncovers illegal bunkering site in Alimosho

    NSCDC uncovers illegal bunkering site in Alimosho

    Operatives of the National Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC) on Friday uncovered illegal fuel bunkering activities at a boundary between Mosan Okunola and Agbado/ Oke Odo Local Council Development Areas of Alimosho, a suburb of Lagos..

    The operatives were led by NSCDC Commandant, Tajudeen Balogun to the site where it was discovered that some people had been siphoning petrol from a Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) pipeline across a river in the communities.

    The pipeline was reportedly vandalised by a syndicate in the area.

    Although, the suspected vandals had fled before the arrival of the operatives, but the law enforcement agents recovered some of their tools including long  pipes and hose with which fuel is  scooped from the vandalised pipeline.

    The operatives, however arrested a security officer, Sam Benedict, who was in charge of the toll collection of a makeshift bridge constructed across the river linking the neighbouring communities.

    Sam, who denied knowledge of the illicit operation said he was employed by his boss for toll collection ranging from N20 to N200 from pedestrians and motorists.

    He added that the business was solely run by his boss who is a lawyer.

    Our correspondent observed a couple of tankers parked along some streets leading to the river bank, while no petrol station was sighted in the area.

    At the scene, some chairs and empty soft drink containers were seen on the path leading to the vandalized pipeline. The items, according to the NSCDC operatives indicate regular activities in the creek.

    The commandant, however, vowed to investigate those behind the operation, noting that appropriate sanctions would be meted on the culprits.

    He urged residents of the community to desist from backing criminals involved in vandalism, warning that such could lead to unexpected jeopardy.

    Balogun said: “We got an intelligence report from our division here that something fishy was going on in this area and I am here to confirm it. What we have seen is a petroleum pipeline has been vandalised and normally our own duty is to confirm and get across to the appropriate authorities. In this instance, NNPC should come over immediately to seal it up so that our national asset will not be disturbed by  wastage, sabotage and miscreants.

    “We are still extending our investigations to know the perpetrators of this act because that thing did not just happen. Somebody worked on that pipeline to drill it with the intention of siphoning petrol which is economic sabotage. Our own intelligence group will sniff around to see if there are some collaborators within the community, who are aiding and abetting illegality and will work with the appropriate authorities to see how we can stop this from happening.”

    Continuing, he said: “We are working in conjunction with the Lagos state government to clear all the creeks so that doing anything under darkness will not be allowed. We appeal to the communities around here, residents who live here permanently that there is no need to be selfish and supporting criminal to do this kind of act.”

    The corps also called the attention of the government to the recent leakages of NNPC pipelines, following the discovery of another fuel well at a school on 2, Taiwo Aina Street.

    The commandant emphasized the need for the NNPC to proactively tackle the challenge with proactive measures, noting that the inherent hazards were beyond economic sabotage.

    The well, he said, currently poses danger to toddlers who often use the school premises.

    “The most important thing is that right now, to avoid a disaster which could be manmade, because when petrol is usually in a place like that, and there is fire, you can imagine what will be the case. To make matters worse, this is the premises of a school. We have little children here,” he added.

  • Nigerians react to N145 fuel price

    Nigerians react to N145 fuel price

    Nigerians on Wednesday reacted to the new pump price announced by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu.
    Recalled that the Federal Government has approved an increase of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) normally referred to as petrol to be sold not more than N145 per litre effective from 11th May, 2015.
    The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) is expected to accordingly announce the new price. Recall that the product was selling for N86.50 per litre.
    The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu revealed this to the State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
    Find the reactions below: