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Tag: oil firms

  • Oil firms in court  over alleged $10m debt

    Oil firms in court  over alleged $10m debt

    Halkin Exploration and Production Limited has been sued before a High Court of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, by Eunisell Limited for $10,240,679.98 million over alleged unpaid debt.

    The amount being alleged unpaid debt for services rendered at the Atala Marginal Field (OML 46) by Eunisell Limited for the defendant.

    According to court documents, the debt accrued between January 2022 and September 2024.

    In the suit marked FCT/HC/CV/5599/N/2024, dated December 16, 2024,  Eunisell posited that it made several demands for payment.

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    The claimant said after repeated failures by Halkin to meet its obligations, the company opted for legal action.

    Eunisell, is asking for an order of the court for the payment of the sum of  $10,240,679.98m, being an outstanding debt owed the claimant by the defendant arising from the services rendered to the defendant at the defendant’s Atala Marginal Field (OML 46) by the claimant.

    The claimant also asked for interest at the rate of 21 per cent , per annum with effect from January 20, till judgment and thereafter at the rate of 10 per cent per annum until judgment debt is fully liquidated.

    Eunisell further asked for the sum of N20m, being the cost of action.

    When the suit, dated December 16, 2024, was called for hearing, Halkin Exploration and Production Limited was absent in court.

    The company also had no legal representation, despite having  been served with the Originating Processes.

  • Reps: Seven oil firms to refund $37.4m to federation account before August

    Reps: Seven oil firms to refund $37.4m to federation account before August

    …as Conoil, Oando, Total Energies, Addax, others shun Reps invitation

    At least seven oil companies indicted in the Auditor General’s report for owing millions in unpaid royalties have committed to refunding approximately $37.4 million to the Federation Account by the end of August 2025.

    These companies are among 23 listed in the 2021 report by the Office of the Auditor General for the Federation for failing to meet their royalty obligations.

    House spokesperson Akintunde Rotimi, in a statement issued in Abuja, confirmed that the House Committee on Public Accounts, which is investigating the audit report, secured commitments from the companies. 

    However, some firms are contesting the amounts assigned to them.

    The statement noted that only Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Shell Nigeria Exploration & Production have fully complied with their royalty payments.

    Meanwhile, several other companies—including Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria Ltd, AITEO Group, Total E&P Nigeria (OML 100, 102, 52 & 99), Conoil Plc, Oando, and Continental Oil & Gas Company Ltd—have reportedly ignored invitations from the House Committee to respond to the allegations against them.

    The statement read: “Consequent upon the ongoing investigation by the Public Accounts Committee of the House of Representatives, seven major operators in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have undertaken to remit a total of $37,435,094.52 (approximately ₦58 billion) to the Federation Account before August 2025.

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    “This commitment follows the Committee’s scrutiny of financial records from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which flagged significant lapses in royalty payments and reconciliation processes across the sector.

    “The pledged repayment forms part of a ₦9 trillion outstanding liability queried by the Auditor General for the Federation in the 2021 audit report submitted to the National Assembly. The debts, some of which have accrued over a period of four years, highlight longstanding revenue leakages in the oil and gas sector.

    “Beyond these seven companies, the Committee’s investigation has uncovered $1.7 billion (₦2.5 trillion) owed by 45 oil and gas companies in unpaid royalty payments as of December 31, 2024”.

    The statement said Belema Oil, Panocean Oil Nigeria Ltd, Newcross Exploration & Production Ltd, Dubri Oil Company Ltd, Chorus Energy, Amni International and Network Exploration have acknowledged their outstanding debts and agreed to settle them before August 2025.

    It said further that Nine companies, with a combined outstanding debt balance of $429.2 million, have contested the figures and requested a reconciliation process with NUPRC to verify their actual liabilities. 

    The nine companies according to the statement include Aradel/Niger Delta, Chevron, STAR DEEP, Shore Line, Seplat Producing Unlimited, Esso Erha, Esso Usan, Eroton Exploration and Seplat Energy. 

    It said that the Committee has directed that the reconciliation process be concluded within two weeks, after which companies must settle their confirmed debts without further delay.

    The statement also said that a total of 28 companies, collectively owing $1,230,708,293.14, have failed to honor invitations by the Committee or respond to public notices. 

    The companies that have ignored invitation by the House Committee are Addax Petroleum Exploration Nigeria Ltd, AITEO Group, All Grace Energy, Amalgamated Oil Company Nigeria Limited, Total E&P Nigeria (OML 100, 102, 52 & 99), Bilton Energy Limited, Enageed Resources Limited, Waltersmith Petroman Limited, Conoil Plc and Continental Oil & Gas Company Ltd. 

    Others are Energia Limited, First E&P Ltd, Frontier Oil Limited, General Hydrocarbons Limited, Green Energy International Ltd, Nigeria Agip Exploration Ltd (NAE), Neconde Energy Limited, Nigeria Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) – OML 60, 61 & 63,Lekoil Oil and Gas Investments Limited and Midwestern Oil and Gas Limited. 

    The companies also include Millennium Oil and Gas Company Limited, Oando Oil Ltd (OML 60, 61 & 62), Heirs Holding, Pillar Oil Limited, Platform Petroleum Limited, Universal Energy Limited / Sinpec, Sahara Field Production Limited and Oriental Energy Resources Limited. 

    The statement added that the Committee has given the affected companies a further grace period of one week to submit all relevant documentation regarding their statutory obligations and appear before the Committee, adding that gailure to comply within this timeframe will result in firm legislative and regulatory sanctions to enforce accountability and ensure compliance.

    The statement said “the House Committee on Public Accounts remains steadfast in ensuring that all oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria adhere to statutory payment obligations in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). 

    “The Committee will continue to intensify oversight to recover outstanding revenues and plug revenue leakages in the industry.

    “The House of Representatives reiterates that companies benefiting from Nigeria’s natural resources must comply with financial obligations to support national development. The necessary legislative measures will be taken to enforce compliance and safeguard public revenue”.

  • States, Fed Govt on collision course over shareholding in oil firms

    States, Fed Govt on collision course over shareholding in oil firms

    • NGF D-G: governors always kept in the dark

    States and local governments are on a collision course with the Federal Government over the shareholding structure of the newly created public oil companies.   

    Findings by The Nation show that states and councils are not accommodated in the share structures of the oil firms formed to replace the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

    The new companies are the Nigerian Petroleum Assets Management Company Limited and the National Petroleum Company (NPC). 

    The ownership structures of the two companies show that the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) will have 20 percent stake; Federal Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), 40 percent and Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated (MOPI), 40 percent.

    MOPI, established in 2023 under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), plays a key role in managing Federal Government’s shares and overseeing oil and gas assets.

    Officials knowledgeable about the development are already querying the fact that there are also no plans to allocate shares of the new companies to the states and the local governments in the near future.

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    One of the officials pointed out that historically, shares of federation assets are usually allocated to subnational entities in federated structures.

    He gave an example of the National Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) in which subnational governments are represented.

    The official said: “The exclusion of the subnational governments, whether deliberate or not, is not right. It must be corrected as quickly as possible to stave off a disagreement between the states and local councils on the one hand and the Federal Government. Those who packaged the new companies must understand that national assets in a federation belong to all tiers of government.

    I, therefore see no reason for all the shares in the new companies to be allocated to Federal Government-owned entities.

    “I am worried that the development could threaten the PIA, a legislation hailed as a panacea for the ailing oil sector.”

    A member of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), who expressed concern over the development, said: “MOPI has no legal basis for holding onto its shares. If this issue is not addressed, it could become the norm, making it difficult to rectify in the future.

    “I know state governors will challenge the inclusion of MOPI and question why their interests are not accommodated.

    “It is crucial to amend the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and remove MOPI. According to the 1999 Constitution, federation assets should be jointly owned by the federal, state, and local governments.

    “In the case of the new company, MOFI represents the federal government, leaving subnational entities without representation and raising doubts about who is protecting their interests.

    “The governors should be asking, who does MOPI reports to?” 

    Director-General of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), Asishana Okauru, claimed that oftentimes, state governments were kept in the dark by the Federal Government. 

    “Many times, states do not know what is happening in the centre.  There is quite a lot of things happening at the federal level that state governments are not aware of,” Okauru said.

  • ‘Oil firms flared $2.5b gas’

    Oil producing companies  flared gas worth $2.5billion (N875billion) in the last one year, The Nation has learnt.

    The firms include the International Oil Companies (IOCs), Independent Producers and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    Data from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) revealed that the volume of gas that was not commercialised (flared or re-injected) by March, this year rose to 42 per cent.

    Corroborating the DPR data, AfriPERA, an Energy and Infrastructure Policy research organisation, said Nigeria lost an average of N875 billion ($2.5 billion) between March, last year and March, this year from gas flaring.

    The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chinedu Onyeizu, said: “Since the 1950s, Nigeria has been burning off its natural gas at flare points and, despite efforts by successive administrations to curtail the wastage, the country loses an estimated $2.5 billion yearly to gas flaring as well as the unattended impact of negative externalities associated to gas flaring.’’

    Also, the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) Chairman, Paul McGrath, explained that gas can provide steady, cost-effective and  affordable power to Nigerians.

    He added that a shift to gas-fuelled power generation would represent significant savings opportunities over sources, such as diesel, which is more expensive than gas at $2.5/mmbtu.

    Gas production, according to the DPR report, increased by 15.4per cent at 263.48billion cubic feet compared to the output in proceeding period of February, this year.

    This translated to an average daily production of 8,499.58 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd). Of the volume of gas supplied in March, last year, 155.01bcf of gas was commercialised, consisting of 40.35bcf, and 111.66bcf for the domestic and export markets.

    The report indicated that 58.81 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialised, and the balance of 41.19 was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared recorded gas flaring.

    The Senate, on April 18, this year, passed a new bill, which provides for a penalty against gas flaring and other malpractices in the oil and gas sector. Earlier, Associated Gas Re-Injection Act of 1979 checked sharp practices in the sector. Since then, there has been no review or amendment of the Act, despite its devastating effect on the host communities, until the bill was passed.

    One of the highlights of the new Bill is that any licensee, who supplies inaccurate data to the DPR or to any other lawful authority will be liable, upon conviction, to a fine of N10 million or be committed to prison for a term of six months or both.

    Other objectives of the Bill include ensuring that natural gas is not flared or vented in any oil and gas production operation, block or field, onshore or offshore, or any gas facility, which shall commence operations after the commencement of the Act.

    The Bill also seeks to ensure that no operator establishes an oil and gas facility without first obtaining authorisation from the minister for the design, commissioning and production phases. The Bill comprises 22 sections, including sections on punishment for the supply of inaccurate data, the gas flaring penalty fee, powers of the minister to make regulations, as well as a repeal of the Associated Gas Re-injection Act 1979.

    Sponsor of the Bill, Senator Bassey Albert, said: “The approval of the long-awaited legislation on gas flaring after 40 years is one of the best parting gifts, the Eighth Senate could possibly offer Nigerians at this time.”

  • ‘Oil firms flared $2.5b worth of gas’

    Oil producing companies in Nigeria have flared gas worth $2.5billion (N875billion) in the last one year, The Nation has learnt.

    The firms include the International Oil Companies (IOCs), Independent Producers and the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    Data from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), revealed that volume of gas that was not commercialised (flared or re-injected) in March 2019 alone rose to 42 per cent.

    Corroborating the DPR data, AfriPERA, an Energy and Infrastructure Policy research organisation, said that Nigeria lost an average of N875 billion ($2.5 billion) between March 2018 and March 2019 from gas flaring.

    The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chinedu Onyeizu said, said the loss, was aside the unattended impact of negative externalities associated with gas flaring.

    “Since the 1950s, Nigeria has been burning off its natural gas at flare points and, despite efforts by successive administrations to curtail the wastage, the country loses an estimated 2.5 billion dollars each year to gas flaring as well as the unattended impact of negative externalities associated to gas flaring,’’ he said.

    Also, the Chairman, Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), Paul McGrath, explained in a reaction to gas production, that gas provides a unique opportunity to provide steady, widely-available, cost-effective and generally affordable power to Nigerians.

    He added that a shift to gas-fuelled power generation would represent significant savings opportunities over sources such as diesel, which is multiple times more expensive than gas at the current price of $2.5/mmbtu.

    Gas production, according to the DPR report, increased by 15.4per cent at 263.48billion cubic feet compared to the output in proceeding period of February 2019.

    This translated to an average daily production of 8,499.58 million standard cubic feet of gas per day (mmscfd). Out of the volume of gas supplied in March 2019, 155.01bcf of gas was commercialised, consisting of 40.35bcf, and 111.66bcf for the domestic and export markets.

    The report indicated that 58.81 per cent of the average daily gas produced was commercialised, while the balance of 41.19 was re-injected, used as upstream fuel gas or flared recorded gas flaring.

    The Senate had, on April 18, passed a new bill, which provided for a penalty against gas flaring and other malpractices in the oil and gas sector. Prior to this, Associated Gas Re-Injection Act of 1979 was in place to check sharp practices in the sector. Since then, there has been no review or amendment of the Act despite its devastating effect on the host communities, until April this year, when the Senate passed a new bill on gas flaring.

    One of the highlights of the new Bill is that any licensee who supplies inaccurate data to the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) or to any other lawful authority will be liable, upon conviction, to a fine of N10 million or be committed to prison for a term of six months or both.

    Other objectives of the Bill include ensuring that natural gas is not flared or vented in any oil and gas production operation, block or field, onshore or offshore, or any gas facility, which shall commence operations after the commencement of the Act.

    The Bill also seeks to ensure that no operator establishes an Oil and Gas facility in the country without first obtaining authorisation from the Minister for the design, commissioning and production phases. The Bill comprises 22 sections including sections on punishment for the supply of inaccurate data, the gas flaring penalty fee, powers of the minister to make regulations, as well as a repeal of the Associated Gas Re-injection Act 1979.

    Sponsor of the Bill, Senator Bassey Albert, said: “The approval of the long-awaited legislation on gas flaring after 40 years is one of the best parting gifts, the 8th Senate could possibly offer Nigerians at this time.”

  • Oil firms advised on post -Ogoniland clean-up

    International Oil Companies (IOCs) and their local counterparts operating in the Niger Delta region, especially Ogoniland, should set aside funds for post clean-up exercise of the area, the Chairman, Institute of Oil and Gas and Research and Hydrocarbon Studies(IOGRHS), Professor Akin Akindoyeni, has said.

    The firms include Shell Nigeria, Chevron and Agip among others. He said the development became necessary in order to prevent a re-occurence of environmental degredations, arising from oil spillage in the area.

    the Federal Government’s decision to rid Ogoniland of wastes that had destroyed their rivers, farmlands, trees and other natural habitats, he said, is a welcome development adding that there is the need to continue the cleaning later in the future.

    Speaking at an Oil and Gas Forum last week in Lagos, he said funds set aside for post clean-up of  Ogoniland and its environs would be used for research purposes.

    He said research requires expertise and funds, adding that research into the composition of the soil used for farming and prevention of effects on environmental degradation in the area would be easier, when the necessary resources are put in place.

    He said the huge post clean- up funding would help harness the potentials of the oil producing zone and make it economically viable.

    “We believe the responsibility of the oil companies are not exhausted until there is economic utility in the exercise. We do not want to propagate any kind of mind-twisting inputs until we have facts and these facts should be based on focus research,” Akindoyemi said,  adding that the research would provide technical and economic benefits in the industry.

    “More people would not only have their skills sharpened, but would be able to make economic gains out of the exercise.  The reason is because the fish would migrate to the shoreline, where it would be caught for feeding and other activities,” he said.

    Also, the Institute has decried the continued 100 per cent crude oil export and refined products import, stating that huge revenue, and infrastructure and employment opportunities are being frittered away in the process.

    He said tremendous progress is being made in the production of Shale oil and other energy resources in order to reduce green gas emissions, adding that if the current rate of progress is maintained, the country would demand less for the oil production and usher in a more rapid growth in the area of manufacturing and  others in United States.

  • NUPENG kicks against oil firms’ proscription plan

    The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas  Workers (NUPENG) has called on Nigerians to support its  fight against the alleged plan by oil companies to force the body into extinction.

    NUPENG President Mr. Williams Akporeha made the call at a dinner to celebrate its forthcoming 40th anniversary, in Lagos.

    He said casualisation of workers and outsourcing were major malaises affecting oil workers, adding that companies’ managements hire human resources managers with the mission to ensure that workers don’t join the union and known union members laid off.

    According to him, the union has adopted various strategies to ensure it continued to remain relevant to workers in the oil and gas sub-sector as well as Nigerians.

    “Management of oil companies are coming up with various policies to phase out NUPENG and we have embarked on a lot of struggles to ensure that those plans do not come to fruition.

    “We have situations where oil management today puts policies to ensure that workers who are supposed to be under NUPENG cadre are not employed.

    “When they are employed, they must be under contract and they ensure that they are not unionised and that’s the challenge we continue to face.

    “And if as a leader today, I don’t up my game or realise that those are the challenges I must face then I am very sure it will get to a time where you will not have NUPENG anymore.

    “My major challenge now is to save NUPENG from extinction with focus being to protect members’ jobs as it is relevant to have members in the oil and gas sector to ensure our continuity against management’s wish.”

    Akporeha said calling for industrial actions, which the union is known was an option of last resort. According to him, it was usually caused by attempts to deny union members their rights hence, they have a right to fight not only for themselves, but for all Nigerians.

    “No one in his right senses likes to be on the street under scorching sun to protest as its being ascribed to us, but situations caused it and we have to be ready to fight for our members and all strata of the Nigerian public.

    “We protest when our foundation is threatened. Policies to phase us out of existence are what we are against and are what I will fight as I believe my ascension is not a mistake. Promotion of NUPENG ideals must continue,” he said.

    The president, who rose through the ranks from a floor member in 1992, said the union, under his watch, wants to rebrand its identity from one always on strike by explaining the reasons for such industrial actions to the public.

    He said no matter the intimidation from management, NUPENG must continue to move forward.

    He said plans are on ground to celebrate former leaders of the union, companies and Nigerians at the anniversary coming up in December.

     

  • NCDMB calls for listing of oil firms

    Listing of major companies in the Nigerian oil and gas sectors on the stock market would further stimulate the growth of the industry and enhance the inclusion of Nigerians in the national economic wealth creation.

    Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Executive Secretary,  Simbi Wabote, yesterday called on all stakeholders to work towards ensuring the listing of companies that add value to the country’s hydrocarbon resources, such as refineries, petrochemical industries and fertiliser companies.

    Speaking during the visit of the management of the NCDMB to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Wabote noted that most of the companies listed under the oil and gas sector of the NSE are into marketing of petroleum products.

    He said the listing of upstream and mid-stream oil and gas companies would be a game-changer for the Nigerian oil and gas industry as this will give room for pooling together of funds for growth as well as the empowerment and inclusion of Nigerians in the activities of the mainstay of the economy.

    He commended the NSE for playing vital roles in the national economy by serving as  a means of wealth creation, wealth distribution, and source of long-term financing even as the businesses listed  on the exchange use their products and services to meet the needs of the people.

    “We will like to see more of the upstream and mid-stream companies listed on the Exchange.  More importantly,  we will like to see a major shift in the listing of companies that add value to our hydrocarbon resources in-country such as refineries, petrochemical industries, fertiliser companies, and companies in the liquefied petroleum gas and compressed natural gas  value chain,” Wabote said.

    He said the board recently launched its 10-year strategic roadmap designed to increase the Nigerian content level in the oil and gas sector from the current level of about 30 per cent to 70 per cent  by 2027.

    “This means retention of about $14 billion in the Nigerian economy out of the yearly spend of $20billion. This target represents huge opportunities for investors in the Nigerian economy. We see opportunity to collaborate with the NSE to increase the depth and breadth of listings using our 10-year strategy as a driver. For us in the Board, we have commenced multiple strategic initiatives to bring the roadmap into fruition,” Wabote said.

    According to him, the vision of NCDMB is to be a catalyst for the industrialisation of the  oil and gas industry and its linkage sectors.

    He outlined that in line with its focus as a catalyst for in-country resource utilisation, the board has taken 30 per cent equity in a 5,000bpd modular refinery and is considering other similar proposals for the establishment of modular refineries.

    “We reckon that at least 10 per cent  of Nigerian oil production should be refined using modular refineries. As a regulator, we have put in place our exit plans from these investments. We see opportunity to divest such equity via the Nigerian Stock Exchange so that Nigerians and other investors can be part owners of such enterprises. We are also looking at providing support other opportunities, such as the LPG value chain, industrial fabrication, and manufacturing using our oil and gas park schemes,” Wabote said.

    He pointed out that partnership between operators in major sectors of the economy and the stock market would boost activities at the stock market by increasing the listing of Nigerian companies on the Exchange.

     

  • Buhari directs NNPC, oil firms to release fund for Ogoni clean-up

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and oil companies to release fund for the clean-up of Ogoni communities.

    Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Dr. Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu said this yesterday in the first part of an eight-part series Podcast focusing on the Niger Delta and security.

    He said the President was committed to the success of the Ogoni clean up and that his ministry is working with the Ministry of Environment to continue the exercise.

    His words: “The president is completely committed to the success of this. And we are working with the Ministry of Environment to continue the Ogoni clean up. The President has just directed that funds necessary for this must be released within a very short period of time so that this Ogoni clean up can actually move from the drawing board to actual practical reality. In fact, both the oil companies and NNPC are to fund this sufficiently for us to move forward.”

    The minister added that the ministry has begun a programme to secure the participation of Ogoni people, when there is any problem.

    The plan to make communities have faith in the government, according to the minister, was not restricted to Ogoni.

    Kachikwu said the government is working on a framework for a community-based participation in oil and gas pipelines and  assets.

    He said following realisation from inter-agencies researches that challenges were still lingering in the Niger Delta after $40 billion was spent in the region in last 15 years, the ministry is working with the Office of the Vice President and the Ministry of Niger Delta.

    Others are  Niger Delta Development Commission and the NNPC.

    The aim, he said, is to engage in more capacity building and economic empowerment.

    Kachikwu said from reports, the ministry has checked past expenditure and available funds in the Niger Delta states.

    The minister noted that technical committees have been set up in Edo, Delta and Imo states, with the governors as chairmen, to look at the volume of oil available and produced in the areas as well as the opportunities, economic empowerment and topical issues in the states.

    The committee, which has oil companies, the ministry and government agencies as members, will also carry out the assessment in other oil producing states to develop a blueprint for engagement and intervention in the region.

    “If we succeed in doing that, for the first time, what we are going to have is a complete blueprint, complete local engagement, complete intervention and supervision of the Niger Delta Development module. And that is something that can be sustained for posterity,” Kachikwu said.

    The minister added that his ministry has approved the establishment of 10 modular refineries of which two have began construction.

    Kachikwu affirmed that the two modular refineries, sited in Kwale in Delta State and Ogbere, Rivers State, will start yielding results within one year.

  • Boroh: It’s duty of communities, govt, oil firms to provide jobs

    Boroh: It’s duty of communities, govt, oil firms to provide jobs

    The Coordinator Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (rtd), has said it is the duty of communities, the Federal Government and oil companies to provide jobs for youths in the Niger Delta.

    A statement signed by Mr Owei Lakemfa, Head of Media PAP, quoted Gen. Boroh as speaking while addressing the chiefs, elders, women and youth groups of George Town, Okrika, Rivers State at the weekend.

    Gen. Boroh, also Special Adviser to the President on the Niger Delta, said 20 ex-militants were empowered in a cluster co-operative integrated farm by the government.

    According to him, the model farm, which was fully funded by the programme has 30 ponds, one ‘Run-off Earthen Pond,’ 5000 Bird Poultry, including Broiler and Layers, Free Range, Cropping and Processing Sections, Administration and Sales Office, 2 Feed Stores, 2 Implement Stores and one Control Room.

    The Coordinator told the beneficiaries that they have once in a life time opportunity not just to make a decent living for themselves and their families but also to employ a number of the unemployed.

    Gen. Boroh said the cluster farming would impact positively on the beneficiaries and assist them to be employers of labour.

    He said the beneficiaries were introduced to the fish smoking kiln and a multipurpose seafood processor to aid their businesses.

    According to the Coordinator, the introduction to a more effective and efficient technology of fish/seafood preservation and processing had a tremendous impact on their livelihood activities.

    He said the Amnesty Office would further empower the beneficiaries by handing over to them as a start off package, 1000 fingerlings to 2000 post fingerlings,  100 Point of Lay Birds and an additional 200 broilers, 10 Piglets  and a Crop Section: with  Cucumber, Pepper, Pumpkin and Okra.

    The presidential aide said the modern cluster farm for which the Rivers State Government has given a registration as “Okrika Agro Farmers 105 Cooperative and Investment and Credit Society Limited,” would be replicated in other parts of the region.

    Gen. Boroh also visited some individual aquaculture holdings in Okrika funded by PAP.

    Also, the George Town Traditional leader, Chief Akuro George, in his response at the meeting, thanked PAP under Boroh for extending “Federal presence” to George Town.

    George said the project has established a bond between the people and the Federal Government and called for a skills acquisition centre be established by the Amnesty Office in George Town to cater for unemployed youths.

    The traditional ruler, also a former First Vice President of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), said “the problem of the Niger Delta is a collective challenge.”

    He urged other federal, state and local government agencies to collaborate for the development of the region and the country.

    The monarch appealed for the completion of roads in the town by the Federal Government intervention agency.

    The Songhai Farms, which trained the beneficiaries and helped them established the cluster farm, said it would spend the next three months to mentor the beneficiaries.

    Its General Manager, Mr Tammy Jaja, said the model farm is based on a zero-waste technology in which the use of waste materials in one section is a critical input in another section.

    The Chairman of the beneficiaries’ cooperative society, Mr Emmanuel Promise, thanked the Federal Government for giving them the opportunity to run a business of their own.

    The Amnesty Programme said it was committed to human capacity development among youths in the Niger Delta as a deliberate step to ensure reintegrate the 30,000 ex-agitators captured under the Amnesty programme.

    The programme, which started in 2009, had sponsored beneficiaries in various skills training in the areas of education and entrepreneurship, automobile engineering, auto electrical, auto manufacturing, auto maintenance, underwater welding, aviation, agriculture, tourism & hospitality and sports, among others.