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  • Moves on to drive vessel traffic to Onne, Warri, Calabar ports

    Moves on to drive vessel traffic to Onne, Warri, Calabar ports

    The Federal Government says one of its main priorities in the Maritime sector is to boost patronage of the Eastern Ports of Onne, Rivers, Calabar and Warr by importers and exporters.

    Expressing joy that the Onne and Calabar ports have been certified by the  International Organization for Standardization(ISO), the government said it was ready  to support the  Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to address all factors responsible for the underutilisation of the three ports.

    Marine and Blue Economy Minister   Adegboyega Oyetola made this known while inaugurating a 4.8-kilometre road  “D” project and six marine crafts at the Onne Ports complex in Rivers State.

    Oyetola described the inauguration of the facilities as a testament to the commitment of the ministry to maximise the opportunities in the maritime sector as directed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    The road which covers two container terminals will cater to almost 1,000 trucks daily.

    The minister said  that  his visit to Onne Ports further convinced that more could be “achieved if we invest more in our Port infrastructure such as we are doing with the over $ 1 billion worth of reconstruction/rehabilitation investment in our ports.”

    He commended the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and promised to grant prompt approvals to initiatives that would enable continuous improvement in the performance of all  Nigerian ports.

    “This road infrastructure constructed by the Nigerian Ports Authority and the mooring boats we are gathered here to commission is another testament to the commitment of the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy under my watch to maximize the entire gamut of opportunities conferred on us by our maritime endowments, in line with the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

    “The Mooring Boats are used to safety berth and unberth vessels calling at various pilotage districts. These six Mooring Boats are our way of further enhancing the security and safety of our maritime space.

    “Deepening the efficiencies and full capacity utilization of the strategic advantages of Onne and other Port Complexes in the eastern axis constitutes one of the tools we are deploying in actualising the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) assigned to us under the Presidential Performance Bond. We are now poised more than ever before to give the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) all the backing necessary to address all factors responsible for the underutilization of these national assets.” 

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    “Providing the enabling atmosphere and deepening investor confidence to patronize the Eastern Ports of Onne, Rivers, Warri and Calabar is top on the Ministry’s agenda.

    “This is why I was delighted to learn that Onne and Calabar Port Complexes have met the requirements of the International Organisation for Standardisation and are thus ISO certified. This shows we are doing something right, but we cannot rest on our oars until all other Ports are certified

    “I have been briefed on the growth in numbers especially for exports emanating from Onne Port Complex, and I am impressed and poised to provide the facilitation and advocacy required to grow the vessel traffic to this important nucleus of growth.

    “Although issues concerning the potential of Onne have always dominated my correspondences with the NPA, I must say that this visit further convinces me that so much more can be achieved if we invest more in our Port infrastructure such as we are doing with the over $1billion worth of reconstruction/rehabilitation investment in our ports, including Onne which is at its conclusive stage.

    “I want to seize this occasion to commend the Management of NPA for the prudent application of resources that financed this project and to reiterate my earlier commitment to grant prompt approvals to initiatives that enable continuous improvement in the performance of our ports.”

  • ‘Low cost power coming for Onne Free Zone’

    ‘Low cost power coming for Onne Free Zone’

    Regulatory agency, the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA), is partnering an investor to roll out embedded power at lower cost at Onne Free Zone within the next eight months, it was learnt yesterday.

    Addressing investors in the zone and other stakeholders at a joint stakeholders’ forum on improved service delivery in Onne, OGFZA Managing Director Mr. Umana Okon Umana said the move was aimed at reducing the cost of doing business in the zone.

    “In order to reduce the cost of doing business in the free zones regulated by OGFZA, we are partnering with an investor to provide embedded power supply in Onne Free Zone within the next eight months. “We   are   also   seriously   addressing   the   challenge   of   high   cost   of   doing business in the free zone arising from other tariffs. We have engaged all the stakeholders in this regard, including developers of the free zone and the IOCs, all of who have agreed that the tariffs are way too high and must come   down.

    “In this regard, the authority in line with the extant law and regulations will soon be issuing a new schedule of tariffs, which would be applicable in the free zones ,” Umana said.

    Umana, who reported other successful OGFZA initiatives to the forum of stakeholders, described the efforts as the fulfilment of the commitments in the roadmap of the agency, which was drawn up early in the year.

    He said: “I am happy to report also that in March this year, the authority in compliance with the extant law and regulations implemented a modified Standard Operating Procedure to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency.

    “Furthermore, in line with the commitment made in our roadmap, we have begun the full automation of our processes with the deployment of the Oracle Cloud  application for all aspects of our operations. The   deployment   of   the application and the training of staff to operate it are ongoing.

    “When it is fully operational, the Oracle application would make it all too easy to achieve our set goals of meeting a new licence request within 14 days and a renewal request within 48 hours.”

    The forum was jointly organised with the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), whose comptroller-general, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), pledged to partner OGFZA to achieve the best of the free zones.

    Col. Ali explained that achieving improved service delivery in terms of timely clearance of goods from the ports and other measures of efficiency depends on “honest customs declaration by traders, proper utilisation of temporary importation permits, strict compliance with free trade regulations and prompt perfection of declarations on provisional release procedure”.

    The forum, which was highly interactive, featured the presentation of technical papers on the Ease of Doing Business and on the Customs perspective on improved service delivery.

  • Reduced piracy in Onne: Investors praise Fed Govt, OGFZA

    Investors have commended the Federal Government and the leadership of the Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority (OGFZA) on the decline in pirate attacks around the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zones.

    They said the huge scale back in the incidence of piracy followed representations to the federal authorities by OGFZA on security concerns in the area.

    In February, the Managing Director of OGFZA, Umana Okon Umana,   had written  to the National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen.Babagana Monguno (rtd), to draw attention to deteriorating security around the seaport, marked by increase in the incidence of piracy and its consequential impact on investments in the area, particularly in the oil and gas free zones.

    The initiative by Umana led to a security meeting with the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Admiral James Oluwole, and a subsequent deployment of several warships and patrol boats to secure the region and provide safe passage for commercial shipping.

    The better protection for shipping in the region’s waterways has helped to significantly bring down the rate of pirate attacks on shipping, as well as sabotage of oil and gas facilities in the area, Oluwole said at an interaction with the management of OGFZA.

    Also, the Terminal Operator of Indorama/Eleme Petrochemicals Limited at Onne Free Zone, Manjunath Gowdara said: “Security has improved since the Umana administration came into office. For about three months now, there’s zero incidence of attacks both on land and at sea.”

    Port security report states that Indorama security alert level has been lowered from level two to level one in the wake of the significant improvement in security around the free zone.

    The Operations Manager of Brawal Oil Services Limited, Michael Agha and the Commercial Manager of the company, Ifeanyi Odili-Nwamana, made similar remarks, stating that the new management of OGFZA, has helped to improve security in the zone.

    “There has been improved security and reduced militancy in the port,” Agha said, adding that the management of Brawal is pleased with OGFZA chief for his efforts at addressing security challenges in the port,, especially the issue of abandoned vessels at the quayside.

    Both managers said Brawal has complemented the efforts of government by putting many measures in place to improve security in the free zone.

    The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 6 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maj.-General Enobong Udoh,  also assured Umana  of adequate security when the OGFZA chief visited the GOC  in his office at Bori Camp in Port Harcourt.

    “We have made specific security arrangements to protect lives and property, as well as oil and gas assets in the region. I want to assure you that the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army will always support OGFZA,” Gen. Udoh said, adding that the 6 Division was established and headquartered in Port Harcourt to regularise and perfect all the previous ad hoc security arrangements set up to address security challenges in the Niger Delta.

  • Ndoma-Egba vows to change public perception of NDDC

    Ndoma-Egba vows to change public perception of NDDC

    The Chairman of the Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba says steps are being taken to change the negative perception of the commission by the public.

    Ndoma-Egbe said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.

    He regretted that the public image of the commission was not encouraging, adding that It would no longer be business as usual.

    According to him, members of the commission are being accused of collecting kick backs from contractors of the commission before paying them for contracts executed.

    “The story in the public is that the commission collects 10 to 15 per cent from contractors to get their payments for jobs executed.

    “This is absolutely wrong, if it is true, getting such payments from contractors would have become an industry by itself.

    “There is no reason why contractors who have met conditions for payment should not be paid without any gratification.

    “We are coming on board at a very challenging time.’’

    According to him, we must rebrand the commission and change the public perception of it as a slush fund, and this we must do through our honest work and single minded focus and discipline.Ndoma-Egba also pledged to reposition the board to enable it play its role effectively in the administration of the commission.

    He explained that the NDDC under his leadership would no longer serve as a place where things would be done without adhering strictly to set rules and order.

    “The bane of the commission seems to stem from the mentality of the leadership that once they are appointed, it is their turn to rip off the agency.

    “But the new Board and Management of the commission have understood where we are coming from and what the people expect from us and we have decided to depart from the ugly route of the past,’’ he said

    To this end, Ndoma-Egba said that on assumption of office, the management immediately swung into action by taking measures to put their house in order and change the way things were being done in the commission.

    He said this was done to show their seriousness and desire to stick to accountability and to ensure the much needed development.

    The chairman said the management assembled key members of staff and development partners for a retreat in February.

    This, he noted was part of efforts by the commission to reposition it for effective service delivery.

    “The three-day retreat, with the theme; “Collaboration for Sustainable Development”, held in Onne, Rivers State, and was attended by members of the Governing Board, directors, and strategic stakeholders from within and outside the region.

    “The retreat made it clear that the new Board and Management are solely dedicated to integrity, efficiency, transparency and accountability,” he stated.

    Speaking on abandoned projects in the region, Ndoma-Egba blamed the budget process for being “largely responsible for the spate of abandoned projects in the region.’’

    “The approach to projects has been ad hoc, arbitrary and self-serving, with very little end-user content. Many projects appear strange to beneficiary communities.

    “The projects are imposed on them and it creates crisis of ownership.

    “It will be apt to expect that with the combination of the chairman and the managing director in the saddle, a new era of rapid physical development driven by accountability will for once dominate the affairs of the commission.

    “Indeed, those who have taken time to look into the books of the commission are quick to point out that the amount of money received by the intervention agency since its establishment in 2000.“It is not commensurate with the quantity and quality of projects in the nine oil producing states of Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Imo, Delta, Edo, Ondo and Rivers.

  • Rivers: Navy deploys troops for special operation

    Rivers: Navy deploys troops for special operation

    The Nigerian Navy said on Wednesday that it had deployed troops to Rivers on a special operation code-named “Operation Rivers Sweep”.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Eastern Naval Command, Rear Adm. James Oluwole, disclosed this to newsmen on the sidelines of inauguration of residential quarters for troops in Port Harcourt.

    Oluwole said the deployment which began on Jan. 7 was aimed at tackling the rising activities of illegal bunkerers in Onne Local Government Area of the state.

    “Operation Rivers Sweep was activated on Jan. 7 to stem the tide of increasing and disturbing reports of illegal bunkering in Onne general area.

    “Over some months now, we have discovered that lots of illegal refineries are operating within the area with stealthily and specially designed dug-in canoes moving stolen petroleum products.

    “The supply chain starts from the illegal refineries which transport the illegally produced crude oil from dug-in canoes to bigger vessels that move the product out of Nigeria by sea.

    “Operation Rivers Sweep thus is focused on having a coordinated and well planned operation different from the routine patrols ongoing at our operational bases level,” he said.

    Oluwole said the ongoing operation would discover and destroy illegal refineries and other maritime crimes in Onne and environs.

    The FOC said that the Navy’s inability to prosecute suspected oil thieves partly affected the war on illegal oil bunkering.

    According to him, the battle against oil thieves was built on a tripartite arrangement which involved surveillance, enforcement and operation.

    “However, enforcement does not reside with the Navy because there are agencies that are statutorily empowered to do that.

    “We have done our job when we hand over investigation to agencies saddled with the responsibility to prosecute suspects,” he explained.

    Oluwole assured that the Navy would not relent in its efforts to rid the Niger Delta of oil thieves and criminality in the nation’s maritime environment.

  • Firm expands subsea support service centre to Onne

    FMC Technologies Inc. has unveiled its state-of-the-art subsea services support centre in Onne, Port Harcourt, and the first subsea tree completed in Nigeria for Total’s Egina project, located 150 kilometres off the coast of Nigeria.

    The subsea services support centre will ensure full life-of-field support for customers’ offshore developments, the firm said, adding that the facility features a climate-controlled warehouse, two test pits, office areas and more than 1,000 square metres of high bay workshop space for the refurbishment and maintenance of subsea equipment.

    Egina Project Director, for Total Jean-Michel Guy, said: “We were pleased to attend the recent event at FMC Technologies’ facilities in Onne, and it is good to meet the site teams who have contributed to the success of our project.”

    “This new subsea services base is a cornerstone of the ongoing offshore campaign, and as such, is a major contributor to the Egina Project, which will add 200,000 barrels of oil per day to Nigeria’s production by 2018.”

    The opening also coincided with some execution milestones in Total’s Egina Project. The project’s first four trees were delivered to the Egina field at the end of May, one of which was completed in Nigeria and represents a landmark achievement in the country.

    It also cements FMC Technologies’ reputation as a company that invests in local talents.

    FMC Technologies Country Manager in Nigeria, Michael Hunt, said: “Our commitment to developing local content is as strong today as it was when we started operating in Nigeria in 1999. We will continue investing in our capabilities which means developing our people and supply chain, establishing links with academia, and investing in equipment and facilities. Since 2010, we have trained more than 70 technical service and workshop personnel, and our footprint in Port Harcourt extends to 25,000 square metres.

    “We are committed to customer success and this celebration gave us the opportunity to share successes with our customers and demonstrate the benefits that the new subsea services support center will bring.”

    The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) Mr. Patrick Daziba Obah declared his support for the subsea services centre while cutting the ribbon to open it.

    The event was also attended by representatives from Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), and National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), an arm of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

  • Board to support oil firms at Onne Free Zone

    Board to support oil firms at Onne Free Zone

    The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), has pledged to support oil and gas firms operating in the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne, and the Oil and Gas Services Centre both in Rivers State, to maximise their potentialities and address some of their challenges.

    The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Denzil Kentebe made the promise when he led General Managers of Nigerian Content Development Divisions of international oil companies (IOCs) and other stakeholders in the oil and gas industry on tour of the facilities of the Oil and Gas Services Centre, Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne.

    The tour was coordinated by Intels Nigeria Limited, a concessionaire in the zone whose integrated logistics services are dedicated to the oil and gas industry. The company showcased its investments in berthing facilities, ports operations equipment, offices and accommodation facilities, among others. The firms visited included Total Premier Services, Vallourec Oil and Gas, Titan Tubular, Tenaris and Pipe Coaters Nigeria Limited.

    Others include Cameron Valves and Measurements, West Atlantic Shipyard, OPMC, Remm Oil Services, Oando Rigs, One Subsea/Cameron Offshore and GE Subsea Facility, as well as the FMC Technologies, West African Ventures Yard and Adamac.

    The tour came on the heels of a similar visit by the delegates of the just-held Practical Nigerian Content Conference to the facilities at the zone.

    Speaking during the tour, Kentebe said the purpose of the visit was to get the industry to appreciate the capacities of companies operating in the oil and gas service centre and Free Trade Zone, noting that the Board was insisting on the utilisation of locally-manufactured inputs by the oil and gas industry and many of such activities were carried out in the zone.

    He expressed delight that many of the companies were engaged in value addition activities and manufacturing of components, which hold the key to real Nigerian content growth and employment creation.

    He encouraged companies operating in the zone to approach the Board if they experience challenges, adding that the NCDMB was willing to support any company seeking to domicile its operations in the country.

    On complaints from the operators of the West Atlantic Shipyard that the vessels they manufacture in the Zone were often taxed exorbitantly when they are moved out of the vicinity, Kentebe promised that the Board will engage relevant agencies of government to ensure that applicable tax policies do not negate the essence of establishing the zone. He urged the company to ensure that it restarts the manufacture of vessels aside from just carrying out dry docking of vessels. He noted that the Board will begin to give first consideration to locally-built vessels in tenders from next year.

    Explaining the company operations to the Executive Secretary after a tour of their rigs, the Managing Director of Oando Energy Resources, Mr. Bamidele Badejo said the company’s three rigs-OES Integrity, OES Respect and OES Teamwork were in good form and are ready to serve the industry.

    He further explained that the company invested $450 million in the acquisition of four rigs in furtherance of the Nigerian Content Act, adding that 600 people are employed when three of the rigs areworking. He pleaded with the Board to help the company secure business so they can retain all their staff and make their investment worthwhile.

    When the team visited OneSubsea, the officials explained that the company was assembling Christmas Trees for ExxonMobil’s Erha North project and 70 per cent of the project team is Nigerians. OneSubsea Offshore Systems is a leading provider of flow equipment products, systems and services to oil and gas and process industries.

    Officials of General Electric also told the Executive Secretary and his entourage that they repair and maintain Christmas Trees for the Shell Bonga project and other deepwater projects. He added that the Christmas Trees were dismantled and assembled back in their facility and returned to the production platforms offshore.

    In their presentation, officials of West African Ventures noted that the certifications offered by the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron to locally-trained seafarers were not accepted by the oil and gas industry and offered to upscale the capacity of their graduates to enable them acquire international certifications and skills they need to secure work.

    Speaking after conducting the entourage through the oil and Gas Services Centre in the Onne Free Zone, the Head, Public Relations and Nigerian Content, Intels Nigeria Limited, Mr. Isidore Sambol explained that his organisation was committed to the realisation of Nigerian Content in line with the policy thrust of the Federal Government for the oil and gas industry.

    He added that the plans for Onne Phase 4B project by Deep Offshore Services Limited would, on completion, double the present capacity of the services centre and create more jobs for Nigerians.

    The Phase 4B project is ongoing with dredging and reclamation works underway for the construction of an additional 2,000sqm jetty with a 12m draft at low tide. Others include 600 hectares of industrial area, an inner channel and turn basin. These projects are aimed at investors on fabrication, manufacturing, integrations services, spool base and dockyard.

    Mr. Sambol noted that the Oil and Gas Free Zone, Onne is only 40 per cent utilised and called on investors to take advantage of the Federal Government’s incentives for operating in the Zone.

  • Investments in Onne Free Zone hit $8b

    The investment in the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone (OGFG) has exceeded $8 billion, according to the Head of Business Development, Orlean Invest Africa Limited, Akintoye Akinpelu.

    Addressing delegates at the 5th Practical Nigerian Content at the Onne Port, Rivers State, he said the firm, which the Federal Government commissioned in 1997 to attract fresh investment into the country and also promote local and regional economic growth, has now generated 30,000 direct employments and over 50,000 indirect employments.

    He added that the firm was in partnership with the Federal Government and Lagos State Government to build an airstrip in Onne for light aircrafts that would be able to move from Lagos to Onne.

    His words: “We have our plans to within Onne today to build an airstrip in Onne. An airstrip that will be able to accommodate a light aircraft to land and at the same time to be able to move from Lagos. We are in partnership with the Lagos State government and the Federal Government and the Lekki International Airport.”

  • Fed Govt targets 500 foreign investors at Onne oil, gas fair

    Fed Govt targets 500 foreign investors at Onne oil, gas fair

    The Federal Government has inaugurated a committee for this year’s international exhibitors for oil and gas in Onne Free Trade Zone with a target to attract 500 foreign investors.

    The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who inaugurated the committee, said the exhibition is slated for between October 24 and 26 in Onne, Rivers State.

    He said: “The government’s target is to create 60,000 jobs through Onne Free Trade Zone. The government is concerned about attracting investment into the country, particularly in the oil and gas where we have a comparative advantage.

    “If we attract more investment it will create multiple opportunities for Nigerians in terms of job and wealth creation. We have over 30,000 people working in Onne as a result of the investment in the zone. We are targeting to double the number of job created.

    The oil and gas free zone had contributed significantly to the development of the economy over the years. As the oil and gas industry continues to play dominant role in the Nigerian economy, the free Zone concept would be central and strategic to defining a sustainable transformation of the national economy.

    He noted that since inception, the Onne Oil and Gas free Zone had made tremendous and sustained progress in foreign direct investment (FDI), revenue generation, technology transfer employment and wealth creation.

    The Chairman, Organising Technical Committee of the forum, Mr Chubuisi Onyebuere, said the committee intended to mobilise over 500 investors operating in the zone, as well as investors from all over the world. We are expanding the available space for exhibition by about 30 per cent, he added.

     

  • Oil workers threaten to shut down Onne FTZ

    Oil workers, under the aegis of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) have threatened to shut down oil and gas operations in the Port Harcourt zone if anti-labour practices in Onne Free Trade Zone do not stop in three weeks.

    The zone comprises Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Benue states.

    In a communique at the end of a joint NUPENG and PENGASSAN (NUPENGASSAN) National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Calabar, Cross River State, the groups expressed worry about the alleged continuing anti-labour practyices by companies in the zone, saying its authorities and the firms have refused to heed the advice by the Labour Minister to respect the rights of workers to join trade unions.

    They accused the firms and FTZE management of maltreating their workers.

    ”We observe that managements of the various companies in the Free Trade Zone continue to harass, intimidate and victimise workers. Consequently, NEC-in-session hereby directs the Port Harcourt Zone of NUPENG and PENGASSAN to shut down all oil and gas operations in Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Cross River, Imo, Enugu, Abia, Ebonyi, Anambra and Benue States if these matters are not resolved within three weeks.”

    The workers also reminded Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, of the agreement reached at the joint meeting of NUPENGASSAN on September 20, 2010, at Aldgate Congress Hotel, Port Harcourt, on the state social levy.

    The agreement, they added, was a review of the levy for those that earn below N100, 000 to be treated as workers in the public sector; inclusion of two representatives of NUPENG and PENGASSAN on the Board of Governors of the new schools; commitment that the rate of the social services levy would not be subject to further review; and the inclusion of the TUC on the Board of Trustees of the Social Service Contributory Trust Fund.

    The workers reminded the government of the commencement date of the law.

    They called on Governor Amaechi to honour the state government‘s side of the bargain.