The Nation Newspaper

Tag: projects

  • Shell votes $25b for capital projects

    Shell votes $25b for capital projects

    Royal Dutch Shell is earmarking $25 billion for capital investment this year, its Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden has said.

    The Shell chief in the company’s 2016 annual report stated that the firm will maintain strict capital discipline and expect capital investment to be around $25 billion this year, which is at the lower end of the company’s $25-30 billion range for 2017-2020. “Our priority is to reduce debt following the BG deal and support shareholder returns into the future,” he said.

    According to him, Shell remains ready to invest in the most competitive projects.

    He said: “But we are working to reshape Shell into a more focused and resilient company by capping our investments for the next few years, while continuing to drive down costs and to sell assets.

    “Following the integration of BG, our Integrated Gas business has become an engine for generating cash and returns. The increased strength of our global gas business, combined with our other cash engines, should deliver rising free cash flow from around 2020.

    “We plan to continue prioritising growth in our deep-water and chemicals businesses beyond 2020. But we expect them to become major cash engines over the next decade. This should enable Shell to achieve the scale and profitability that will help us to adapt and thrive in the transition to a lower-carbon global energy system.

    “The evolving energy landscape offers exciting potential for future growth and further integration in our business. That is why we created a New Energies business in 2016 to explore and develop attractive commercial opportunities. We expect demand for oil and gas to continue to grow. But we also intend to build upon our portfolio and will continue to look at the potential of low-carbon biofuels, hydrogen, solar and wind as the energy transition unfolds. Our New Energies business intends to act with conviction and commercial realism – when the value for shareholders and society is clear.”

    “In the meantime, Shell’s existing oil and gas portfolio will help drive growth in free cash flow over the next few years, across a range of possible oil prices. The integration of BG has also reinforced the foundations for generating competitive returns from our core oil and gas businesses over the longer term. We have set an ambitious and clear path for the years ahead. We revitalised Shell in 2016 and I am confident that 2017 will be another year of progress in building our world-class investment case.”

    The Shell chief stated the company continued to streamline its downstream business–including divestments in Japan, Denmark and Malaysia – as part of its ongoing effort to improve efficiency by lowering costs and concentrating on our most competitive businesses.

    “Our divestment drive gained momentum during the year and we plan to continue selling assets in 2017 as part of our overall divestment programme of $30 billion for the 2016-18 period,” he added.

    The company’s income for the 2016 financial year was $4.8 billion compared with $2.2 billion in 2015. Earnings on a current cost of supplies basis were $3.7 billion, compared with $4.2 billion in 2015. It also distributed $15 billion to shareholders in dividends in 2016.

    Its overall production averaged 3.7 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boe/d), compared with 3.0 million boe/d in 2015. This increase was largely driven by the acquisition of BG.

    Refining margins were weaker in our downstream business, while a modest rise in crude oil prices gave some support to our upstream earnings as the year progressed. This again shows the strength of the integrated energy company model.

  • Kwara earmarks N3b for projects in varsity

    The Kwara State government has approved N3,021,374,903 for the creation of the school of Governance and Business in the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Ilorin. 10 additional campuses will be built at Osi and Ilesha in Ekiti and Baruten councils.

    Commissioner for Information Mahmud Ajeigbe addressed reporters after the State Executive Council meeting.

    Ajeigbe said the council approved the appointment of a Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Administration and Academics, in accordance with the law establishing the university.

    The projects will be funded through the Kwara Infrastructural Funding window (IFK), based on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

    Ajeigbe added that Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed will inaugurate construction of the Osi and Ilesha Baruba campuses in a few weeks.

  • 26 Ilaje communities benefit from N168m projects

    Twenty six communities under the Ilaje Regional Development Committee (RDC) have benefited from 5,600 metres improved composite walkways among others, built at N168 million.

    The RDC distributed personal protective equipment to 300 fishermen.

    The committee was established in 2005 to speed up development of the Ilaje oil communities.

    Chairman Patrick Ehinmola, who inaugurated the projects, lauded Chevron Nig Ltd and the Ondo State government for the timely completion of the projects.

    The General Manager Policy and Public Affairs (PPGPA) of Chevron Nig Ltd, represented by Tony Emegore, praised the management committee and solicited more cooperation.

    The projects were inaugurated last week, dignitaries and traditional rulers attended the ceremony.

    Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Deji Ololajulo appealed for cooperation and urged people to desist from vandalising oil facilities.

    Residents praised the management of RDC and Chevron for the projects and appealed to the government to provide potable water and electricity.

  • Are Obiano’s community projects worth it?

    SIR: Its homonym, the constituency project, is a discredited term in the public space of Nigerian political commentary. It is understood to mean a byword for legislative corruption and as an advertised support to popular representation, has largely been abused.  Much like the fog surrounding the self-awarded official entitlement of the sponsors, the modalities upon which our unique constituency projects are executed may only be described as esoteric. The federal legislator [the practice is pronounced at the first tier of government] acts like a sole administrator over the funds allocated for his constituency scheme. At best, the contraption is a device to assuage the biting hunger of Nigeria’s fourth republic parliamentarians to exercise some sort of executive authority, especially the power to award contract.

    In conception and execution, the Willie Obiano intervention in community development is a departure from the government – dominated approach which has tended to distort the policy and indeed reduce the local populations to spectators. The community projects, covering the 179 autonomous areas of the state and valued at N7bn are divided into two phases, each community is entitled to the sum of N20bn for each round of the programme.

    By mid-February, five towns, namely, Agulu, Amansea, Umueri, Anaku and Ezinifite had completed their tasks. Twelve other communities are set to follow suit with others at various stages of execution. Five towns are at the point of resolving issues on project, site and contractual decisions. However, the services embarked upon assume an encyclopaedic breadth. There are health centres, market stalls, road construction, civic centres, erosion control measures, printing presses, skill acquisition centres, oil palm and crop processing factories and many more.

    These injections have the potential of stimulating local economic activity even to the diversification of the rural economy. It is the setting for increased productivity, higher employment opportunities and rising incomes. At a time of national economic recession, the merit of these socio economic interventions cannot be over emphasized. The community development investment becomes the needed infusion for reflating the state’s economy.

    The socio political gains of the programme are no less significant. There is a place for equality of communities in governance.  It ensures that no town is left out on government’s empowerment mission and by fostering a sense of belonging, rallies the populations on the course of development and peaceful coexistence.

     

    • Ifeanyi Afuba,

    Nimo, Anambra State.

  • Why I am called Mr. Constituency Projects, by Shuaibu

    Why I am called Mr. Constituency Projects, by Shuaibu

    Edo State Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has said he earned the nickname, ‘Mr Constituency Projects,’ because of projects he executed in his constituency when he was a member of the House of Assembly.

    Shaibu, who represented Estako West Constituency II between 2007 and 2015, urged the people to elect good representatives.

    He said the secret behind the electoral victories of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo was due to its developmental projects.

    Shaibu disclosed that N36m constituency project fund is provided for lawmakers in the State House Assembly to execute projects in their various constituencies.

    He reflected on his tenure in the House when he distributed empowerment materials to members of Estako Federal Constituency.

    Items presented by Shaibu included sewing machines, tricycles, generators, motor-cycles and grinding machines.

    The deputy governor said the empowerment materials were part of what he attracted to the constituency when he was in the House of Representatives between 2015 and 2016 before he became Deputy Governor to Governor Godwin Obaseki.

    Shaibu said he ensured that projects were executed from the N36m constituency funds, unlike some lawmakers that connived with contractors to share the money.

    He said some constituencies, including Estako West Constituency 1, have not enjoyed constituency projects because of their elected representatives who opted to fight former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.

    His words: “The money for Constituency projects is equal in the budget. We met N20m when I was first elected to the Assembly. I did four schools from the fund available. The money was later increased to N30 and it is now N36m.

    “Constituency one in Estako West did not benefit because their representatives was never in line with the State government. While I was building schools, the lawmaker was fighting the governor. Those of you in constituency have to blame your legislator for not aligning with the government.

    “The money is there in the budget for the constituencies. The lawmaker choose the project to execute or can decide to go with the contractor to share the money.”

    Shaibu, however, urged political leaders in the state to play politics of development and not of division.

    According to him, “If you want to play politics play it the right way, I play politics of development and project, I don’t play politics of division. Those that want to play politics of division, this is a warning for you, play politics of development because our people wants projects and when you play politics of development, you can win and win and win.

    “This empowerment was the one that I got from my first year in the House of Representatives before you people voted me in to become the Deputy Governor of Edo state. In another 30 days we will commissioning blocks of class rooms which I did while I was in the House of Representatives.

  • Delta inaugurates 22 road projects

    Delta State government has inaugurated 22 road projects out of the 47 contracts awarded in the last one year, Information Commissioner Patrick Ukah has said.

    Ukah, who spoke after an Executive Council meeting in Asaba, said the government approved the building and rehabilitation of six roads.

    He assured residents that the government would monitor the projects to ensure timely completion.

    “The Asaba/Illah/Ebu Road, which was ceded to the state government by the Federal Government, will soon be rehabilitated.’’

    The commissioner said blocked drains in Asaba would be fixed.

    He said the government would improve infrastructure despite its financial challenges.

    “Six roads across the three senatorial districts were approved on Tuesday by the Executive Council for construction, rehabilitation and maintenance.

    “First is the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of the 24-kilometre Nsuukwa/Ejeme Aniogor/Owa-Alidinma road cutting across Aniocha South, Ndokwa West and Ika South local governments.

    “The rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of 12-kilometre Ekrerhavwe/Orhuakpor/Isiokolo Road in Ughelli North and Ethiope East councils.

    “The continuation of the reconstruction and completion of phase III, 3.75 kilometre Amai/Ezionum/Abbi Road in Ndokwa West Local Government.

    “The reconstruction of 3.1 kilometre Ovwian Main Road, off Udu Road in Udu Local Government.

    “The construction of 1.5 kilometre Oporoza Palace Road in Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri South West Local Government.

    “The building of 2.1 kilometre Rigid Concrete Pavement Road at Obitobon Elolo Ajakunogbe-Orubu Road Ogidiban, Warri South West Council.’’

    Ukah called for public support to enable the government deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, saying other roads would be given attention to link communities.

    According to him, when the roads are completed, they will open up agrarian communities and boost economy.

    The commissioner said besides intercity road construction, streets in Asaba, Warri and other cities would be fixed.

    He said the government would build a secretariat to accommodate the ministries.

    “The Asaba Airport is a major project embarked on by the government. On completion, bigger planes, such as Boeing 747, can land at the airport,’’ Ukah said.

  • Budget 2017: Saraki seeks equitable distribution of projects

    Budget 2017: Saraki seeks equitable distribution of projects

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday urged Senate standing committees to ensure equitable distribution of projects in budget 2017.

    He spoke while committing the 2017 Appropriation Bill to the Appropriation Committee after a three-day debate of the general principles of the fiscal document.

    Saraki  noted that only equitable distribution of projects would assuage the feeling of those who felt that their zones were not adequately represented in the budget.

    He added that equitable distribution of resources would give a sense of belonging to all parts of the country.

    Senators of the Southeast geo-political zone had complained bitterly that their zone was not fairly treated in the allocation of resource in the budget.

    They noted that the zone got a paltry N14 billion worth of projects in a budget of N7.298 trillion.

    Saraki said: “While we are doing the exercise, the issues raised by our colleagues on the equitable distribution of projects should be considered.

    “I will like all our respective committees to take care of that to ensure a sense of belonging by all and I hope that on this area, we would ensure that we do our best in ensuring that this exercise is better than last year.”

  • AfDB lists complaints procedures for financed projects

    AfDB lists complaints procedures for financed projects

    The Compliance Review and Mediation Unit (CRMU) of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is organising an information workshop on “Handling complaints from people affected by AfDB-financed projects” next week in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

    During the two-day workshop, bank experts will brief the participants on issues of accountability, compliance review and problem-solving/complaint-handling approaches. The workshop will also discuss information and mediation training needs and result in a collaboration framework between CRMU and project implementation units, and between CRMU and civil society organisations.

    The meeting, a statement from the bank said,  will bring together some 40 stakeholders from civil society organisations, project implementation units, the media and the government.

    The meeting is intended to equip participants with the needed tools to provide support to people adversely affected by Bank-financed projects when they want to complain to the AfDB as a result of non-compliance with the Bank’s own applicable policies and procedures.

    According to Director of CRMU, Sekou Toure: “Bank financed-projects are characterized by their impact on beneficiaries. Performed under optimum conditions, these projects improve the living conditions of the population while they contribute in a broader sense to the development of the economies of African countries. Despite the enormous efforts made to extend the project benefits to all, it happens often that some people are negatively impacted because of these projects.

    “When this happens, they can use us as a recourse system and submit their complaint that will be handled in line with the procedures of the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM).”

    Coming to CRMU implies that the Independent Review Mechanism (IRM) is well known. It is for this purpose that the Compliance Review and Mediation Unit of the Bank that administers the IRM organises a set of outreach activities to raise awareness about the IRM.

    The Unit works also to establish frameworks for collaboration with relevant stakeholders for the purpose of ensuring that the concerns of the affected people are addressed adequately.

  • 130 power projects abandoned since 2002, says TCN

    130 power projects abandoned since 2002, says TCN

    One hundred and thirty power projects have been abandoned since 2002 due to inadequate funds, Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Dr. Atiku Abubakar said yesterday.

    Abubakar spoke at the Electricity Customers’ Forum, organised by the Eko Electricity in Lagos.

    He assured that this administration will execute  the projects to enable the power sector add value to lives of the citizenry.

    The TCN chief said the Omotosho/Egbin 330/11 KVA line , one of the projects, will be given priority in the 2017 budget.

    “We have the capacity to generate 7, 500 megawatts but we are faced with issues of gas.

    Abubakar said: ”The country’s power generation hovers between 3,000 and 3,300 megawatts due to challenge of inadequate gas supply.”

    Abubakar regretted that this caused generation to shrink to about 3000 megawatts.

    According to him, the government will turn the challenges to opportunities, to spur growth of the sector.

    House of Representatives Committee on Power Chairman Mr. Daniel Asuquo said the lower chamber would cooperate with the Federal Government to ensure the sector’s growth.

    Asuquo hailed owners of Eko Electricity Distribution on initiatives to improve quantity, quality and reliability of supply despite shortfall in allocation from the national grid.

    He said the initiative to source supplementary power through embedded generation options would guarantee greater supply.

    Asuquo said it would also reduce the Disco’s Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collections Loss, ATC&C;  and urged the company to improve its metering system.

    He added that Eko Electricity mopped up excess power from existing captive generation within its licence area and entered into agreements with Independent Power Providers, to  enhance quality service delivery.

    The lawmaker said the embedded generation options will also improve revenue collection efficiency, distribution and performance.

    Head, Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Hardley Blue-Jack, assured customers that NERC would improve the sector through regulations.

    Managing Director, Eko Electricity Plc, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said there had been no investment in the sector in 30 years before sale of assets of successor companies of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the private sector.

    He said 70 per cent of the assets were dilapidated when they were sold in 2013, adding that investors spurred growth in the sector despite liquidity challenge.

    Amoda said his company would satisfy customers by providing value added services.

    He said the company in the last three years metered substantial number of customers, and ordered 500 transformers to ensure steady supply to customers during Yuletide.

  • Lafarge inaugurates N260m projects in two communities

    To improve the well-being of its host communities, Lafarge Africa has committed N260 million to community  projects in Ewekoro and Shagamu.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the projects, the Country CEO, Lafarge Africa PLC, who was represented by the Communication and Public Affairs Director, Mrs. Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, explained that the firm’s investments in corporate social responsibility (CSR) was aimed at developing its host communities.

    She said Lafarge Africa’s CSR investments were strategic, reiterating the company’s commitment to making positive impact in its host communities.

    Such CSR, she explained, was also borne out of its sustainability strategy with its four main pillars – climate, circular economy, water and nature.

    “Lafarge Africa’s CSR investments are strategic and needs-based. Our commitment to the development of our local communities is unwavering because we recognise host communities as strategic partners to our business,” she stressed.

    Some of the projects in Ewekoro  are a modern police station in Itori; a town hall in Olujobi and a block of classrooms at Lapeleke.

    No fewer than 119 indigenes have benefited from the firm’s Youth Empowerment Scheme while bursaries were given to 204 undergraduate students of the Ewekoro community.

    Other initiatives are farmers’ support programme, which  impacted 127 indigenes and elderly care support programme whose beneficiaries were about 128 senior citizens.

    In Shagamu, the firm said it has invested up to N100 million on community development projects. They include blocks of classrooms in some public schools, boreholes and a health clinic. Educational support materials as well as empowerment tools were also handed to beneficiaries from the various communities in Sagamu.

    The the cement giant offered bursary awards to 100 indigent students of institutions of higher learning and donated 150 dual lockers to public primary schools in Sagamu.

    Ogun State Commissioner for Community Development, Mr. Gbenga Ademosun, said Lafarge Africa has continued to project itself as a partner of the ‘’Gateway State’’ with its people-oriented CSR initiatives.

    He urged the host communities to continue to partner with the company to engender improved performance that would, in turn, make life better for the people of Sagamu, especially considering the economic challenges being faced by businesses.

    He urged the traditional rulers and the people of the communities to put to good use, the infrastructure and equipment received from Lafarge by developing a good maintenance culture.

    Elepe of Epe, Oba Adewale Osiberu, gave royal blessings to Lafarge Africa, for its good neighbourliness, assuring it of continued backing from the good people of Remo, while seeking unceasing   cooperation from the company.

    Also, the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akorede Akamo, prayed for the continued growth of the company, adding that the construction of a modern police station in the headquarters of Ewekoro Local Government would help to meet the security needs of the host community.