All Posts in "Day: May 7, 2021"

Agbami Parties Donate To Rivers State Communities

NNPC/Agbami Parties Donate Women Skills Acquisition Center To Rivers State - Oriental News Nigeria
 Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited, a Chevron Company and the operator of the Agbami field, together with its parties in the Agbami field – Famfa Oil Limited, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Equinor Nigeria Energy Company Limited, and Prime 127 Nigeria Limited, have donated a women skills acquisition center to Ogu community and a town hall to Onne community in Rivers state.
The facilities were commissioned on Friday, April 30,  2021 and December 15, 2020 respectively.
The women skills acquisition center  included  a main hall, one office, one store room and toilet, seven (7) electric sewing machines and five (5) manual sewing machines, an electric generator, water borehole and accessories, office furniture, classroom tables and chairs with teachers’ tables. Similarly, the town hall donated to Onne community was furnished with chairs as well as office furniture plus a power generator, water supply and public address system.
Robert Hulett, Director, Deepwater Production Sharing Contracts, Star Deepwater Petroleum Limited, thanked  the Rivers state Government for its support on the project and noted that the Agbami parties have also implemented other projects in the past in Rivers state. “Other Social Investments by the Agbami parties in Rivers State include execution and handover of a 2-kilometer waterfront streetlight project to Ogu community in 2014; a Chest Clinic currently being executed at the General Hospital Eleme in Rivers State to benefit all the communities around the Onne Port Complex,” he said.
He said  the  Agbami parties have also donated a 1000KVA CAT Generator to the University of Port Harcourt  and have instituted a specialized educational scholarship programme in support of medical and engineering manpower development in Nigeria. About; 1,904 Rivers State indigenes have benefitted from the Agbami Medical and Engineering Professional Scholarship between 2009 -2019. “In addition to the above projects, we have contributed to Local Community Content Development by empowering and building the capacity of some local community contractors,” he said.  .
Onne community council of Chiefs as well as Chief L.T. Williams-Tubonibo-Iyama, Chairman Ogu Divisional council of Chiefs commended  the Agbami parties for the donation. “We commend the Agbami parties for this CSR project and are particularly happy on the focus of this project on infrastructure and education which  areas critical for the development of a nation,” Chief Williams said.
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Oil&Gas 0
NCC To Consumers:Stop Sharing Cell Phone, NIN

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has  advised  telecom consumers in the country not to share their cell phones, National Identity Number (NIN), and Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards with others.
Mr Efeosa Edehen, Director Consumer Affairs Bureau, NCC, said on Thursday at a consumer conversation event organised by the commission in Abuja that defaulters would be held liable for any crime committed with the SIM cards.
The conversation with the theme “Know Your Rights and Obligations as a Telecom Consumer” was aimed at enlightening consumers on the dangers of shearing such vital information.
He warned that Nigerians must be extremely careful with their devices so they do not fall into the hands of wrong people who would use them to commit crime and later be traced to the owners of the devices, NIN or SIM cards.
Edehen cautioned Nigerians not to help any of the consumers to link their SIM cards with their NIN or give phones to other people to make calls, send texts, or use social media.
“Your phone carries your identity and therefore should be protected and always be with you.
“Note that you will be responsible for whatever wrong/offense someone else committed while using your SIM card(s). So, be very vigilant.
“As a citizen, it is very important and necessary to register for National Identity Number (NIN) and to ensure your NIN is linked to your SIM cards,” he said.
Speaking further he said Consumers had the right to receive clear and complete terms and conditions for service agreement and disclosures of price for goods and services.
He added that the also had the right to affirmatively accept all terms and conditions before being charged for services.
“They have the right to be protected against fraudulent, misleading and deceitful information, advertisement or labelling.”
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in IT&Telecoms 0
NCDC Records  28 New COVID-19 Infections In Nigeria

The Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) says it registered 28 new COVID-19 infections  in five states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory .
The development brings the country’s  COVID-19 total cases to 165,301 since  tracking of the pandemic commenced last year .
The agency said that 10 of the new cases were recorded in Lagos,  seven in Rivers,  six in Akwa Ibom, two in  Delta, two in the FCT  and one in Kaduna State.
“Today’s report includes data from Akwa Ibom recorded over the last two days and data from Delta  recorded for May 5, 2021,” the NCDC said.
The agency said so far,  155,424  people in Nigeria are recorded as having recovered from COVID-19.
The figure includes 21  people who recovered from COVID-19 and were discharged from hospitals across the nation in the past 24 hours.
It stated that no new death was recorded from the virus which had already claimed 2,065 lives in the country.
It added that the number of deaths recorded from the virus had declined with only four deaths recorded in the last 22 days.
The health agency added  that since  the pandemic broke out in the country in February 2020, the nation has carried out 1,939,165 million tests in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Health 0
Heritage Bank ,Transport Workers  Launch  Travelers’ Accident Insurance Scheme 

Heritage Bank  and  the Road Transport Employee’s Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has launched the Travelers’ Accident Insurance Scheme (TAIS) to help road accident victims across the country.
The Regional Executive, Abuja and North, Heritage Bank Plc, George Okoh-Oboh, who spoke  at the launch of the scheme in Abuja, commended the initiative  of the Association in coming up with such program to save the lives of accident victims.
He  said that the partnership would help address the road safety crisis due to the tragic loss from a road crash death or severe injury which was compounded by the harm to families, social networks, and national economies.
He added that  majority of victims are part of the working-age population (between 15 and 64 years old). In fact, road crashes have become the #1 killer of the young worldwide.
He pledged the continued support of the bank in ensuring the success of the scheme.
Okoh-Oboh said, “At Heritage Bank, we believe in this project and we are ready to support it as it seeks to address accidents on the road.
“This project will save lives of many Nigerians, so we are not just here to see what comes in but we are here to add value and ensure that it succeeds.”
The National President of RTEAN, Musa Muhammed in his remarks said that the scheme aims at promoting the welfare of passengers, while ensuring security for passengers’ property.
He explained that the scheme would provide support to passengers who may be involved in accident at the course of their journeys.
“This scheme covers all Nigerians involved in accidents that require medical attention while on a road trip.
“This is part of effort to assist and improve the Nigerians transport system,” he added.
According to him, the scheme will cover only parks owned and operated by members of the Road Transport Workers Association.
He further stressed on the need for the government to deepen investments in road infrastructure, while ensuring security along the major road.
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Motoring 0
NPA:More Trouble For Suspended Hadiza As Buhari Orders Probe

President Muhammadu Buhari set up up an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Nigerian Port Authority management under  the administration of the suspended Managing Director of the agency,Hadiza Usman.
Mallam Garba Shehu  the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who announced this in a statement,said the President also approved the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Bello-Koko, an Executive Director at the NPA, to replace Usman for the duration of the investigation.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the recommendation of the Ministry of Transportation under Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the setting up of an Administrative Panel of Inquiry to investigate the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA,” Shehu said in the statement.
“The President has also approved that the Managing Director, Hadiza Bala Usman step aside while the investigation is carried out, while Mr Mohammed Koko will act in that position.
“The panel is to be headed by the Director, Maritime Services of the Ministry and the Deputy Director, Legal of the same ministry will serve as Secretary.Other members of the panel will be appointed by the Minister.”
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Maritime 0
Nigeria’s Economy Can Stabilize With 100,000MW-Elumelu

Nigeria needs about 100,000MW of power - Elumelu | Nairametrics
The Chairman, Transcorp Group, Tony Elumelu,
says Nigeria needs  at least 100,000MW of power  generation to strengthen its  economy.
Elumelu,in an interview with Arise Television,also said,the country should stabilise its transmission lines.
 “Nigeria needs about 100,000 MW to power the economy. It also needs to stabilize the transmission lines and ensure access to gas supply,”he added .
He emphasized the need for an improvement in generation output in the country.
The country currently generates less than 5000MW of electricity with a demand of at least 28,000MW,he said.
 ”Nigerians to heave a sigh of relief in the sector, it needs to boost generation, fix gas supply to GenCos, boost payment of distribution and ensure power generated is taken by DisCos” he said .
He  commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on its efforts in providing funding for the sector despite the current liquidity crisis. ”I must commend the CBN Governor because he has helped to maintain peace in the space. Before the end of 2020, NBET used to pay about 20% but it now pays about 50%. It is still a critical sector that still needs investment and stakeholders must ensure it works” he said.
He said  the Transnational Corporation of Nigeria Plc (Transcorp) intends to improve Nigeria’s power and petroleum sectors.
He thanked the shareholders of the company  for their continued support and promised that the Group will continue to execute its expansion, in line with its mission of “Improving Lives and Transforming Nigeria”.
He stated: “It was a difficult year, but we adapted, proved resilience and continued to invest – delivering the $300million Afam acquisitions in the middle of the pandemic, illustrated our unwavering commitment to the Group’s success. “Our team added value across our portfolio.   In the power sector, the Group completed the acquisition of Afam Power Plc and Afam III Fast Power, taking installed capacity to nearly 2,000MW. This acquisition demonstrated the Group’s long-term strategy to create value and deliver robust power supply across Africa.   In oil & gas, the Group is driving forward investment in OPL 281 and participated in the acquisition of OML17.   In hospitality, a new digital platform, Aura by Transcorp Hotels, which is set to redefine hospitality standards, was launched.
Owen Omogiafo, the Chief Executive of Transcorp, said: “Moving into the future, we shall continue to expand, invest, and build the brand of the company sustainably as we believe that there is a lot of value trapped within Transcorp that needs to be unleashed and recognized by the market
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Power 0
Diaspora Remittances:CBN Extends Naira For Dollar Incentive 

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has  extended its Naira 4 dollar incentive to encourage diaspora remittances till further notice.
The apex bank announced the extension  through a memo by Saleh Jibrin, Director of Trade and Exchange Department, addressed to Deposit Money Banks (DMBs), International Money Transfer Operators (IMTOs) and the general public.
He said that all aspects of the operationalisation of the scheme were to remain the same.
The  CBN introduced the scheme on March 5, and scheduled to terminate it on May 8.
Jibrin had said that the scheme would allow all recipients of diaspora remittances to be paid N5 for every one dollar received.
He said that beneficiaries would get the incentive, whether they collect the remitted dollars as cash across the counter or through their domiciliary accounts.
He instructed all DMBs and IMTOs to ensure that the scheme took effect.
“In an effort to sustain the encouraging inflows of diaspora remittances into the country, the CBN hereby announces this scheme as an incentive for senders and recipients of international Money Transfers.
“This incentive is to be paid to recipients whether they choose to collect the dollar as cash across the counter in a bank or transfer same into their domiciliary account. “Having discussed with banks and IMTOs, the scheme takes effect from Monday March, 8 and ends on Saturday May, 8″
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Banking&Finance 0
 Rehabilitation of PH Refinery Won’t  Fail-NNPC

… Targets  3,000 Jobs as Construction Work Kicks off
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has  commenced construction work in the Port Harcourt Refinery rehabilitation project with a firm commitment not to fail Nigerians.
The Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Dr. Kennie Obateru, quoted the NNPC Chief Operating Officer, Refineries & Petrochemicals, Engr. Mustapha Yakubu, as saying  in a statement that everything was being done to ensure that the project is delivered hitch-free and on schedule.
At the Technical Kick-off Meeting for the project which held at the Port Harcourt Refinery Complex, Alesa Eleme, Rivers State,
Engr. Yakubu said everything about the project had been carefully worked out to ensure that the target of at least 90% refining capacity is achieved when operational.
“It must be hitch-free and that is why we are engaging the host communities appropriately. 200 million Nigerians are looking up to us and we can’t afford to fail. We’ve been on this journey since 2019,” he said.
He disclosed that the project would require 3,000 workers at the peak of activities, stressing that out of that number there would be only 70 expatriates while the balance would be sourced locally in line with the local content policy.
He commended the Federal Government for approving $1.5 billion for the project.
Speaking earlier via a message delivered on his behalf by the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, Mr. Umar Ajiya, the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, assured Nigerians that the Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC) would roar back to life on or before April 5, 2023, when repairs would have been completed on the old refinery also known as Area 5.
He  said thatb target was to fix the old refinery first so that local refining can resume as soon as possible, adding that NNPC management would do everything to support the contractor, Maire Technimont SPA, to ensure prompt delivery of the project.
“We are happy we have the contractor onboard. With strong collaboration of all parties involved, we will achieve the desired results. We have both government and private sector financing. We have the finance ministry, NEITI, labour unions and other stakeholders on board this project. They want to see transparency so they can report same to Nigerians and this is one of the most transparent processes ever”, he stated
In his presentation, the Managing Director of PHRC, Engr. Ahmed Dikko, said that all the process plants have been made hydrocarbon-free to enable the contractor carry out the rehabilitation work safely.
The representative of Maire Technimont SPA, Mr.  Masu Alberto, said that the rehabilitation journey started in 2017 with integrity test of the refinery. “In 2019, we did work on it and then now. We’re deploying a good number of engineers”, he said.
He listed some of the key activities that will be carried out in the project to include refurbishing of the technical building, replacement of the fire-fighting and deluge sprinkler systems, refurbishing of 24 offsite tanks, replacement of electrical equipment in substation, installation of primary earthing integration and new lighting system.
He said the project would also involve the replacement of pumps, turbines, one expander, boilers, three compressor fans and blowers, tanks, vessel and drums among other items equipment.
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Oil&Gas 0
Lagos,26 Others To Experience High Flood-NHIS

Hydrological Agency Urges Nigerians Residing in Waterways to Relocate to Safer AreasTHISDAYLIVE
Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) says  27 states in Nigeria  and 121 Local Government Areas will experience high risk flooding during this year’s raining season.
Director General of NIHSA, Engr. Clement Nze, who disclosed this  at the public presentation of the 2021 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO),said   that some states would experience highly probable flooding.
The states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara and Lagos.Others  are Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.
Some states, according to NIHSA, are classified as moderately flooding areas,  including 302 LGAs and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
River flooding are expected in Anambra, Benue, Adamawa, Nasarawa, Niger and Taraba States, according to Nze,while coastal flooding is likely going to occur in Bayelsa, Cross River, and Delta.
He,  said the following states would witness flooding as a result of poor drainage facilities, they include Kaduna and Rivers.
In his presentation, Nze explained that the annual publication of AFO started in 2013, adding that Nigeria was badly hit by devastating flood in 2012 which resulted in the loss of lives and property across the country.
He emphasized  the need for the country to put in place mitigation measures and early warning signals to reduce the impact of flooding in the country.
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Environment 0
‘Revocation Of Marginal Oil Fields’ Licenses Negative Signals To Investors’

$470m Investment: Operators Lament Revocation Of 11 Marginal Field Licences
Some marginal fields’ operators have faulted the revocation of 11 oil field licences by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR),saying the development was a dangerous precedent to  investment in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)had recently wielded the big sticks onthe affected fields because they had been left fallow.
 The affected oil fields and their operators include: Atala operated by Bayelsa Oil/CEPL; Dawes Island operated by Eurafric; Ofa operated by Independent Energy; Ke operated by Del-Sigma/Xenoil; Ororo operated by Guarantee/Owena; and Ekeh operated by Movido.
 Others are ;Akjepo operated by Sogenal; Tsekelewu operated by Sahara/Africa Oil; Tom Shot Bank operated by Associated/Dansaki; Oriri operated by Goland and Ogedeh operated by Bicta.
But,the embattled operators in a letter to President Muhammadu Buhari,posited that the revocation of the licences will certainly lead to litigation against the marginal field operators by foreign partners and banks who have financed the development of the marginal fields, in addition to sending the wrong signal to both foreign and local investors.
They added that the issuance of the instant revocation letters has jeopardised the investments of several state governments, Nigerian entrepreneurs and their foreign technical partners.
 They  said that the action of DPR has further created additional Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) for the local banks.
 “Not only are the actions of the DPR at complete variance with the Marginal Field bid guidelines and the duly executed Farm-out Agreements, we are extremely concerned that the DPR has chosen to pursue such a course of action in the midst of a global economic crisis with its resultant impact on the Nigerian economy at large, and in particular the primary economic contributor thereto, being the oil and gas sector.
They said that they were neither contacted by the DPR nor afforded an opportunity to make any representation before letters revoking their licenses were issued on the April 6, 2020.
 “We have conservatively invested over $ 400 million in developing the affected fields, with a number of them in production, whilst others are in various advanced stages of development including testing of oil wells, drilling of new wells, construction of production facilities, etc.
 “These investments were made despite low crude oil prices, militancy and insecurity in the Niger Delta region, resulting in frequent shut down/ vandalisation of crude export pipelines,” they explained.
 They noted that the federal government had championed the development of local content in the upstream oil and gas industry, adding that the marginal field programme was envisioned to promote the development of indigenous exploration and production capacity.
They pleaded with  Buhari to direct the DPR to withdraw all letters of revocation with immediately and direct the Department to grant all pending approvals to enable marginal field to continue with the execution of their field development plans.
 They disclosed that they had instituted legal action against the revocation, adding that “thereafter, we had interaction with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who advised us to withdraw our matters from court so that we can have meaningful discussions. Based on that the cases were withdrawn from court,” they explained.
“Following the assurances from the Minister of State for Petroleum we withdrew our cases from court. Even the Director of DPR gave the same assurances on live television but these govt functionaries have not called for any meetings and we have received feedback that the DPR and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources are in the process of reassigning the affected fields to new interests”.
Online Editor by — May 7, 2021 in Oil&Gas 0