All Posts in "Day: April 18, 2023"

NNPC Unlocks More Opportunities In Nigeria’s Oil, Gas Sector

Musbau Babatunde

The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited,NNPCL,says it’s unlocking more opportunities across both the oil and gas value chain spanning from supply and infrastructure to the markets.

The company’s Group Chief Executive Officer,CEO,Mallam Melee Kyari,disclosed this on Monday in Abuja at the 6th Nigeria International Energy Summit themed:“Global Perspectives For a Sustainable Future”.

He said his company is supporting the Federal Government towards the realization of key initiatives such as the Decade of Gas and the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) which seeks to deepen natural gas utilization as an alternative transportation fuel, virtual gas supply to off-pipeline grid gas customers and gas utilization as feedstock for the development of gas-based industries.

He explained that this is evident in the definite actions taken to utilize Compressed Natural Gas and Liquefied Natural Gas to power vehicles, buildings and power plants.

According to him,NNPC Limited is also investing heavily in critical gas infrastructure such as the Ajaokuta-Abuja-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and the OB3 gas interconnector to support 5 Bscf/d of domestic gas utilization including 5 GW of power generation capacity by developing power plant projects along the AKK pipeline corridor and across the country to complement the existing ones.

He hinted that the on-going NLNG Train 7 will expand Nigeria’s LNG production capacity to about 30 million tons per annum (30 MTPA).

He added:”This is in addition to the planned Nigerian Morocco and the Trans Sahara Gas Pipeline projects which will supply gas to sub-regional African countries and subsequently Europe.In addition to our existing Upstream activities, we are also deepening exploration activities of the Nation’s frontier Basins using the best industry standards and technologies which is already yielding results such as the Kolmani discovery, and we are hopeful that the recent spud-in of the EBENYI – A in Nasarawa State will yield positive result as well.

“The 6th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit has provided us all with a platform to tell our story and engage further based on our unique landscape and strengths which will eventually contribute to form part of the global narrative. NNPC will continue to leverage our partnerships with the industry, government,research Institutions and the academia to ensure energy security and sustainability”

admin by — April 18, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
Group Moves Against Alleged Tenure Elongation Of NIS’s Boss

Tunde Sholanke

Concerned Nigeria Immigration Stakeholders have petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari, over alleged plot by Idris Isah Jere,the Acting Comptroller General of Immigration Services (CGIS) to extend his tenure for another one year period.

Akinwale Ayomipo Dennis,who wrote the petition on behalf of the group,said the action was necessary in order to protect the integrity and sanctity of foremost paramilitary agency.

“Our worry is not about personal interest but about protecting the integrity and sanctity of the Nigeria paramilitary structure particularly the Nigeria Immigration Service and more importantly is the preservation of your legacy as a rare nationalist and principled retired military officer who understands and imbibe the fundamental concept of morale in military and paramilitary system”.

“We are compel to write this letter to you, being the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and father of all including all the officers (rank and file) of the Nigeria Immigration Service.

“Sir, permit us to draw your attention to the planned further extension of tenure of the current Acting Comptroller General of the NIS, Idris Isah Jere, who officially retired from the service on April 24,2022, after acting for seven months following the retirement of Mohammed Babandede in September 2021.

“But after his retirement in April last year, he was asked to continue as CG in acting capacity for another one year which will elapse on April 24 this year”.

He alleged that CGI Jere’s tenure as Acting CGI of service has been most uneventful, noting that the NIS have retrogressed wondering what will become of the service after another year of the Immigration boss..

He also claimed that the hallmark of the NIS under Jere is the excruciating pains Nigerians go through acquiring the international passport.

He added:’We cannot begin to recount the damage that has been done to the image of the NIS in the last one year. But more importantly, and of more concern to us is the plan by the acting CG to seek another extension in clear contravention of service rule.We are aware that the acting CG has been lobbying to ensure he gets another one year in office. We have proof of this, and the latest is a letter he wrote to all directorates of the NIS dated April 12.

“In the letter titled “Official Assignment,” he informed the directorates that he would be traveling for assignment to come back on April 25. This is a date beyond the one-year extension he was given. The implication of this is obvious: the acting CG is already looking forward to another extension.

“Dear Mr President, it will be a disservice to Nigeria and a tragedy for the NIS if Idris Jere succeeds in getting another extension when there is a pool of more competent officers to occupy the CG position.We are therefore appealing to Mr President not to entertain any argument to extend the tenure of the acting CG as this may irreparably damage officers’ morale with the consequent effect on service delivery.

“We are even more concerned that aggrieved personnel of the NIS may embark on an embarrassing protest against further tenure elongation for the acting CG which may negatively affect the image of the service.”

admin by — April 18, 2023 in News 0
We Are Not Leaving Nigeria -Shell

Mohammed Shosanya

Multinational oil company,Shell,says it’s shutting its operations in Nigeria.

The company reiterated that through its ambitious projects coming on stream,it hopes to deepen its operations with appreciable presence in Nigeria.

Shell Nigeria’s General Manager, Commercial, Hans Nijkamp,gave the clarification at the 6th Nigeria International Economic Summit (NIES) which which in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Speaking as the sponsor of the Minsters and Head of Delegation Dinner that kicked off the event,Nijkamp,highlighted key projects for Shell in Nigeria including several gas and pipeline projects, that will help Nigeria utilize its vast gas resources to meet energy demand for domestic industrial development and for export to generate much-needed revenue for Nigeria.

He said: “Recent global events continue to highlight the world’s urgent and long term energy demands and these present opportunities for Nigeria to quickly utilise its vast gas resources. Also, Nigeria’s own growing population needs accessible and affordable energy for industrialization, electricity and sundry others developments and Shell has projects to help meet these opportunities.

“Shell is not advancing actions on the onshore portfolio review in compliance with the Supreme Court’s order to maintain the status quo. Shell’s relationship with Nigeria remains strong and we continue to focus investment in Nigeria’s deep-water exploration and production, in our renewable energy space with All On. Our Shell Energy Nigeria business line is also working to expand the gas distribution solutions being championed by Shell Nigeria Gas Limited”

admin by — April 18, 2023 in Oil&Gas 0
Employers To FG: Ignore IMF’s Advise On Fresh Tax Hike

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association,NECA,has cautioned the Federal Government against fresh tax increase,saying the development will bring about negative impact households, individuals and businesses in the country.

Its Director-General, Mr Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde,said the development would only lead to disaster for an economy battling to survive.

Oyerinde’s advise was sequel to a recent recommendation by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to the government to increase taxes in order to reduce borrowing.

It recently implored the government to reduce its debt by focusing on increasing the tax basket and compliance as a means of generating revenue to cut borrowing.

Oyerinde,in a statement,said the development will spell doom for the country’s

He said: “For a private sector already overwhelmed by multiple taxes, the imposition of additional taxes on services will make the business community more vulnerable with a trade-off on growth and job creation.More taxes, of course, will weaken the purchasing power of individuals and stifle consumption, with attendant consequences for social cohesion.

“It may defeat any attempt to widen the tax net as taxpayers would consider tax avoidance measures.There will be massive capital flight, and the drive for direct foreign investment could be defeated.”

He advised the government to widen its tax net as the association had posited on many occasions and at various forums.

He expressed its association’s support for the IMF’s recommendation to the government to consider widening its fiscal net, saying, it is the way to go.

He added:“In addition, one of the problems government at all levels in Nigeria has is the rising cost of governance.If the cost of governance can be addressed decisively, it has the tendency to reduce borrowing since recurrent expenditure will automatically decrease”

He punctured the $800m loan to serve as palliatives in view of the planned removal of subsidy was not necessary,saying that,, rather, government must give attention to fixing the refineries and making them operational in the coming months before the removal of the petrol subsidy.

He said:“Already, experts and the polity at large have frowned against the loan facility and have proposed definitive approaches including fixing the refineries.

admin by — April 18, 2023 in Labour/Human Resources 0
Oyo: Police Arrest Kidnap Kingpin, 28 Other Suspects

Musbau Babatunde

Oyo State Police Command has announced the arrest of a kidnap kingpin following a botched attempt and other 28 suspects for various criminal activities in the state.

The suspected kidnapper was alleged to have written a threat letter to his victim, demanding N15 million ransom.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, who paraded the suspects at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan at the weekend, disclosed that the victim who resided at 7up Road, Oluyole area, received a call on his mobile phone from an unknown person who identified himself as the kingpin of a dreaded kidnapping syndicate.

He said: “The suspect informed their mark that they had in their possession detailed information about daily routine including work and family and further threatened that they had concluded plans to abduct him and his family members.

“In a bid to confirm their seriousness, the suspect(s) further went ahead by sending images (pictures) of the victim’s living room and office to establish that he has valid information about him and subsequently demanded for a ransom of N15 million from his mark, sternly warning him about the dangerous repercussions of involving the
Police.

“The terrified victim later reported this incident to the state Commissioner of Police, who immediately directed the command Monitoring Unit to fish out the criminal kingpin and anyone connected with the crime.

“Sequel to this directive, discreet investigations were initiated by the command’s monitoring unit which led to the apprehension of one Abdulazeez Faisal around Gwagwalada area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Upon interrogation, he voluntarily confessed to the crime and also gave useful information that led to the arrest of another suspect.”

The command also arrested 28 other suspects for various criminal activities, including car and motorcycle theft, armed robbery and murder.

According to him, a family of three including a couple and one of their blood relations were among the seven suspects arrested for dispossessing cyclists of their motorbikes across the length and breadth of the state.

He said:“On March 12, 2023, at about 0530hrs, members of a notorious armed robbery syndicate who specialize in attacking commercial motorcyclists and dispossessing them of their motorcycles intercepted a victim while going about his commercial motorcycle business.The armed robbers inflicted severe bodily injuries on the motorcyclist with a cutlass and equally dispossessed him of his TVS motorcycle and fled from the scene.

“The victim was later rescued in the pool of his blood and rushed to the hospital but he gave up the ghost due to the severity of the injuries inflicted on him by the armed robbers.The incident was reported at Idi-Aro Division, Ibadan and while effort was being made to fish out the hoodlums, on March 14, 2023 at about 0600hrs, the same set of armed robbers attacked another motorcyclist at another desolate location equally dispossessing him of one Bajaj motorcycle at gunpoint.”

admin by — April 18, 2023 in Crime/Metro 0