TCN Commences Installation Of New 60MVA Birni Kebbi Transformer 

Mohammed Shosanya
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has commenced the installation of a brand new 60MVA 132/33kV power transformer in Birni Kebbi
The company recently took steps to restore power at substation when it moved the transformer to Kebbi, as part of TCN’s Federal Government of Nigeria project.
A statement from the Transmission company said the Transformer has been placed on plinth as part of the installation process, adding that when completed power would be boosted in Burning Kebbi and nearby locations
“After installation has been completed, the transformer will increase capacity by 45MW and boost power supply in Birnin Kebbi and environs”,it added.
TotalEnergies Breaks Silence On Egina Oil Leak

  Mohammed Shosanya
TotalEnergies says oil leak at its 2.3 million storage capacity Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, has not affected daily production in Nigeria
The  spill had happened  while crude was being loaded from the Egina FPSO to a vessel last week.
The company’s Country Communication Manager, Dr. Charles Ebereonwu,cleared the air in a statement made available to Premium News on Thursday.
 The leak was not a massive,he said,but the sheen has been treated with the appropriate response that resulted in a reduction of most of it.
He added: “This is not a massive leak and the sheen has been treated with the appropriate response that resulted in a reduction of most of it. No shoreline or communities have been impacted.Production has not been affected”.
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA had Wednesday announced that  it was  closely monitoring the Crude oil spill incident which took place during loading operations in Egina on 15th November 2023 at about 6:30am.
 Edward Osagie,spokesman of the agency,had said!: “NIMASA is working closely with the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency NOSDRA, and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC from the Crisis Management Room CMR, where the spill is being monitored real time using oil spill monitoring software from the Emergency Response Center. Though the volume of spill is not yet confirmed, Total Energies is providing aerial surveillance, dispersant application, while further mobilization is being considered.
“The Oil Spill Response Limited from the United Kingdom is also assisting with pollution control measures. Reconnaissance survey of the impacted area confirms that the shoreline communities of Andoni, Qua-Iboe terminals, Bonny Island, Opobo/Nkoro and Eastern Obolo, which are closest to Egina, are not yet affected”
ASCSN Faults Campaign For Cancellation Of Directors’ Promotion Exams

Mohammed Shosanya
The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN), has faulted recent campaign by a group for the cancellation of the recent  selection process for the appointment of Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.
Comrade Tommy Etim Okon,National President of ASCSN, said it was disturbing, that the group sought to circumvent meritocracy in the Federal Civil Service, with regard to the very critical task of selecting eligible directors for appointment to the post of Permanent Secretaries.
At a news conference in Abuja,he expressed disappointment that a “faceless group,” parading themselves as a group of senior civil servants, was calling for cancellation of the promotion examinations for Directors aspiring for the position of Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Civil Service.
He added:“The Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria is a registered and recognised trade union listed in the Third Schedule of the Trade Unions Act as well as by the Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette.
“Therefore, it is absolutely unacceptable and questionable for the purported group to propagate the alleged comments of faceless individuals who claim to be civil servants as though their opinions are those of the entirety of the Service.
“It will be recalled that Chapter 2, Sections 020811-020813 on promotion in the Revised Public Service Rules prescribes the eligibility criteria and selection process for the post of Permanent Secretary as follows:
“The candidate must: – be a Director on Grade Level (GL) 17 and in the mainstream of the Federal Civil Service; have been verified on the IPPIS portal/ platform as having been confirmed as a staff of the Federal Government of Nigeria; be at least two (2) years on the post of Director;
“Not be retiring on or before the 31st of December of the following year; provide proof of indigeneship of the State where the vacancy exists; Indigeneship of a State must not be by marriage in case of a female Civil Servant; and not have a pending disciplinary action against him”.
He wondered how the group “which claims to be abreast of issues in the civil service, displays an unpardonable level of ignorance about the procedures for appointment of Permanent Secretaries as provided in the revised PSR”.
He  advised that “if the Service will not be paying lip service in entrenching meritocracy in the system, priority should be accorded to the quality of the candidates and not their quantity.
“The Service must take deliberate steps to depart from the culture of merely filling vacancies to putting round pegs in round holes forthwith.
“We, are aware that the Office of the Civil Service of the Federation under its current leadership, is driving a number of laudable reforms in a conscious attempt to salvage the poor image of the Service as an inefficient institution of government”.
 He also commended President Bola Tinubu for his support to Public Sector reforms.
He said: “Therefore, we refuse and will resist in its entirety, any calculated act to encourage mediocrity, disregard for extant rules and unprofessionalism in the Service”
How New IPP Will  Impact On Ekiti Economy-Oyebanji

       Mohammed Shosanya
Governor of Ekiti State,Biodun Oyebanji  has expressed optimism that the  new Independent Power Plant would attract investors to the state and also grow business activities.
The governor,who spoke at the commissioning of the 3.6-megawatt Independent Power Plant in Ado-Ekiti, also disclosed that the IPP project would mitigate poor power supply impacting  negatively on economic and industrial growth
He also hinted that his administration had received an  influx of requests from business owners wanting to connect to the IPP., adding that such  connection to the power source would attract charges .
He explained that project was  aimed at providing  uninterrupted electricity supply  to the state.
He also said that  the initiative had reinforced the benefit of  continuity in  government as the project was initiated by his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
He emphasized the pivotal role of energy in the success of his administration’s shared prosperity mantra, underscoring the need for stable electricity to foster thriving businesses and services.
According to him,the project would supply power to critical government infrastructure such as offices, the state hospital, judiciary, legislature, the state university, and the public.
He said: “We have an IPA, the Ekiti State Investment Promotion Agency, in charge of our investment promotion, and I am aware they are in talks with investors.”
He also highlighted additional government efforts beyond electricity, including road infrastructure improvements and the soon-to-be-operational airport, slated for the first quarter of the next year, all aimed at facilitating easy access for investors.
Expressing confidence in the state’s security efforts, Governor Oyebanji noted Ekiti’s status as one of the most secure states in the country, emphasizing that investors require both adequate security and stable.
He outlined the government’s measures to address power challenges, including the rehabilitation of power infrastructure and the restoration of light to communities in darkness for over ten years.
He said:“We have tried to increase commercial hours of the state capital by changing conventional street lights to solar lamps,” he stated, highlighting the ongoing rehabilitation of the 33kVA network from Iluomoba to Ikole Ekiti”
 He underscores the significance of the Ekiti State Electricity Power Sector Law 2023, granting the state authority over electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
The state Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor Mobolaji Aluko, noted that the 3.6MW project, Phase One, would be expanded to 5MW to power more facilities, emphasizing its cardinal role in the industrialization of the state.
Chairman of the Ekiti State Independent Power Plant, Mr. Olufemi Bakare, commended the government’s consistent support for development investments,citing the IPP project as an exemple.
He explained the project’s potential to energize all state infrastructure and facilities in Ado Ekiti metropolitan area through an 11km underground distribution network, anticipating the imminent energization of key locations like the state secretariat, the state Teaching Hospital, and the Ekiti State University.
Workers Of Moribund Kaduna Refinery Still Receiving Salaries-Speaker

       Mohammed Shosanya
The Nigerian Speaker of the House of Representatives,Hon. Abbas Tajudeen,says workers of Kaduna Refinery,which had been moribund for over 20 years are still getting paid and promoted.
He described the situation as inefficiency and waste of human resources that needed to be addressed.
He stated this when he received the management of the NNPCL, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja on Thursday.
He said:”I am from Kaduna, and the Kaduna refinery has been moribund for more than 20 years. I know of people working there who have been idle all these years receiving salaries and promotions. This is inefficiency of a worrisome proportion. The company needs to seek creative ways to repurpose staff strength in such facilities to areas where they can remain productive even in the absence of crude oil at the refineries”
Speaker Abbas advocated the need for measures to turn around the losses suffered by the economy, owing to the non-productive state of the refineries, by privatizing them for better management and productivity.
He said,for Nigeria to avoid more wasteful years of non-performing public assets in the oil sector, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) must come up with creative ways for optimal performance.
He commended the NNPCL for taking full advantage of the Petroleum Industry Act to maximise its commercial potentials.
He congratulated the company for redirecting gains of subsidy removal to other productive areas of enhancement that are now adding value to the system as shown by the quantum leap being reported in its revenue profile as presented by the Chief Executive.
He said the 10th House, and by extension the National Assembly, would fully be behind the company in its fight against oil theft, disclosing that the House has taken the lead in creating a special committee on oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which was inaugurated on Wednesday.
Speaker Abbas, who received the NNPC management in company of the Minority Whip of the House, Hon. Ali Isa, and the chairmen of relevant committees in the oil and gas sector, assured the company of the willingness of the House to always partner with it in repositioning the nation’s economy.
Earlier, the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the NNPC Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, highlighted the areas of improvement in the company using the instrument of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The company’s chief, who reiterated that the entity has fully gone commercial with the new law, added that it was hitherto operating at a loss, recording a negative of N803 billion in 2018.
Mr Kyari, however, informed the Speaker and the House that the changes that happened in the company after the PIA have led to the realisation of N674 billion profit after tax in 2021, and over N2trillion income in 2022.
He added that the company had a projected revenue to the tune of N4.5 trillion as expected income in 2023, adding that having gone fully commercial, the company controls over 30% of the market share in the downstream sector.
He said:”This company is operating just like any other private company providing dividends to its shareholders. We have over 30% of the market share in the downstream sector, which is why no single player can hold this country to random in terms of making products available to Nigerians.
“So when you see queue, it’s really not as a result of scarcity but internal events arising from the actions of marketers, and people can always go to our stations and be served. They are guaranteed quality and accurate quantity of dispensed products.”
Oladips:I’ll Share My Story When I Feel Better

Rapper Oladipupo Oladimeji, popularly known as Oladips, finally broke his silence via a live session with fans on Thursday.
The rapper, who was reported dead on November 15, resurfaced online Thursday with a video of him debunking news of his death while vibing to his latest record, ‘Ori.’
Speaking with his fans during a live session on Instagram today,he promised to share reasons for the death hoax, adding that this would be as soon as he feels better.
He added:”When I feel like I’m good enough to address everybody, I’ll come on live and tell you people my side of the story. Na wetin I con tell you people be that. Pray for Oladips.”
Chevron Confirms Protest At Terminal, Escravos Jetties

 Mohammed Shosanya
 Chevron Nigeria Limited (“CNL”), operator of the joint venture between the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (“NNPCL”) and CNL (“NNPCL/CNL JV”), confirms that at about 7am on November 21, 2023, boats conveying some protesters started patrolling along CNL’s Terminal and Escravos Gas-To-Liquids (“EGTL”) jetties and subsequently blocked access to Escravos Terminal (including EGTL jetty) in CNL’s Western area of operations.
The company said the protesters are demanding for the renaming of the Warri Kingdom Onshore Host Community Development Trust (“HCDT”) and involvement in the nomination of additional persons for inclusion on the Board of Trustees (“BOT”) of the HCDT. In addition, they are requesting for mobilization of their community workers for the EGTL Turn Around Maintenance (“TAM”) activities.
CNL’s General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs, Esimaje Brikinn affirmed that CNL operates in strict compliance with applicable laws and regulations. According to him, “CNL is committed to the operationalization of the HCDT in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 (“PIA”).
CNL,he said in a statement,continues to collaborate with the relevant stakeholders, including Ugborodo community leaders and traditional rulers towards the operationalization of the HCDT.
 Besides,CNL is committed to ensuring the participation of community workers for the EGTL TAM in line with the manpower mobilization plan.”
He stated that CNL continues to engage with relevant stakeholders including the protesters, community leaders, traditional rulers, the BOT of the HCDT, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (“NUPRC”), the Delta State Government, and other critical stakeholders to ensure the peaceful vacation of the protesters from CNL’s Terminal and EGTL jetties.
“CNL places the highest priority on and remains committed to the safety of people, the environment and its assets,” Esimaje noted.
Our Fuel Supply Will Last Beyond Yuletide,Kyari Boasts

Mohammed Shosanya

 

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Niverian National Petroleum Company Limited,Mele Kyari said the company has already made a robust plan for the supply of petroleum products especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, sufficient to last beyond the ember months and the new year festivities.

He disclosed this when he led an NNPC Ltd. delegation on a courtesy visit to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, at the National Assembly in Abuja, on Wednesday,a statement said.

 

“By the creation of the National Assembly, NNPC Ltd. is saddled with the responsibility of guaranteeing Nigeria’s energy security which is critical to national security. We have made a robust plan for the forthcoming end of the year festivities and beyond. We do not see any shortages in the petroleum products supply for the period,” the GCEO added.

 

Lauding the National Assembly for the critical role it played in the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, Kyari said that this legislative endeavour had given birth to a new commercially oriented National Oil Company (NOC) that is governed by the Company & Allied Matters Act (CAMA) principles.

 

Speaking further, Kyari stated that with the passage of the PIA 2021, NNPC Ltd’s profitability margins have significantly risen, growing from a loss position of N803billion in 2018 to a profit position of N674billion in 2021.

 

He noted that NNPC Ltd. is targeting a profit increase of N2trillion when the 2022 Audited Financial Statements (AFS) are released, adding that since July this year, the Company has started paying dividends to its shareholders.

 

He also said that the NNPC Ltd. is involved in the entire value-chain of the oil and gas business and controls about 30% of the nation’s petroleum downstream retail market.

 

Identifying crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism as major challenges to the Company’s business, Kyari said the recent collaboration with the nation’s security services as well as third-party security contractors have been yielding results, mostly in the area of increased crude oil production.

 

The GCEO said NNPC Ltd. is investing in several gas and power projects across the country, aimed at supporting the Federal Government’s power generation and industrialisation aspirations.

 

He further assured that NNPC Ltd. is working assiduously to revamp local refining of petroleum products and collaborating with indigenous refiners to ensure that Nigeria becomes a net exporter of petroleum products.

 

The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio assured the GCEO of the 10th Senate’s support, saying that the Nigerian Parliament appreciates the Kyari-led Management for its commitment to ensuring robust petroleum products supply during the yuletide period.

 

“Nigerians always want to hear good news. We are glad that you have made robust plans to provide sufficient products supply this coming festive period and beyond,” Akpabio stated.

 

The Senate President also lauded the rehabilitation of the nation’s three refineries, saying that their restreaming will cause a multiplier effect on Nigeria’s economy, in line with this administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Akpabio observed.