Mohammed Shosanya

The NNPC Ltd and Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), through its Joint Venture partnership, have reiterated their commitment to impact on lives through sustainable development projects in Nigeria.

This was announced by the two companies during the commissioning of a state-of-the-art ICT Centre at the Bauchi State University, Gadau (BASUG), built by the NNPC/SPDC JV, on Thursday, according to a statement signed by Femi Soneye,spokesman of the NNPCL.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held at the university in Gadau, Bauchi State, NNPC Limited’s Chief Upstream Investment Officer (CUIO) Mr. Bala Wunti said CSR has always been the hallmark of the NNPC-SPDC JV CSR commitments.

“Today’s historic commissioning of this ultra-modern ICT Centre at the BASUG is a testament to the positive and sustainable impact of the oil and gas industry on Nigerians,” Wunti, who was represented by the Head, Business Services, NUIMS, Mr. Sani Kabo, said.

He observed that for several decades, the JV has consistently invested in impactful CSR initiatives across the length and breadth of the country.

He further noted that the successful completion of the ICT centre exemplifies NNPC Ltd.’s commitment to contributing to sustainable development, improving access to quality education and fostering innovation in Nigeria.

Commending the impact of the JV on the community, Wunti also thanked the locals for their tremendous support and hospitality towards the project.

He advocated the need for continuous support from the Bauchi and Gombe State governments, traditional institutions and members of the various host communities in the area especially towards the Kolmani Integrated Development Project.

Speaking,the Managing Director of SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Mr. Osagie Okunbor described the commissioning as another crucial social investment project completed by the JV in the North-East Nigeria.”

Osagie,who acknowledged the collaborative effort of both parties in the JV, observed that the journey to establish the facility was driven by a vision to enhance critical educational infrastructure, support access to high-demand IT skills, and inspire the growth of the IT ecosystem in Bauchi State and northeast Nigeria.

The state-of-the-art facility houses a Wi-Fi lounge, computer laboratories, conference rooms, lecture halls, office spaces, and a combined 3D printing and hardware lab.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited Mallam Mele Kyari has declared that the drive to bring Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) closer to Nigerians has since commenced and is irreversible.
Kyari,disclosed this on Thursday during the simultaneous commissioning of 12 CNG stations in Abuja and Lagos.

A statement signed by Olufemi Soneye,Chief Corporate Communications Officer,
NNPC Ltd,quoted Keyari as saying that,in addition to the massive deployment of CNG stations nationwide, the NNPC Ltd and its partners would also build three Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) stations in Ajaokuta.

“There is simply no way to turn back on delivering CNG for all Nigerians. It is the right thing to do. Is it late? Yes, but we will make progress, we will cover the gap in order to ensure that the volatility we see with Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) does not apply to gas,” Kyari stated.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the needed support to drive domestic gas utilisation aimed at delivering cleaner and cheaper source of energy to Nigerians.

Assuring that the NNPC Ltd will continue to deliver more strategic gas projects for the benefit of Nigerians in line with the Presidential CNG Initiative of bringing prosperity to all Nigerians, Kyari reaffirmed the determination of the NNPC to guarantee the nation’s energy security.

In his speech at the occasion, the Managing Director, NNPC Retail Limited, Mr. Huub Stokman revealed that in the next one year, NNPC Retail would have launched over 100 CNG sites, including 16 NNPC Gas Marketing and NIPCO Gas JV sites.

“CNG provides Nigeria with affordable alternatives to existing available fuel products. It will be about 40% cheaper than petrol in Nigeria and with continued investments, it will become a significant part of our energy mix,” Stokman added.

Speaking,the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo said the commissioning of the stations will not only provide economic benefits by creating jobs and stimulating local economies, it will also contribute significantly to Nigeria’s national goals of reducing emissions and combating climate change.

The Chairman of the NNPC Board of Directors, Chief Pius Akinyelure said increased CNG adoption will foster economic benefits by reducing fuel costs for consumers and businesses alike.

Sequel to the removal of fuel subsidy and the declaration of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) initiatives, NNPC Limited has taken the lead in the deployment of Auto-CNG Stations across Nigeria.

Already, NNPC Gas Marketing Limited, a subsidiary of NNPC Limited, in partnership with NIPCO Gas Limited has developed an Auto-CNG rollout plan for construction of thirty-five (35) CNG stations across the various geographical zones of Nigeria.

Mohammed Shosanya

A coalition of CSOs advocating for sound procurement practice in Nigeria, Procurement Observation and Advocacy Initiative, PRADIN,says the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Barr. Ola Olukoyode and the immediate past Director General of Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, Mr. Mamman Ahmadu lack adequate knowledge of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2007.

Its National Coordinator, Mohammed Bougei Attah,disclosed this while reacting to questions from journalists during a media and CSOs parley on Thursday.

He gave the insight quoting some provisions of the Public Procurement Act 2007 to counter the EFCC statement.

The Chairman was quoted as saying “The Public Procurement Act 2007 is aiding corruption in contract awards” .

He made the statement when he hosted the Management of the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP led by the former Director General in his office mid last month.

Mr. Attah said except where there are capacity gaps and inadequate information about the Act, it is unprofessional, discouraging and undermines the fight against corruption to make such declaration.

The group maintained that the PPA 2007 is one of the five Sunshine Laws established to fight high level of corruptions in Nigeria.

Attah specifically quoted section 58 of the PPA 2007 under Offences that makes the violation of some parts of the law criminal without option of fine if found guilty and convicted by the Court.

He added that,section 58 (4) (a-h) is very clear as to the types of Procurement offences and their penalties which are not less than five years imprisonment or above ten years.

Besides,the group disclosed that Section 5 (n) under the Functions of BPP among others, gave them the powers to arrest frauds and misprocurement in contracts awards from initiation to implementation before it becomes a large scale corruption that EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies are confronted with daily.

The group revealed that Section 5 (p) of the PPA 2007 is about procurement audit which has not been complied with in the last 13 years since the enactment of the law and establishment of the Bureau.

This,they said,is a huge minus in the fight against corruption because audits are necessary to prevent or reduce corruption.

The one-day media and CSOs parley is held annually as part of the groups contribution to addressing procurement corruption issues which accounts for over 70% of total corruption cases in the public sector.