All Posts in "Day: August 9, 2024"

Anyaoku,Others Propose New Constitution To Tinubu

Mohammed Shosanya

Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, visited President Bola Tinubu on Friday,at the villa where he and other leaders of thought went to sell the idea of a new Constitution for the country.

The group under the auspices of The Patriot said a new Constitution has become imperative to address the persistent challenges bedeviling the country.

According to Anyaoku, the existing constitution lacks capacity to take the country to the promise land, stressing that it was also responsible for the prevailing social, economic challenges.

The group addressed State House Correspondents after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House on Friday.

Others members of the group who accompanied Anyaoku to the Presidential Villa were, Senator Shehu Sani, Mike Ozekhome, Labaran Maku, Senator Ben Obi, Segun Osoba, among others.

They advocated that President Tinubu should immediately send a presidential bill to the National Assembly, so that a constituent assembly would be put in place and be mandated to produce a new Constitution that will put into consideration the plurality of the country.

The draft constitution should also be subjected to a National referendum that should give the people a new constitution, expected to tackle many of challenges in the country.

The group which said the new constitution can be put together in nine months, added that what we have presented was responsible for the challenges bedeviling the country.

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Politics 0
We Facilitated Supply Of 29m Barrels Of Crude Oil To Dangote Refinery In Six Months-NUPRC

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said it facilitated the supply of 29 million barrels of crude oil to the Dangote refinery between January and June.

This was just as the agency denied insinuations by the management of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery that it has not properly enforced the domestic crude supply obligation (DCSO).

Dangote refinery had claimed that NUPRC has been reluctant to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation and ensure that it receives its full crude requirement from Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and international oil companies (IOCs).

In a statement,NUPRC claimed it ensured that nine refineries were supplied crude despite low oil production as part of its commitment to enforce section 109 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, which provides the domestic supply of crude to local refineries on a ‘willing buyer, willing seller’ basis,

According to the agency,despite its efforts to enforce the crude oil obligations through the development of the DCSO framework, the Dangote refinery was still accusing it of weak enforcement.

It has facilitated over 32 million barrels of crude oil supply to domestic refineries in the country.

“The NUPRC took an additional step to ensure that crude producers furnish the commission with copies of all crude oil sales and purchase agreements entered or any security interest entered, that is tied to crude oil production,”

“The commission on several occasions has also engaged Dangote and local refiners to ensure their supply quota is met in line with the provisions of the PIA.”it said.

It has also facilitated the domestic supply of crude oil to the Dangote refinery and other refiners using the monthly production curtailment platform,adding that these strategic commitments to Nigeria’s energy security have led to the facilitation of the supply of 32 million barrels of crude to Dangote Refinery and other local producers in the first half of 2024.

NUPRC revealed that,nine refineries have benefitted from the 32,088,122 barrels of crude — with Dangote alone getting a total of 29,047,098 barrels out of the total supply in the first half of 2024.

The Warri Refinery,it said received 949,670 barrels; NDPR-NDPR Refinery got 823,395 barrels of crude; the Port Harcourt Refinery received 471,123 barrels; Seplat-WPSOL Refinery was allocated 419,541 barrels while Waltersmith-WSPOL Refinery received 296,353 barrels.

Other beneficiaries were Edo Refinery that got 58,504 barrels of crude and Du-port Refinery that was supplied 22,438 barrels of crude.

Aradel Refineries Ltd in Ogbele, Rivers State, has 11,000 barrels per day (bpd) capacity; OPAC Refineries, Kwale, Delta state, has a capacity of 10,000 bpd; while Waltersmith Refinery in Ohaji-Egbema, Imo State, has a 50,000 bpd capacity.

According to NUPRC,Edo Refinery & Petrochemical Company Ltd, has a capacity of 1,000 bpd; Dangote Refinery Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, has 650,000 bpd capacity; (Old) Port-Harcourt Refinery, Rivers State has a capacity of 54,000 bpd while that of Warri Refinery, Delta State is 75,000 bpd

It added:“Much as the NUPRC has tried to ensure the enforcement of the provisions of Section 109 of PIA, 2021, the producers have equally responded to the regulator saying that conventionally oil production is funded through pre-export financing.

“This means that crude has been pledged for funding and the whole transaction is guided by the ‘Doctrine of the Sanctity of Contracts’. The parties already agreed that the licensees would pay the cost of the development and they explained to the commission that most of the funding was provided by traders at a mutually agreed price.”

NUPRC said producers equally reported some operational challenges on the part of refiners.

It added:“In fulfilment of the NUPRC mandate to enforce section 109 of the PIA, the NUPRC has ensured that international standard practices are followed in a manner that will not scare investors and further worsen the already weak revenues from crude oil’

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Oil&Gas 0
TUC Seeks Reversal Of New Public Service Rule

Mohammed Shosanya

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria,TUC is seeking reversal of the Public Service Rules (PSR) 2021 edition, which unilaterally introduced a controversial tenure policy for Trade Union Officers.

The tenure policy was reinforced by a Circular from the Head of Service of the Federation, with Reference No. HCSF/PS/SPSO/268/13/2/38, dated August 1, 2023.

The new rule mandates that Trade Unions introduce a tenure limit of no more than two terms, with each term restricted to two years.

It disclosed that the new PSR Rule 020612 directly contradicts the existing provisions of the Labour Act and many Trade Union constitutions, which typically provide for a four-year tenure per term.

The imposition of a two-year term is disruptive and undermines the autonomy of Trade Unions to manage their internal affairs as guaranteed by their constitutions,the union maintained.

The policy,the union said,represents a significant overreach by the government, infringing on the rights of Trade Unions to self-governance and autonomy.

It also maintained that Trade Unions are constitutionally empowered to determine the tenure of their officers as enshrined in their constitutions, and any attempt to impose external limits is a direct violation of these rights.

According to the union,the imposition of a tenure limit by the PSR is an encroachment on the independence of Trade Unions and undermines the democratic processes within these unions, where members have the right to freely elect leaders based on the constitutions that govern their operations.

President of the union,Comrade Festus Osifo,in a statement on Friday,implored the Head of Service of the Federation to urgently review and rescind PSR Rule 020612 and the accompanying circular.

He reasoned that trade unions must be allowed to operate according to their constitutions, without undue interference from external bodies.

According to the union,the autonomy and independence of Trade Unions are fundamental to the protection of workers’ rights and the promotion of a fair and just workplace.

The statement added:”We also urge all affiliates of Congress to stand united in defense of their constitutional rights. Together, we must resist any attempt to undermine the democratic processes within our organizations and ensure that our voices continue to be heard in the corridors of power”.

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Labour/Human Resources 0
We Only Traced A Criminal To Your Secretariat,Police Tell NLC

Mohammed Shoaanya

The Nigeria Police Force has shed light on its officers alleged raid of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) National Secretaria,located in the Central Business District, Abuja.

Its spokesman,Olumuyiwa Adejobi,in a statement on Friday,said that a prime criminal suspect in an ongoing investigation was traced to a shop within the building in the Central Business District, Abuja.

According to the statement,detectives conducted an operation at the location, which turned out to be the NLC building.

It explained that the lawful operation was solely aimed at apprehending the prime suspect—a foreign national implicated in numerous criminal activities across Nigeria and other African countries.

It emphasized that the operation had no connection with the NLC, its Secretariat, staff, or leadership,adding that the Secretariat was not the focus of the operation, which was targeted at a rented shop within the building used by the suspect as a front for his criminal activities in Nigeria.

It added:”The Nigeria Police Force seeks the cooperation and support of the NLC leadership as we continue this investigation, which is vital to safeguarding our nation. The high-profile nature of the suspect poses a significant security threat to Nigeria and other African nations, making this investigation crucial for the safety of all involved, including the NLC.

“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to upholding the rule of law, maintaining professionalism, and respecting human rights in the discharge of our statutory duties. We also urge Nigerians to remain vigilant and to conduct security profiling of individuals seeking to rent space within their premises”

admin by — August 9, 2024 in News 0
Shell Nigeria Harvests Awards At SPE Confab

Mohammed Shosanya

Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) won the coveted Best Exhibitor award at the 2024 Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) held in Lagos recently.

This is in addition to seven trophies won by employees.

The Shell exhibition combined educative posters with learning sessions for engineering students as well as free medical services where hundreds of conference participants received check-up and drugs.

SPE International President Terry Palisch, and Chairman of the Nigeria Council Salahudeen Tahir,who jointly presented the award described Shell as a leading light in the oil and gas industry, providing valuable support particularly to indigenous companies. Asset Development and Subsurface Manager for the Shell Petroleum Development Company, Oladipo Ashafa and the Shell team received the award on behalf of SCiN.

Ashafa said the award was “a reward for professional & technical excellence.” He added: “We recognise that, being an industry leader, puts on us enormous responsibility and we have continued to rethink and reshape our strategies in a manner that brings optimal value to Nigeria, our partners and the local service industry.”

For the individual categories, Ngozi Okonkwo won the Bernard Oboarekpe Drilling & Completions Award and Best New Member Recruiter; Olalekan Balogun won the Prof. Michael Onyekonwu Reservoir Description and Dynamics Award; Femi Obakhena won the ‘Prof. Chi Ikoku Production and Operations Award; Oladipo Ashafa won the 2024 Industry Young Executive Award and Chairman’s Medallion and Magdalene Umoh who was the 2024 Conference Chairman also got the Chairman’s Medallion.

SNEPCo Managing Director, Elohor Aiboni congratulated the Shell team for the successful participation, and thanked SPE for “providing a platform for companies to showcase their contributions to the industry and for professionals to exchange ideas.”

Shell companies in Nigeria,had earlier in the year emerged Best Exhibitor at the 7th edition of the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja.

It also won the International Oil Company of the Year 2024 Award at the 8th Sub-Saharan Africa International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (SAIPEC) in Lagos organised by the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN).

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Next Level 0
Afreximbank’s Intra-African Trade Financing To Hit $40bn In Two Years

Mohammed Shosanya

African Export-Import Bank,plans to double its financing of intra-African trade from US$20 billion in 2021 to US$40 billion by 2026, Mr. Haytham ElMaayergi, Afreximbank’s Executive Vice President, Global Trade Bank, has said.

He told participants and guests in Abuja at the African Caucus Meeting of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF),recently where he represented Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank.

The meeting had the theme “Facilitating Intra-African Trade: Catalyst for Sustainable Development in Africa”, and was aimed at identifying key challenges facing Africa in achieving full integration and at engaging in strategic dialogues to engender sustainable solutions.

He said that Afreximbank had been a champion in facilitating intra-African trade since its founding and that it had committed US$1 billion to support the funding of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund and a US$10-million grant to facilitate the establishment and operationalisation of that fund.

“The Bank is also partnering with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the African Union Commission (AUC) to ensure a successful implementation of the Pan-African Payments and Settlements System, the African Trade Gateway and the Afreximbank African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme,” he added.

Mr. ElMaayergi noted that Nigeria was a key founding member of the Bank and had continued to play a critical role in its growth and success as its second largest shareholder, adding that Afreximbank had also played a critical role in supporting the country’s development agenda.

He said:“Since inception in 1993, the Bank has approved over US$40 billion in support of Nigerian public and private sector entities,” he said, adding that it was currently implementing several of its flagship continental initiatives in the country, including the African Medical Centre of Excellence and the Afreximbank African Trade Centre.

Highlighting the existence of several other continental multilateral financial institutions created to help address the critical financing gaps in Africa and facilitate trade, with privileges and capitalisation granted them in order to enable them to fulfil their mandates, Mr. ElMaayergi indicated that it was to enhance their effectiveness that the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions (AAMFI) was launched, in collaboration with the AUC, on the margins of the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the AU in Addis Ababa in February.

He noted that the AU had recognized African multilateral financial institutions as crucial for strengthening the continental financial framework and advancing the AU’s Agenda 2063 and called on the meeting participants to reaffirm their commitment to those institutions. He urged the World Bank and the IMF to work with AAMFI in addressing the continent’s challenges.

“Most especially, we call on you to reaffirm that the special privileges and immunities that you have given these institutions, including the preferred creditor status, are essential for addressing the continent’s development needs, and to call upon all stakeholders to respect the treaty obligations you have made to these institutions,” added Mr. ElMaayergi.

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Banking&Finance 0
Niger Delta:Army Intercepts Over 200,000 Litres of Petroleum Products

Mohammed Shosanya

Operatives of the Nigerian Army, 6 Division, have uncovered massive illegal bunkering sites in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, confiscating over 200,000 litres of illegally refined petroleum products.

The action led to the arrest of four suspects, identified as Freedom Effiong, Behaviour Power, Timothy Onyebuchi, and Lovet Ifeanyi, soon to be handed over to relevant agencies for prosecution.

Troops of the Division also intercepted over 33,000 litres of illegally refined products being siphoned into a tank, via an interconnected hose from Indorama (Eleme Petrochemicals) pipeline in Rivers State

A statement signed by the Acting Deputy Director, 6 Division Army Public Relations, Lieutenant Colonel Danjuma Jonah Danjuma, disclosed that operatives deployed to Cawthorne Channel 1,close to Well Head 8, behind Glisten Community in Degema LGA, Rivers State, in conjunction with other security agencies successfully deactivated a massive illegal refining site with over 5,500 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude.

According to Danjuma,the army following the operation, recovered several items including, two pumping machines, a long hose, and eleven drums, used to perpetrate criminality in the area, adding that the army’s breakthroughs were consequent upon its renewed effort to clamp down on economic saboteurs and their collaborators.

He noted that a similar feat was achieved in Dasaba Creek,Bayelsa State, where one Illegal Refining Site, one oven and a massive metal reservoir containing products suspected to be stolen crude oil estimated at over 110,000 litres was uncovered.

He added that operatives of 16 Brigade, Nigerian Army, also intercepted a truck with Registration number Delta UDH 983 XR along road Elebele-Emeyal in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, ladened with over 30,000 litres of products suspected to be stolen crude.

This was as troops of the Army 63 Brigade, successfully intercepted trucks ladened with over 30,000 litres of stolen petroleum products in Delta State, during routine patrols at SEPLAT Energy Nigeria Limited trunkline, Mosogar, during the operation.

Lt. Col Danjuma,who noted that the trucks were handled in line with the subsisting mandate of Operation Delta Safe in the Niger Delta region, urged members of the public to provide actionable intelligence on the activities of the economic saboteurs in their vicinity to security agencies.

admin by — August 9, 2024 in News 0
Oborevwori Pledges To Partner NDDC On N/Delta Development

Mohammed Shosanya

The Delta State Governor,Sheriff Oborevwori, has pledged to collaborate and support the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, in its efforts to fast-track the development of the Niger Delta region.

Governor Oborevwari spoke at the Delta State Government House, Asaba, during a courtesy visit by members of the NDDC Management team, led by the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

Seledi Thompson-Wakama
Director,Corporate Affairs of NDDC,conveyed this in a statement on Friday.

The NDDC team included the Executive Director Projects, Sir Victor Antai and other directors of the Commission.

The Governor appealed to NDDC to urgently complete all ongoing and uncompleted projects in the state, stressing the need for a strategic and collaborative approach between the Commission and the Niger Delta states to address the challenges confronting the people of the region.

He said: “I assure you that we are ready to collaborate with all development agencies committed to the development of the Niger Delta region and we are going to support you to enable you discharge your duties.”

Responding to the NDDC’s request for collaboration on the execution of the Omadino-Okeronkoko-Escravos Road, Oborevwari noted such a partnership which would involve Chevron was a welcome development.

He assured the NDDC that his government was open to partnership and collaboration in the execution of projects.

He urged the Commission to embark on projects that would add value to the lives of the people of the region.

On spoke on the issue of duplication of projects,and advised the Commission to avoid cases of duplication of projects.

He stated that it was very necessary to consult the states before embarking on projects in their respective territories.

Speaking earlier,the NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, said that the Commission would increase its collaboration with development partners, including the state governments and other stakeholders to achieve its objectives.

He assured the Governor that the NDDC Board and Management would work in synergy with governors in the nine states covered by the Commission.

He stressed the need to re-activate the NDDC Advisory Committee, as provided for in its Establishment Act, to advise and monitor the activities of the Commission.

Ogbuku made a case for a tripartite execution of the Omadino-Okorenkoko-Escravos Road, stating that when completed,the road would boost the economy of Delta State.

He said that discussions were on-going with Chevron, the major International Oil company operating in the state, as one of the parties in the execution of the project. Ogbuku presented a document detailing the proposal for the key project to the governor.

He noted that the NDDC recently inaugurated five mega projects across the nine states of the Niger Delta region, which included the 25.7-kilometre Ogbia-Nembe Road, executed in partnership with Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC.

He said further: “We also commissioned the 132KV Transmission Line and I32KV/33KV electricity substation at Okitipupa to serve over 2,000 communities in the southern part of Ondo State. Similarly, we inaugurated another 1×15 MVA 33/11 KVA injection substation in Amufi, Edo State.

“In Akwa Ibom State, we commissioned the 600-meter Ibeno Bridge and the 6.87-kilometre Iko-Atabrikang-Opolom-IwuoAchang Road in Ibeno Local Government Area. The N10 billion virgin road project links 20 communities, hitherto separated by the Qua Iboe River”.

In the area of youth development, Ogbuku, said that the NDDC had given more opportunities and hope to Niger Delta youths through our Holistic Opportunity Projects of Engagement, HOPE, meant to identify interests of the youths for skills training.

He said that the Project HOPE had helped the Commission to develop a comprehensive digital repository, comprising important information about the youths of the Niger Delta region; including their qualifications, skills, interests, needs, and current employment status.

Ogbuku remarked that the NDDC was working with the Niger Delta Chamber of Commerce in the training of youths and young entrepreneurs in the Niger Delta region.

He explained that the Commission would collaborate with the Chamber of Commerce to support Small and Medium Enterprises in the region and ensure the sustainability of youth development programmes.

He added: “We are also partnering with the Bank of Industry to fund projects and support businesses to facilitate the success of our empowerment programmes.”

To ensure that a new institutional culture, anchored on sound ethics and good corporate governance was established in NDDC, Ogbuku said that the Commission engaged KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, to review and strengthen its corporate governance system, as well as improve its internal processes and institutional protocols.

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Niger Delta 0
NUPRC Not Doing Enough To Enforce Domestic Crude Supply Obligation-Dangote

Mohammed Shosanya

Dangote Refinery has said that the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission,NUPRC,is not doing enough to enforce the domestic crude supply obligation in line with the Petroleum Industry Act,PIA.

Anthony Chiejina,Group Chief, Branding and Communications Officer,Dangote Industries Limited,who disclosed this in a statement,said the agency’s reluctance caused it the opportunity to receive its full crude requirement from Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and the International Oil Companies.

The statement clarified that the company never accused NNPC of not supplying Dangote Refinery with crude.

It noted that,for September,the company’s requirement is 15 cargoes,of which NNPC allocated six.

It added:”Despite appealing to NUPRC, we’ve been unable to secure the remaining cargoes. When we approached IOCs producing in Nigeria, they redirected us to their international trading arms or responded that their cargoes were committed.

“Consequently, we often purchase the same Nigerian crude from international traders at an additional $3-$4 premium per barrel which translates to $3-$4 million per cargo

“We,therefore,still insist that we are unable to secure our full crude requirement from domestic production and urge NUPRC to fully enforce the domestic crude supply obligation as mandated by the PIA”.

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Oil&Gas 0
Nigerian Workers’ Welfare Takes Centre Stage At LAWAN Confab

Mohammed Shosanya

The Labour Writers Association of Nigeria,LAWAN,will hold its workshop on September 5 at the Radisson Blue,Ikeja,in Lagos.

The theme of the conference is: “Challenges of Nigeria’s Economy Downturn:Survival Option For Workers”.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of LAWAN, Comrade Toba Agboola, the workshop will address core issues in the economy as it bothers on the workers’ welfare.

“This year’s workshop will give room for interactions with relevant agencies, companies, unions, and stakeholders on the best ways the association can collaborate towards having a robust economy.

“Expectedly, the workshop will address core issues in the economy as it bothers on the workers’ welfare.

‘It promises to be exciting as attendees will gain valuable insights, network with peers, and engage in meaningful discussions that will shape the future of labor and employment in Nigeria,” he said.

The statement quoted that Presidents of Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero and Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Festus Osifo,will speak at the workshop.

Besides,the Human Resources Director of Cadbury, Dr Wole Odubayo will deliver keynote speech,while other other guest speakers include Director General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, Mr Wale-Smatt Oyerinde; Director General of NASU, Comrade Peters Adeyemi and Chief Executive of Edge Forth, Mr Sherif Adekoya.

According to the statement,other guests expected at the event include Honorable Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mrs Nkeiruka Onyejeocha; Director General of PENCOM, Omolola Oloworaran; Director General of NSITF, Oluwaseun Faleye; Director General, Michael Imoudu National Institute for Labour Studies MINILS , Comrade Issa Aremu; CEO of Centre For the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) , Mr Muda Yusuf among others.

Besides,recognition of excellence will be given to some stakeholders in the economy at the workshop.

LAWAN,comprises members of the fourth estate of the realm in the print and electronic media organisation covering the labour sector.

The association organises capacity building workshop annually for its members on how to best deliver on its core responsibility as journalists.

admin by — August 9, 2024 in Labour/Human Resources 0