Nigerian Newspapers
‘How theft stalls accurate measurement of oil output’
• Stakeholders task firms on production figures
• NNPC, legislators, operators back PIB
A GRAPHIC picture of how sophisticated oil theft gangs in the Niger Delta frustrate an accurate measurement of the actual amount of oil that Nigeria produces was painted at the just-concluded Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), Houston, Texas, United States (U.S.).
The theft and other factors have made the country to be losing N160 billion monthly, according to the Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
During a conference in the U.S. recently, Okonjo-Iweala said: “A great deal of loss in production is closely linked to oil theft and illegal bunkering which have been going on for sometime. The thefts are getting more invasive as the criminals are going beyond the outer pipelines and moving into the more sensitive pipes. We estimate total losses at over 300,000 barrels per day (bpd).
“In all, we estimate that current production has dropped to between 2.1 to 2.2 million bpd leasing to about $ 1 billion (or N160 billion) a month in revenue. The current production figure is thus lower than the actual production level in 2012 and obviously lower than the projected output of 2.528 million bpd underpinning the 2013 budget, which was derived in consultation with the NNPC.
Besides, a groundswell of support for the proposed oil industry reform legislation designed to position the sector on the path of growth and sustainable development appeared on the horizon at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas at the weekend as key stakeholders harped on the importance of the bill.
The event was the Petroleum Exploration Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) OTC seminar which has over the years emerged an integral part of Nigeria’s participation in the yearly global oil and gas conference.
At the pavillion of Expro, an America-based company that specialises in well-flow management and manufacture of oil production meters, a two-man delegation of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) was told how it is possible to install measurement meters at the well-head that will ensure oil production output is measured directly from the flow-station.
Up till now, the International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating in Nigeria have continually insisted that it is not possible to measure oil production from the wellhead.
This is contrary to the position canvassed by the immediate past Board Chairman of NEITI, Prof. Assisi Asobie, who continued to push for the determination of measurement of Nigeria oil production from the well-head.
In his explanation, the General Manager of Expro, Mr. Patrick Curry, submitted that it takes only about 30 minutes to install a meter and that the meter does not require routine maintenance.
He also said the equipment could be used with solar energy as a way of circumventing the acute energy shortage in the country.
Curry, however, expressed worry about government bureaucracy in an effort to introduce the meter into the country. He also said no attempt had been made to introduce the equipment to IOCs in Nigeria.
In his contribution, NEITI Director, Technical, Mr. Tariye George, assured the firm that government had the will to enforce all IOCs in the country use the equipment on the well-head.
Tariye also hinted of the readiness of NEITI to pay facility tour to the headquarters of the Expro before the end of July in order to kick-start the measurement of Nigeria’s oil production from the wellhead.
A member of NEITI Board, Patrick Udomfang, said the visit of the delegation to the biggest offshore technology exhibition was to have interface with manufacturers whose equipment could help foster transparency and accountability in the Nigerian extractive sector.
He said: “I am happy I came here. Part of what has come to the fore is what was hitherto shrouded in mystery. For instance, the IOCs have been telling us that it is not possible to measure oil production from the well-head but I can see today that that is not correct. We have seen equipment that can do that. These games are over now because very soon, NEITI will make it mandatory that all oil companies operating in Nigeria must measure their productions from the well-head.”
Speaking with The Guardian on the condition of anonymity, an operator in the oil and gas sector faulted the communication strategies adopted by the IOCs that led to the wrong message sent to Nigerians and government over the years.
But according to him, instead of oil companies to argue that oil theft makes measurement at the well-head an unwise business decision, they continue to deceive both government and the people by dismissing the possibility of measuring oil production from the wellhead.
He added: “The IOCs have had wrong communication strategies over the years. It is known worldwide that it is indeed possible to measure oil production from the wellhead. In our neighbouring countries such as Gabon, Algeria and Libya, among other oil-producing countries in Africa, oil production is measured from the well-head and this is known to everybody in the industry. It is surprising why IOCs would choose to play the ostrich in this matter. To my mind, their argument should be that so many underhand practices happen between the flow-stations and terminal such that there is so much oil thievery going on in this corridor. Therefore, the argument should be that if they measure at the well-head, there is no way they can account for what would be lost to thieves and therefore they would be shortchanged in the process. It is not measurement that is the problem, it is the massive oil theft that happens in Nigeria that is the problem. Government must develop the will to stop this huge economic sabotage. No low level Nigerian is empowered to steal oil; it is big people – politicians, traditional rulers, senior military officers and business moguls who fund elections that are involved in the dirty business. It is not for government to lament huge appetite for Nigerian stolen oil by the international community but for it to confront these thieves frontally.”
Meanwhile, speaking on the fringe of the conference, the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Ernest Nwapa, has cautioned against seeing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) as a cure-all pill that will automatically erase the challenges in the oil and gas industry.
He said that the passage of the PIB should be a springboard upon which millions of jobs would be created rather than seen as an end in itself.
His words: “That the PIB would make investment flow is a very good assumption. This is conventional wisdom. Therefore, it is expected that the PIB when passed would result in massive investments flow …but what we have been looking for is a kind of impact that can give us employment on top of the revenue.
“But where we are today is if big multi-nationals and other companies do not establish yards where they manufacture components in Nigeria, when the investments from the International Oil Companies (OICs) come, we would lose out.”
He, therefore, called for the domestication of the benefits that will accrue from the passage of the bill, saying “it is one thing to get the investments in because we need to increase our revenue intake from oil production, but the real end-game for us is when as we are getting revenues, we are getting our people to work. Government agencies cannot employ an army of people but the real employment can come from commercial activities that would arise from our preparedness to expand operations that can generate jobs.”
During the OTC, the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Andrew Yakubu, teed-off the session with a presentation titled “Post-PIB Challenges, Prospect and Opportunities”- to herald what turned out a well-rounded discussion.
Describing the PIB as an essential tool for the sustainable development of the industry in Nigeria, Yakubu stressed that the proposed law would present multi-dimensional approach to the nation’s oil and gas resource management that would ensure greater active contribution by players and stakeholders under prudent government structure of the industry.
“It also stipulates guidelines for operations in the upstream and downstream sectors which can be viewed in terms of the following thematic areas: policy, legal and regulatory dimensions, economic dimensions, including participation and ownership, knowledge-based human and institutional capabilities, environmental stewardship as well as governance structure for sustainable resource development,” the GMD said.
Commenting on the introduction of the Petroleum Host Community Fund, Yakubu said that the proposed Fund incorporates lessons learnt from the Niger Delta on all new frontiers.
“The Fund is a mechanism to formally recognise host communities as important stakeholders by assigning oil and gas infrastructure security to the host communities and minimising environmental degradation due to vandalism and crude oil theft,” he said.
According to Yakubu, the Fund also incorporates penalties to host communities in the event of vandalism in their localities.
“The proposed legislation includes modalities for using regulations to increase flexibility in managing host community issues”, he said.
In his contribution, Emmanuel Paulker, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Upstream, reiterated the readiness of the Senate to work with the Executive in ensuring the smooth passage of the bill.
“I cannot commit to any particular date but I know that this PIB must be passed.” he said.
The senator thanked the Executive for ensuring that, this time around, there was no issue of duplication or circulation of different versions of the draft bill.
House Minority Whip and Chairman, House Committee on PIB, Samson Osagie, also restated the commitment of the National Assembly in ensuring the passage of the bill.
“The position of the National Assembly on the Petroleum Industry Bill is that we are passionate about passing this bill into law because it consolidates about 16 legislations in the sector and for the first time the Nigerian government is coming out to say that this industry needs to be re-organised and reformed so that the eventual benefit will get to the government and people of Nigeria,” he said.
Earlier, Mark Ward, Managing Director of ExxonMobil, speaking on behalf of the IOCs, expressed readiness of the industry operators to work with relevant stakeholders and the National Assembly in ensuring the passage of a balanced oil reform law.
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Posted in Nigerian Newspapers. A DisNaija.Com network.
Source: Guardian Newspaper
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•Deploy more personnel as army chief vows to wipe out terror group
•Security beefed up at N’Assembly
Deji Elumoye and Kingsley Nwezeh in Abuja
Abuja, Nigeria’s seat of power, is under a massive security cordon following threats of attacks by insurgents and the increasing wave of banditry in the contiguous states of Kaduna, Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger States, THISDAY’s investigation has revealed.
There has been a wave of kidnappings in the outskirts of the federal capital, notably Pegi, Tuganmaje and Kuje among others, which the police have battled in recent times.
The security situation in and around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was heightened by the pronouncement of the Niger State Governor, Mr. Sani Bello, that Boko Haram fighters who he said sacked 50 villages in the state and hoisted the terror group’s flag, were about two hours drive away from the FCT.
Security has also been beefed up at the National Assembly as operatives, yesterday, thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja.
The deteriorating security situation nationwide prompted the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to warn that the 2023 general election may not hold, demanding the declaration of a state of emergency as well as the convocation of a national conference.
However, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, yesterday restated the Nigerian Army’s determination to annihilate Boko Haram.
But the Governor of Katsina State, Hon. Bello Masari, cautioned against declaring a state of emergency, saying doing so isn’t the solution to combat the security challenges facing the country.
The security of the nation’s airports was also in focus yesterday as the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) said there was no threat to them.
THISDAY’s investigations showed increased presence of troops, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel and intelligence operatives at the three strategic entrances to the city notably, Keffi, Zuba and Gwagwalada.
More checkpoints were also mounted around Gwagwalada and Keffi.
THISDAY also observed increased intelligence deployment at the entrance and the borders of FCT with contiguous states.
Beyond the borders, there were more deployments and police patrols inside the city and increased intelligence deployments as well.
Security sources told THISDAY: “There are deployments here and there but they are routine. Alertness is key to a secure environment.”
It was also learnt that security agencies were involved in frenzied meetings throughout yesterday.
The meetings, coordinated by the office of the Chief of Defence Staff under the new joint operational strategy of the armed forces, were aimed at coordinating a joint response to possible threats of attack to the FCT.
“I understand the security teams have been meeting for some days now and if you look around you, you will notice that there are increasing patrols and numbers of security personnel. The threats are not been taken lightly,” a source said.
National Assembly workers, lawmakers and visitors also had a harrowing experience accessing the legislative complex due to heightened security in the area.
Security operatives thoroughly screened every vehicle approaching the National Assembly complex in Abuja, impeding both human and vehicular traffic.
The Sergeant-at-arm of the National Assembly and other security agencies supervised the operations, leading to huge traffic build-up inside the complex.
Legislative staff, visitors and lawmakers were seen patiently waiting for their cars to be searched so that they could go ahead with the business of the day.
Some staff and visitors at some point got tired of waiting and were seen alighting from their cars to trek from the gate to the complex.
Meanwhile, the ONSA has said there is no threat to the nation’s airports.
A statement by the Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Zachari Usman, said the reports of threats to the airports were an internal correspondence of security threat assessment misconstrued as security threat to the airports.
PDP Demands State of Emergency
In a related development, the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, yesterday demanded the declaration of a state of emergency, warning that the 2023 general election might not hold if the federal government failed to tackle insecurity.
He called on the federal government to summon a national conference to address the spike in insecurity.
Secondus added that the national caucus of the party will meet today to discuss the state of the nation.
Addressing members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) in Abuja, Secondus said: “We are worried Abuja is not even safe. It is no longer politics. We got alert of plots to bomb and burn down our airports.
“We urge the federal government to declare a national state of emergency in security. There is the need to call a national conference to discuss the insecurity in the country.
“There may not be any election in 2023 in Nigeria due to insecurity. This government must listen to the people. The Buhari government should call a national confab to discuss security and state of the nation. It is no longer politics. This time we are not playing politics. Let’s keep politics aside and move the nation forward.”
He said the country had been grounded, regretting that there had been no matching response from the federal government.
Secondus said in the past, terrorism in the North was confined to the North-east, but with the report of Boko Haram occupying villages in Niger State, terrorism had spread to the North-central
“Herdsmen are also menacing in the West; gunmen causing havoc in the East; and the militants in the South; all killing, looting, raping, maiming and burning down homes. The situation is bad; Nigerians all over are living in fear,” he said.
The Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said the problem of Nigeria was outside of the PDP headquarters, while pledging the support of the Senate to the declaration of state of emergency in security.
Abaribe said he deliberately decided not to speak on the floor of the Senate but to allow the APC senators to speak so as to avoid being accused of giving a partisan colouration to the issue of insecurity.
He stated that only electoral reforms would give victory to the opposition party in the 2023 general election and ensure a democratic defeat of the APC-led federal government.
Also, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, commended the NEC and the PDP leadership for their collective efforts at resolving the House leadership crisis.
The NEC meeting adopted the position of Secondus, calling on the federal government to convoke a national conference to discuss the state of insecurity in the country, according to a communiqué read by the National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan.
Army Chief Vows to Wipe Out Boko Haram
The army yesterday reiterated its commitment to wipe out Boko Haram.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. Gen. Ibrahim Attahiru, told reporters in Maiduguri, Borno State that Boko Haram had been defeated in many encounters and would continue to be defeated until it’s annihilated from Nigeria.
“We will take on Boko Haram decisively, and we are committed to the focus of the operations, which is the total annihilation of Boko Haram from Nigeria,” he said.
The COAS, who was visiting the headquarters of Operation Lafiya Dole in Maiduguri for the fifth time since his appointment four months ago, said the visit was to boost the morale of the troops, reassure them and listen to any issues affecting them.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj. Gen. Farouq Yahaya, lauded the visit, which he said had continued to boost the morale of the troops.
“We are honoured, we are grateful, we are encouraged by those visits. You provided us guidance, logistics and other things we required. We are most grateful for those visits,” Yahaya said.
State of Emergency Won’t Solve Security Challenges, Says Masari
Katsina State Governor, Hon. Aminu Masari, has, however, said declaration of a state of emergency won’t solve the security challenges facing the nation.
Masari, who spoke yesterday with journalists after meeting with the Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari at the State House, Abuja stated that he was against the recent call by the House of Representatives for the declaration of a state of emergency in the security sector as it would not solve the problem.
According to him, declaring a state of emergency will not achieve the desired effect as the security structure and personnel to be used to execute the emergency are already overstretched in a bid to safeguard lives and property.
Sourced From: THISDAYLIVE
Tribune Online
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 165,110. The NCDC disclosed this on its official Twitter handle on Friday. “55 new cases of #COVID19Nigeria; Lagos-21, Yobe-19, Ogun-6, Akwa Ibom-3, Kaduna-2, Plateau-2, FCT-1, Rivers-1.” YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE COVID-19: Nigeria Recorded […]
Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Tribune Online
Sourced From: Tribune Online
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The people of the South East region have been urged to explore the power of negotiation and mutual settlement in the face of ongoing killings and security challenges in the zone because the east can not afford another war at present.
Stakeholders from the South-East geo-political zone made the remark on Thursday, at the unveiling of the book, “Igbo, 50 years after Biafra,” written by Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Drainage Services, Joe Igbokwe, held at Ikeja G.R.A.
Speaking at the unveiling of the book, the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Cutis Adigba,
urged the people of the South-East to learn to build bridges across the country, so that they can realise their ambition of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Adigba urged leaders from the zone to discourage the move and agitation by some youths in the South East to go to war and secede out of Nigeria.
Also read: Banditry: Disregard viral video, Niger State gov’t urges residents
He said that Igbo have always found it difficult to rule Nigeria because they refused to build bridges across the six geo-political zones that made up Nigeria.
While describing the agitation as uncalled for, Adigba noted that after two decades that Nigeria returned to civil rule, the Igbo has predominantly identified with only one political party.
He maintained that remaining in one party can not advance the cause of the people of South East and cannot make them realise their objective of producing an Igbo man as president.
He maintained that the publisher of the book, Igbokwe played politics outside his state, so that the Igbo race can be integrated with one another race.
Adigba said the failure of the Igbo to reintegrate with other ethnic nationalities politically was responsible for the retrogression of the race in Nigerian politics.
Igbokwe, also addressing guests on the occasion, maintained that the Igbo are not advancing politically because they refused to be integrated into National politics, lamenting that, despite their success in business, they are not successful in playing politics at the national level.
Corroborating Dimgba, Igbokwe noted that there was the need for the Igbo people to stand up and build bridges so that their objective of producing the next president of Nigeria could be realised.
According to him: “I have decided to raise my voice, I hope my people will hear me while trying to quell the effect of the war, our people are spoiling for another war, mayhem is being unleashed in Igbo land, and there is palpable fear.
“Those who could speak have lost their voice, mindful of the consequences of their actions, I am calling on all Igbo leaders to speak up because all actions carry consequences, consequences of the silence will be too dastardly to sustain.
“Those silently supporting the wild wind should be careful or else they hand over to their children,” he said.
Igbokwe urged those spoiling for war to jettison their plan and embrace dialogue, urging them to learn from the South West region that despite the challenges faced after the annulment of the June 12, 1993, election, they did not go to war, and the region had the opportunity of producing two of her sons for presidential position in 1999.
“You have to build bridges to become president of Nigeria, but it is unfortunate the Igbo are burning bridges.”
Speaking at the event, Chief Uche Dimgba who is the coordinator of Igbo in All Progressives Congress, APC in Lagos, described Igbokwe as “a Frank, fearless and reliable leader, who based his views on issues and stand by his opinions, and we the Igbo have confidence in him and believe he can lead us aright.”
“He is a leader we Igbo believe in and we will follow him. If he can serve all the governors produced in Lagos State since 1999, he is a better man to follow because he possesses all the experience that can be of benefit to Igbo both at home and in the diaspora.”
The post Attacks on S’East: We must explore all options of negotiation — Stakeholders urge Igbo appeared first on Vanguard News.
Sourced From: Vanguard News
The government said that no worker should stay back beyond 6:00 p.m. within premises of buildings undergoing construction.
The post Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.
Sourced From: Premium Times Nigeria
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Nigeria records 55 new COVID-19 infections, total now 165,110
Military, Police Ring Abuja to Forestall Boko Haram Attack
UFC: Usman gets N584m after beating Masvidal
Insecurity: Lagos bans occupation of abandoned buildings
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