By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says the issues that led to the tightness in the supply of fuel currently being experienced in some parts of the country have been resolved.

The NNPC Ltd. said that the issues were as a result of logistics problems.

The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. Olufemi Soneye, made the disclosure on Thursday while reacting to the situation.

Soneye reiterated that the prices of petroleum products were not changing.

“The NNPC Ltd. wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of PMS currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and they have been resolved.

“The NNPC Ltd. urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country,” he assured.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed worry over the long queues experienced presently at fuel stations due to scarcity of PMS.

The independent marketers sell between N680 and N800 per litre, while the NNPC Ltd. retail outlets maintain its pump price of N617 per litre.

The black marketers are also seen along the roads and in front of fuel stations making brisk business, selling above N1,000 per litre of fuel.

Some of the motorists have expressed sadness at the inconsistency and unavailability of fuel and its associated high price in the country.

They have also appealed to the Federal Government to urgently resolve whatever the issues were. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

By Emmanuella Anokam

Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed worry over the long queues presently experienced at fueling stations within Abuja due to scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as fuel.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who went round the town on Wednesday reports that long queues were seen at fuel stations due to scarcity of the product.

In the city centre, long queues were seen at TotalEnergies, Wuse, Zone 3, TotalEnergies by Audit House, Cornoil and TotalEnergies, opposite the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) Towers and all NNPC Ltd. Retail Outlets.

Along Kubwa express way, the NNPC Ltd. Retail Outlets opposite Salbas fuel station, Shema and AA Rano fuel stations as well as Evergreen station inside Kubwa had long queues.

Along Airport Road, Rimaco fuel station and NNPC Ltd. retail outlet had long queues as well as stranded passengers.

The independent marketers sell between N680 to N700 per litre, while the NNPC Ltd. retail outlets maintain its pump price of N617 per litre.

The black marketers were also seen along the roads and in front of fuel stations making brisk business, selling at N1, 000 per litre of fuel.

Some of the motorists expressed sadness at the inconsistency and unavailability of fuel and its associated high price in the country.

They appealed to the Federal Government to resolve whatever the issues were.

Mr Kingsley Adeh, a motorist, complained that he spends more than N100, 000 in purchasing fuel on weekly basis but make no gain.

He said that this had forced many motorists to park their vehicles at home, thereby reducing traffic, while passengers, especially workers were left stranded daily at various bus stops.

However, an official of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), who spoke under the condition of anonymity, said there was no PMS distribution challenge in the FCT.

He said almost every fuel station had PMS to sell and that the few stations with queues were those selling cheaper than others, especially the NNPC Ltd.’s retail outlet.

“I drove round the city centre and there were no queues except at the NNPC retail station,” he said.

Speaking with NAN, Alhaji Maigandi Garima, the President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said there were queues because people prefer to buy fuel from NNPC retail outlets or stations that sell below the rate of independent marketers.

“That is the reason for the long queues but if you go to the independent marketers such as IPMAN, Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) and Depot and Petroleum Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), you will not see much queues.

“The independent marketers sell higher because of the rate they buy from private depots while those that buy from the NNPC Ltd. depots sell cheaper.

“The ex-depot price for private depot is between N650 and N690, while the ex-depot price for NNPC Ltd. depot is N555 per litre,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), says it has developed a Corrective Action Plan to address issues identified in its validation report by the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).

It said the corrective action plan had been shared with the EITI International Secretariat, outlining concrete steps to enhance Nigeria’s implementation of the EITI Standard.

Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, the Executive Secretary, NEITI said this on Wednesday in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the status of the EITI implementation in Nigeria.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a delegation from EITI International Secretariat had visited Nigeria in January to officially communicate the validation outcome to the government.

Global EITI was established with the objective of transparency and disclosing payments and revenues from extractive resources.

The global institution has made significant progress in facilitating openness through the entire processes in the resource extraction value chain.

Orji, however, said the briefing was necessary to address important developments after the EITI Mission’s visit in Nigeria.

“Meanwhile, as part of the follow up actions to the EITI delegation visit, NEITI has developed a corrective action plan to address the issues identified in the validation report.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigeria’s corrective actions will focus on improving our ranking on Stakeholders’ Engagement, which include: Government, Company and Civil Society Engagements as well as Multi Stakeholders’ Governance.

“Other requirements are Contracts and licence allocations and Licence Register Contracts.

“Already, our strategy on improving stakeholders’ engagement has yielded very positive results. We now have the NSWG in place with the SGF chairing the NEITI Board,” he said.

He said one major message the EITI International Mission communicated clearly to our government was the urgency to reconstitute the NEITI National Stakeholders’ Working Group (NSWG) Board which was dissolved on June 19, 2023.

President Bola Tinubu had on April 22, approved reconstitution of a 15-member NSWG for NEITI.

The executive secretary said to reaffirm Nigeria’s highest commitment, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume was announced as the Chairman of the NSWG.

“Other members of the new NEITI Board (6th NSWG) include; the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, representing government and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), Malam Mele Kyari, representing Companies, among others.

“I wish to clarify that it is a 15-member Board, no more, no less as provided by law. As Secretary to the Board and NEITI Executive Secretary/CEO, I remain on a five-year single term, no more, no less as provided by law.

“NEITI is following with interest but from a distance, the ongoing independent process by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to elect their representative on the Board.

“While we commend the painstaking efforts from the CSOs constituency, we hope this will be completed very soon to enable them take up their rightful position waiting for them on the reconstituted Board.

“For this to happen, I appeal and call on the civil society to close ranks and bury their differences. NEITI is and always will be their institution ready and open to work with all CSOs as important partners in the EITI,” he said.

Orji, while commending the larger CSOs on the support it had received from them in areas of partnership and collaboration, he said that its relationship with the media had been impressive, especially on information dissemination and public enlightenment efforts.

He reassured stakeholders, international partners and the global EITI that no stone was being left unturned in ensuring that at the next validation, Nigeria would score the maximum points of 100 in its assessment. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and its Joint Venture (JV) partner, Newcross Exploration and Production Ltd., have restarted production at Awoba field, Port Harcourt, Rivers.

The NNPC Ltd. said the field last contributed to the Bonny Terminal in 2021 and was finally shut down in February 2022 due to evacuation issues and crude oil theft.

Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd. Malam Mele Kyari, in a statement on Tuesday, said since the restart on April 13, production at the field had averaged 8,000 barrels per day.

According to the GCEO, the production is expected to reach 12,000 per day within 30 days.

He said Awoba was also expected to significantly boost gas supply to the power sector and other gas-based industries.

He said the NNPC Ltd. was keen on optimising production from the nation’s hydrocarbon assets to boost revenue.

Kyari said it would also help to meet the nation’s Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota.

He ascribed the achievement to the President Bola Tinubu administration’s success in providing the enabling operating environment for businesses to thrive.

He expressed appreciation to all stakeholders, including staff, operators, host communities, government security agencies, and private security contractors who played a pivotal role in achieving the feat.

The Awoba Unit, which straddles OMLs 18 and 24 is located in the mangrove swamp south of Port Harcourt, Rivers.

Both OML 18 and OML 24 assets are under the management of the NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS).

NNPC Ltd. has been recording a string of production successes from the JV portfolio which have significantly lifted overall national production.

Besides the recent start of production at the Madu Field by the NNPC Ltd/First E&P JV, the company has achieved the restart of production at OMLs 29 and OML 18 in late 2023.

These contributed an average of 60,000bpd to the nation’s production output since their restart. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and its joint venture partner in OML 85, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company Limited (First E&P), have commenced oil production from the asset.

Production from the asset, also known as Madu Field, which is located in shallow waters offshore Bayelsa and operated by First E&P is expected to be at an average of 20,000 barrels per day.

In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd., Malam Mele Kyari, described the commencement of oil production at the Madu Field as a significant milestone.

Kyari said the achievement was a testament to the commitment of President Bola Tinubu administration’s to optimise production from the nation’s oil and gas assets through the provision of enabling environment for existing and prospective investors.

He said it would contribute to the larger goal of meeting the production required to drive revenue growth and boost the nation’s economy.

Kyari, who commended stakeholders for their support, also explained that the addition of 20,000 barrels per day by an indigenous oil player signalled the commitment of stakeholders to achieving economic development for Nigeria.

It will be recalled that the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the development of the Madu Field and a sister field, Anyala, was taken by the NNPC Ltd/First E&P JV in 2018.

Production from the Madu Field would be processed at the JV’s Abigail-Joseph Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Unit, which has a crude oil storage capacity of up to 800,000bbls. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Rabiu Sani Ali

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, says if gas resources available in the states are harnessed and utilised, power plants and ailing industries would come alive.

The Minister said this on Thursday in Abuja when he received the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Pastor Umo Eno in his office.

Ekpo said if gas resources available in all states were utilised, ailing industries would come alive while some industries that had relocated to other countries would return to Nigeria.

He said the ministry would ensure that country’s abundant gas resources were exploited, developed and used for the benefit of all Nigerians.

Ekpo, who said he was happy that Akwa Ibom State Government was interested in the development of its gas resources, also promised to collaborate with the state government to develop its gas resources and all over the country.

“Gas development is the way to go all over the world and I promise to work with your government to develop the gas resources in Akwa Ibom State and all over the country,” the Minister stated.

The Minister informed the delegation that he would be visiting the state to perform the groundbreaking ceremony for a Gas Hub at Ibaka Deep Sea Port very soon.

Ekpo, while commending the governor on the ongoing infrastructural development in the state, pledged continued support of the Federal Government through the Ministry in the development of gas Infrastructures.

In his address, the governor noted that Akwa Ibom State had the largest deposit of gas resources in Nigeria.

Eno expressed his readiness to partner with the Ministry to drive the investment opportunities that abound in the State for economic development.

“Akwa Ibom has one of the largest deposits of gas in Nigeria, we have come to partner with you because we want to drive investments into Akwa Ibom gas sector,” the governor said.

The governor said the state had the required human capacity and necessary infrastructures and also willing to work with the Ministry to actualise the vision and mandate of President Bola Tinubu in the gas sector.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Amb. Nicholas Ella, expressed satisfaction with the synergy that existed between the state government and the Minister and worthwhile infrastructural development in the state. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has identified the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP) 2022 as one of the critical pathways to achieving Net Zero Carbon Emission.

The Commission’s Chief Executive, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, said this at its Investors’ Forum on Wednesday in Abuja.

The forum was convened to bring flare site awardees, technology providers and financiers together for the goal of eliminating flared gas and improving environmental sustainability.

The programme was launched as a strategic initiative by the Nigerian government with the primary goal of eliminating gas flaring through economically viable solutions, transforming a wasteful environmental challenge into a substantial economic opportunity.

Through this programme, flare gas sites are awarded to competent third-party companies that are to harness this resource for value derivation.

Komolafe, in his keynote address titled, “One Goal – One Team,” said Nigeria developed an actionable roadmap called the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan, to midwife the nation’s journey towards Net Zero Carbon emissions.

He expressed the commission’s commitment to the successful execution of the NGFCP to actualise the attainment of Nigeria’s pledge to end routine gas flaring within this decade and contribute to the reduction of global emissions.

He said the opportunity would enable captured flared gas to be used for electricity generation, fertiliser and methanol production and feedstock for local industries.

He said, these, in addition to improving host community relations, environmental sustainability, building local content capacity, creating employment opportunities, and encouraging increased capital inflow to the sector were some of the benefits of the programme to the country.

“Through the NGFCP, the barrier to entry into our complex industry is lowered for many proven small and medium scale local and international players.

“We have chosen the theme “One Goal – One Team” for this forum to represent our unified commitment to decarbonisation and achieving net zero emissions.

“As we gather here, we are aligned not just in our investment goals but in a powerful collaboration aimed at turning Nigeria’s COPs 26, 27 and 28 commitments into actionable, sustainable outcomes.

“Let us leverage our collective strengths, foster strategic synergies, and advance with a unified vision towards a decarbonised, net zero future, in line with the objectives set at the UN Climate Change Conference,” he said.

He explained that the projects did not only align with international environmental standards by significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also reinforced global commitments to sustainability and climate resilience.

Komolafe expressed assurance that due diligence had been carried out on all award holders and remarkable progress had been made to ensure that proposed projects would achieve measurable success.

“Investors can, therefore, be assured that the NGFCP 2022 will be conducted satisfactorily in line with statutory provisions,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Salif Atojoko

By Emmanuella Anokam

The distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel is gradually normalising as most fuel stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have started dispensing the product.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that long queues were seen at most fuel stations due to scarcity of the product earlier in the week before and during the Sallah holidays.

The development inconvenienced motorists, as they had to queue for hours to get fuel.

NAN, however, reports that the situation is improving as many fuel stations are now selling the product though with long queues, except for a few yet to get supply.

A NAN Correspondent who went round town on Saturday, reports that the queues are gradually disappearing.

The independent marketers sell between N640 to N690 per litre, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) Retail Outlets maintain its pump price of N617 per litre.

In the city centre, many stations including Conoil and TotalEnergies, Opposite NNPC Ltd. Towers; TotalEnergies, Wuse, Zone 3 and all the NNPC Ltd. Retail Outlets including its Mega station were seen dispensing fuel without queues.

In Kubwa Axis, NIPCO fuel station at Kubwa second gate and Rainoil at Gwarimpa entrance were seen dispensing fuel with just few vehicles on queue.

However, many fuel stations along the Kubwa express way were not dispensing the product.

Along the Nyanya-Keffi Highway, both Shema fuel stations and MRS at AYA were seen dispensing the product, while JENEP, Fuel Smart, KODPEM, Bormi, AP, NIPCO and Shafa at Nyanya-Karshi Road were also seen selling.

Some of the motorists, who spoke to NAN said they were not sure of what caused the initial scarcity, adding that it could be attributed to the Sallah celebration or mere hoarding.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) did not respond to text messages sent to it by NAN.

But there are indications that the scarcity was caused by the Sallah holiday, as most petroleum tanker drivers were on break to observe Eid-el-Fitr. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Ese E. Eniola Williams