Oil and Gas
NAPO petitions Senate over alleged NLNG Train-7 contractors’ alleged slave labour
Workers at the Daewoo E&C site of the Nigeria LNG Limited Train 7 project in Bonny Island, Rivers State protesting against violation of their rights.
A petition has been submitted to the Nigerian Senate and other relevant Committees by the National Association of Plants Operators, NAPO, requesting to be joined in the ongoing probe into the activities of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas, NLNG Train-7 and its contractors
President of NAPO, Comrade Harold Benstowe, who made a copy of the petition to CAPITAL POST in Abuja, decried the exploitation of Nigerian workers in the construction project and alleged that workers on the project site were being treated like “slaves” with poor working conditions, while facing harassment and brutality by security personnel.
The petition which was addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, was at the backdrop of investigation of activities of the mega project by some relevant committees of the upper and lower legislative chambers.
The multi-billion dollar Nigeria LNG Train-7 gas plant construction project is situated in Bonny Island, Rivers State in the South South, Nigeria.
The union claims that the project’s contractors, Saipem and Daewoo, have exaggerated the number of workers on site, threatening to release videos and pictures showing the deplorable conditions and mistreatment of workers.
Benstowe in the petition raised several concerns, including, the need for a fair hearing, emphasizing that the probe will not be fair if they are not allowed to participate and present their side of the story.
NAPO also challenged the numbers presented by Nigeria LNG and its contractors, Saipem and Daewoo, which they believe are exaggerated.
The petition reads in part, “The ongoing probe on Nigeria LNG Train-7 project will not be viewed as fair hearing, if parties on the other side of the divide are not part of the probe to speak for themselves as the question raised by Senator Natasha Akpoti on the 13th of June during the hearing affects NAPO members as stakeholders in the project.
“It is imperative that NAPO as the authentic trade union chosen by the workers to be part of the probe, unearth the truth about the real conditions of the Nigeria LNG Train 7 Project.
“NAPO challenges the irrational variations in the astronomical exaggerated number of workers on the project site by Nigeria LNG and contractors Saipem Contracting Nigeria, Daewoo Engineering Construction Nigeria in the NLNG Train-7 Gas Plant Construction Project.
“What we have on site are not decent employees right now but less than 5,000 Nigerian slaves working with military guns on their backs like in the slave trade era of the colonialists.
“We shall show videos of financially induced Nigerian security personnel’s harassment of workers and pictures of victims of Police and military brutality on Nigerian construction workers.
“NAPO is standing up for her right to be part of the probe as NAPO informative facts are very important to set the records straight.”
Oil and Gas
Experts express concern, cite irregularity in the NNPC Board appointment, demand statutory compliance
Concerned experts in the petroleum industry have raised concerns over the irregularity in the recent reconstitution of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) Board, citing non-compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
In a formal statement signed by Mr Abolade Adewale released over the weekend, the experts called for the reversal of the appointment of Aminu Said Ahmed, a Senior Manager from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), as the Ministry’s representative on the board.
They argued that the appointment violates Section 59(2)(d) of the PIA 2021, which stipulates that the NNPC Ltd Board shall comprise “a representative of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources (MPR), not below the rank of a Director.” The group emphasis that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NMDPRA) is an independent regulatory agency, distinct from the Ministry, and therefore, its staff cannot represent the MPR on the board.
The experts note with great concern the recent appointment of Aminu Said Ahmed, a Grade Level 14 officer in the NMDPRA to represent the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on the NNPC Limited Board. This is inconsistent with the provisions of Section (59) sub section (2) sub (d) of PIA Act, 2021 and a grand conspiracy to usurp the Ministry at all cost.
They highlighted that the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF) is represented on the same board by its Permanent Secretary, aligning with the PIA’s requirement for Ministerial representation. They urged His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, to maintain institutional parity by appointing a Permanent Secretary from the MPR to the board.
The PIA provides that a representative of the MPR and the FMF not below the rank of a Director should be appointed as a member of the board, hence, the appointment of the Permanent Secretary, FMF as a member of the board was in accordance with the PIA provisions. Whereas Aminu Said Ahmed is neither a Director nor a staff of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
They also addressed the issue of representation in international petroleum organizations, stating that the Ministry should lead delegations to bodies like Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) etc as mandated by Section 3(1) (d) of the PIA. They criticized the practice of assigning non-Ministry officials to such roles based on nepotism, citing concerns over institutional memory and reputational risks.
“We therefore respectfully submit that all nominations to international engagements on Petroleum-related matters should kindly be made strictly among serving officials of the MPR through formal appointment by the Minister, as permitted under the law,” added Adewale.
They called for a reaffirmation of statutory compliance and institutional mandate, urging the President to reverse the appointment of Aminu Said Ahmed and approve a high ranking officer of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, which in this case should be the Permanent Secretary to be at a parity with the Federal Ministry of Finance Permanent Secretary as a member of the NNPC Ltd Board.
They expressed confidence that as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has always listened to valid judgments, and will take corrective action to uphold the integrity of the PIA 2021.
The Nigeria Liquefied Gas on Friday called for energy security to be made a national priority through proactive measure in a manner that the infrastructure and critical assets are protected for the sustainable growth of the oil and gas industry.
Speaking at a panel session titled “Driving Cross-Continental Investments: Scaling Africa’s Energy Frontier” at the 8th Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, Philip Mshelbila stated that there were growing concerns over gas infrastructure security, stressing that while improvements have been recorded in securing oil assets, that gas infrastructure remains vulnerable, and without adequate protection which will lead to underperformance in the industry.
Mshelbina stated that NLNG was focused on boosting both domestic and regional energy access, adding that the company was making smaller-scale investments to retain more gas for local consumption. He noted that a major step in this direction was NLNG’s decision to domesticate 100% of its Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supply for the Nigerian market.
Beyond the domestic market, Mshelbila remarked that the Company was also working towards enhancing regional energy security. He revealed that, as part of the Train 7 project, the company was constructing a third jetty to support small-scale vessels in supplying gas across Africa’s coastal markets.
Additionally, he said the company was supporting the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) in connecting Bonny Island to the mainland to facilitate LPG trucking, thereby strengthening domestic gas distribution. This initiative is expected to boost West Africa’s energy distribution network, positioning NLNG as a key player in the region’s energy landscape, he noted.
Mshelbila also emphasised the need for clear and consistent regulatory frameworks to attract long-term investments.
Through proactive methane reduction, low-carbon innovations, and impactful social initiatives, Mshelbila remarked that NLNG’s commitment to local content and sustainability aligned with global energy transition priorities, stating that NLNG was building investor confidence and demonstrating long-term value.
The Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji has said, the sum of $200 billion is needed to be injected into Nigeria’s gas infrastructure for its development and maximization of the natural resources as the ninth largest gas producer in the world as number one in Africa.
He pointed this out in the 2021 – 2023 reports on Oil, Gas and Solid Minerals presented to the Public Accounts Committee chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed, saying the required infrastructure for maximization of gas resources in the country are not there.
He said, there was need for the injection of $20 billion yearly into gas infrastructure for a period of ten years for construction of gas pipelines along and across West African sub-region, and beyond which is a huge expenditure”, he said.
Orji said: “In Nigeria, what we need, is to invest in gas infrastructure to evacuate gas as our study shows that we need an initial investment of $20 billion annually for 10 years to be able to generate the kind of gas infrastructure required to provide gas for the whole of Africa and beyond.
A member of Senate Committee on Public Accounts, Senator Abdul Ningi asked, “what NEITI is doing on alleged $8.5billion unremitted into the consolidated revenue fund by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Federal Inland Revenue Service and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in 2023”, the NEITI boss said the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC , is already probing the agencies involved.
Senate panel were further irked by the submission in the NEITI’s report that less than 1% of solid minerals is remitted into Federal Government’s Consolidated Revenue Fund account.
Chairman of Senate Committee on Public Accounts, speaking on remittances of Solid Minerals into the Consolidated Revenue Fund decried the less than 1% contribution of proceeds from the sector on yearly basis.
Other members were unanimous that, NEITI’s report on solid minerals, is not reflective of what is going on in the solid mineral sector.
They wondered why only States like Ogun, Osun, Kogi, Edo, Ebonyi, Rivers, Cross Rivers and FCT, were mentioned in the report excluding Nasarawa , Zamfara , Kebbi , Plateau, Bauchi etc .
Specifically the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Wadada described the less than one 1% contribution of solid minerals to GDP as quite ridiculous and unacceptable.
“This definitely must not continue, there must be complete overhaul of the sector “, he said
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