Oil and Gas
BREAKING: Reps Group mobilise 70 lawmakers’ signatures for sack of Kyari-led NNPCL, NMDPRA Mgts over protest, economic collapse
Some members of the House of Representatives are mobilising their colleagues to ask President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to audit, dissolve the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in order to save the economy and end bad governance in both agencies which is fueling the ongoing desire of citizens to embark on mass protest caused by hardship the incompetence in these agencies have caused Nigerians.
A reliable source who disclosed this to journalists on the condition of anonymity said that this group of lawmakers are known as United Lawmakers for Energy Reform and Economic Prosperity.
According to the source, they have coordinators in 6 geopolitical zones and are working hard to secure support of 70 of their colleagues to make the demand which they believe is the key to saving the renewed hope agenda of Mr President.
The source stated that other focus areas aside mobilisation to end the economic crisis in the country which is fuelling nationwide protest, are to get the presidency to back Reps ongoing joint Petroleum committees forensic investigation, push for their colleagues to demand for resignation of NNPCL, NMDPRA top shots to aide unbiased probe and seek FG support to setting up of independent private special investigator to simultaneously audit the agencies alongside reps investigation led by Hon.Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere (Downstream) alongside Hon.Henry Okogie(Midstream).
The source also informed this medium that the lawmakers have intensified the mobilisation to help ensure they exact the needed pressure on the executive to take the bold step of saving the future of the renewed hope which is under threat with dwindling oil revenue caused by lack of capacity by NNPCL and regulatory bodies to turn the tide and stabilise the industry.
They are seriously frowning at the continued and endless scarcity of Petroleum Products, non availability of pms, ago etc, import of fake adulterated products and shady oil deals that see Nigeria always on the losing end.
The group, the source said is expected to appeal to protesters to calm down and give the President time to carry out these reforms especially in the oil and gas sector which will help to end bad governance but the President must help them by ensuring He shows young Nigerians his determination to rejig the system for more efficiency.
The source said, “A group of federal lawmakers known as United Lawmakers for Energy Reform and Economic Prosperity, with coordinators in 6 geopolitical zones are working hard to secure support of 70 of their colleagues to make the demand which they believe is the key to saving the renewed hope agenda of Mr President.
“They believe that the NNPCL mismanaged the oil revenue, decreased crude oil production from former President Buhari era and has continued this in Tinubu’s regime. They want the President to save the dwindling economy caused by low revenue and FX issues caused by mismanagement of oil revenue by sacking key regulatory bodies heads and reforming the oil sector.
“The group is particularly asking the house leadership and forensic investigation joint committee to also request for president to suspend the leadership of NNPCL to give unfettered access to legislative investigation and independent forensic audit to aide investigation of the rot in the sector that have led to poor and mismanagement of oil revenue.
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
Oil and Gas
Niger Tanker Explosion: NUPENG urges government to repair roads, senditise citizens on danger of fuel scooping
The national secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has urged the Federal Government to repair roads to avert tanker tragedies across the country.
NUPENG made the call in reaction to the recent tragic tanker explosion in Suleja, Niger State.
A statement jointly signed by Williams Akporeha and Olawale Afolabi, respectively, President and General Secretary stated that the union was “deeply saddened by the loss of lives, the destruction of properties, and the injuries sustained by many in this devastating incident.”
The statement, issued to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, also appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address the poor condition of federal roads.
The statement read in part: “The Union takes this opportunity to urgently appeal to the Federal Government to repair bad roads to prevent such incidents and to intensify efforts in sensitising the public about the dangers of scooping fuel from petroleum truck accidents.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones during this traumatic and challenging time.”
NUPENG further sppealed to the Federal Government to take urgent steps to repair federal roads which it noted were in bad shape.
It also tasked the Federal Government to mandate its relevant agencies to seize the initiative towards sensitising Nigerians on the danger of scooping fuel from scenes of petrol tanker accidents.
The statement further reads in part:”The Union takes this opportunity to urgently appeal to the Federal government to repazir bad roads to prevent such incidents and to intensify efforts in sensitizing the public about the dangers of scooping fuel from accidental situations of petroleum trucks on highways.
“As a responsible organization, NUPENG collaborates annually with relevant agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Police, and State Traffic Management agencies, to train our drivers on road safety. The Union is committed to continuously training and retraining our members on best driving and safety practices.
“We stand in solidarity with the affected families and the entire Dikko community in Niger State. We commend the emergency responders who bravely extinguished the fire and rescued many injured victims.
“We urge all relevant authorities to provide the necessary support and medical care to those injured and to take measures to prevent future tragedies.
“May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may their families find the strength to bear these irreparable losses.”
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