Oil and Gas
Staff declares Commission cesspit of corruption, petitions President Tinubu over illegal appointment of Alaide Shaw as Director
The Staff of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission have raised concern over anomalies going on in the agency, following the appointment of Ms. Olaide Shaw as a Director in contravention of Petroleum Industry Act, PIA.
The Commission Staff have petitioned President Bola Tinubu, pointing out that the recruitment of Ms. Olaide is an aberration of laid down recruitment and promotion guidelines as enumerated in the PIA 2021 and public service rules.
The Staff of the Commission made the call in a petition addressed to President Tinubu following what it termed a purported Directives from the Presidency.
In a three page petition, the staff said “President Tinubu, the Chief law officer of the land will not endorse any deliberate attempt at aberration of the law and laid down procedures”, pointing out that the letter in question directing the employment of Ms. Olaide could not have emanated from the President.
In the petition signed by Mathew Kola and Hassan Madibo, on behalf of the Staff of the Commission said the employment of Ms. Olaide Shaw from a purported and unsubstantiated Presidential Directive signed by the Principal Secretary, Hakeem Muri Okunola to President Tinubu directing the Commission Executive Director, Engr. Komolafe Gbenga to employ Ms Olaide as Director goes contrary to the adherence to the established rules and regulations governing recruitment, promotion and cadre placement practices within the Commission.
They maintained that the need to uphold the principles of justice and fairness towards maintaining a harmonious working environment in the face of the President’s anti corruption war cannot be overemphasized, appealed that he swiftly reverse the fraudulent employment of Ms Olaide.
Furthermore, the staff called on President Tinubu to act swiftly, by reviewing the situation in NUPRC so as to rectify the irregularity of the employment of Ms Olaide.
Staff of the NUPRC also accused Mr. Gbenga Komolafe the CCE of the non payment of staff benefits and remittances of deducted funds to the staff co-operative.
Similarly, they called on President Tinubu to probe the high level alleged corruption under the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, direct the completion of investigation of the CCE by EFCC who was allegedly accused alongside Mrs Deiziani Alison Maduke former Minister of Petroleum.
The staff further demanded for an investigation into the alleged missing 48 ship loads of crude oil that got lost between 2015 and 2016 for which the CCE was allegedly involved, as the head of crude oil export in NNPC.
“We urge Mr. President to investigate by directing the EFCC to look into the books of account how the CCE, between December 15th 2023 and January 15th awarded contracts, paid in full to the tune of not less than N12billion without due process and for training that never happened to companies used but not qualified”.
While pointing out that the recruitment of Ms. Olaide is a deviation from established procedures, said if allowed, would lead to an aberration of the law governing employment and promotion within the Commission.
” That Ms Olaide, is only 39 years old with a debatable 19 years of experience”.
” That going by the rules, Ms Olaide is not qualified for the role of a Director which stipulates that the role of Director, a person must have a minimum of a Degree in the relevant field with a minimum of 22 years post qualification experience, at least 15 years of which should be in the Oil industry or allied activities and 12 years in a senior management position”.
” That the role of a Director is a natural career path for staff progression upon several promotions and not an appointment level. The position is occupied based on Federal Character”.
” That there is a clear distinction between political appointment and permanent pensionable recruitment in the Federal Civil Service guiding all MDAs”.
” That Ms. Olaide is currently a Manager at ExxonMobil Nigeria, the corresponding role for which translates into being at best a Deputy Manager to manager in the Commission “.
” That there are several qualified acting Directors that have rose through the ranks in the Commission that are now sidelines for an unqualified and inexperienced illegal employment of Ms. Olaide as a Director in NUPRC”.
The staff in their petition said failure to redress the anomaly’s by President Tinubu would have severe implications for the Commission to reduce staff motivation and morale, decrease trust and cooperation.
Furthermore, the staff said failure to resolve the issue swiftly by reversing the employment of Ms Olaide in the best interest of both the Commission, its employees and the nation would lead to increased conflict and grievances, potential legal ramifications as well as setting a bad precedence.
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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