NEWS
Abia Govt Escalates Manhunt, Offers Bounty On Soldier Killers
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In a bid to bring justice to the fallen heroes, the Abia State Government has declared a N25 million bounty on the perpetrators behind the tragic killing of five soldiers at Obikabia junction, Ogbor Hill, Aba.
Recall that the incident unfolded during a daring attack by unidentified gunmen on a military checkpoint, resulting in the loss of lives and destruction of two patrol vans.
The gunmen reportedly made away with the soldiers’ rifles before vanishing from the scene.
In response, the state government, through Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu, issued a statement condemning the attack, expressing sympathy to Chief of Army Staff Major General Taoreed Lagbaja and the Military High Command, and offering prayers for the deceased soldiers.
The statement partly reads “As a government committed to security, safety and peace within its territory at all times, the Abia State Government considers the event of Thursday, May 30, 2024 a serious affront to its resolve by criminal elements who are hell-bent on returning Abia to the dark days of insecurity and fear amongst citizens, especially in Aba, the economic heartbeat of the State.
“This is more regrettable in the light of the fact that unprecedented investments have been made in the last one year to restore the city’s public infrastructure and reposition it as an attractive investment destination for local and foreign businesses.
“The Government will therefore respond appropriately to reassure citizens, investors and friends of Abia across the world that it would be relentless in bringing the full wrath of the law to bear on anyone or group who constitutes the slightest threat to the peace and security of the land, whatever be their motivation.
“To underscore its resolve, the State Government is offering a N25 million (Twenty-five Million Naira) reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings, and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs.
“The security formations in the State have been directed to treat informants with all the confidentiality required to guarantee their full cooperation and assistance until the criminals are fully apprehended and brought to book.”
NEWS
NNPC Ltd Declares State Of Emergency On Crude Oil Production
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NEWS
NCDMB Unveils Procedures For Implementation Of Presidential Directive on Local Content, Highlights Recent Accomplishments
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The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, on Monday in Abuja hailed the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements as crucial for enhanced competitiveness and mitigation of risks in regard to unqualified contractors, just as he unveiled five focal areas for implementation of the policy initiative.
The Executive Secretary spoke at the Nigerian Content Seminar, the opening day of the Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Conference, in Abuja.
The NCDMB boss listed the areas as ‘Promoting the Utilisation/Growth of In-country Capacities,’ ‘Enhancing the Cost Competitiveness of Oil and Gas Projects,’ ‘Non-inclusion of Intermediary Entities Lacking the Essential Capacity to Perform from the Nigerian Content Plan (NCP),’ ‘Approval of Nigerian Content Plan (which consists of contractors that meet the legal definition of Nigerian companies and demonstrate capacity to execute projects within Nigeria),’ and ensuring that ‘Entities acting solely as intermediaries, with no demonstrable capacity to execute the project or activity, shall not be approved.’
Engr. Ogbe assured that under the first focal area, ‘Promoting the Utilisation/Growth of In-country Capacities,’ the Board would continue to leverage its existing processes “to assess and verify the capacity of companies, facilitating and carrying out in-country capacity audits in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.”
On enhancement of cost competitiveness of oil and gas projects, he said, among other activities operators in the oil and gas industry would only be permitted to source capacities out-of-country “only after in-country capacity gaps have been identified.”
In regard to the third focal area, namely, ‘Non-inclusion of Intermediaries Lacking the Essential Capacity,’ Engr. Ogbe stated that the “Tender opportunity’s pre-qualification and technical evaluation phases” would be used to eliminate entities so identified as incapable of performing.
Explaining the Board’s procedure in respect of ‘Approval of Nigerian Content Plan (NCP),’ he noted that international players’ participation would be deemed appropriate only “when the necessary Nigerian Content level is unavailable locally or inefficient.”
While assuring that entities acting solely as intermediaries with no demonstrable capacity to execute a project would not be approved, he reiterated that the Board remains “steadfast in its dedication to guaranteeing that any services provided will generate value in the country,” and that it would “evaluate current policies and guidelines to encourage the development of indigenous capabilities and guarantee that these policies and guidelines are not misused, misapplied, or misinterpreted.”
In all, he observed with satisfaction that the Presidential Directive and the Board’s modalities are in sync with the objectives of its 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, which aims to increase Nigerian Content to 70 per cent by 2027.
Among recent landmark accomplishments of the Board, as identified by the NCDMB boss, were the inauguration of Amal Technologies Gas Leak Detection Device and Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing facility in December 2023 in Abuja, the commissioning of the Kwale Gas Gathering (KGG) Hub and NEDOGAS Plant in June in Delta State, and the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ubeta Field Development Project by TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and its Joint Venture partner, Nigerian National Petroleum Company
Limited.
Engr. Ogbe seized the occasion to congratulate winners and participants in the Golf Tournament organized as part of the NOG Energy Week. The golf tourney is sponsored by the NCDMB and the Executive Secretary emphasized that the event is an excellent platform to provide clarity, expositions, tips and guidance to industry players on the provisions of the NOGICD Act.
Speaking during one of the breakout sessions, the Director of Projects Certification and Authorization Certificate (PCAD) at the NCDMB, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele explained that NCDMB had enabled oil and gas through its policies, collaboration and investments.
He indicated that about 1000 Nigerian service companies were registered on the NOGIC JQS in 2011, but the number had increased to 13,000, while the number of operating companies had equally increased to 120 firms.
He charged service companies to only accept jobs they have the technical capacity to execute, and to eschew the practice of bidding for every job in the oil and gas industry.
He also emphasized that Nigerian Content is not a major cost driver in Nigeria, noting that other elements like security and managing community stakeholders are big cost drivers.
In his contribution, the General Manager, Planning Research and Statistics, Mr. Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye affirmed that subsequent legislations enacted in the oil and gas industry after the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act had reinforced the NOGICD Act.
Also contributing in the session, the chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engr. Wole Ogunsanya noted that Nigerian Content development built the capacity of local companies who now execute jobs across Africa and beyond. He added that local content implementation had lowered the entry barrier into oil and gas industry and created
local operating companies that are acquiring the assets being divested by international oil companies.
NEWS
Bill For Creation Of Etiti State In South East Scales 1st Reading In House Of Reps
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A bill to alter the 1999 Constitution as amended to create an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone called to be called Etiti, has passed through first reading in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Amobi Ogah (LP-Abia) and four others sponsored the bill which was read by the clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Dan’Zaria during plenary in Abuja on Tuesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The co-sponsors of the bill included Rep. Miriam Onuoha (APC-Imo), Rep. Kama Nkemkama, Rep. Chinwe Nnabuife and Rep. Anayo Onwuegbu.
It was gathered that the proposed state would include communities in the existing five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Upon creation, the new state will have 11 Local Government Areas, drawn from the five states with headquarters at Lokpanta.
The bill seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 constitution, to delete the word 36 and replace it with the word 37.
This is to accommodate the new state and to insert the word Etiti, immediately after Enugu in the list of states contained in the Constitution.
The bill also sought to alter the listing of local governments according to states and transfer the 11 local government areas from their current states to the new state.
The local governments to be affected are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra).
Others are Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Agwu and Oji River (Enugu) as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).