Asharami Synergy Limited, a Sahara Group downstream company in Nigeria has attributed its sterling performance in the aviation fuel market to the firm’s commitment to safety, technology driven solutions and environmental sustainability.

Head, Downstream Africa, Sahara Group, Foluso Sobanjo, said in Vienna, Austria, at the IATA Aviation Energy Forum, that Asharami Synergy had a pedigree of exceptional performance in the market that spans two decades in Nigeria.

Aviation fuel is also known as Jet A1.

In his words, “Asharami Synergy is the leading aviation fuel supplier in Nigeria with over 20 per cent of the market share. We have several certifications from the International Organisation for Standardisation in recognition of our commitment to excellence, quality, and safety. With current storage capacity of about 31 million litres owned and operated by Asharami across the nation, a fleet of 20 bowsers, and ongoing plans for capacity expansion, we keep innovating to deliver outstanding Jet A1 solutions.”

According to Sobanjo, Asharami Synergy offers solutions that resonate with the operations of local and international airlines in Nigeria. “Our distinctive mark of excellence and safety make Asharami the responsible provider of choice for aviation fuel in the Nigerian market,” he said.

Similarly, Chief Executive Officer, Asharami Synergy, Nomnso Dike, said that the company had been strategic partners with IATA since 2009, adding that Asharami’s diversified product supply chain facilitates availability and competitive pricing in the market.

“We are constantly investing in technology to drive efficiency in our business hence the adoption of the i6 solution that increases efficiency through digitalised tracking of our into-plane fueling operations, whilst also helping to reduce CO2 emissions. In addition, our dashboard tracks and analyses our customers’ consumption patterns, thereby enabling us to forecast demand accurately and ensure consistent product availability to meet all our supply obligations. This ensures our customers can rely on Asharami for responsible and seamless supply,” he stated.

Sobanjo commended IATA for leading the charge towards sustainability in the sector as all stakeholders continue to work towards enhancing safety and reducing emissions.

On growth factors for the Nigerian market, Sobanjo said the sector would benefit from adequate refining capacity, Forex stability, cheaper sources of funds and infrastructure development.

He noted that achieving stability in the FX market would impact the Jet fuel market positively by reducing product cost, solving the liquidity issues facing the airlines and help with the repatriation of the investment made by foreign airlines which would spur further investments.

“Suppliers need to be able to access credit at the right price as this would help to facilitate investments in essential infrastructure like tank farms, bowsers, and trucks. This would enhance operational capabilities and logistical efficiency, thereby supporting long-term growth and healthy competitiveness in the sector,” he stated.

Sobanjo also called for investment in infrastructure through sundry Public-Private Partnerships and collaboration among all stakeholders, including IATA, airlines, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, petroleum marketers, to drive sustainable regulation, growth, and development of the sector.

Riveers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara has called for responsible management of funds allocated to Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDT) in the Niger Delta.

The governor made the call at an event to unveil three additional HDCTs by The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), operator of the SPDC Joint Venture comprising SPDC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), TotalEnergies Limited and Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited.

Represented by the state commissioner for Chieftaincy & Community Affairs, Charles Amadi, the governor pointed out that the development in oil producing communities as envisaged in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) would only become a reality if those charged with managing the funds put the people first and make themselves accountable.

The HCDT is a creation of the PIA and requires oil exploration companies to allocate three percent of their operating expenditure in the previous year for the development of their host communities.

The three new HCDTs represent the hosts of SPDC JV at its Logistics Base, Akukutoru and TNP-2 areas and bring to 31 the number so far inaugurated by the Joint Venture out of the 33 for all its operations in the Niger Delta.

Gov Fubara said, “I appreciate Shell for your continued support at ensuring the economic growth of the communities.”

Also speaking at the event, Managing Director of SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, acknowledged the challenges of implementing a new legislation like the PIA, noting that SPDC engaged over 300 communities on the provisions of the law and the need for stronger collaboration between SPDC and the communities to ensure the desired growth and development.

Okunbor, who was represented by the HCDT Project Manager, Dr. Alice Ajeh, said, “Ultimately, community development rests on the shoulders of the communities themselves.”

In his remarks, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, commended SPDC’s leading position in the implementation of the HCDT provisions of the PIA and emphasised the importance of fostering sustainable economic development through robust implementation strategies.

“NUPRC, in line with global best practices and in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, has developed robust implementation strategies for the Trusts. This is for the purpose of fostering sustainable economic development of host communities,” the NUPRC chief said through his representative, Chidinma Nwabueze.

Komolafe enjoined the host communities to guarantee seamless oil and gas exploration and production in their respective communities to reap maximum benefits from the trusts.”

In his remark, the Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bala Wunti, said, “We have high expectations for communities to collaborate with industry stakeholders to achieve peaceful coexistence. The boards of trustees should ensure that there are systems in place to address conflicts or grievances through dialogue that ensures resolutions that are beneficial to all the parties.”

Represented at the event by NUIMS Manager for Stakeholder Relations, Ejidoh Uzo, Wunti said, “I commend the host communities for their prompt utilization of the instruments of the PIA as administered. This is a laudable initiative of Shell that will bring about positive development to the communities.”

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced plans to establish a specialized security team, dubbed the “Power Rangers,” to safeguard Nigeria’s power infrastructure.

This initiative responds to the frequent attacks on transmission towers and other facilities, which the minister has condemned as “economic terrorism.”

In a related development, the Federal Government has issued a stern warning to those involved in these acts of vandalism, demanding an immediate halt or facing severe consequences.

This warning follows the latest incident on Wednesday, where vandals destroyed two transmission towers, T193 and T194, along the 330-kilovolt single circuit transmission line.

This attack follows a similar incident on December 28, 2023, when three towers—T193, T194, and T195—were destroyed in Borno State using improvised explosive devices.

During the Passing Out Parade and launch of the second group of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps Mining Marshals in Abuja on Friday, Minister Tunji-Ojo stressed the necessity for strong and decisive action to combat the widespread destruction of power infrastructure.

He said “I will speak with my brother, the Minister of Power, about the alarming rate of vandalism and economic terrorism targeting our transmission lines. It is your job to ensure that no critical government assets are destroyed, and I believe NSCDC is up to the task.”

The minister announced plans to create the “Power Rangers” team, which will protect power distribution lines, generation companies (Gencos), and the entire power sector.

He stressed that no country can grow or develop without a reliable power sector, and it is unacceptable for Nigeria to invest billions in power infrastructure only for it to be vandalized.

Tunji-Ojo has decided to sectorize the responsibilities of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to enable them to effectively fulfill their mandate.