Oil
House of Reps probes NNPC
… over alleged shady $6.8bn oil deal with Swiss oil companies
ABUJA – The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, set machinery in motion to probe alleged shady $6.8 billion oil deal between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Swiss oil dealers.
To this end, the House committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Justice have been mandated to investigate the matter and report to the House within four weeks.
The House resolution to probe the deal was sequel to a motion moved by Honourable Abiodun Abudu-Balogun entitled: “Urgent need to investigate the alleged connivance of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) with Swiss oil dealers to rob Nigeria of billions of dollars.”
While moving the motion, Honourable Abudu-Balogun noted that there was need for the House to take seriously, “the news report by Swiss Non Governmental Advocacy Organization, the Berne declaration, detailing how the NNPC in connivance with major Swiss oil trading companies, is draining Nigeria of billion dollars revenue through the sale of crude oil below market value.”
The lawmaker further raised the alarm that, the report by the Swiss advocacy group, entitled: “Swiss Traders Opaque Deals in Nigeria,” detailed the schemes employed by the NNPC and foreign oil companies to dupe the country of over $6.8 billion through some “letter box companies.”
According to him, “the Berne declaration has described the Nigerian oil scam as the greatest fraud Africa has ever known and the report specifically mentioned Vitol and Transfigura commodity trading firms (NNPC partners ) in the shady deals and how Nigeria loses billions of dollars as large volumes of oil are exported far below market prices.”
He equally queried why “Nigeria is the only major oil producing nation that sells 100 per cent of its crude to private traders rather than market it herself and benefit from the resulting added value with the greatest number of beneficiaries of export allocations.”
At this point, he expressed worry about the numerous damaging allegations contained in the report against NNPC and its subsidiaries accused of not publishing detailed financial reports since 2005, hence the need for the probe.
When the motion was put to vote by the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha, it was supported by the majority of members at the session.
– NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Oil
FG Introduces New Incentives To Revitalize Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Industry
In a strategic move to revitalize Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, the Federal Government has unveiled two key fiscal incentives aimed at attracting investment and enhancing energy security.
The announcement was made by Mr. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy on Wednesday.
The first initiative, the Value Added Tax (VAT) Modification Order 2024, introduces critical exemptions for essential energy products and infrastructure, including Diesel, Feed Gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) infrastructure, and Clean Cooking Equipment.
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These exemptions are designed to reduce living costs for Nigerians, promote energy security, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy alternatives.
The second initiative, the Notice of Tax Incentives for Deep Offshore Oil & Gas Production, offers new tax relief options for deep offshore exploration projects.
This measure aims to position Nigeria’s deep offshore basin as a premier destination for international oil and gas investments, boosting the country’s appeal to foreign investors.
These reforms are part of a broader set of policy initiatives, known as Policy Directives 40-42, endorsed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The directives reflect the administration’s commitment to fostering sustainable development in the energy sector and enhancing Nigeria’s competitive edge in the global oil and gas market.
Business
Tinubu set to approve ExxonMobil-Seplat oil deal, expands CNG bus initiative
By Yemie Adeoye
NIGERIA’s President Bola Tinubu has announced that the protracted ExxonMobil-Seplat upstream oil divestment will be formally approved by the Minister of petroleum within a matter of days, just as he announced his government’s intention to expand the Compress natural Gas, CNG buses initiative.
The President who stated this during his Independence day nationwide broadcast stated that the move is in line with his administration’s commitment to free enterprise, free entry and free exit in investments which is the hallmark of his administration investment policy.
“Fellow compatriots, our administration is committed to free enterprise, free entry, and free exit in investments while maintaining the sanctity and efficacy of our regulatory processes. This principle guides the divestment transactions in our upstream petroleum sector, where we are committed to changing the fortune positively. As such, the ExxonMobil Seplat divestment will receive ministerial approval in a matter of days, having been concluded by the regulator, NUPRC, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA. This was done in the same manner as other qualified divestments approved in the sector.”
The President also seized the opportunity to plead with Nigerians to be patient with his administration’s reform policies. “As your President, I assure you that we are committed to finding sustainable solutions to alleviate the suffering of our citizens. Once again, I plead for your patience as the reforms we are implementing show positive signs, and we are beginning to see light at the end of the tunnel”.
“Our energy transition programme is on course. We are expanding the adoption of the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas for mass transit with private sector players. The Federal Government is ready to assist the thirty-six States and FCT in acquiring CNG buses for cheaper public transportation.
Fellow Nigerians, while we are working to stabilise the economy and secure the country, we also seek to foster national unity and build social harmony and cohesion. Our economy can only thrive when there is peace”. he enthused.
Oil
ExxonMobil To Invest $10bn In Nigeria’s Deep-Water Oil Operations
As part of the administration’s push to improve Ease of Doing Business (EoDB), Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed support for ExxonMobil’s plan to invest $10 billion in the country’s deep-water oil sector.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, during a meeting with ExxonMobil executives at the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Shettima called the investment “a clear testament to the administration’s economic reforms and investor-friendly policies.”
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This announcement follows news that international maritime company DP World intends to develop a multibillion-dollar port project in Nigeria.
Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, shared the development in a statement on Wednesday. He quoted Shettima as saying: “ExxonMobil’s potential investment aligns with the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for a more investment-friendly Nigeria.
We are committed to fostering an environment that supports such transformative projects.”Shettima also discussed the administration’s broader efforts to improve the ease of doing business, highlighting the “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to simplify bureaucratic processes, enhance transparency, and offer fiscal incentives to attract global investors.
“Our administration has taken bold steps to unify the exchange rate, remove fuel subsidies, and implement tax reforms. These measures, though challenging in the short term, are intended to create a stable and predictable business environment in the long term,” he added.
On the oil and gas sector, Shettima mentioned that the government is revising the fiscal framework for deep-water operations to attract investment while ensuring fair returns for the Nigerian people.