Oil
TOTAL Partners with Federal Government to Fight Malaria Scourge
ABUJA: As part of efforts to eradicate the scourge of malaria in Nigeria Total Upstream has pledged to partner with the Federal Government and specialist organizations in the malaria control programme.
The commitment came on Monday, April 22, 2013, as experts, partners, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders from all over the country gathered at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja for Total’s 2nd biennial Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conference. The theme was: “Creating Value for our Stakeholders.”
“We shall be involved in the National Malaria Control program with the aim of seeking a comprehensive approach towards the eradication of this pandemic”, Guy Maurice, Managing Director/Chief Executive of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, said as he expressed the company’s desire to support government’s bid to realize the Millennium Development Goals.
Total’s commitment to support the fight against malaria pandemic is a noble gesture when put in proper perspective. About 90 per cent of the country’s 167 million people is said to be at risk of malaria infection and the disease is said to have contributed to 30 per cent of childhood mortality and 11 per cent of maternal mortality. Also, malaria-related illnesses and mortality are estimated to cost Africa’s economy about $12 billion annually, according to a 2012 report by the National Malaria Control Programme.
“Nigeria today in the portfolio of CSR projects we have, is more than 50%, Africa is 75% and the other 25% is to the whole world”, Antonin Fotso, the Secretary General for Africa, Total Exploration and Production, explained. He lauded TOTAL Nigeria’s consciousness in the area of CSR and said it showed that the Total group was in the right direction in investing in CSR projects in Nigeria and other countries.
In her concluding remarks, the Executive Director, Human Resources & Corporate Affairs, Mrs Edith Ofili-Okonkwo noted that “The overall objective of today’s event has been to articulate in practical terms what we as a company could do in order to delight our numerous stakeholders.” She described the feedback at the end of the conference as “amazing and eye-opening” as well as a huge contribution to the task of nation building. Earlier, the Executive General Manager, Corporate Services, Mr Vincent Nnadi had noted that the ideas from the conference would be used to advance the company’s CSR policy.
The 2nd Biennial CSR conference featured workshop sessions and an enthralling panel discussion on the topic: “How IOCs can create value for all stakeholders”. Eminent political economist, professor, Pat Utomi and a former Permanent Secretary in the Federal Civil Service, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed presented incisive keynote addresses. Participants discussed ways to create value through:
• Local Content Development
• Capacity Building
• Partnerships
• Local Economy Development and
• Arts, culture and national heritage
Among the Panel discussants were the Managing Director of Total Nigeria PLC, Mr Francois Boussagol, Managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr Chris Oboh,Vice Chancellor, University of Port Harcourt, Professor Joseph Ajienka and the chairman of Starz Investments Company Ltd, Mr.Greg Ogbeifun.
It will be recalled that Total won the coveted 2013 NOG CSR prize in recognition of its best-in-class Corporate Social responsibility practices particularly in the crucial areas of capacity development and critical skills transfer, economic empowerment, environmental protection and improvements in health and social infrastructure in both the host community and the nation at large.
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.
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.
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.
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