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NLNG, NCDMB enthuse over E-market place agreement *As $5billion Train-7 project hits 52 per cent, employs 8,300
The ongoing construction of the $5billion Train-7 project being undertaken by the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) at Finima, Bonny Island, Rivers State has reached 52 per cent and currently engages 8,300 Nigerians of diverse skill sets.
These facts emerged on Friday as the Management of the outfit with that of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), at the gas company’s operational base at Finima, Bonny Island.
At the high-level engagement, part of the three-day Nigerian Content Stakeholders Retreat, which brought the NLNG Managing Director, Philip Mshelbila and Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary of NCDMB on the same table, the two oil and gas industry leaders also signed an agreement on the Oil and Gas E-Market Place.
The agreement will see the roll out of tender opportunities from the Nigeria LNG Ltd on the E-Market electronic platform, thereby implementing a key provision of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, a statement, said after the parley.
Section 106 of the NOGICD Act defines the “Oil and Gas E-Market Place” as a virtual platform for buyers and sellers of goods and services in the oil and gas industry that allows for speedy and transparent transactions.”
Mshelbila, who commented that the relationship between his organisation and the NCDMB had always been conscientiously nurtured over the years, with both parties striving ceaselessly to fulfil statutory obligations, was quoted by the statement as saying: “We recognise the role of the regulator and are happy you recognise that of the operator and the need for regular engagement.”
Acknowledging the crucial role played by the Board in the take-offof the Train-7project and assured of the company’s resolve to stretch its local content practice beyond mere compliance with the provisions of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, he said the company was committed to engaging ininitiatives that would boost in-country productivity and economic diversification.
His words: “We cannot have a better Nigeria unless we develop the capacities of Nigerians. The vision of NLNG is to be a globally competitive LNG company, helping to build a better Nigeria.”
Bemoaning the difficulties the company is facing in getting adequate gas supply and the resultant under-production by its six plants to below 50 percent of their total installed capacity, he stressed that supply of feed-gas to the NLNG plants, which came mainly from some its joint ventures (JV)partners, including, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) Limited, Total Energies and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), suffered due to attacks on supply pipelines by vandals, coupled with facility failure and low production from aging wells, resulting in serious disruptions.
He said the Nigeria LNG, was exploring several options to mitigate the challenge, including partnering with critical security agencies to curtail vandalism on the pipelines and working with their JV partners to increase their gas production, adding that the Nigeria LNG Board of Directors had also approved for the company to procure gas from other international and indigenous gas producers in the country, with the goalof enhancing the performance of Trains 1-6.
Mshelbila, expressed deep concerns that deepwater gas projects that would provide feed-gas for the upcoming Train-7 and other future expansions had not been commenced by the international oil and gas companies (IOCs), despite the significant progress made in the construction of the Train-7 plant a situation, he said, could lead to the completion of the plant without gas being available for it to liquify.
He solicited the Board’s support for the development of the deepwater gas projects, which are critical to keep Trains 1-6 full and provide gas for Train 7 and future expansion plans.
Wabote, while affirming that the E-Marketplace would be a game-changer, which would enhance the Service Level Agreement (SLA) guiding the relationship between two organisations, noted that the Board decided to start with NLNG because the company’s record of excellence. He added that the intention of the E-Marketplace is to increase transparency in the tender process, “remove human interference in business processes, move things electronically and achieve better results,” while describing the Final Investment Decision (FID) and other critical steps that were taken for the Train-7 project taken at the height of COVID-19 as a proof of stakeholders’ enthusiasm for the project.
The NCDMB boss, who expressed concern over the challenges of inadequacy of gas supply and promised to support the company along the lines of approving third party gas injectors and sanctioning new deepwater gas projects, added that “most of the marginal operators have also found gas but part of their challenge is where to send the gas.”
Lauding the NLNG for its remarkable success, he recalled that at the initial phases of the company’s take-off “the Management level had 90 per cent expatriates and 10 per cent Nigerians,” a situation, which he said had now changed to where the entire Management now consisted of Nigerians.
On milestones achieved by the foremost gas company since inception, its General Manager, Production, Engr. Nnamdi Anowi, said NLNG has as its core areas of operation – Liquefaction, Transmission, Transportation, Marketing and sales. He disclosed that over 5,770 LNG cargoes have been delivered as of September 2023 and over 500,000 tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) produced and sold to markets overseas and in Nigeria.
In a quick riposte on Saturday, Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, has cautioned Nigerians to be circumspect in the manner they react to the story of the death of a female student in his home in Ebonyi State, warning against the temptation of jumping to conclusion.
Conveying his position on the highly-volatile matter through Francis Nwaze, his spokesman, Umahi, former Governor of Ebonyi State and a key figure in the government of President Bola Tinubu, said caution was needed to enable the police conduct unfettered investigation into the matter.
It was his response to breaking of how one Mary Habila, a female physiotherapist reportedly died in his palatial home at Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, on June 27, hours after arriving the day before.
Nwaze, a Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, specifically cautioned against speculations by “tale bearers,” while conveying the Minister’s shock over the matter and his eagerness for the authorities to get at the root of the matter through forensic investigations.
He wrote in the statement: “The attention of the Media Office of the Honourable Minister of Works, Senator Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has been drawn to a publication by a publication concerning the unfortunate passing of Miss Mary Habila in Uburu, Ebonyi State, alleging that the circumstances surrounding her death were shrouded in secrecy.
“The Honourable Minister received the news with profound shock and sadness and has since extended his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. For the avoidance of doubt, immediately the unfortunate incident occurred, appropriate emergency steps were taken. Medical personnel, including the Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, were contacted without delay, while the Nigeria Police was promptly notified in accordance with the law.
“Following confirmation of Miss Habila’s passing, the Honourable Minister personally received her parents, conveyed his sincere condolences, and advised that an autopsy be conducted to scientifically establish the exact cause of death. At the time, however, the family declined the recommendation.
“It is important to clarify that Miss Mary Habila and Miss Anita Baski are employees of the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu, who had been on secondment to the Federal Ministry of Works as physiotherapists for the past three years until the unfortunate passing of Miss Habila.
“Following the recent developments and in the interest of ensuring that the truth is established beyond doubt, the Honourable Minister has again reiterated his position that an autopsy must be conducted. He remains convinced that this is the most credible and responsible path to resolving all questions surrounding the unfortunate incident.
“We therefore urge the public to exercise restraint, refrain from speculation or premature conclusions, and allow the relevant authorities to carry out their responsibilities without interference. At this difficult time, our thoughts and prayers remain with the family of the deceased, and we pray that God grants them the strength to bear this irreparable loss.”
The circumstances that led to the sudden death of Mary Habbila, a Nigerian female student died in the Uburu, Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, home of Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, has now thrown the entire household and environs into serious quandary.
SaharaReporters, which first broke the revealed that the incident, which happened since June 27 this year, has been shrouded in secrecy, with both the Ebonyi State Government and the state police command maintaining silence over the matter.
The incident, the report, added, took place barely a day after Habbila and another woman, Anita Baski, both from Kaduna State, were reportedly brought to the minister’s residence, triggering a police investigation, with the case transferred from the Ohaozara Divisional Police Headquarters to the Ebonyi State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Abakaliki.
Habbila and Baski reportedly arrived at the minister’s residence on June 26 to “attend” to him, only for Habbila to be found dead inside the residence the following morning under circumstances investigators are still trying to establish.
Police sources were quoted by the paper as saying that Jonathan Bawado, a police officer who serves as Senator Umahi’s Personal Assistant and previously worked as his Aide-de-Camp (ADC) during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State, alerted medical personnel after Habbila was discovered unresponsive.
Subsequently, a doctor and an ambulance were dispatched to the residence, while Tobechukwu Godwin, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ohaozara Police Division, was notified of the incident, the report said, adding that at the hospital Chihurumnanya Alo, a Professor and Consultant Public Health Physician, Infectious Diseases Specialist and Chief Medical Director of the David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital (DUFUTH), Uburu, was also alerted about the incident.
The police who subsequently conveyed Habbila’s body to a mortuary, were said to have handed over the identification tag attached to Habbila’s to the Ebonyi State Police Command by the said DPO, as part of the ongoing investigation.
SaharaReporters, quoted a senior police officer, with knowledge of the case as saying: “The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abakaliki,” but, however declined to provide further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
Unlike in other cases, security operatives in Nigeria have upped the ante by adding the arrest of perpetrators to the menu of rescue operations, with the announcement of the capture of eight terrorists who participated in the abduction of school teachers and students in Oyo State on May 15.
All the 46 pupils, students and teachers abducted by terrorists from three schools in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State, regained their freedom on Friday, after about 56 days in captivity, with several others reportedly also neutralised during the operation.
Giving a clue of what transpired during the operation, Bayo Onanuga, who broke the story of the feat, said it was the outcome of sustained security operations, which also foiled the attempt by the abductors to secure the release of one of their captured leaders.
Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, using his X handle to give details about the operation, said: “Finally, all the kidnapped pupils and teachers in Orire, Oyo have been rescued by our security agencies. In the course of the rescue operation, eight of the kidnappers were arrested and are now in DSS custody, while some of them were neutralised.”
“There was no quid pro quo in the rescue as one of the terrorists, a kingpin, that the kidnappers demanded his release, is being prosecuted for his atrocities. The security agencies will give full account soon.”
The victims were abducted on May 15 when heavily armed bandits attacked Community Grammar School, Baptist Nursery and Primary School, and L.A. Primary School in the Esiele and Yawota communities of Oriire Local Government Area, seizing dozens of pupils, students and teachers.
The abduction sparked nationwide outrage, with parents, labour unions, traditional rulers and civil society groups mounting sustained pressure on the authorities to secure the victims’ release.
The incident also triggered an indefinite strike by the Nigeria Union of Teachers in Oyo State over growing insecurity in schools.
President Bola Tinubu had condemned the attack and ordered security agencies to intensify intelligence-led operations to rescue the captives and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The President subsequently dispatched a high-powered Federal Government delegation to the affected communities, approved the deployment of specialised rescue assets and authorised the recruitment of 1,000 forest guards to strengthen security across Oyo State.
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