News
Dangote refinery receives fresh batch of crude *As FG enthuses on more petrol, gas
Dangote Refinery has inched further towards the commencement of production of refined petroleum products with the receipt of an additional one million barrels of bonny light crude from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Coming after the refinery received one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited (STASCO) about a week ago Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Akin Omole told reporters at the Dangote Quay, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos that the facility was expecting more supplies before the end of this year.
Designed for 100 per cent Nigerian crude, the 650,000 bpd refinery, which holds much of the hope for the nation’s unsteady energy industry, also has the capacity to process most African crude grades as well as Middle Eastern Arab Light and even US Light tight oil.
The feat is coming on the heels of the Federal Government reassurances on Thursday to Nigerians that the production of petrol and Liquified Natural Gas(LNG) would resume at the Port Harcourt Refinery after Christmas break.
The government which based its assurance on the optimism over the success of the ‘mechanical completion and flare start-up’ of Phase one of the 210,000 barrels per day (bpd) refinery by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited(NNPCL), also said the completion of similar facilities in Warri and Kaduna, was being envisaged in due course.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources(Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri; Minister of State Petroleum Resources(Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, NNPCL Board Chairman Pius Akinyelure; and Port Harcourt Refinery Managing Director Ibrahim Onoja, made this known during a media tour of the refinery in Eleme, Rivers State, said to be undergoing test-run currently.
Lokpobiri who told reporters that with the Phase One now ready, efforts would be geared towards the completion of the Phase Two of the facility in the last quarter of next year, added: “The mechanical part is completed and this is the beginning of the completion of not just this Port Harcourt Refinery phase one and two, but the one for Warri, and then the one in Kaduna, so that we would be able to benefit from this massive investment that the country has made.”
Ekpo, echoing the optimism, said with the commencement of petrol production after Christmas, there will be more LPG(cooking gas) supply to the Nigerian market, adding: “The good news equally to LPG users that as the refinery commences after Christmas, we will have sufficient supply of LPG which will reduce the import at that level.”
Kyari, while stressing that the refinery pumps had been rehabilitated to allow the circulation of crude within the facility, said: “It is just to thank the team for doing great work and for keeping the promise we made to over 200 million Nigerians, and we know that this is a promise we can keep.
“We have a competent contractor and subcontractors. Our staff members are extremely determined to deliver on this project, and today, it is a promise fulfilled. Phase Two will be completed in the last quarter of 2024. We know all the scepticism that is in the public space but today has shown that we can fulfill commitments. NNPC is here to deliver value and we will get things done going forward. We have done a great deal of work to get the refinery to work. Our team has been working 24 hours a day and we are happy with the results we have today.”
Akinyelure, who described the completion of Phase one as “historic,” added: “I am here this morning to witness this historic ceremony on the mechanical completion of the Port Harcourt Refinery. We are proud of the staff and entire management of the refinery. We will be at the highest level of production, and if possible export part of our production.
“Doubts had been expressed by several Nigerians about the ability of NNPCL to make this facility available to support the distribution of fuel in the country. But today, I see them happy.”
Onoja, on his part said the mechanical completion of the refinery was historic in that it would help buoy the nation’s economy, adding: “Today is a very happy day for me. I was part of the story from the beginning. We had a Presidential directive to get the refinery working. The NNPCL Group CEO asked us to give him an unassailable process that will not fail.
“We set governance in process and got the best team to do the work. We created a transparent project. We have 118 pumps in this first phase, the columns were filled and it will produce 60,000 barrels per day. It will create jobs and earn forex for the country.”
The Future Nigeria Movement (FNM), which welcomed, paid tribute to President Tinubu as a promise keeper, with Livingstone Wechie, its leader, saying the turnaround was hitherto that the President had put an end to the practice of some agents of the Federal Government using turnaround maintenance as a conduit pipe for siphoning public funds.
The Port Harcourt refinery comprises two units, with the old plant having a refining capacity of 60,000 bpd and the new plant 150,000 bpd, was shut down in March 2019 for the first phase of repair works after the government secured the services of Italy’s Maire Tecnimont to handle the scoping of the complex, with oil major Eni appointed technical adviser.
In 2021, NNPC, said repairs had started on the refinery, which had over the years performed below optimal levels, resulting in the importation of petroleum products for domestic use for many years to cover for the gap in the refinery’s output, after the Federal Executive Council approved $1.5bn for the project.
Afenifere, the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, seems to find merit in the damning verdict of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), accusing security agencies in Nigeria of complicity in the deluge of terrorist attacks in the country.
Jare Ajayi, National Secretary of the group, in agreeing with the position, posited on Wednesday: “This is because of the strong belief that the nature of terrorism bedeviling Nigeria would not be festering for this long without complicity from some powerful quarters.”
Though he acknowledged the determination of some patriotic operatives and government to stem the tide, he posited how difficult it was to believe that the activities of the terrorists would continue to thrive without active connivance.
Hear him: “With the vows by the President and top security officers, one has the feeling that the government is determined to end terrorism in Nigeria. When President Bola Tinubu appointed General Christopher Musa, (retd), as Minister of Defence, we had a lot of hope that within months, a total stop would be put to terrorism and banditry in the country.
“Unfortunately, there seems to be a spike, rather than reduction. The reason for this could be rooted in sabotage and complicity from within and from without. This tends to buttress the alarm raised by the US Commission.”
Stressing how the organisation been consistently calling the attention of authorities to areas that needed be looked into he maintained that these included politicians, who could be complicit in promoting the urgly situation.
Citing the recent comments by Godswill Akpabio, Senate President, who pointed in the same direction, Ajayi stated that no matter how unpalatable the position of the US body could be: “It is very important not to dismiss it but to use it a beacon with which to comb all areas.”
“Many people doubted us. Some dismissed us. Others predicted confusion, division, and even outright collapse. But you stood firm. You kept faith with the ADC. And today, because of your commitment, our party stands taller, stronger, and more united.”
With these words, David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) on Wednesday’s night showered praises on members for conducting what he considered a flawless presidential primary election to choose its candidate for the 2027 election.
Mark, Senate President from 2007 to 2015, his audience at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, that by the outcome, the party had demonstrated that democracy and political competition could still thrive in Nigeria without crisis or division.
Regardless of the rejection of the result of the exercise by Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation and Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, former Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), who contested in the exercise, the former Chairman of the National Assembly, was still upbeat about its outcome.
Atiku Abubakar, Vice President between 1999 and 2007, had emerged winner of the process that took place across Nigeria from Monday till Wednesday, when the result was eventually announced.
The declared result showed that the former VP who would be running for the nation’s number one job for a record seven times came tops with Atiku 1,846,370, to Amaechi’s 504,117 and Hayat-Deen’s 177,120. Total votes cast in the election: 2,546,457 in the 3,113,599 tally.
Mark, who officially presented the ADC flag to Atiku as the party’s presidential standard-bearer, was emphatic that the exercise was not merely about producing a presidential candidate but about proving that internal democracy could still function effectively in the country.
Hear him: “Today is not just about announcing a presidential candidate. Today is also about proving a point to Nigeria and to Nigerians. It is about proving that democracy can still work.
“Proving that political competition does not have to become political warfare. That a party can organise itself around principles instead of personalities. This event has shown that in a season of deep national anxiety, a bright future is still possible.”
Stressing that had doubted the party’s ability to conduct a peaceful and credible primary, with some predicting division and collapse within the ADC, he praised members of the Presidential Screening Committee and Presidential Primary Election Committee for what he described as their professionalism and commitment to fairness despite pressure surrounding the exercise.
“In the face of enormous pressure, logistical complexity, and intense national attention, they carried out their responsibilities with courage, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to fairness and transparency. The conduct of the primary has strengthened confidence in the party and its democratic process.
“Their work has strengthened the credibility of this exercise and reinforced the confidence of our members and the Nigerian people in the integrity of the African Democratic Congress.
“It is important to mention that we are the only political party to have three strong aspirants contest for the presidential ticket. This alone makes the ADC unique in its deep commitment to democracy and democratic practices.
“By subjecting themselves to this process, they did not merely contest an election. They strengthened democracy. And despite efforts in some quarters to create uncertainty and tension, they remained committed to this process and to the ideals of this party,” he added.
For Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the first female Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), it was another day of glory, as Alex Otti, Governor of Abia laid out another red carpet for her in lieu of her starling performance in the 2023 governorship election in the state.
The university don, was the Returning Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who was nationally recognised for standing her ground against forces that reportedly tried to skew the process, leading to the emergence of Otti as governor.
Since then, she had received several recognitions including from the governor and other bodies, including her own students at FUTO, who gave her a heroic welcome upon the conclusion of her INEC task – the first and only one to be so accorded in Nigeria.
Wednesday’s recognition came through the naming of the newly inaugurated Umuahia Central Bus Terminal, a multimodal transport facility in the state capital after her, by the governor, who said it was in recognition of her role in that exercise.
Otti, who stressed that the decision was informed by her act of courage, integrity and commitment to truth, said: “This terminal has been named after Professor Nnenna Nnannaya-Oti, the courageous INEC returning officer who demonstrated unflinching integrity in the discharge of her duties during a high-stakes election assignment here in Abia.”
The governor, while stating that the honour was not limited to don alone but symbolised all individuals who resisted electoral manipulation added: “In 2023, through her courageous disposition of standing firmly by the truth… she reminded us that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results by simply saying no.
“So she’s just a representative of all of you—INEC staff who never bent, party officials who didn’t give in, security agencies… people who said no to intimidation.”
Stressing that the state had moved beyond basic infrastructure delivery to building an integrated transport system, he said: “The days of playing small is over. We shall no longer confine ourselves to the margins.”
He explained that the terminal was designed to accommodate over 340 buses and would improve accessibility, safety and efficiency in urban transport operations, adding that it would be supported by electric bus services, with 20 already in operation, while additional units are expected in phases.
“Services will keep improving as more buses are delivered… and you can tell with accuracy when a particular bus will arrive and depart,” he said.
He urged residents to protect the facility and support government efforts by maintaining order and paying taxes, warning against vandalism, waste disposal violations and other practices that could undermine the project, stressing that offenders would face sanctions.
-
News4 weeks agoBREAKING: Makinde, Turaki, lose! *S’Court affirms Wike’s PDP leadership
-
News2 weeks agoTinubu to African leaders: Copy Nigeria, produce your way out of poverty
-
News1 week agoBREAKING: US-Nigeria troops slaughter 175 ISWAP fighters
-
Features4 weeks agoJim Nwobodo: The Sun shines, thrills, at ‘The Vanguard Awards’
-
Columns1 week agoDear General Gowon: That apology you’re running from is your nemesis
-
News2 weeks agoWhy we pegged presidential ticket forms at N60million – NDC
-
News3 weeks agoBREAKING! Coast brightens for Obi, as NDC zones presidency to South
-
News2 weeks agoGowon on civil war: My book is to put records straight, remove falsehood