Connect with us

News

Dangote Not Involved In Kogi Assembly Fire Outbreak, Says Management

Published

on

Dangote Not Involved In Kogi Assembly Fire Outbreak

…neither sponsor any arsonists to burn down the Kogi State House of Assembly

Olushola Okunlade Writes

The attention of the Dangote Group has been drawn to a circulating Press Statement issued by the Kogi State Government, wherein the Dangote Group was accused of allegedly sponsoring arsonists to set the Kogi State House of Assembly on fire in the early hours of Monday, October 10, 2022.

The statement titled, ‘Obajana: Desperation sets in as imported hoodlums burn down Kogi Assembly’, which was signed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo pointedly accused our company of burning the Complex “in an attempt to possibly destroy evidence relating to the ownership tussle between the Kogi State Government and the Dangote Group over the Obajana Cement Company.”

Dangote Group Management stated, “As a socially responsible corporate entity, we totally refute this allegation and condemn this unprofessional and irresponsible attempt to smear our image before local and international investors and thus erode our brand value.

“Dangote Group would never stoop so low as to sponsor thugs to destroy any property, belonging to either government or any individual. This runs contrary to our business ethos and everything we stand for as a leading manufacturer with teeming customers and consumers across Nigeria and Africa.

In 2019, the Southern Swamp Associated Gas Solutions project was commissioned, and the SPDC JV is planning to reduce associated gas flaring further through its Forcados Yokri gas-gathering project, of which large parts are set to be completed in 2022. Despite such efforts to reduce continuous flaring, unfortunately flaring intensity (the amount of gas flared for every tonne of oil and gas produced) at both SPDC- and SNEPCo-operated facilities increased in 2021 owing to short-term operational issues. Flaring from SPDC-operated facilities increased by around 5% in 2021 compared with 2020. The increase was primarily because of the extended outage of the gas compression system in SPDC’s shallow-water operations. The system was restored and became operational from January 2022. Flaring at SNEPCo-operated facilities rose by around 160% in 2021 compared with 2020. This was mainly because of an increase in flaring on the Bonga floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel. Repairs to a flex-joint on the Bonga FPSO’s gas export riser in the second quarter took longer than expected, in part because of weather conditions. While repairs were under way, the FPSO continued to produce oil and therefore flaring was necessary for safety reasons. The repairs were safely concluded in July 2021. Although flaring intensity levels rose in 2021, SPDC and SNEPCo over the last 10 years have almost halved the combined amount of hydrocarbons they flare from 1.5 million tonnes in 2012 to 0.8 million tonnes in 2021. This reduction is the result of a strict flaring reduction management process and both SPDC and SNEPCo will continue to work in close collaboration with joint-venture partners and the government to make progress towards ending routine flaring of associated gas. NIGERIA LNG EXPANSION UNDERWAY Global demand for LNG continues to grow as the world increasingly seeks reliable supplies of lowercarbon energy. Shell’s investment in Nigeria’s gas infrastructure for export is expected to help 6 This is according to a data provided by global research and consultancy business Wood Mackenzie. the country benefit further from revenues. Shell Gas B.V. and its partners took a final investment decision in 2020 on a new LNG processing unit – known as Train 7 -- at NLNG. The expansion is expected to create around 12,000 jobs for Nigerians during construction and stimulate growth of the local oil and gas service sector, with 55% of engineering and procurement of goods and services being sourced in-country. Train 7 is expected to ensure Nigeria’s continued place as a global player in a lower-carbon energy source. Once operational, Train 7 will add around 8 million tonnes per annum of capacity to the Bonny Island LNG facility, taking the total production to around 30 million tonnes per annum. In 2021, NLNG began awarding procurement and construction contracts. Early works started at the site. The first phase of the worker village is expected to be ready for occupancy in 2022 and the new material offloading facility ready for use by the end of 2022. NLNG’s Train 7 is expected to come onstream in the middle of the 2020s. KEY LICENCE RENEWED FOR DEEP-WATER SNEPCo has interests in four deep-water blocks in the Gulf of Guinea, two of which it operates. Today, nearly one-third of Nigeria’s deep-water oil and gas production comes from the Bonga and the nonoperated Erha fields.6 Since production began in 2005, Bonga alone has produced more than 950 million barrels of oil with the 2021 average oil production per day at 105,000 barrels. The Bonga FPSO vessel has a total production capacity of 225,000 barrels of oil per day and 150 standard cubic feet of gas export per day. In 2021, the availability of the FPSO vessel increased to 80% from 70% in 2020. In addition to Bonga, SNEPCo’s exploration activities have led to several significant discoveries of oil and gas over the last two decades, including the Bolia and Doro fields (Shell interest 55%). Nigeria Briefing Notes Helping to power Nigeria’s economy 13 In the right investment climate, SNEPCo believes that there are opportunities to expand. In 2021 the OML 118 (Bonga) production sharing contract was renewed and the lease extended for 20 years. Bonga North and Bonga South West Aparo (BSWA) oil fields are two such potential opportunities. Bonga North is a proposed tie-back project to the existing Bonga FPSO with Phase 1 comprising 14 wells. BSWA is a development of a new FPSO with Phase 1 comprising 23 wells. SUPPORTING RENEWABLE ENERGY STARTUPS Millions of Nigerians are excluded from the country’s power grid and Shell Companies in Nigeria have established and provided substantial funding for a not-for-profit, impact-investing company called All On. Operating as an independent company, All On works to bring reliable electricity – often from renewable energy sources -- to off-grid urban and rural customers. This support aims to build a solid pipeline of viable businesses that can create the scale required to address Nigeria’s access to energy gap. In December 2019, SPDC and SNEPCo made a significant additional 10-year financing commitment of $160 million in All On, bringing the total commitment to $200 million. By the end of 2021, All On had provided investment capital to over 40 renewable energy start-ups in its portfolio – an increase of more than 30% from 2020. One such company is Infibranches Technologies Limited, to which All On has committed $2 million, which is expected to enable the indigenous technology company to expand sales of solar home systems via its more than 13,000 agent banking partners across Nigeria. With the support of the Rockefeller Foundation, the All On Hub was established in 2020 to provide nonfinancial support and build the capabilities of off-grid energy entrepreneurs. In 2021, the hub supported 81 ventures – nearly double the 41 supported in 2020. Also in 2021, All On, Odyssey Energy Solutions and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet launched a $10 million equipment financing facility as part of the DART pilot programme in Nigeria. 7 Hydraulic flying leads support the delivery of hydraulic fluid and/or chemicals between subsea equipment. 8 Subsea trees are an assembly of valves and other components used to monitor and control the production of a subsea well. DART will combine demand pooling, aggregated purchasing of solar equipment, and access to affordable finance to unlock economies of scale for solar companies, achieve cost savings for end-users, and accelerate the growth of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria and beyond. DEVELOPING LOCAL CONTENT AND SKILLS Shell Companies in Nigeria contribute to the growth of Nigerian businesses that can provide technical and support services to the industry. This includes the manufacture of tools and technical kits, the operation of helicopter flights in the Niger Delta, and strategic partnerships between foreign and local companies to stimulate technology transfer and capacity development. While there are government-required programmes in some areas, such as the Nigerian and Community Content Strategy embedded in the Assa North/Ohaji South gas development project, Shell Companies in Nigeria deliberately seek to contract local businesses wherever possible. In 2021, Shell Companies in Nigeria awarded $800 million worth of contracts to Nigerian-registered companies. Of these, 92% were companies with at least 51% Nigerian ownership. SNEPCo has awarded major engineering and construction contracts to companies that are indigenous, have local staff, or possess domestic capabilities in the country. At present, the manufacture and rebuild of hydraulic flying leads7 (HFLs) is being carried out in-country by wholly indigenous companies. Pressure Controls Systems Nigeria Limited, another Nigerian company, continues to refurbish old subsea trees.8 Sometimes, a lack of access to capital hinders Nigerian companies from competing for and executing contracts effectively. Shell Companies in Nigeria have provided access to nearly $1.6 billion in loans to 901 Nigerian vendors under the Shell Contractor Support Fund since 2012. These loans help improve their tendering opportunities.

Our lawyers have been mandated to react appropriately to the damaging allegation from the Kogi State Government within the full extent of the law.

We urge our stakeholders and the public to disregard such irresponsible and insane statements as we ask all our stakeholders, namely shareholders, customers, suppliers, employees, and the entire community of Obajana and Kogi State to remain calm.

At the same time, we follow the legitimate and lawful process to resolve this matter with the State Government.

News

Hon. Angadia Eminent Chides Gov. Diri Over Neglect Of Ogbotobo Community

Published

on

Hon. Angadia Eminent Chides Gov. Diri Over Neglect Of Ogbotobo Community

…caution youths against being used as political thugs

From Bassey Williams, Yenagoa

The Coordinator of Niger Delta frontiers and former State chairman of the defunct United Democratic Party (UDP) Chief/Come. Angadia E. Eminent has chided the Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri over the neglect of Ogbotobo Community in Egboma clan of Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State in the areas of development and lopsided appointments of indigenes into the positions of trust by the Prosperity administration of Senator Douye Diri in spite of their contributions and roles towards the miraculous emergence of Senator Diri as the governor of Bayelsa State.

Chief Eminent who stated this while interacting with newsmen in Yenagoa said Ogbotobo Federated Community of Egboma clan is an oil-rich community but has been neglected by both oil companies especially the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the government of the day, stating that the result of the negligence affected the aged who should be taken care of by the government as claimed by the Miracle government are the ones feigning for themselves adding that the ten thousand naira monthly stipends of the prosperity administration for the elderly is not enough to cater for the needs of elderly.

Hon. Angadia Eminent Chides Gov. Diri Over Neglect Of Ogbotobo Community

Chief/Come. Angadia E. Eminent, Coordinator of Niger Delta frontiers and a former State chairman of the defunct United Democratic Party (UDP).

On the State of the gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State come November 11, Mr. Eminent advised the youths against being used by the politicians who will dump them immediately after being sworn into office, he equally impores the politicians to play the rules of the game as nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of anybody while calling on electorates not to sale their conscience by being induced financially inorder to make wrong choices.

Speaking further on the activities of the Niger Delta Frontiers the coordinator said the organisation is out to change the narrative of youth of the Niger Delta region from restiveness to skills acquisition dialoguing the group which is not influenced by political gladiators has mobilizers across the nine states of the Niger Delta region with coordinators at the grassroots who monitor activities and report same central.

Decriding the state of underdevelopment IP Ogbotobo community, the activist blamed the government for not being able to settle the crisis that rocked the community for over nine years not until he became the Community Development Chairman (CDC) that he brought peace to the community.

He described the acclaimed feat in educational and health sectors by the Prosperity government as lip services as pupils and students in both primary and secondary schools are sitting on the floors and under shady trees to learn with inadequate staff strength.

He advised the governor Diri led Prosperity administration to carry all the communities in Bayelsa state along irrespective of clan, religious, and party affiliations.

Continue Reading

News

Akintola Williams’ Legacies Can’t Be Forgotten, Says Sanwo-Olu

Published

on

SANWO-OLU MOURNS AKINTOLA WILLIAMS, SAYS HIS LEGACIES CAN’T BE FORGOTTEN Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of the first indigenous chartered accountant and elder statesman, Akintola Williams, describing his death as colossal loss. The Governor said the legacies of Akintola Williams, who died at the age of 104 in his house in Lagos, on Monday, cannot be forgotten. Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Akintola Williams’ record of service as an accountant of repute and a leader of remarkable achievements will remain indelible for generations to come. He said the doyen of accounting in Nigeria, who founded the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co. in 1952 in Lagos, has brought many honours and pride to Nigeria and Africa, particularly in the financial sector during his lifetime. Governor Sanwo-Olu also hailed the late centenarian for his pioneering and pacesetting roles in the formation of many institutions in Nigeria, such as the Nigeria Stock Exchange and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, we celebrate the departure of a great legend and the doyen of Accounting in Nigeria, Akintola Williams, who contributed his quota to the financial sector and the economy of Nigeria during his lifetime. “I commiserate with his family, friends, associates and the entire accountants in Nigeria. I pray for the repose of the soul of the late Akintola Williams and that God grants the financial sector and the deceased family, friends and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

By Moninuola Sulaiman

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passage of the first indigenous chartered accountant and elder statesman, Akintola Williams, describing his death as colossal loss.

The Governor said the legacies of Akintola Williams, who died at the age of 104 in his house in Lagos, on Monday, cannot be forgotten.

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a statement issued on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, said Akintola Williams’ record of service as an accountant of repute and a leader of remarkable achievements will remain indelible for generations to come.

He said the doyen of accounting in Nigeria, who founded the first indigenous chartered accounting firm in Africa, Akintola Williams & Co. in 1952 in Lagos, has brought many honours and pride to Nigeria and Africa, particularly in the financial sector during his lifetime.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also hailed the late centenarian for his pioneering and pacesetting roles in the formation of many institutions in Nigeria, such as the Nigeria Stock Exchange and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

He said: “On behalf of the government and people of Lagos State, we celebrate the departure of a great legend and the doyen of Accounting in Nigeria, Akintola Williams, who contributed his quota to the financial sector and the economy of Nigeria during his lifetime.

“I commiserate with his family, friends, associates and the entire accountants in Nigeria. I pray for the repose of the soul of the late Akintola Williams and that God grants the financial sector and the deceased family, friends, and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

Continue Reading

News

Full Movie: Watch Mercy Johnson-Okojie And Daughters In The Comedy “The Birthday”

Published

on

Watch Mercy Johnson-Okojie And Daughters In The Comedy "The Birthday"
Rashidat Okunlade Writes

The Comedy “The Birthday” featuring the Beautiful Nollywood Superstar Mercy Johnson-Okojie and her daughters shows the struggles of a pregnant woman who discovered she was expecting on her birthday, her hilarious and unbelievable demands from her husband, and much more.

“The Birthday” is a Mercy Johnson Okojie Production, produced by Solomon Apete, directed by  Nonso Uzozie, and Edited by  Chikezie Prince Ukaegbu.

Starring Mercy Johnson-Okojie, Purity Okojie, Angel Okojie, Onny Michael and Stancey Danjuma.

Watch the fun-filled comedy on Mercy Johnson Okojie TV on YouTube.

https://youtu.be/mFe1JNCY_jY


Continue Reading

Trending