News

NNPC Targets 1bn Barrels Crude Oil Reserves

Published

8 years ago

July 4, 2018

Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Maikanti Baru, says the corporation would increase the country’s crude oil reserves by one billion barrels yearly to attain 40 billion barrels by 2020.
Baru gave the assurance during his keynote address titled: “Driving Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry Towards Sustained Economic Development and Growth,” at the ongoing 17th Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference in Abuja, yesterday.
He said the corporation was also working towards increasing daily oil production to three million barrels per day (bpd).
The NNPC boss said the corporation would also ensure that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) grew its production to 500,000bpd of oil and 1.5Bscfd of gas by 2020.
He commended the innovative and bold strides of the organisers of the conference in providing a platform for the interaction and cross fertilisation of oil and gas industry ideas in Nigeria.
Baru said the event had become a household name and hoped that the gains would be sustained.
“The journey has been quite challenging and exciting as well. We have journeyed through hills and valleys, through bumps and stumps; nonetheless, our resilience has ensured that NNPC continues to stand shoulder-high.
“According to him, the corporation’s outlook for 2018 and beyond is to be in the capital market to raise more finance for new oil and gas projects,” said Baru.
He said funds raised would be used to finance projects such as the NNPC/NAOC JV Idu-redevelopment, South Gas Project, North Gas Project and Central Gas Project.
The others are: NNPC/TEPNG JV’s Ikike Project, NNPC/SPDC JV Southern Swamp and Associated Gas Solution Step 2 Project amongst other new projects.
“We intend to sanction the multibillion dollars Bonga South West/Aparo (BSWA) project as soon as we conclude an agreement on the Heads of Terms with SNEPCO on the various pending PSC Arbitration disputes.
“This will jump-start the resolution of all the other Production Sharing Contract (PSC Arbitration Disputes),” he said.
Baru said in terms of gas production, the domestic demand for gas in Nigeria was unprecedented, with a current daily realistic gas demand of 4,000mmscfd.
He added that the figure was expected to grow to about to about 7,500mmscfd in the next five years.
“However, within the next three years, with our Joint Venture partners, we are committed to increasing natural gas availability from the current 1.5bscf/d to about five billion standard cubic feet per day in 2020,” said Baru.
According to him, the government would supply enough gas to generate up to 15GW of electricity to the power sector by 2020 and stimulate gas-based industrialisation.
“We would continue to progress with our seven Critical Gas Development Projects (7CGDP) which has also been established to deliver about 3.5bscfd of gas to the domestic market by 2020.
“Recently we approved $2.8 billion, 614Km Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline project as a demonstration of our commitment which anchors on developing structured gas architecture across the length and breadth of Nigeria.
“This trajectory will continue to be our priority in the medium to long-term,” he said.
The NNPC boss said the continued implementation of the gas master plan remained a core focus of the corporation.
He explained that gas pricing had been adjusted to export parity, and legacy debts owed by the various sectors to suppliers were being paid through an intervention fund arranged by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He said gas supply agreements would continue to be made effective with terms that assured bankability to provide the relevant comfort to the producers.
“The World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) would be sustained to provide securitisation of gas revenues. These interventions are boosting confidence in the gas sector.
“On the gas export market, part of our strategic aspiration for gas is to strengthen our footprint in high value gas export through LNG and aim to secure about 10 per cent of global market share of traded LNG.
“On the expansion of our existing 22MTPA NLNG plant, we are at the verge of taking Final Investment Decision (FID) this year for additional 8MTPA NLNG Train 7 Plant,” said Baru.
The Vice- President, Production of CWC Group, Wemimo Oyelane, lauded the contribution of the founder of Nigerian Oil and Gas Conference, late Dr Alirio Parra, towards bringing stakeholders together to discuss issues to move the industry forward.
Oyelana urged stakeholders to continue to contribute to the development of Nigerian oil and gas sector.

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

23 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

24 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

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News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

24 hours ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.