Nation
Petroleum Imports Gulp N2.2trn In Nine Months, NBS Confirms
The Federal Government spent N2.17trillion in the first nine months of 2020 on importation of petroleum products into the country.
The petroleum products, according to the latest data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), consists of mineral fuels like Natural gas, oil, Bituminous coal, amongst others.
A breakdown of the nation’s spending on the importation of these products shows that a total of N1.25trillion was spent in the first quarter of the year, Q1’20, represented by N662.2billion, N290.6billion and N299.8billion in January, February and March.
Apparently, due to the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic which led to a nationwide lockdown, the spending on the importation of petroleum products declined significantly in the second quarter of the year (April to June) to N221.3billion.
The nation’s petroleum import for Q2’20 shows an 821% decline when compared to the first quarter import statistics.
However, in the third quarter of the year, the country recorded another sharp increase in spending on petroleum products importation at N700.4billion, at the time the government relaxed the lockdown.
Europe topped Nigeria’s highest source of the imports, as a total of N593.3billion was spent in sourcing the products from the continent, while Asia came second with N61.4billion, followed by America N37.2billion.
Surprisingly Nigeria also imported petrol from African countries spending a total of N8.6billion.
Meanwhile, stakeholders across the nation have continued to lament on the state of the nation’s petroleum industry.
Available statistics show that Nigeria holds 37 billion barrels of proven oil reserves as of 2016, ranking 10th in the world and accounting for about 2.2 per cent of the world’s total oil reserves of 1.65 trillion barrels.
Nigeria has proven reserves equivalent to 237.3 times its annual consumption.
This means that, without Net Exports, there would be about 237 years of oil left (at current consumption levels and excluding unproven reserves).
Globally, Nigeria stood at 37th in oil consumption, accounting for about 0.4 percent of the world’s total consumption of 97 million barrels per day.
Nigeria consumes 0.10 gallons of oil per capita per day or 35 gallons per capita per year. Refineries operations Nigeria also have four refineries situated at Kaduna, Warri and two in Port Harcourt, but they are all in a series of challenges plaguing the fate of its productivity, as they have failed to produce any petroleum product in the past three years.
Despite this abundance the nation’s four refineries processed no crude and combined yield efficiency is zero percent in the first nine months of 2020.
Though industry authorities have claimed that this flat output was, due, largely to on-going rehabilitation works in the refineries, records show that the output position has been less than 10 percent of installed capacity in the last 10 years.
However, the authorities are of the view that despite the deplorable operational state attributable to the ongoing revamping of the refineries, the efforts are expected to further enhance capacity utilization once completed. In its latest operational report, the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), stated that, “The Corporation has been adopting a Merchant Plant Refineries Business Model since January 2017. The model takes cognizance of the Products Worth and Crude Costs.”
A cumulative of the combined value of output by the four refineries (at Import Parity Price), along with the operational expenses in the first eight month of 2020 amounted to an operating deficit of N74.8billion.
This shows a decline of 28 percent when compared to the corresponding period of 2019 which recorded N104billion.
It was gathered that there was no associated crude plus freight cost for the refineries since there was no production.
The Petroleum Product Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of NNPC, sold a total of 9.86 billion litres of petroleum products between January and August, 2020.
This is a decrease of 30 percent when compared to 14.108 billion litres sold in the corresponding period of 2019.
The decrease, according to the corporation, is as a result of low operational activities due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has assured Nigerians of petroleum products’ availability and stable fuel supply in the country at all times on the strength of its import dependency.
The DPR also cautioned oil marketers against engaging in sharp practices that are capable of distorting products supply.
The DPR stated that there are sufficient petroleum products nationwide, while it also advised petroleum products marketers against hoarding and creating artificial scarcity of the commodity.
The apex petroleum industry regulator promised to intensify its monitoring and surveillance of petroleum products outlets to ensure compliance with quality, quantity and safety of operations in line with its regulatory mandate.
It also advised consumers to report any infraction, such as under dispensing of petroleum products at any filling station to any DPR office nationwide.
The DPR restated its commitment to safety and advised consumers to observe all necessary safety protocols in the handling of petroleum products especially at this season of harmattan.
It further assured Nigerians that it would continue to initiate appropriate initiatives to enable business and create opportunities for investors and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.
In another development, the NNPC has advised against the precipitous relocation of tank farms from their current locations along Ijegun, Kirikiri areas in Lagos and other parts of the country, in order to avoid dislocation in the supply and distribution chain of petroleum products across the country.
The corporation made the submission at a hearing by the House of Representatives’ Ad-hoc Committee on Relocation of Tank Farms in Residential Areas of Ijegun, Kirikiri.
While presenting the position of NNPC at the hearing, Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, stated that NNPC was not averse to the relocation of petroleum products tank farms and depots sited in residential areas but would rather that it be carried out in a planned manner so as not to cause disruption in the fuel supply and distribution chain.
According to Kyari, “Tank farms and depots were a major artery for receiving and distributing imported petroleum products to all parts of the country and that their abrupt relocation could trigger a crisis not only in the downstream sector but also in the nation’s economy in general”.
Strategic regulators and other stakeholders have expressed satisfaction with the pace, quality and magnitude of work carried out by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Ogoniland, in line with the recommendations of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
In their separate speeches at the 2025 4th quarter key regulators / asset owners meeting held in Port Harcourt, the strategic stakeholders commended HYPREP for the significant milestones achieved with excellent efficiency and transparency, demonstrating capacity and commitment to sustaining collaboration with development partners for the overall success of the Project.
The regulators particularly lauded HYPREP for the landmark success in the implementation of the land and shoreline remediation, mangrove restoration, provision of reticulated potable water, the various sustainable livelihood programmes, donation of ambulances to health facilities in Ogoni, the construction of Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, as well as the ongoing Ogoni Power Project, adding that their independent field reports have shown proofs of HYPREP driving even beyond its mandates.
The goodwill messages were made by representatives of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), Centre for Environment and Human Rights Development (CEHRD), Society for Women and Youths Affairs (SWAYA), Stakeholders Democracy Network (SDN), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC), and Federal Ministry of Environment. Others are the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, the Rivers State Ministry of Health, the National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Rivers State Ministry of Power, the Rivers State University, the Rivers State Ministry of Water and Rural Development, and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited.
Following the Monitoring and Evaluation Unit’s presentation on the status of HYPREP projects, participants offered feedback on areas of concern. They reassured HYPREP and the people of Ogoni of their continued support for the Project’s success. They also suggested that the quarterly review meeting be sustained as it enables them to report, evaluate and proffer solutions to areas of concern.
Participants also commended HYPREP for improved community and stakeholder engagement and for adding to what they saw the previous time. “We commend HYPREP for the quality work done at sites. The progress is phenomenal, because HYPREP is scoring good grades, above average,” Prof. Iyenemi Kakulu from Rivers State University said.
In his speech at the event, the Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who was represented by Prof Damian-Paul Aguiyi, Director of Technical Services, commended the regulators and asset owners for their cooperation with the Project, and for making themselves available for fieldwork and the regular review meetings.
Prof Zabbey reiterated HYPREP’s commitment to best practice in waste management, particularly waste generation and disposal, calling on the Regulators for adequate logistics support, saying HYPREP’s priority is to focus on the core recommendations by UNEP, especially, remediation(soil, shoreline) mangrove restoration, provision of potable water, interventions in public health care services and sustainable livelihood for the people.
The Project Coordinator further highlighted the status of the Project, the successes achieved across all thematic areas, and assured that HYPREP will soon complete most of the ongoing projects and roll out others. He explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review the progress of the Ogoni cleanup, ensure quality control, and foster effective collaboration.
Consequently, the quarterly key regulators/asset owners meeting is HYPREP’s strategic stakeholder management model, further underscoring the Project’s commitment to transparency, partnership for development, and accountability, all of which are harbingers of effective project delivery.
Speaking to newsmen, HYPREP Project Support Lead and representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Engr Ehioze Igbinomwanhia, described his involvement with HYPREPas an encouraging and insightful experience, saying, the Project is implementing a wide range of projects across Ogoniland, spanning immediate remediation works as well as livelihood support initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of affected communities.
Engr Igbinomwanhia emphasised that Renaissance Africa Energy remains fully committed to supporting the objectives of the Ogoni cleanup project, noting that the company has a long history of collaboration with HYPREP.
He added that the partnership has been characterised by continuous learning, adaptation and a willingness to respond to observations and recommendations aimed at improving outcomes.
He further emphasised the importance of safety in all project operations, particularly given the challenging terrain and operating conditions in Ogoniland.
He noted that safety is treated as a critical priority and that contractors are continually reminded to maintain high safety standards, stressing that lessons learnt from previous operational challenges like the collapse of the water tank in Gwara Community are being applied to strengthen safety practices and overall performance.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
