Oil & Energy

Oil Firms, Committee Partner On Conference

Published

14 years ago

September 9, 2012

To ensure success of Port Harcourt International Oil and Gas, (PHIOG) conference and exhibition members of PHIOG organising committee led by its chairman, Hon. Evans Bapakaye Bipi says a viable partnership is imperative, Hon Bipi stated this while on courtesy visit to Shell, Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority and Brawal Oil Services Limited in Onne at the weekend.

Accompained by his Vice, Chief Dandison Gbupo and Elder Amabipi Martins, Chairman, Vice chairman and Publicity Consultant of the committee respectively, Hon Bipi emphasised the need for management of the companies to partner with the committee to reap immensely from benefits of the conference and to also contribute their quota in ensuring that the oil and gas conference meets its objective.

While at Shell, Bipi observed that the company is obviously the biggest among the oil majors in the country and requested its acceptance of being the lead sponsor of the event. “We appreciate your previous sponsorship, but we want you to take centre stage as lead sponsors, it will afford you the opportunity to showcase your goods, services and CSR to the entire world” he said, adding that participation of huge multinationals like Shell will add more impetus to the event.

Speaking about the theme for this year’s conference ‘THE NIGERIA CONTENT ACT AND DEREGULATION: ISSUES AND PROSPECTS’, publicity consultant of the group, Elder Amabipi Martins expressed joy that Shell has an office in charge of local content, according to him the conference is another opportunity to showcase and exhibit what the company has been able to do in terms of Corporate Social Responsibility and general participation in its attempt to give back to communities where they operate.

In the same vein, the vice chairman of the committee, Chief Dandison Gbupo in his remark noted that the committee is determined to place the state in its pride of place among comity of states that serve as hub of oil and gas. “We intend to use the 2012 event to rebrand the PHIOG conference and have a more acceptable global brand. Our various visits for partnership and participation for both the oil and gas conference and the 1st ever Nigeria Oil and Gas golf Tournament is a reflection of our resolve to achieve success. Let me therefore state that our visit to Shell is to make it more official otherwise considering that the company is a very important stakeholder in the industry we want to say welcome once more aboard’ he was quoted as saying.

The 1st deputy president of PHCCIMA, Engr. Emeka Unachukwu in his remark said the event is a dress rehearsal to greater oil and gas conference in the state. He commended Shell for their continuous partnership and assured them of greater things are in the future.

The Shell management team was led by its Corporate/ Government and Community Relations Manager, Mr. Fufeyin Funkapo, the Corporate Head Lands & Compensation team, Franca Obinatu, the Communications Manager, Peter Adamiete, Government Relations Adviser, Boma Alamina and the GM Nigerian Content Development, Mr. Igo Weli were all on hand to showcase the effort of Shell for their hosts. According to the company’s GM Nigerian Content Development, Mr. Igho Weli he said the company has contributed to increase in employment, developing capacities and helping government to increase its revenue through GMOU’s, CSR Projects, community content, interdependency, interventions and various other initiatives.

Mr. Weli after an incisive session had also expressed confidence in the success of the upcoming event and promised that Shell will partner with the committee like they have always done in past years.

The PHIOG train also moved to the Oil and Gas free zone Authority in Onne, Eleme where they paid a courtesy call on the General Manager, Mr. Victor Alabo. Chairman of the committee who is also the chairman Energy and Natural Resources committee of the Rivers state house Assembly, Hon. Evans Bipi said the committee’s visit was to solicit for support and partnership in the upcoming conference. He noted that the event will undoubtedly assist in unraveling and boosting the potentials in the oil and gas free zone. Bipi explained that the Rivers State house of Assembly is partnering with Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce (PHCCIMA), Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) and PENWELL for this year’s event to ensure that the 3rd edition meets its objective. He commended the management of Oil and Gas Free zone Authority for attracting investment into the oil and gas sector in the state, reassuring that vistas of opportunities will open with the new found synergy with both group.

In his remark, the General Manager of Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Mr Victor Alabo commended the delegation for the visit, he said his management was initially surprise that the authority were yet to be notified about an event of such magnitude like the Port Harcourt Oil and Gas Conference only weeks to the event, but however promised that having been briefed officially, the Onne oil and gas free zone authority will definitely partner with the committee for the conference.

Oil & Energy

15-Year Blackout: NDPHC Begins Electricity Project In Kaduna Community

Published

7 days ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

The Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) has commenced a major electricity project aimed at ending a 15-year blackout in Rigasa community, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The General Manager, Corporate Communication and External Relations, NDPHC, Nazo Agim, made this known in a statement, in Abuja, at the weekend.

Agim said that the project, facilitated by the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Ideological Group (BAT-IG), comprises a two-kilometre 11kV line, a 1.5-kilometre 33kV line and a 7.5MVA, 33/11kV injection substation.Access Services

According to him, the project is designed to strengthen electricity distribution and improve power supply to residents and businesses in the community.

He said that the Rigasa project underscored NDPHC’s commitment to extending critical electricity infrastructure beyond generation to bridge distribution gaps.

He also said that the project would stimulate socioeconomic development and improve the quality of life in underserved communities across Nigeria.

Agim disclosed that a groundbreaking ceremony was performed earlier on Friday, by the Kaduna state Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who represented Governor Uba Sani.

According to him, Balarabe, while speaking during the ceremony commended NDPHC for the intervention, describing it as a life-saving initiative that would address the community’s longstanding electricity challenges.

The NDPHC Managing Director, Jennifer Adighije, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to addressing the community’s electricity challenges.

Represented by the Executive Director, Networks, Babayo Bello, Adighije also reiterated NDPHC’s commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s vision of improving electricity supply across the country.

She said that although NDPHC’s primary mandate was power generation, the company’s interventions also extended to transmission and distribution infrastructure to address critical gaps and expand electricity access.

According to her, the Rigasa project represents a worthwhile investment that will ease residents’ hardship and demonstrate the impact of targeted infrastructure development in underserved communities.Access Services

NDPHC Executive Director, Strategy and Commercial, Patrick Obahiagbon, commended the Kaduna state government and the community for their cooperation and support for the project.

The District Head of Rigasa, Mohammed Idris, also commended NDPHC’s management for its commitment to expanding electricity access in the community.

Oil & Energy

FG Commissions 640MW Transmission Capacity To National Grid

Published

7 days ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

As the federal government intensifies efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s power infrastructure, it has commissioned 640 megawatts (MW) of electricity transmission capacity to the national grid with an additional six transmission substations in Kano and Katsina states, respectively.

The projects comprise four substations at Walalambe, Kumbotso, Dakata and Dan-Agundi in Kano State, which collectively add 544MW of transmission capacity, and two 60 megavolt amperes (MVA) substations in Kankia Local Government Area of Katsina State, contributing another 96MW.

The additional capacity is expected to improve the transmission network’s ability to evacuate and deliver available electricity to distribution companies and consumers in the two states.

The Ministry of Power announced the developments in a statement issued at the weekend.

According to the statement, the additional capacity is expected to improve the transmission network’s ability to evacuate and deliver available electricity to distribution companies and consumers in the two states.

The projects, however, increase transmission capacity rather than electricity generation, implying that their impact on supply would depend partly on the availability of power from generating plants and the capacity of downstream distribution networks.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Kankia substation, the Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, said the projects reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the country’s electricity infrastructure.

“Mr. President’s Renewed Hope Agenda recognizes that economic ambition requires dependable infrastructure,” Tegbe said.

He added that investments in electricity infrastructure would strengthen the foundations for business expansion, employment and economic growth.

The Kankia substations comprise two 60 MVA, 132/33 kilovolt (kV) facilities designed to strengthen the transmission network serving Katsina State and neighbouring areas.

Tegbe said the infrastructure would improve the network’s ability to distribute available electricity, supporting commercial activities and household welfare.

He also urged residents to protect the facilities against vandalism and other activities that could disrupt electricity infrastructure, asking them to report suspicious activities to TCN or security agencies.

Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, described the project as a significant investment in the state’s electricity infrastructure.

Radda stated that improved electricity supply could support industrial development, economic growth and public service delivery.

He further commended the President, the Federal Ministry of Power and TCN for completing the project.

It would be noted that the latest projects come amid a broader government’s drive to address bottlenecks in Nigeria’s electricity transmission network, which has constrained the amount of electricity that can be delivered to distribution companies and end users.

Oil & Energy

NBTI Unveils $600m Investment Pipeline Innovation

Published

7 days ago

October 26, 2026

The Tide

The National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) has unveiled an investment and development-finance pipeline exceeding $600 million, alongside a proposed solar energy programme targeting one million micro and small businesses across Nigeria.

The Director-General, NBTI, Dr Kazeem Raji, disclosed this while presenting the outcomes of the 2026 NextGen Innovation Challenge at a World Press Conference, Abuja.

Raji said the investment pipeline comprised a proposed $500m solar energy programme for universities and polytechnics, which would be developed in partnership with Gigawatt Global, and a $100m financing opportunity linked to the Tinubu Light Initiative under a memorandum of understanding with Financial Innovation for Impact, UK, also known as Cambridge Investors.

He, however, clarified that the funds had not been fully secured or disbursed, stressing that their realisation would depend on due diligence, financing arrangements, contractual commitments, regulatory approvals and implementation requirements.

“These figures represent proposed investment and financing opportunities and should not be interpreted as $600m already received, disbursed or fully deployed in Nigeria,” he said.

According to Raji, the initiative was designed to connect Nigerian innovators with international investors, business leaders and development partners to accelerate the commercialisation of indigenous technologies.

He said the challenge attracted 298 Nigerian innovators from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, up from 105 participants in 2025.

The innovations showcased covered artificial intelligence, robotics, agriculture, healthcare, education, renewable energy, telecommunications, digital technology, enterprise software, 3D printing and advanced manufacturing.

“Our message is straightforward: Nigeria’s innovators deserve visibility, our enterprises deserve opportunities to grow, and our technologies deserve pathways to the marketplace,” Raji said.

He added that NBTI’s priority was to move beyond showcasing ideas to helping innovators develop commercially viable products, establish sustainable businesses and create jobs.

The proposed Tinubu Light Initiative is expected to support one million micro and small businesses through access to solar energy solutions, with a proposed target of training and deploying 10,000 field marketers and creating 50,000 direct youth employment opportunities.

The initiative also targets N30bn in blended financing for its first phase and estimates annual economic benefits of about N12bn, subject to its underlying assumptions and implementation outcomes.

Raji said the programme was conceived to address the energy challenges facing small businesses, including high operating costs associated with unreliable electricity and dependence on petrol and diesel generators.

Tailors, barbers, hairdressers, pharmacies, food vendors, neighbourhood retailers, printing businesses and digital-service providers, he stated, are among the potential beneficiaries.

He said the initiative also envisaged opportunities to promote business formalisation and financial inclusion, particularly among informal enterprises, where appropriate arrangements could be established.

However, the NBTI director-general acknowledged that the programme’s success would depend on sound financing, transparent beneficiary selection, reliable equipment, maintenance arrangements and measurable delivery.

“Our vision is to make clean-energy access an enabler of enterprise development, not merely an infrastructure intervention,” he said.