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JVC: Nigeria Owes Oil Giants $5.1bn …First Gold Refinery Construction Begins
Amidst the ongoing confusion over the cut down in Nigeria’s oil production quota, the National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday further revealed that Nigeria is currently owing multinational oil companies $5.1billion in the Joint Venture Cash Call (JVC) business arrangements.
The NNPC has also denied the alleged mismanagement of $3.2billion withdrawn from the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) account from 2015 till date.
The revelation came up during an investigative hearing between the Senate Committee on Gas and the NNPC .
The Corporation’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) , Alhaji Isiaka Abdulrasaq, who at the meeting explained to the Senate Committee on Gas how the JVC is run , noted that the arrangement is such that the government of Nigeria controls 60% of the venture while the International Oil Companies. (IOC’s) control 40%.
His words “The problem however is that before this government came on board in 2015, Nigeria which holds 60% of shares in the joint business , for many years did not contribute its own required capital into it but only collecting its equity inform of revenues which made the country to as at 2015 having $6.8bn unpaid capital into the venture.
“But the present government in 2016 succeeded in getting 35% discount from the unpaid capital amounting to $1.9bn from the unpaid capital , making the country to be owing the IOCs $5.1bn now”, he explained .
On the alleged $3.2bn withdrawn from the NLNG account by NNPC within the last three years , the CFO said there was no mismanagement in any of the withdrawals made.
According to him, based on available records with them, the have only 13 withdrawals made from the account totalling $1.2bn.
The NNPC’s CFO however said the alleged bogus withdrawal profile being bandied has caused high apprehension amongst not less than seven out of the international oil companies dealing with NNPC as they feared there may be some problems ahead if there is mismanagement of the NLNG accounts .
However, to aide the committee’s investigation of the alleged withdrawals, the committee through its Chairman, Senator Albert Bassey Akpan , ordered the NNPC CFO to submit approving documents for all the withdrawals by Tuesday next week.
“We are not saying any money have been stolen . What we are doing is clarifying processes of expenditures made from the account with a view to making management of the account more transparent and beneficial to Nigerians “,he said.
Meanwhile, history was made in Nigeria yesterday, as the country celebrated the ground breaking of its first gold refinery by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Hon. Abubakar Bawa Bwari. The refinery being developed by indigenous minerals company, Kian Smith Trade & Co Ltd. (“Kian Smith”) in Ogun State is scheduled to start production in 2019, sourcing most of its ore from miners in the country.
“The present administration is determined to develop the mining sector to act as a catalyst for sustainable economic growth of the country,” said Hon. Bwari at the groundbreaking ceremony.
“Part of our marching orders in the Mines and Stell Development ministry is that we are expected to develop the sector to increase its contribution to the nation’s GDP, improve its capacity to create jobs and engender sustainable mining,” the minister added, stressing that it was in keeping with his ministry’s mandate that a roadmap was developed for the growth and development of the mining sector.
“During the focus labs of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) of this administration, we discovered that a well organised gold value chain can trigger an economic revolution like it did in India, South Africa, Switzerland and others,” he said further. He noted that the ministry has continued to work in this light to develop a gold value chain for the country.
The refinery will start with a production capacity of 3 tonnes per month of 99.99% gold and 1 ton per month production of 99.99% silver. We will be supplying the Central Bank, the Jewellery and the Electronic Industry,” said Nere Teriba, Vice Chairman of Kian Smith at the groundbreaking ceremony.
Niger, Kaduna, Ibadan, Ile-Ife, Ilesha and about 100kg per month from other parts of Africa.
We are presently finalizing supply agreements and terms from suppliers in Kano. Next week, we will be securing supply from Kogi State,” she added.
According to Teriba, the refinery when completed will provide more than 500,000 jobs in two years as it continues to support its suppliers in their bid to become registered business entities in the mining sector.
“There’s at presently at least 1,000,000 unregistered business participants in the Nigerian market (considering gold miners, sponsors, dealers, processors, aggregators and gold-workers). The formalization, organization and development we bring to the value chain will provide quick wins to the Nigerian economy,” Teriba said.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene