Business
Expert Tasks IOCs On Host Communities Development
Elder statesman and expert in the environment sector, Engr Olu Andah Wai – Ogosu, has urged IOCs and other multinational companies operating in the Niger Delta region to take full responsibilities for the development of their host communities. Wai-Ogosu who spoke with The Tide in an interview at the weekend said the prevalence of conflicts between oil companies and their host communities in the Niger Delta was due to the neglect of the host communities by the multinationals. He expressed disappointment over the fact that the IOCs place commercial and profit motives over the development of their host communities. He said such attitude of corporate negligence on the part of the IOCs was the bane of the people of the host communities who live in abject poverty and infrastructural decay.
Using Onne, an industrial hub in Rivers State as an example, the Elder statesman said despite the numerous companies operating in Onne, there was no meaningful host community engagement as no MoU was signed with the people of Onne. Wai – Ogosu who described the practice in Onne and Niger Delta as “corporate negligence” called on all multinationals and corporate organisations operating in the Niger Delta to introduce a more practical community engagement model and implement the Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) signed with their host communities.
Wai-Ogosu who spoke with The Tide in an exclusive interview yesterday, pointed out that; “modern industry practices require that both the oil firms and the host communities operate in mutual agreement and synergy through a well established community engagement model that would be subject to upward reviews to suit evolving developments to avert crisis.”
He noted that oil related conflicts have been a predominant feature of the Niger Delta over the years and urged prospecting oil firms and other corporate organzsations in the Niger Delta to learn from the experiences of the past to improve their host community relations by contributing meaningfully to the development of their host communities.
The environmental expert , said host communities were major stakeholders in the oil and gas business, noting that their active participation in the sector was an elixir to smooth business operation. “It’s certain that business activities can’t thrive in an environment where there is mutual disagreement and incessant conflicts, The Federal Government’s policies on the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone are not properly directed, there are fillers that SNEPCo, a major affiliate of Shell wants to relocate from Onne over flimsy and unjustifiable excuses. This is totally unacceptable to the people of Onne. Global standards in oil and gas business require that host communities be given their due sense of belonging to promote peace and development. The business concern must be accommodative of the development interest of the host communities. Any company that glosses over the interest of its host communities is bound to face challenges.”
Taneh Beemene
CFAO has added to its fleet of cars in the motoring industry with the recent launch of the 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, one of Toyota’s flagship models, alongside a range of others for the Nigeria market.
Unveiling the product in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, the General Manager, CFAO Mobility, Port Harcourt, Julius Fasetire, said the model is exceptional tailored for Nigeria’s market.
According to him, the unveiling was an exclusive opportunity for Nigerians to explore the latest in automotive excellence, discover new vehicle options , and benefit from Toyota by CFAO’s end of year bonus.
He further explained that CFAO is an authorised distributor of Toyota vehicles in Nigeria, committed to providing high quality vehicles and services to meet the needs of customers across the country.
“With an extensive network of service centres, Toyota by CFAO offers top-notch sales, service and support to ensure a seamless ownership experience”, he declared.
By: Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
There are indications that oil marketers may boycot patronising the newly opened Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC), which commmenced crude oil production last Tuesday.
This follows their request that PHRC, under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), must dispense its refined petroleum products below the prices of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
Meanwhile, contrary to NNPCL’s claims, while reactiing to claims that its petrol price was about N1,045/litre, said the refinery had not released its prices, as products from the plant were currently dispensed to only NNPCL stations.
NNPCL’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, revealed that the company was still reviewing its prices and had yet to commence bulk sales, saying that its purchasing portal is still closed.
In the midst of this, The Tide’s source also gathered that oil marketers imported 105.67 million litres of petrol into the country five days ago.
The marketers confirmed that NNPC was selling petrol at N1,045/litre, saying that they may be compelled to opt for petrol importation as a means of meeting local demands.
The source exclusively gathered that a total sum of 78,800 metric tonnes representing 105.67 million litres of petrol was imported into the country in the last five days, specifically identified November 23 and November 28.
The NNPC said the 60,000-capacity newly rehabilitated complex of the old Port Harcourt Refinery, which had been revamped and upgraded with modern equipment, is operating at a refining capacity of 70 per cent of its installed capacity.
The company added that NNPC added that diesel and Pour Fuel Oil would be the highest output from the refinery, with a daily capacity of 1.5 million litres and 2.1 million litres, respectively.
There’s also a daily output of Straight-Run Gasoline (Naphtha) blended into 1.4 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), 900,000 litres of kerosene, and low-pour fuel oil of 2.1 million litres.
It was stated that about 200 trucks of petrol would be released into the Nigerian market daily.
However, claims that the national oil firm’s PMS price was higher than that of Dangote triggered diverse reactions from marketers.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, stated that though NNPC had yet to release any price for the products from the refurbished Port Harcourt refinery, a high price would discourage marketers, because Dangote currently sells his petrol at N970/litre, while imported petrol is around that price.
He, however, noted that there was the possibility that the NNPC would review its prices downward when the Port Harcourt refinery comes fully on stream.
Following its unequivocal and successive ranking as Nigeria’s top performing organisation in efficiency and transparency from 2022-date, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has unveiled plans to mark the 2024 World Anti-corruption Day on Thursday, 5th December at its headquarters, the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The theme of this year’s celebration, according to a statement from the Board’s Department of Corporate Communications is “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight against Corruption”.
The statement added that the celebration at the NCDMB is organised by the agency’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACTU) led by the Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Abdulmalik Halilu.
The event, according to the Board, will be marked with a workshop that will feature paper presentations by representatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), and key officials of the Board.
Another highlight of the day will include the grand finale of the debate competition among six federal government colleges from the six zones of the country, plus a representative from Bayelsa State, which is selected automatically as the host state of NCDMB.
The selected schools are Federal Government College, Odi, Bayelsa State; Federal Government College, Okigwe, Imo State; Federal Government College, Warri, Delta State; and Federal Government Girls College, Kazaure, Jigawa State.
Others are, Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos State; Federal Government College, Maiduguri, Borno State; and Federal Government College, Rubochi, Abuja.
Two students, accompanied by an adult from each of the schools will be camped in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, by the NCDMB for four days during which preliminary debates will be held to determine the best two teams.
The debate, whose grand finale is to be held at the magnificent 17-storey Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), Yenagoa, is being organised to instill the ethics of transparency and public interest in Nigerian students to promote critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills among that segment of the population.
This segment, according to the Board, are generally viewed as potential future leaders of thought and industry in the country, and encourage students to engage with complex issues that underline good governance and democracy in Nigeria, just as prizes will also be awarded to winners.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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