News
Shell Pays FG $4.48bn Revenue
Notwithstanding the challenges of crude theft and pipeline vandalisation, the Federal Government, last year, earned $4.48billion from Shell companies in Nigeria in royalties, taxes and other payments.
This was published in Shell’s 2021 Sustainability Report, last Wednesday, and made available to The Tide in Port Harcourt.
In his introduction to the report, Shell’s Chief Executive Officer, Ben van Beurden, writes: “Our Powering Progress strategy, which we launched in 2021, sets out how Shell can play a leading role in helping the world to reduce its carbon emissions.
“At the heart of our strategy lies our own target to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society’s progress in achieving the Paris climate goals. In this, our 25th Sustainability Report, we share how we are working towards our Powering Progress goals.”
Shell also published its 2022 Industry Associations Climate Review Update.
It provides a progress update on actions that Shell has taken over the past year to address differences in climate-related positions with industry associations where the company identified misalignment.
It also provides a summary of how much Shell paid to 36 associations in 2021.
In addition, Shell published its 2021 Payments to Governments Report covering countries where it has exploration and production activities.
This report details payments in 25 countries and was prepared in accordance with the UK’s The Reports on Payments to Governments Regulations 2014 (as amended in December 2015).
It indicated that Nigeria’s crude production recorded sub-optimal performance, last year, owing to theft and asset vandalism despite improved quota allocation from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The Shell companies, including the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo), and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) paid a combined $6billion in direct taxes between 2015 and 2020 to the government, according to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
Shell’s largest payment in Nigeria, last year, was to Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited with $2.89billion in production entitlement.
The amount included a payment of $2.61billion.
The company also paid $573.4million in royalties and $511.27million in taxes.
On an asset basis, Shell paid out $1.55billion for its OPL 212/OML 118 and OPL 219/OML 135 package, covering the Bonga field.
Of the payments to Nigeria, $458.59million came from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).
This Shell unit works via a joint venture with NNPC in Nigeria’s onshore acreage.
However, the company is working to reduce its onshore footprint.
Shell paid $20.86billion in taxes in 2021.
Payments to Nigeria accounted for 21.5per cent of 2021’s total, the lowest since 2017.
Nigeria also accounted for all the sabotage and theft incidents that caused spills for Shell in 2021.
The company reported the number of spills fell to 106, from 122.
Also, the volume increased from 1,500 tonnes in 2020 to 3,300 tonnes in 2021.
In an attempt to prevent theft, SPDC installed steel cages on wellheads in Nigeria.
By the end of last year, it had installed 283 cages, including 62 with CCTV.
SPDC has 360 oil producing wells in Nigeria and 60 producing gas wells.
It also controls around 4,000km of pipelines and flowlines.
The SPDC joint venture reported gross production of 503,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in 2020, in which Shell has a 30per cent stake.
Shell reported SPDC was continuing to review its onshore oil portfolio in Nigeria.
“In the last decade, SPDC has reduced its licences in this area by half,” the report said.
In recognising Shell’s contributions to Nigeria, the FIRS, last week, named Shell as a “leading tax compliant organisation in Nigeria for 2021”.
The Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Muhammad Mamman Nami, noted that Shell companies demonstrated commitment to paying all government taxes hence the two awards.
In his remarks, Managing Director, SPDC and Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria, Osagie Okunbor, said he was happy that government partners and stakeholders recognised Shell’s significant contributions to the revenue of Nigeria by which the government can grow the economy and bring about developments to every part of the country.
He said: “Nigeria is an important heartland for Shell, and will remain so. We will continue to invest in the country to help meet its energy needs, with a focus on growing our deep-water and gas positions.”
Okunbor, who was represented at the event by a Director of the SPDC and General Manager, Business Government Relationship, Bashir Bello, said Shell companies would remain committed to expanding their gas portfolio for domestic and export markets while also increasing access to energy for Nigerians.”
Shell Plc said itpaid the Federal Government a total of $1,594, 974, 771 as taxes, royalties and fees in the year 2021.
The company said that the sum of $511, 270, 685 was specifically paid as taxes for 2021.
The report said that industry associations and payment to governments puts Nigeria’s production entitlement for the period at $2, 885,571,789.
Shell also paid $573,430,812 as royalties to the Nigerian government, and $510, 274, 274 as fees.
According to Shell, the 2021 Shell Sustainability Report outlines the progress towards many of its Powering Progress strategic ambitions, and shares related social, safety and environmental performance data.
By: Nelson Chukwudi
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has described the late Chief Albert Korubo Horsfall as a distinguished statesman whose contributions to national development brought honour and distinction to the Kalabari Kingdom and Rivers State.
Fubara said Horsfall’s life of service, patriotism, integrity and commitment to humanity had left an enduring legacy that would continue to inspire generations.
The governor spoke through the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr Dagogo Wokoma, at the funeral service of the late elder statesman last Saturday in Buguma, Asari-Toru Local Government Area of the State.
He described Horsfall as a patriotic Nigerian whose leadership and dedication to the country’s development earned him a place in the nation’s history.
“Chief Horsfall was a distinguished statesman whose life was defined by service, patriotism, integrity and commitment to humanity.
“His contributions to our nation, particularly through his service as Director-General of the State Security Service, pioneer Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency and Chairman of OMPADEC, remain significant milestones in our national history,” Fubara said.
The governor noted that the late Horsfall’s contributions to national security, intelligence administration and the development of the Niger Delta would remain part of his enduring legacy.
“His legacy of leadership, national service and dedication to development will remain an enduring source of inspiration to generations yet unborn,” he added.
Fubara urged the bereaved family, the Kalabari people and other Nigerians to uphold the values of peace, unity and selfless service exemplified by the late elder statesman.
The funeral service attracted several dignitaries, including the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a representative of the Bayelsa State Governor, the Managing Director of NDDC, Chairman of PENDEF and the Regent of the Kalabari Kingdom.
Also in attendance were the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, the Commissioner for Special Projects and other government officials, traditional rulers and stakeholders.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to partner with local government councils that prioritize the welfare and development of people at the grassroots.
Fubara stated this last Thursday in Nkoro Town during the commissioning of the newly built Sir Siminalayi Fubara Corps Members’ Lodge, executed by Hon. James A. James, the Chairman of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Sunny Ewule, the governor said the project goes beyond a building to represent hope, hospitality and responsible leadership.
According to him, providing decent and safe accommodation for Nationl Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members who leave their comfort zones to serve in communities is the least government can do.
“Today we are not just commissioning a building, we are commissioning hope, hospitality and responsible leadership. The Chairman of Opobo/ Nkoro LGA, Hon. James A. James has understood a very simple truth that those who come to serve us must serve with dignity,.
“Our young graduates who serves under the NYSC scheme leave the comfort of their homes and travel far to contribute to our communities, they teach our children, they work in our health centres, and they become parts of our families.
“The least we can do is give them a decent, safe and befitting place to lay their heads. What Hon. James A. James has done today is in total alignment with the vision of this administration, an administration that believes in people, that prioritises welfare and that believes development must be felt in every local government and not just in Port Harcourt” he said.
Fubara further urged the beneficiaries of the corpers lodge to make good use of the facilities of the newly built edifice and be good ambassadors of Nigeria, respect the culture and traditions of the host community while continue to serve with dedication and patriotism.
“This Corpers lodge will enhance the security and welfare of serving corps members, boost their morale and make Opobo/Nkoro and even more attractive place for posting, it is a strategic investment in human capital and in peace building,” he said.
He commended the Opobo/Nkoro Council Chairman for aligning with his administration’s vision of ensuring development is felt in all 23 local government areas of the State, and not just in Port Harcourt, adding that the lodge is a strategic investment in human capital, security and peace building.
In his goodwill message, the Rivers State NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Moses Oleghe, said the accommodation was 85 percent of Corps members’ challenges.
Oleghe thanked Governor Fubara for the recent increase in the State allowances for Corps members to N35,000 for those in 21 rural areas and N20,000 for those in Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City LGAs, describing the gesture as a moral booster for the corps members.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has secured an offer of specialised training for up to 5,000 Nigerian police personnel under a proposed security cooperation involving Nigeria, the United States and Italy.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, at the weekend.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Nigeria Police Force to tackle insurgency, terrorism, kidnapping, arms trafficking and other emerging security threats across the country.
According to the statement, the proposed training programme will focus on counter-insurgency operations, intelligence-led patrols and tactical operations, particularly in difficult rural and forested environments.
Other areas of training include critical infrastructure protection, digital and scientific forensics, cybercrime investigations, explosives detection, financial investigations, asset tracing and anti-extortion operations.
The programme is expected to extend beyond the Police Mobile Force to other specialised units, including explosive ordnance disposal and forensic teams.
As part of the engagement, Disu met with the Commander-General of the Italian Carabinieri, Lieutenant-General Salvatore Luongo, to explore areas of technical assistance, professional training and institutional cooperation.
The police chief and his delegation also visited the Carabinieri Centre of Excellence for Stability Police Units in Vicenza, Italy, where they assessed training facilities and explored opportunities to adapt specialised policing programmes to Nigeria’s security needs.
Proposals discussed during the visit included command courses for 40 senior police officers, leadership training for 100 junior commanders and the deployment of a mobile assistance team to support Police Mobile Force training schools in Gwoza, Borno State, and Ila-Orangun, Osun State.
The discussions also covered the development of a national stability policing doctrine and standard operating procedures to improve professionalism, operational coordination and civilian protection, particularly in communities recovering from conflict.
Other areas of proposed cooperation include canine operations, forensic science and mounted policing, including horse breeding and local capacity development for effective public order management.
To formalise the proposed partnership, the IGP has initiated moves towards a Memorandum of Understanding covering specialised training, technology transfer and operational procedures.
He also invited an Italian Carabinieri assessment team to Abuja to identify priority needs and develop implementation arrangements.
Disu reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to international partnerships that will strengthen operational readiness, improve investigative capacity and enhance the protection of lives and property.
The statement did not, however, indicate when the proposed training programme would commence or provide a definite implementation timetable.
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