Connect with us

Business

PETROAN Tasks NNPC On Accountability, Transparency In Operations …Wants 3m Barrels Reserved For Future Domestic …Oppose Repair Of PH Refinery

Published

on

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has urged the new management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to be transparent in its operations to disabuse the minds of Nigerians who see the national oil company as overly opaque.
The National President, PETROAN, Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, who made this known while speaking on Channels Television, argued that the NNPC has over the years created an environment wherein Nigerians are always suspicious of the organisation, advising the company to keep its books open henceforth.
Gillis-Harry also decried the lack of access to adequate supply of crude oil by local refineries, calling on the authorities to work towards ensuring that in the coming years, 3 million barrels are reserved for the refineries that are springing up all over the country.
He called on the concerned government regulatory bodies including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the NNPC to ensure the workability of the proposal.
In his words, “NNPC has created that kind of environment where it’s now difficult for the public to trust them with anything. And I think it will be in the best interest, not just of the management, but of Nigeria, that that mindset should be changed by the current management.
“Bayo Ojulari is coming from the private sector, a very well-organised private sector, because he’s coming from a Shell background.
“So, I believe that he and his team, and Mr. Kida (Chairman), who is also coming from Total, have gone through a very regulated and very efficient system. And I think that they should bring that experience to bear on how the Nigerian oil industry should be.
“And NNPC should rise up from the doldrums and raise its head up and say, for so many years we didn’t do it right, but now we want to do it right. And I think that there is no time that is better than doing that”.
He reiterated some of the demands of the industry, which included raising crude oil production, transparent operations and creating a smooth relationship with host communities in the Niger Delta.
“Our demand is simple, which is that transparency should be key. The production of crude oil should be increased. We should be able to do as much as possible to make sure that the host communities of the Niger Delta are friendly, to encourage the businesses to come in”, he stated.
Gillis-Harry, however, aligned with the current divestments in the oil sector in Nigeria, expressing the view that indigenous companies are already taking over without any issues.
“We appeal that there should be a very special crude oil production plan for the local refineries, because with the number of refineries coming up in Nigeria, and hopefully with NNPC working hard to make their refineries work, Nigeria should be a refining hub, where we should then be earning additional foreign exchange by exporting refined petroleum products.
“So, we are looking at a situation where they should aim to keep 3 million barrels of Nigerian crude oil for refining in-country.
“And so, regardless of what has happened in the years where we hear that most of the crude oil that has not been even produced has been sold ahead for five years, errors could be made, and I think it takes people to see those errors and be able to ensure that they are corrected.
“So, I think that this management should start the revamping process, showing Nigerians the value and capacity that we have as a country to stand on our own and be the men and women that we should be, because we are leaders”, he said.
To ensure that there’s transparency in fuel pricing, Gillis-Harry said PETROAN was floating a platform to track and monitor the movement of prices and to make sure that the required industry data was made available to the public.
On the issue of the Port Harcourt refinery, the PETROAN boss stressed the need for transparency in the repairs stating that the association was willing to give the best support to Ojulari and his team.
He stated further that the temporary closure should be for the effective good and benefit of Nigerians, insisting that the 30 days timeline be adhered to.
“Right now, we cannot say for sure what is the progress (of work)”, he noted.

Continue Reading

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

Published

on

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure  and equipment  modernization drive  with the development of the welfare of its personnel.
Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the  clearing  of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.
A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying,  “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.
The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.
“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”
Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.
“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.
Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President  of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Continue Reading

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

on

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).
The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.
Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.
The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.
The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.
The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Continue Reading

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

Published

on

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).
The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.
Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of  NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the  Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.
The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.
He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.
“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.
The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.
“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.
Chinedu Wosu
Continue Reading

Trending