NEWS
Executive Order: Petroleum Ministry Interacting with Stakeholders for Implementation – Minister
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources says it has been interacting with stakeholders to obtain industry alignment and participation in carrying out its Executive Order issued by President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), said this on Tuesday in Abuja in his keynote address at the Ministry’s 2024 Sector Retreat.
The oil and gas sector retreat, which has the theme, “Building Synergy for Enhanced Development in the Oil and Gas Sector,” is scheduled to hold from March 26 to March 28.
The retreat was convened to discuss how to achieve the targets and mandates set for the Ministry of Petroleum Resources by President Bola Tinubu at the Ministerial retreat held in November, 2023.
Ekpo said to further promote ease of doing business and to stimulate the discovery and development of the country’s abundant hydrocarbon resources, the President issued an Executive Order for the Ministry.
The Executive Order seeks to do the following: “Shortening the procedure for getting approval for contracts to which companies in the petroleum sector and companies controlled by the Federal Government are parties.
“Raising the contract approval thresholds in Production Sharing Contracts (PSA) or Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) to not less than 10 million dollars to account for the rate of inflation.
“Raising the duration for third party contracts from three to five years, with the option of renewal for an additional two years; and giving effect to and reinforcing the provisions of the Business Facilitation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022.”
In view of the these, he said the Permanent Secretary, on behalf of Ministry of Petroleum Incorporated (MOPI), Directors
and members of the technical, legal, and commercial arm of the ministry had been interacting with industry stakeholders for alignment.
“It is imperative for us collectively to confront these challenges head-on.
“In alignment with the overarching goal of fostering high performance and accountability within the government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) has issued the Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables for 2023 – 2027.
“This initiative seeks to establish a robust performance-tracking mechanism for the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the pertinent agencies under his purview,’’ he charged.
In his address, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of Petroleum Resources (Oil), said the Petroleum Sector in Nigeria had the solutions to the country’s problems in the short-term given that 90 per cent of Nigeria’s forex earnings was from the petroleum sector.
“We have been working closely with the heads of agencies to meet the targets, especially to ramp up production, increase revenue, tackle insecurity and vandalisation, remove bureaucracy, resolve divestment issues and create best environment for investment,’’ he said.
He advised the heads of agencies to utilise their collective technocrats, to produce templates to ensure sustainability of the competitiveness of Nigeria’s business environment.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Amb. Nicholas Ella, said its mission, as outlined in its various mandates, the administration’s goals, and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, emphasised the need for a paradigm shift toward sustainable growth and impactful change.
“This initiative, stemming from the Presidential Retreat with Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, will establish Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) tailored to each department and agency.
“Through this, we ensure that our actions are not only aligned with our objectives but also measurable and accountable,’’ he said.
The directors and heads of units in the Ministry along with the heads of agencies under the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, among others, are participants in the sector retreat of the Ministry. (NAN)
From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa
The Joint Task Force, codenamed, “Operation Delta Safe (OPDS)”, on Sunday uncovered over 50 illegal refining sites in the Biseni forest of Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa.The JTF Commander, Rear Adm. John Okeke, who led the operation, said illegal refining of stolen crude oil was taking place in each of the sites.
Daily Asset reports that a large dug out open pit that can accommodate more than 10 trucks of Alternative Gas Oil (AGO), holding crude oil from where they distribute to their cooking site. He recalled he had earlier warned oil thieves in the area to desist from the illegal business or relocate to another area.According to him, “I recalled on May 9, 2024 we were at Ukwa West LGA, in Abia State bordering Rivers State, a contiguous forest bear shared along Imo River.”Today like I said we are not going to relent and it is work in progress. We will not get tired, we will continue, we are in Biseni in Yenagoa LGA of Bayelsa.”We transverse from Ahoada West LGA, of Rivers to reach this point, the most surprising thing is that this place we are now is housing over 50 cooking sites with unique arrangements.”The thieves operating in this area have decided to be so smart by connecting what is called a theft line made of two inches pipe, a galvanized pipe connecting directly to supply oil lines on the road, from a distance of one kilometer.”Then they have a lot of funny connections where they have various arrangements of D connection, multiple connections where each of the thieves get their supply.”From a large dug out open pit that can accommodate more than 10 trucks of AGO, holding crude oil from where they distribute to their cooking site,” he said.According to him, like I said, I want to call on the public spirited individuals to please continue to volunteer information, because the JTF cannot do it alone.”Look at the thick forest we are now, you can never imagine that such serious crime is going on here, if not for the good spirited individual that volunteered information, we wouldn’t have known.He called the criminals to kindly relocate or change their business, because they will not relent, as they will continue with clearance operations.The JTF Commander, said his message to those involved in illegality that sooner or later they will catch up with them, as they will not relent and that the way is going they may come up with more drastic measures.”It appears that they felt that we are being romantic with kid gloves, but I can assure you that is getting out of hand if we continue to curb these illicit activities.”I personally will begin to advocate for more serious measures to address this challenge, because the country is bleeding. You know the illicit oil activities.”When you allow such activities to continuously be perpetuated, the legitimate people that engage will not be able to sell their products because these criminals will be selling at far lower prices.”The government needs to gain revenue for developmental purposes, that is why we have taken it as a force to continue fighting this battle and we will not relent,” he said.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Hunters have uncovered a baby reportedly buried alive at a bush in Ashav Kusuv Community in Buruku LGA of Benue State.A source from the area who simply identified himself as Terna told journalists on phone in Makurdi that the incident occurred on Saturday at Ashav Kusuv community.
Terna said that mother’s luck was the saving grace of the baby girl as hunters found her and brought her alive from the forest where she was buried alive. ”Some hunters on Saturday found a baby girl and said that they found her buried alive in a forest. The baby is currently being taken care of at Ashav Kusuv community.Though details on how the baby got to the forest , her parents and age were yet to be established.However, Chairman of Buruku LGC, Iorkyaan Agber who confirmed the development on the phone on Sunday, told journalists that the baby was found in a forest by some hunters.”It’s true that some hunters found a baby in the forest but we are investigating to know who went and dropped a little baby in the forest and the reason for doing that,” he said.Efforts to get the reaction of the state command police public relations officer, SP Catherine Anene about the incident were not successful as her phone rang out and could not respond to text messages sent to her cellphone.
From Attah Ede, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, on Sunday, directed that all those using empty plots of land and the frontage of their houses to cultivate crops within Makurdi metropolis to desist henceforth.He said this is because such areas are being used as hideouts by criminals, who prefer dark areas to perpetrate their evil acts.
In a statement by chief press secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula, the Government of Benue State under the leadership of Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia is set to beautify the state capital. He said those who are using any portion of Land within Makurdi town, including spaces within and around offices, road and street set-backs to farm are directed to stop immediately.Sir Kula maintained that those who have properly fenced their plots may be excused to farm only within the fenced portion(s).The Governor warned that any person caught farming on any portion of land in the state capital, will be made to answer certain questions.
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