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Partial power Restoration Fails to Stop Community protests at Agip’s Brass Terminal

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Economic activities at Twon Brass, hosts to Agip’s Oil Export Terminal in Bayelsa have remained grounded as residents continued to occupy the premises of the oil firm even after power supply had been partially restored to the community.

Residents had on May 14 disrupted activities at the oil firm, by blocking access to the facility in protest of alleged two months power outage and failure of the management of Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to honour its social obligations to its host community.

The management of Eni, the Italian parent company of NAOC, had in a statement on May 21 announced that power supply to the area had been restored following repair work on a power cable damaged by thunderstorms.

However, Mr Taribalalate George, a resident of Twon Brass said in a telephone interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Monday, that because the power situation was yet to stabilise, the people were still at the protest site.

“As we speak, there is no power in Twon Brass, but they brought the light on Thursday (May 20) but it has been going off and on and we are suspicious that it is a ploy to disperse the people while the power issue persists.

“The protest is still on, because we have so many issues bordering on Agip’s neglect of their social obligations as spelt out in our Memorandum of Understanding. It was the power outage that sparked off the protests and we insist that all other issues are resolved as well,” George said.

He explained that the community leaders and some government officials were expected at the Agip’s Terminal gate  to meet with the protesters and brief them on progress made in the negotiations, but they failed to show up as at Monday morning.

He said that women were at the front lines with the youths to avert further escalation and conflict with armed soldiers deployed to protect the facility, while ensuring that the agitation for community development remained peaceful.

The protests became rowdy on May 19 when the traditional ruler, King Alfred Diette-Spiff, appealed to the protesters to disperse while their grievances were being discussed with NAOC, but the angry mob attacked him and he had to be whisked away for safety, while a 24-year old was shot in the commotion.

In its reaction to requests for comments by NAN, Eni claimed that power had been restored and that the protests did not adversely impact on oil exports from the Brass Terminal.

“An electrical cable connecting the terminal to the community was damaged by lightning, thereby leaving the community without electricity. This led to peaceful protests at the Brass terminal gate.

“The repair job has been done on an urgent basis and power to the community has been fully restored today (Friday).

“Production has not been impacted and we expect the normalization of operations in the next few days,” Eni stated. (NAN)

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NGEP Urges Gas Reticulation In Buildings

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By Olasunkanmi Onifade

Abuja, April 29, 2025 The National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) has called on stakeholders to promote the integration of gas reticulation systems in estates, districts, and industrial areas, following best practices seen in developed countries.

Chairman of NGEP, Prof.

Mohammed Ibrahim, made the call on Tuesday during the Builders’ Conference and Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB), FCT Chapter, in Abuja.

The conference, themed “Gas Reticulation in Building: Design, Safety, Environmental Compliance and Prospects for Builders,” focused on enhancing energy infrastructure in Nigeria’s built environment.

Ibrahim noted that with Nigeria’s vast natural gas reserves, gas reticulation offered a sustainable solution to improve energy accessibility, affordability, and reliability in homes and businesses.

“Gas reticulation in buildings presents a compelling pathway to a more sustainable, efficient, and resilient built environment.

“By prioritising sound design principles and ensuring strict adherence to safety and environmental standards, we can unlock the full potential of natural gas to drive progress,” he said.

He highlighted the key benefits of gas reticulation, including energy efficiency, cost effectiveness, versatility, and reliability.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria, Samson Opaluwah, stressed the importance of capacity building for safe and efficient gas distribution.

He said this involved training engineers, technicians, and other professionals in system design, installation, and maintenance, while also strengthening regulatory frameworks and encouraging local innovation and manufacturing.

The Chairman of NIOB, FCT Chapter, Usman Okehi, emphasised the growing need to incorporate gas systems in residential, commercial, and industrial developments across Nigeria due to rising energy demands and gas availability.

According to him, with this advancement comes the need for strict adherence to design standards, rigorous safety protocols, and full environmental compliance.

“It is our responsibility as professionals and regulators to ensure these systems are functional, safe, and environmentally sound,” Okehi said.

He described the conference as a platform where stakeholders could explore the evolving landscape of gas infrastructure in building projects, share best practices, examine safety and environmental considerations, and assess future opportunities for builders in the sector.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Institute of Building is the professional body for builders in Nigeria. It traces its origins to the Builders’ Society, established in London in 1834.

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Oil & Gas

FG Inaugurates Committee to Enhance Gas Distribution in Urban Buildings

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The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has inaugurated a Technical Working Group to enhance gas reticulation practices in Nigeria’s building industry.

The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Amb. Nicholas Ella inaugurated the Technical Working Group (TWG) between the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) and the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON) on Wednesday.

Reports= says that reticulation refers to the process of creating a network of pipes or tubes to distribute gas or other utilities to buildings or industrial sites.

The permanent secretary restated the importance of creating energy smart cities, saying that modern urban development relies on efficient gas and utility distribution systems,

“Most modern cities in developed countries have evolved to energy smart cities where energy, specifically gas and other utilities are piped to districts and estates.

“However, one of the key tools in creating energy smart city is the National Building
Code which, in essence, sets the guidelines on Building Pre-design, designs, construction and post-construction stages,” he said.

The permanent secretary reiterated the benefits of reticulated gas systems for households and businesses alike, adding that it ensured metered supply akin to water and electricity,

According to him, it eliminates the need for cumbersome refills, and also enhances safety by burying pipes and incorporating advanced safety equipments.

“The TWG is tasked with designing a comprehensive policy to implement best practices for gas reticulation using LPG, PNG, and Bio-Gas across Nigeria’s building sector.

“Key responsibilities include reviewing the current National Building Code, examining global gas distribution systems, and proposing quality standards for materials used in gas installations,” he said.

The permanent secretary emphasised the need for rigorous safety protocols and guidelines to ensure the efficient and safe use of gas in construction.

He urged the group to prioritise environmental sustainability in its recommendations, adding that the group is expected to submit its report by Nov. 15.

Earlier, Mr Samson Opaliwah, the Chairman of CORBON. expressed the council’s commitment to collaborate with the group to ensure safe uptake of gas for use in houses and housing estates in Nigeria.

“I assure you of the williness of CORBON to leverage the expertise and resources at her disposal to ensure that steps are put in place for gas infrastructure in buildings and estates.

“The gas infrastructure will be safe, sustainable and world-class.

” Our collective efforts will yield clear, standardised guidelines for safe and effective gas systems in buildings, matched with a skilled workforce to meet growing demands in Nigeria,” he said. (NAN)

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Oil & Gas

Utilise Oil, Gas Industry Report as Tool for Public Debate – NEITI

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The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has urged stakeholders to utilise its 2022/2023 oil and gas report for civic engagement, constructive dialogue, and public debate.

Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, made the call at the report’s public presentation on Thursday in Abuja.

The report was unveiled by Mr Ola Olukoyede, Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), alongside Sen.

George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman, NSWG, NEITI and other dignitaries.

Orji emphasised the report’s significance in guiding policy, encouraging public debate, and improving governance in natural resource management.

He highlighted the report’s comprehensive data on revenues, governance structures, operations, and compliance within the oil and gas sector.

Speaking at the public presentation of the report, Akume reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transparency principles.

Olukoyede pledged to investigate the report’s findings and recommendations, noting that NEITI’s previous reports led to the recovery of over N1 billion.

The report is available on NEITI’s website, providing valuable insights into the sector’s performance and challenges.

The presentation was attended by Chairmen of National Assembly Committees, captains of industries, members of diplomatic missions, development partners, civil society organisations and the media. (NAN)

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