Connect with us

Economy

34 Firms Bid to Secure NNPC Depots, Pump Stations

Published

on

By Dipo Olowookere

No fewer than 34 companies have expressed their intention to provide security for assets belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), including its depots and pump stations across the country.

The aim of the protection is to consolidate on the successes recorded in the steady supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country.

A total of 54 companies were invited for the jobs through selective tendering. The public opening of bid is part of NNPC’s commitment to transparency as a Focused, Accountable, Competitive and transparent organisation, conducting its business with Integrity (FACTI).

Managing Director of the Nigerian Pipeline and Storage Company (NPSC), Mr Luke Anele, during the bid opening exercise for the selection of firms last Wednesday, stated that the NPSC was desirous of engaging reputable and competent security firms to safeguard its critical assets to ensure unimpeded operations and efficient service delivery.

Represented by the NPSC’s Executive Director in charge of Pipelines, Mr Danladi Ahmed, the MD stated that, “This particular exercise avails us the opportunity to identify competitive offers from companies that are competent and ready to secure our assets such as depots and pump stations at competitive rates.

“The NPSC assets are wide spread nationwide, which means security is important, if you have anything of value, you must provide security to safeguard it.”

NPSC is a midstream subsidiary of the NNPC in charge of depots and pipelines.

The MD stated that the bid opening was conducted openly in the full glare of representatives of the bidding companies to demonstrate the NNPC’s commitment to transparency and due process in all its activities.

He assured the bidders of a level playing ground that would guarantee the emergence of the best companies among them.

A cross section of participating bidding companies who witnessed the event expressed their satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise, describing the Corporation as a transparent company that operates according to the dictates of best global standards.

Mr Dozie Tassie, who represented Pentagon Securities Ltd, described the bidding process as credible and satisfactory, adding that everybody was given the opportunity to compete fairly.

“NNPC demonstrated that it was committed to global best practices. Now that everybody has given the opportunity to verify that the documents they submitted were not tampered with and the names of participating companies are made known, there won’t be cases of people raising eyebrows when winners emerge because they have witnessed the process and could testify that no company was smuggled in. NNPC is doing a fantastic job, it is a step in the right direction,” Mr Tassie enthused.

While applauding the efforts of the NNPC GMD, Mr Maikanti Baru, the Managing Director of Goldlight Security Ltd, Chief John Eke, stated that he saw transparency and due process in action during the bidding exercise.

“What I have seen today gladdens my heart. There is due process and transparency in place. The GMD and the MD, NPSC and those involved in the entire process deserve commendation. In fact, it shows that the NNPC is going places” a highly elated Eke stated.

 

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Economy

Naira Remains Stable at N1,500/$1 at Official Market

Published

on

Fake Naira notes banknotes

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Naira closed flat against the United States Dollar at N1,500.65/$1 in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) on Friday, February 7, after recording losses in four straight sessions in the trading week.

The recent pressure on the market across majorly regulated channels came despite recent policy moves by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) creating more trading transparency and ethical practices.

However, the domestic currency depreciated against the Pound Sterling in the official market yesterday by N8.78 to trade at N1,868.76/£1 compared with the previous day’s rate of N1,859.98/£1 and against the Euro, it weakened by N1.95 to settle at N1,557.13/€1, in contrast to Thursday’s closing price of N1,555.18/€1.

At the parallel market, the Nigerian currency improved its value further against the US Dollar on Friday by N5 to sell for N1,565/$1 compared with the preceding session’s N1,570/$1.

As for the cryptocurrency market, it slumped yesterday after the US Bureau of Labor Statistics said the country’s economy added 143,000 jobs in January, below the forecast 170,000 and down from 256,000 in December.

Ethereum (ETH) declined by 4.5 per cent to sell at $2,615.76, Cardano slumped 4.3 per cent to trade at $0.6949, Litecoin (LTC) depreciated by 1.9 per cent to settle at $103.35, Dogecoin (DOGE) fell by 1.7 per cent to $0.2476, Solana (SOL) recorded a 1.4 per cent loss to close at $193.39, Bitcoin (BTC) depleted by 1.2 per cent to $96,138.53, and Binance Coin (BNB) went down by 1.1 per cent to quote at $578.78.

On the flip side, Ripple (XRP) gained 1.8 per cent to trade at $2.36, while the US Dollar Tether (USDT) and the US Dollar Coin (USDC) traded flat $1.00 each.

Continue Reading

Economy

Oil Prices up on Fresh Iran Crude Export Sanctions

Published

on

Crude Oil Prices

By Adedapo Adesanya

Oil prices went up on Friday after new sanctions were imposed on Iran’s crude exports, with Brent crude futures expanding by 37 cents or 0.5 per cent to $74.66 per barrel, and the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures growing by 39 cents or 0.55 per cent to $71.00 a barrel.

However, for the week, prices were down by 2 per cent as investors worried about US President Donald Trump’s renewed trade war with China and threats of tariffs on other countries.

Reports of planned tariffs from the Trump administration reined in gains following the sanctions announced on Thursday.

The American president on Friday said he plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries by Monday or Tuesday of next week.

President Trump did not identify which countries would be hit but suggested it would be a broad effort that could also help solve US budget problems.

However, Mr Trump’s Commerce secretary nominee Howard Lutnick voiced concerns about India’s high tariff rates, while US Trade Representative nominee Jamieson Greer discussed US complaints about Vietnam’s and Brazil’s tariffs and trade barriers.

He had earlier announced a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports as part of a broad plan to improve the US trade balance, but suspended plans to impose steep tariffs on Mexico and Canada.

But market analysts noted that this could be a major escalation of his offensive to tear up and reshape global trade relationships in the US favour.

On Thursday, it imposed new sanctions on a few individuals and tankers helping to ship millions of barrels of Iranian crude oil per year to China as it intensified war against Iran.

Iran’s President, Mr Masoud Pezeshkian, called on its fellow members in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to stand united against ‘destabilizing’ US sanctions, meeting with OPEC Secretary General Khaitam al-Ghais as the country assumes the rotating presidency of the organisation.

Continue Reading

Economy

Bulls Tighten Grip on Nigerian Exchange With 0.48% Growth

Published

on

Nigerian Exchange

By Dipo Olowookere

The Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited appreciated further by 0.48 per cent on Friday after market participants showed no signs of slowing down in their hunt for stocks with sound fundamentals.

During the session, all the key sectors of the bourse witnessed bargain-hunting activities, with the banking counter growing by 1.72 per cent.

Further, the insurance index expanded by 1.64 per cent, the industrial goods sector jumped by 0.77 per cent, the consumer goods industry rose by 0.11 per cent and the energy space also gained 0.11 per cent.

Consequently, the All-Share Index (ASI) increased by 502.88 points to 105,933.03 points from the 105,430.15 points it ended a day earlier, and the market capitalisation gained 0.47 per cent or N305 billion to settle at N65.592 trillion compared with Thursday’s N65.287 trillion.

A total of 37 equities ended on the gainers’ chart yesterday and 17 equities on the losers’ table, implying a strong investor sentiment and positive market breadth index.

Academy Press appreciated by 9.93 per cent to N2.99, Cadbury Nigeria also improved its value by 9.93 per cent to N29.35, Eterna rose by 9.90 per cent to N36.65, Livestock Feeds expanded by 9.85 per cent to N5.80, and UPDC soared by 9.75 per cent to N2.59.

On the flip side, Multiverse lost 9.95 per cent to close at N9.05, MeCure Industries shed 9.71 per cent to N12.55, NPF Microfinance Bank slumped by 7.94 per cent to N1.74, Learn Africa declined by 4.44 per cent to N4.30, and Tantalizers soured by 3.85 per cent to N2.00.

Investors transacted 468.2 million shares worth N13.2 billion in 12,612 deals on the last trading session of the week compared with the 537.2 million shares valued at N23.0 billion traded in 15,450 deals in the preceding session, representing a decline in the trading volume, value and number of deals by 12.84 per cent, 42.61 per cent and 18.37 per cent, respectively.

The busiest stock for the day was Zenith Bank with a turnover of 108.8 million units worth N5.0 billion, Cutix traded 24.3 million units valued at N58.7 million, Access Holdings exchanged 23.6 million units for N657.7 million, Sterling Holdings transacted 22.8 million units valued at N136.0 million, and Fidelity Bank sold 20.4 million units worth N426.3 million.

Continue Reading

Trending