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PIA and Gestation of Acts

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petroleum industry act PIA

By Jerome-Mario Chijioke Utomi

Many Nigerians with critical interest had hitherto believed that the advent of Nigeria’s Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which was signed into law in the year mentioned above, and arguably the most audacious attempt to overhaul the petroleum sector in Nigeria, would solve the real and imagined challenges in the nation’s petroleum sector, and turn the Niger Delta region, particularly host communities, to a zone of peace in their relationship with crude oil prospecting and exploration companies.

However, facts have since emerged that instead of providing the legal, governance, regulatory and fiscal framework for the Nigerian petroleum industry and the host communities, the Petroleum Industry Act has, contrary to expectations, become a first line of conflict between crude oil prospecting, exploration companies and their host communities.

Like other Acts that guided crude oil production in the past, PIA has similarly become a toothless bulldog that neither bites nor barks. In fact, analysts and industry watchers have come to a sudden realization that nothing has changed.

Among many examples, the recent 14 days ultimatum/threat by an oil-rich community of Tsekelewu (Polobubo) in Warri North Local Government Area of Delta State to shut down ongoing exploration activities of Conoil Producing Limited if the company failed to reach a definite agreement with the community on the implementation of Chapter 3 of the PIA for the Tsekelewu bloc of communities, supports this assertion.

Entitled ‘Fourteen (14) Days Ultimatum to Implement Chapter 3 of 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in Tsekelewu (Polobubo) Host Community and Bloc of Communities by Conoil Producing Limited at OML 103’, the petition/ultimatum, dated December 30, 2022, signed by the President-General of the Tsekelewu (Polobubo) Development Association, Dr Bright Abulu, and the spokesman of the association, Mr Christmas Ukagha, and addressed to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Conoil Producing Limited, among other things, lamented that they adopted the option due to seemingly snobbish attitude of the management of Conoil as the company’s management had refused to honour letters asking for a meeting with the TCDA on the issue of the PIA implementation.

Essentially, while the people of Tsekelewu (Polobubo) host community continue to wait for what becomes the outcome of their ultimatum, there is indeed, greater evidence that points to the fact that the underlying premise behind PIA enactment has been defeated.

There is equally a reason for concern that what is currently happening between oil companies and their host communities may no longer be the first half of a reoccurring circle but, rather, the beginning of something negatively new and different.

A tour by boat of creeks and coastal communities of Warri South West and Warri North Local Government Areas of Delta State will amply reveal that the much-anticipated end in sight of gas flaring is actually not in sight.

In the same manner, a journey by road from Warri via Eku-Abraka to Agbor and another road trip from Warri through Ughelle down to Ogwuashi Ukwu in Anoicha Local Government of the state shows an environment where people cannot properly breathe as it is littered by gas flaring points.

To a large extent, the above confirms as true the recently published report, which, among other concerns, noted that Nigeria has about 139 gas flare locations spread across the Niger Delta both in onshore and offshore oil fields where gas which constitutes about 11 per cent of the total gas produced are flared.

Apart from the health implication of flared gases on humanity, their adverse impact on the nation’s economy is equally weighty.

For instance, a parallel report published a while ago underlined that about 888 million standard cubic feet of gas were flared daily in 2017. The flared gas, it added, was sufficient to light up Africa, or sub-Saharan Africa, generate 2.5 gigawatts (GW) of power or produce 50 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) or produce 600,000 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) per year, produce 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), feed two-three liquefied natural gas (LNG) trains, generate 300,000 jobs, able to attract $3.5 billion investment into Nigeria and has $350 million carbon credit value’. This is an illustrative pointer as to why the nation economically gropes and stumbles.

Looking at the enormity of the health and economic losses inherent in gas flaring, one may be tempted to ask what set the stage for gas flaring in Nigeria. The politics that keep it going, and why it ‘flourishes unabated?

Banking on what experts are saying, the major reason for the flaring of gases is that when crude oil is extracted from onshore and offshore oil wells, it brings with it raw natural gas to the surface and where natural gas transportation, pipelines, and infrastructure are lacking like in the case of Nigeria, this gas is instead burned off or flared as a waste product as this is the cheapest option. This has been on since the 1950s when crude oil was first discovered in commercial quantity in Nigeria.

While Nigeria and Nigerians persist in encountering gas flaring in the country, even so, has successive administrations in the country made both feeble and deformed attempts to get it arrested.

The facts are there and speak for it.

In 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration enacted Gas Flare prohibition and punishment), an act that, among other things, made provisions to prohibit gas flaring in any oil and gas production operation, blocks, fields, onshore or offshore, and gas facility treatment plants in Nigeria.

On Monday 2nd.September 2018, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Minister of State for Petroleum (as he then was), while speaking at the Buyers’ Forum/stakeholders’ Engagement organized by the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria in Abuja, among other things, remarked thus, ‘I have said to the Department of Petroleum Resources, beginning from next year (2019 emphasis added), we are going to get quite frantic about this (ending gas flaring in Nigeria) and companies that cannot meet with extended periods –the issue is not how much you can pay in terms of fines for gas flaring, the issue is that you would not produce. We need to begin to look at the foreclosing of licenses’.

That threat has since ended in the frames as the Minister did little or nothing to get the threat actualized.

The administration also launched the now abandoned National Gas Flare Commercialization Programme (NGFCP, a programme, according to the federal government, aimed at achieving the flares-out agenda/zero routine gas flaring in Nigeria by 2020.

Again, like a regular trademark, it failed.

Away from Buhari’s administration, in 1979, the then federal government, in a similar style, came up with the Associated Gas Re-injection Act, which summarily prohibited gas flaring and also fixed the flare-out deadline for January 1, 1984. It failed in line with the leadership philosophy in the country.

Similar feeble and deformed attempts were made in 2003, 2006, and 2008.

In the same style and span, precisely on July 2, 2009, the Nigerian Senate passed a Gas Flaring (Prohibition and Punishment) Bill 2009 (SB 126) into Law, fixing the flare-out deadline for December 31, 2010- a date that slowly but inevitably failed.

Not stopping at this point, the FG made another attempt in this direction by coming up with the Petroleum Industry Bill, which fixed the flare-out deadline for 2012. The same Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) got protracted till 2021, when it completed its gestation and was subsequently signed into law by President Buhari as PIA.

Despite this vicious movement to save the industry, the environment and its people, the Niger Delta challenge remains.

So, the question that is as important as the piece itself is; if this legion of laws/Acts cannot save the people of the region, who will? When will it complete its gestation period and deliver the targeted result to the people of the Niger Delta region?

While the answer(s) to the above question remains germane, this piece holds the opinion that to permanently resolve the Niger Delta question, the people of the region must be directly involved in the management of their resources. Call it resource control; you may not be far from the truth!

Utomi Jerome-Mario is the Programme Coordinator (Media and Policy) at Social and Economic Justice Advocacy (SEJA), Lagos. He can be reached via [email protected]/08032725374

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Olam Agri to Sustain Significant Investments in Workforce, Food Value Chain

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By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The managing director of Olam Agri in Nigeria, Mr Anil Nair, has assured us that more investments in the company’s workforce will be made for economic growth.

He gave this assurance while reacting to the recognition of the organisation as a Top Employer for the fifth consecutive time by the Top Employers Institute.

“As we celebrate this recognition, we also look to the future. Olam Agri is committed to scaling our HR practices to ensure alignment with global standards.

“We will continue to make significant investments in our people and the food value chain, enriching lives and driving economic growth.

“Our goal is to create an environment where our employees can excel and thrive, and we are dedicated to achieving this.

“Olam Agri’s continued success as a Top Employer reflects its unwavering dedication to fostering growth, well-being, and excellence in its operations,” he stated.

Also commenting, the firm’s Regional Head of Human Resources, Jaideep Biswas, said, “Our people-centric strategy aligns with the dynamic demands of the global talent landscape, embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion at the core of our operations.

“This certification validates our approach, but we’re not stopping here. We remain committed to helping our workforce thrive in a rapidly evolving work environment.”

In the annual HR Best Practices Survey of the Top Employers Institute, Olam Agri in Nigeria was named the Top Employer because of its exceptional workplace culture, innovative HR strategies, and growing appeal to talent locally and globally.

“Consistency in a not-so-consistent world is remarkable. Amidst technological advances, economic shifts, and evolving social landscapes, it’s inspiring to see organisations like Olam Agri rise to the challenge.

“This year’s certification celebrates those who continue to lead with people-first strategies, setting the standard for enriching the world of work,” the chief executive of Top Employers Institute, Mr David Plink, said.

The institute evaluates organisations based on a comprehensive survey covering six key HR domains and 20 topics: People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Wellbeing.

Since 2020, Olam Agri’s operations in Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, and the Africa region have consistently earned top rankings, solidifying its reputation as an employer of choice.

As a leading agribusiness in food, feed, and fibre, Olam Agri is deeply committed to making a positive impact on its workforce, customers, host communities, and stakeholders.

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Proposed NLC Protest Over Tariff Hike Unnecessary—Subscribers

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By Adedapo Adesanya

The National Association of Telecommunication Subscribers (NATCOMS) has distanced itself from the planned industrial action by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) against the recently approved telecommunication tariff hike.

According to NATCOMS President, Mr Deolu Ogunbanjo, in a statement on Thursday, the proposed protest was unnecessary, warning that it could send negative signals to investors.

Earlier this week, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) approved a 50 per cent tariff adjustment in response to rising operational costs following over 11 years of discussion.

The move has raised worries and one of the parties which have been vocal about is NATCOMS.

The subscribers’ group and the labour union criticized the move, describing it as excessive and burdensome for Nigerian consumers.

On the part of the union, Mr Joe Ajaero, the NLC President, called on the industry regulator and the National Assembly to halt the 50 per cent implementation, urging Nigerian workers and the public to reject the hike, suggesting a nationwide boycott of telecommunication services as a possible course of action.

“This is for our dignity, our rights, and our survival as a people. The NLC remains resolute in defending the interests of Nigerian workers and the masses.

“We will resist this injustice and demand that the government prioritizes the interests of its citizens over corporate interests,” Mr Ajaero said.

But NATCOMS has advocated legal action and not the proposed protest.

“We do not support the Nigerian Labour Congress’ call for industrial action. No, we don’t! NATCOMS is not in support,” Mr Ogunbanjo stated.

“To investors and businesses, it is a wrong signal. Negotiation is still ongoing, and the tariff hike is scheduled for February. We still have eight days,” he added.

Business Post had reported that NATCOMS is engaging with the NCC to find a resolution and is prepared to approach the courts if consultations fail.

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Five Firms Get N16.3bn for 68km Rural Roads in Oyo

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Rural Roads Development

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Five construction companies have sealed a deal worth N16.3 billion to construct about 68 kilometres of rural roads under phase 1 of the Oyo State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (Oyo RAAMP).

The roads, according to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Olasunkanmi Olaleye, cut across five local government areas of the state.

He said the project was expected to have a positive impact on lives of rural communities, farmers, and traders as well as market hubs to reduce post-harvest loss of agricultural products.

The Commissioner urged the firms to execute quality and satisfactory jobs since they emerged from the highly competitive bidding and procurement processes.

Mr Olaleye explained that the phase 1 intervention roads of backlog maintenance/rehabilitation and cross drainage structures would include the Fashola Farm settlement road networks in Oyo West, the Oloko Oyo Junction-Ikere Junction in Iseyin Local Government, the Alako-Idiya-Batake-Olowa Farm settlement in Ido Local Government, the Adebayo-Alata-Aba Oje in Oluyole local government, the Okudi-Oyada road in ATISBO Local Government, and the Tewure-Ila junction road in Oriire local government.

The contractors awarded the road projects are Dephhanny’s Venture Limited, Messrs CGC Nigeria Limited, Messrs Coastline Engineering Limited, Messrs Lopek Engineering and Construction Limited, and Messrs E.A.A Engineering Limited.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs Abosede Owoeye, said that the objectives align with the vision of Governor Seyi Makinde to support farmers with the necessary equipment to enhance food security, adding that this was one step closer to achieving its goals of promoting economic growth, improving livelihoods, and enhancing food security.

She, therefore, thanked the federal government, the World Bank, and the French Development Agency for the support.

In her remarks, the Oyo State Project Coordinator for Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, Ms Adeola Ekundayo, urged the contractors to cooperate with stakeholders who will be monitoring their activities.

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