OTL Africa inaugurates new advisory board

Mr Tunji Oyebanji, Chairman, OTL Africa Petroleum Downstream Week Advisory Board

The (OTL) Africa Petroleum Downstream Week has inaugurated its new Advisory Board made up of eminent oil and gas industry professionals.

Dr Emeka Akabogu, President and Founder, OTL Downstream Development in Africa Ltd. inaugurated the new board members in a virtual meeting on Thursday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the board members are: Mr Tunji Oyebanji (Chairman), Mr Ian Brown, Mrs Sheila Abiemo, Mr Mumuni Dagazau, Mr Clement Isong and Mr Reginald Stanley (Patron).

Akabogu said the annual OTL Africa Downstream Week was the continent’s leading business forum for market insights, business development and policy analysis in the African downstream petroleum value-chain.

He said it was organised in collaboration with key partners in government and the industry, adding that the 2022 event would hold from Oct. 24 to Oct. 26 in Lagos.

According to him, the reconstituted advisory board is made up of eminent, long-standing industry professionals with extensive experience and deep industry knowledge.

He said their performance going forward would be crucial toward the continued success of the OTL Africa Petroleum Downstream Week.

Akabogu there was need for the event to become truly African with representation from the North, East, South, West and Central Africa.

He said: “From a sectoral point of view, we want to be able to reach the entire value chain for oil and gas and spread beyond to attract interest from unrelated but similar interests, so we can cross-fertilise ideas and enable more innovation.

“We want to translate our discussions to actions, to see our recommendations as drivers of policy, as ignitors of innovation, as enablers of growth.

“As we aspire to achieve in the aforesaid dimensions, we are nonetheless aware that we are setting these goals at a time when there are evident headwinds in the nature of COVID-19 and constricting markets and general economic challenges in some sectors.

“Nonetheless, it is also a time of new opportunities. We must, therefore, be ready to see, innovate, create and deliver value to the industry.”

Akabogu also commended the outgoing advisory board chairman, Stanley for his commitment and passion to the success of the OTL Africa Petroleum Downstream Week.

Also, Dr Billy Okoye, Group Executive Director, Ventures and Business Development, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., urged the board members to bring their wealth of experience to bear in taking the event to greater heights.

Okoye said the OTL Africa Petroleum Downstream Week had created opportunities for all stakeholders in the sector to network and dialogue on ways of moving oil and gas industry forward in the continent.

On his part, Oyebanji, a former Chairman of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, said the new advisory board would discharge its responsibilities satisfactorily and called for support toward achieving its mandate.

“I want to thank you for the confidence reposed on the board members. It is a great honour and privilege and with your collaboration, we will be able to take OTL Africa Petroleum Downstream Week to greater heights, ” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

IPMAN warns tanker drivers to stop meddling in association’s affairs

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has warned some petroleum tanker drivers to stop meddling in the association’s affairs, especially with regards to its national leadership.

Alhaji Yakubu Suleiman, Public Relations Officer, IPMAN, made this known in a statement issued on Monday in Lagos.

Yakubu said the current National Executive Committee (NEC) of IPMAN had received information that some tanker drivers were behind ongoing plans to install another leadership for IPMAN on Jan. 18.

He said the move was a flagrant violation of the judgment delivered by the Supreme Court in Abuja on Dec. 14, 2018.

Yakubu said the judgment read by
Justice Musa Muhammad in suit No. SC15/2015, recognised Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo and Alhaji Danladi Pasali, as President and Secretary of IPMAN, respectively.

He said the tenure of the executive would expire on Dec. 14, 2023.

Yakubu added that IPMAN had already zoned the next president of the association to the North west.

“Any attempt to install another set of persons as NEC of IPMAN is null and void because the matter has been settled by the Supreme Court which is the final arbiter of justice in Nigeria.

“The Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, and the Inspector General of Police, Mr Usman Baba, have already directed that the judgment must be complied with.

“We are , therefore, calling on the security agencies to investigate this issue and apprehend those behind the move to forestall breakdown of law and order. (NAN)

Gasland donates car to orphanage, rewards loyal customers

Gasland Nig. Ltd., has donated 

a brand new Toyota Hiace 18 seater bus to “The People Foundation Motherless Babies Home” to convey the children to their school.

The company which is one of 

the major indigenous players in the Nigerian LPG sector, operating in the entire LPG value chain, also rewarded its loyal customers for the years ended 2020/2021.

Mrs Omowumni Adebayo, Chief Executive Officer, Gasland Nig. Ltd. while speaking at the ceremony held in Ibadan commended the firms dedicated  customers across Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Abuja. 

Adebayo said despite the upsurge in price of cooking gas that was prevalent in the greater part of 2021, they still maintained faith with their patronage of the company. 

She emphasised the need for 

safe handling of LPG, its appliances and accessories as well as immediate steps to take in preventing fire outbreak both at homes and in the gas retail shops.

Adebayo also sensitise them on methods and techniques to employ to combat and contain minor fire outbreaks. 

At the ceremony, awards were presented to Overall Gasland Best Customer of the year 2020/2021 in each state where the company’s gas plants are located.

Also awarded were the  Second Runner-Up Overall Outstanding Customer of the year 2020/2021 in each of the states and the Most Consistent Customer Award of the year2020/2021.

It will be recalled that the Nigerian Association of LPG Marketers (NALPGAM) at her 34th Annual General Meeting held on 25th August 2021 at the prestigious Ikeja Marriott Hotels had presented the company with an award in recognition of the company’s giant strides in the deepening of LPG utilisation in Nigeria.

Gasland Nig. Ltd had earlier pioneered free safety training workshop for women in LPG retailer-ship.

The company in the quest to boost LPG usage among households had introduced its Loyalty Card where registered customers and card holders are entitled to five per cent discount on every refill made in any of its 20 ultra modern gas plants nationwide as well as an additional five per cent off on all purchases made at the company’s marts by owners of Gasland cylinders on presentation of the card.

At the height of the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, the company donated items worth several millions of Naira to the Oyo State government as part of the corporate social responsibility to support the government to help the people cushion the effect of the lockdown in the state. (NAN)

Sahara Group celebrated as Adesina emerges private sector icon

Mr Kola Adesina

Sahara Group, a leading energy and infrastructure conglomerate received another recognition for its pivotal role in socio-economic development in Nigerian and Africa as one of its directors, Mr Kola Adesina, was named the ‘Private Sector Icon of the Year’ by Vanguard Newspapers.

Adesina, who was honoured by Vanguard Media Limited, a foremost Nigerian and African new publication, is the Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, the largest privately owned vertically integrated power company in sub-Saharan Africa.

He was described as “a consummate entrepreneur with experience that traverses academia, insurance, finance, energy, trade and diplomacy”.

Speaking on the award, Adesina said: "It's a great recognition for Sahara and our proud African heritage that continues to drive our success story for 25 years now and counting.  

This represents a call to higher service and better energy solutions across the globe and I dare say that Sahara Group is equal to the task."

Vanguard’s profile of Adesina noted that he “led and steered the strategy that facilitated the acquisition of the Group’s power assets; Ikeja Electric, the largest privately-owned power distribution business in SSA, Egbin Power Plc – the largest thermal plant in Sub Sahara Africa, SSA (with 1,320MW installed capacity with ongoing expansion plans to increase the capacity over two-fold, providing a quarter of the total generating capacity in Nigeria) and First Independent Power Limited.”

“At Sahara Group, he has overseen many initiatives, including nation-wide strategic management of the supply chain of fuel to the Emergency Power Plant of the defunct National Electricity Power Authority (now Power Holding Company Nigeria Limited), led the majestic oil delegation on the acquisition of the Sierra Leone Refinery, managed the crude oil contract of the Group in Cote D’Ivoire and served as the Director of Infrastructure, responsible for the acquisition of strategic assets in Africa."

Sahara Group celebrated its 25th anniversary last year, having commenced operations in 1996 with an initial focus on oil trading. The energy conglomerate has grown remarkably over the years and now has over 4,000 employees and operations in over 42 countries.

 

Sahara provides electricity to Nigerian households and businesses through its Egbin Power Plant and Ikeja Electric Plc. It continues to lead the charge towards energy transition, environmental sustainability, energy security, and access to clean energy in Africa.

 

It continues to deploy innovative energy solutions that reinforces its position as a foremost conglomerate with a proud African heritage and vast operations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. (NAN)

NMMP: Ikeja Electric advises customers to be patient

Mrs Folake Soetan, Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric Plc

Ikeja Electric Plc has advised customers yet to get prepaid meters under the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) to be patient, as the next phase of the programme would soon begin.

Mrs Folake Soetan, Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Electric Plc, gave the advice at a customer’s forum organised by the DisCo and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on Tuesday in Ikeja.

Soetan noted that 106,000 meters were allocated to Ikeja Electric under the first phase (Phase Zero) of the NMMP, and the DisCo was able to meter over 99 per cent of the customers.

She said: “The phase zero was very successful and we are now waiting for the phase one to begin.

“The target of phase zero was one million meters while phase one will be four million meters, but it is going to be done in batches and hopefully we will be able to meter the entire number that will be allocated to us.

“Our advice is that customers who have registered should be patient because the phase one will soon begin and those who are yet to register are advised to do so as soon as possible.”

Soetan also clarified that the Meter Assets Providers (MAP) scheme was running side by side with the NMMP for customers who want to fast track their metering process without having to wait for the NMMP.

She noted that the forum had given the DisCo the opportunity to hear the complaints from its customers, and those relating to estimated billing would be resolved as soon as possible.

Soetan said Ikeja Electric had also strengthened its network by upgrade of infrastructure, distribution lines and procurement of transformers to ensure stable supply of electricity to customers.

Also, Dr Musiliu Oseni, Vice Chairman, NERC, said the forum was organised to hear complaints from electricity customers within the network and find lasting solutions to them.

Oseni said NERC would continue to protect the rights of Nigerians by ensuring proper regulation of the electricity industry in line with the agency’s mandate.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NMMP was flagged off on Oct. 30,2020 by the Federal Government to close the metering gap in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry.

It would assist in reducing collection losses, while at the same time, increasing financial flows to achieve 100 per cent market remittance obligation of the DisCos.

Part of the objectives also include the elimination of arbitrary estimated billing, improving network monitoring capability and provision of data for market administration and investment decision-making.

PIA implementation will enable far-reaching reforms – NUPRC boss

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), says the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act ( PIA) will enable far-reaching reforms and a sustainable overhaul of the industry.

Komolafe made the assertion on Tuesday at the virtual Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) 2021 Business Forum and Annual General Meeting.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum had as its theme,”Petroleum Industry Act (PIA): Progress and Opportunities in the Decade of Gas.”

He said the signing of the PIA by President Muhammadu Buhari on Aug. 16 after almost two decades was a monumental feat in the advancement of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

Komolafe said: “This omnibus law holds the key to unlocking value from the nation’s petroleum resources for the benefit of our generation and unborn Nigerians.

” The Act will enable far-reaching reforms and a sustainable overhaul of the industry, in view of its focussed implementation under the committed leadership of the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva.”

According to him, the PIA and the Decade of Gas initiative of the government will help the government to attain its key objectives for the industry.

He said that the legal, regulatory, fiscal, governance and institutional frameworks to maximise Nigeria’s oil and gas resources had been provided for by the PIA.

Komolafe said the Act also provided incentives to attract investments in gas infrastructure development and exploration to deepen downstream gas penetration in line with government’s aspirations.

While commending the NGA for organising the forum, he said the commission would continue to partner with all stakeholders for the advancement of the industry.

Earlier, Mr Ed Ubong, President, NGA, said the global energy transition and the COVID-19 pandemic had made it imperative for all stakeholders to work together to accelerate the development of gas in Nigeria.

Ubong said the NGA was committed to supporting the government’s efforts to utilise gas for industrialisation of the country, especially with the signing of the PIA. 

NUPRC says synergy among stakeholders critical to achieving objectives of PIA

Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC

The Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission ( NUPRC) says synergy and collaboration among stakeholders in the oil and gas sector is critical to achieving the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The NUPRC, also known as the Commission is one of the petroleum regulatory agencies established following the signing of the PIA into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on Aug. 16,2021.

Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, Pioneer Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC, said the PIA which was signed into law after almost two decades has created a clear fiscal and regulatory framework for the industry.

He said the objective of the Act was to attract investment to Nigeria's oil and gas sector and optimise the nation's hydrocarbon resources for national development.

According to him, this is aimed at increasing the nation's oil and gas reserves and reduction in operating costs in the country.

Komolafe , who had held several engagements with stakeholders in the industry since assuming office, noted that the effective implementation of PIA was very important to the Buhari-led administration.

"We must continue to collaborate, synergise, and build partnerships across all agencies of government and our stakeholders, for the purpose of innovation, data gathering, information sharing and to breach specialised human capacity gaps among others, as these are positive drivers to improve local human capacity for Nigeria," he said.

Komolafe said the Commission has the responsibility of technical , operational and commercial regulation of upstream petroleum operations in Nigeria.

He said the goal of the commission was to function as a 21st century regulator by promoting an enabling environment for investment in upstream petroleum

operations.

Komolafe added that the Commission would however, ensure strict implementation of environmental policies, laws and regulations

for upstream petroleum operations.