From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja
The Northern Defence Network, has called for the arrest of leaders of the Kyari Must Go Now group in order to interrogate their motives of threatening to shutdown Nigeria’s economic activities by occupying strategic national assets and exposing nude women unto the streets if Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari is not relieved of his position.
In a statement signed by the Network’s Chairman, Abubakar Nuhu Sani, said the group is is compelled by true patriotism and love for country to react to a rude, incoherent and indecent purported petition against the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari.
“The authors of the senseless petition, apparently commissioned by self-apponted enemies of the NNPCL GCEO recommended among other things, a Forensic Audit of the Fuel Subsidy regime in the last 8 years.
“In an attempt to rub President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in their unstatesmanlike, misguided misadventure, the obscure coalition claimed to be his key supporters after which they threatened to mobilize and organize a one million youth march to compel compliance.
“Constituting themselves into an imminent national security threat and apparent saboteurs of the Tinubu administration the authors of the felonious petition, some of whom claim to be lawyers, vowed to shut down such crirical national economic assets as the East-West Road, the Benin-Ore Road, Abuja-Lokoja Road, the Asaba-Onitcha Road and mobilize another 5OO youths to shut down the NNPC Towers, Abuja,” he said.
According to Sani, these are actions that are not only felonious and sabotaging the nation’s progress but also pose a significant threat to national security. Therefore, it is imperative that these groups be dealt with accordingly to safeguard the nation’s economic stability and security.
He said the threat by these groups to shut down critical Nigerian national economic assets, such as major roadways and the NNPC Towers, are felonious, sabotaging, and pose a significant threat to national security.
“The disruption of transportation routes and the oil industry undermines economic progress, regional integration, and foreign investment. Moreover, these actions can lead to social unrest, fuel shortages, and violence, jeopardizing the nation’s stability,” he said.
Calling for the arrest of the identified signatories to the petition in order to safeguard Nigeria’s economic stability and security, Abbah said swift action must be taken to ensure the uninterrupted flow of economic activities, protect national progress, and maintain the safety and well-being of Nigerian citizens.
“In another apparent rush to please their sponsors and earn their pay, the uncultured authors of the mindless petition threw decency to the winds by threatening to resort to primitive tactics involving dragging nude women unto the streets in their protests,” he said.
Sani noted that whereas public protests have long been an essential tool for individuals and groups to express their grievances and advocate for change, however, the effectiveness and ethical boundaries of such protests have been clearly defined.
“This particular immoral tactic of threatening to expose nude women on the streets is certainly unacceptable and should not be allowed by the authorities.
“To threaten to expose nude women on the streets in the name of protest is an uncivilized, indecent, indecorous, primitive, immoral and filthy act that should not be tolerated. It violates personal dignity, erodes public decency, degrades the protest message, and exposes women to potential harm and exploitation. Instead, protests should strive to uphold the principles of respect, inclusivity, and constructive dialogue to effect meaningful change.
“Authorities must take a firm stance against this threat by immediately arresting and interrogating the motives of the signatories to the petition to ensure the preservation of a civilized society that values the rights and dignity of all its members,” he said.
Meanwhile, Sani said, verifiable records are clear that under the leadership of Mr Mele Kyari the (NNPC) has achieved significant progress in its upstream activities from July 2019 till date. This includes the successful exploration of the Kolmani River II Well in the Upper Benue Trough, resulting in the discovery of oil in commercial quantity. Additionally, the resolution of disputes with Shell and Belema Oil has allowed the resumption of over 30,000 barrels per day production in OML 25.
Another major achievement is the successful execution of the Abo OML 125 Heads of Terms, which has paved the way for the renewal of OML 125 and further investment in deep offshore production. The resolution of disputes with SNEPCo and other PSC partners for OML 118 has also led to its renewal and the potential for a $10 billion investment in the development of the Bonga South-East Field.
Furthermore, the resolution of the 1993 PSC dispute, responsible for over 90% of the country’s Deepwater production, has unlocked over 7 billion barrels of oil and 20T. These accomplishments demonstrate NNPC’s commitment to achieving its goals and contributing to the growth and development of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Of particular importance are the alternative funding facilities the company secured for some joint ventures to facilitate the further development of assets. These include the N875.75m NPDC OML 65 Alternative Funding and Technical Services package with CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company, the $3.15bn Alternative Financing Package with Sterling Exploration and Energy Production Company Limited (SEEPCO), among others for the development of NPDC’s OML 13. This has greatly enhanced NNPC’s financial muscle and expanded its operational capacity.
The Presidential flag off of the Kolmani Integrated Development Project (KIPRO) on 22nd November 2022 is another major achievement by NNPC under Kyari’s leadership. With over 1bn barrels of oil and 500BCF of gas addition to existing hydrocarbon reserves, this project will enhance national energy security, create job opportunities, and stimulate balanced economic growth.
NNPC has also been involved in inland basin exploration projects in Nasarawa and Chad Basin. These efforts have led to the discovery of significant amounts of oil and gas reserves, which have the potential to boost Nigeria’s economy and improve energy security.
Moreover, NNPC’s real-time command and control center is responsible for monitoring, locating, and reporting suspicious activities to various security agencies. This initiative demonstrates the corporation’s commitment to ensuring safety and security in the oil and gas industry.
The Final Investment Decision on the NLNG Train 7 Project in December 2019 is another significant achievement for the NNPC. The project has the potential to generate over $20 billion of revenue for the government and create 10,000 direct and 40,000 indirect jobs. This feat will not only boost the country’s economy but will help to reduce unemployment rates and ultimately improve the standard of living of Nigerians.
The signing of the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract of the NLNG Train-7 project with the SCD JV Consortium is another remarkable achievement by the NNPC.
The consortium comprising Saipem, Chiyoda, and Daewoo affiliated companies signals the commencement of the detailed design and construction phase of the project. On completion, the NLNG production capacity is expected to rise by 35 per cent from the current 22 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 30 MTPA. This will enable Nigeria to maintain its position as a key player in the global liquefied natural gas market while enhancing its revenue base.
Under Kyari’s leadership, NNPC has achieved significant milestones in the expansion and improvement of its gas infrastructure. The Escravos Lagos Pipeline System II (ELPS II) and Oben-Obiafu-Obrikom (OB3) gas pipeline have been aggressively executed and expanded, increasing delivery capacity from 1.5BCF/D to over 3.5BCF/D. The ELPS II has reached 96.34% completion, which is a great achievement.
Additionally, the Oredo Integrated Gas Handling Facility (IGHF) and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Storage and Dispensing Unit have been commissioned to address domestic gas supply challenges, delivering over 200 million standard cubic feet of dry gas per day and 330 metric tonnes of Liquefied Petroleum Gas into the domestic market. Finally, the NNPC has executed a Joint Venture agreement with NIPCO to market and distribute Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as part of the Auto gas project, which is expected to have a significant impact on the Nigerian economy. Overall, these achievements demonstrate the NNPC’s commitment to the expansion and improvement of Nigeria’s gas infrastructure.
Another notable achievement is the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Brass Gas Hub with the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company for the $3.6bn Brass Methanol Plant located in Odioma, Bayelsa State. This decision will promote the growth of the country’s petrochemical industry, generate jobs for the teeming population, and boost the economy.
In addition, the corporation signed a $260m financing agreement for the Assa-North Ohaji South (ANOH) Gas Project with Seplat. The project will provide 300 million standard cubic feet of gas per day and an additional 1,200 megawatts of electricity, helping to meet the country’s power needs.
Moreover, NNPC executed a Gas Development Agreement (GDA) for the Oil Mining Lease (OML) 143 in partnership with the Sterling Oil Exploration and Production Company (SEEPCO). The project aims to increase the country’s gas production capacity by 1.2 trillion cubic feet (tcf) and further enhance the country’s energy security.
The Corporation secured the United State Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) Grant and commenced the upgrade of 1350MW Abuja Independent Power Plant (IPP) project development to World Bank Standard for bankability. This initiative will help to ensure the efficient and sustainable generation of electricity in the country.
NNPC’s various achievements in 2021 are commendable and signify a positive outlook for the country’s energy sector. These milestones demonstrate the Corporation’s commitment to ensuring energy security, promoting investment in the petrochemical industry, and creating job opportunities for Nigerians.
NNPC has achieved several significant milestones in recent years. One such achievement was the signing of the Trans-Atlantic Pipeline Project (Nigerian Morrocco Gas Pipeline) MOU with African NOCs, ONHYM, and ECOWAS. This is a crucial step towards improving energy security on the continent. Additionally, the Maiduguri Emergency Power Project and Gwagwalada IPP Project have helped to address the country’s power deficit.
On the downstream side, NNPC has streamlined the importation, supply, and distribution of petroleum products across Nigeria. As the sole importer, NNPC has succeeded in ensuring a stable fuel supply system, guaranteeing zero fuel queues throughout the country. The organization has also strengthened the products distribution system by revamping the pipeline network through a BOT model.
NNPC has also executed an agreement with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Zed Energy to construct the N10.5bn Brass Petroleum Products Terminal. This facility is expected to provide a strategic reserve for the country, with a depot for 50 million litres of petroleum products.
NNPC has achieved some remarkable accomplishments that have benefited the Nigerian economy. One of these achievements is the establishment of a facility that serves as a strategic reserve for the country. This facility is expected to hold 50 million litres of petroleum products, with an automated storage and bay for AGO, PMS, DPK, and ATK. The two-way product jetty will close the infrastructure gap around the distribution of petroleum products, and ultimately eliminate illegal refining activities. This achievement is significant in improving and expanding NNPC’s operations.
Another significant achievement is the expansion of the LPG logistics business through the acquisition of two LPG Vessels (MT Sapet and MT BaruMK) via the joint venture company WAGL. Also, NNPC’s acquisition of OVH increased retail stations to over 380, capacity per annum jetty to 240,000MT, 3 Lubes blending plants, 3 aviation depots, 8 LPG plants, 38 LPG skids, and 12 warehouses. These acquisitions and expansions have increased NNPC’s capacity and retail presence and consequently contributed to Nigeria’s economic growth.
Furthermore, NNPC signed a $1.5bn Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) Contract Agreement with Tecnimont SpA in April 2021 for the complete rehabilitation of Port Harcourt Refinery. This achievement will increase the refinery’s capacity to 60kbpd, thereby improving fuel supply and reducing the nation’s reliance on imported petroleum products. With these achievements, NNPC proves to be a vital player in the Nigerian economy, and its contributions are integral in boosting growth and development.
The NNPC has also within this period introduced a new operational model for the refineries post-rehabilitation with the call for bids for the Operations & Maintenance. This model ensures that contractors with requisite experience manage the refineries, ensuring regular maintenance. Additionally, the WRPC and KRPC Quick Fix contract was awarded to Daewoo for the retstreaming of both plants by 2024.
NNPC’s equity holding in Dangote Refinery, Azikel Refinery, and three units of 10kbpd condensate refineries is also a significant achievement. With these investments, NNPC’s footprint in the downstream sector has increased, promoting local production and Nigerian content development.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, NNPC and its partners raised over N21bn to support the fight against the spread of the virus in Nigeria. Funds were deployed for the provision of logistics and in-patient support equipment such as ambulances, ventilators, isolation centers, and medical consumables like drugs, sanitizers, masks, protective gear, and equipment donated to all the states of the Federation.
“Overall, NNPC’s achievements under Mele Kyari point to a commitment towards developing the country’s energy sector and improving its economy. With continued growth and investment, the corporation will undoubtedly achieve even greater milestones in the future,” he said.