Kyari
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has
revealed that it earned N20.36 billion in its July 2020 operations
due to continuous improvement in global crude oil demand for the
third consecutive month.
The state-owned oil firm in a statement signed by its Group
General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Kennie Obateru, on
Thursday, stated that the trading surplus, when compared to the
N2.12 billion surplus in June, reflects an 858 percent overall
upswell in performance by the corporation.
Giving a further breakdown based on details of the figures
captured in the July 2020 NNPC Monthly Financial and Operations
Report (MFOR), Dr Obateru indicated a 178 percent rise in the
surplus posted by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company
(NPDC), NNPC’s flagship Upstream entity.
Similarly, the report said the corporation’s earnings was
further enhanced by the 739 per cent increased profit posted by the
Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) and a 51 percent growth in
performance by Duke Oil Incorporated, both companies of NNPC.
“Returns from NNPC Retail Limited and Nigerian Gas Marketing
Company (NGMC) during the period under review also grew by 28
percent and 24 percent respectively, owing to increased sales and
improved debt collection.”
More Revenue Increase From Gas
The report further revealed that in the gas sector, production
in July 2020 increased by 2.19 percent at 236.34Billion Cubic Feet
(BCF) compared to output in June 2020; “translating to an average
daily production of 7,623.98 Million Standard Cubic Feet of gas per
day (mmscfd).
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});
“Likewise, the daily average natural gas supply to gas power
plants stood at 707mmscfd, equivalent to power generation of
2,421MW.”
On a year-on-year basis the statement showed that 3,079.64BCF of
gas was produced, representing an average daily production of
7,812.11mmscfd.
“Period-to-date Production from Joint Ventures (JVs), Production
Sharing Contracts (PSCs) and NPDC contributed about 70.88 percent,
20.37 percent and 8.75 percent respectively to the total national
gas production.”
Despite Price Increase, Nigerians Consumed 1.02bn litres of
fuel
Meanwhile, the report showed that a total of 1.02billion litres
of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol was
supplied and effectively distributed across the country,
representing a daily consumption of 32.95 million liters for the
month under review.
The report stated that the corporation has continued to monitor
the daily stock of PMS to achieve smooth distribution of petroleum
products and zero fuel queue across the Nation.
Pipeline Vandalism Rises Marginally
The report noted that during the period under review, 36
pipeline points were vandalized, representing about 9 percent
increase from the 33 points recorded in June 2020.
“Atlas Cove-Mosimi and Aba-Enugu network accounted for 28
percent each, while PHC-Aba and the other locations recorded 14 per
cent and the remaining 31 percent respectively.”
The statement stressed that the NNPC in collaboration with the
local communities and other stakeholders have continuously strived
to
Anti-Corruption: FG launches Database
for Stolen Assets Tracing
The Federal Government
has officially launched a Central asset database initiative
designed to trace, track and recover stolen assets.
The Honorable Attorney
General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (HAGF), Abubakar
Malami SAN made this known at the programme tagged:
‘Formal launch of the Central Database under Asset Tracing,
recovery and management Regulations 2019 and the Central Criminal
Justice Information System (CCJIS) under the National
Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017-2019, and Sensitization Workshop for
stakeholders in Abuja, on 17th September,
2020 .
Delivering his speech
at the occasion, Abubakar Malami SAN described the initiative as
continual efforts and further commitment of the President Muhammadu
Buhari’s administration to fighting corruption in the country.
He said the initiative
was also targeted at deepening transparency in the asset recovery
effort in accordance with the United Nations Charter.
Malami explained,
“Apart from our involvement in the Open Government Partnership
initiative, anti-corruption agencies saddled with responsibilities
have been given adequate support to succeed.
He disclosed that the
Federal Government of Nigeria has declared its commitment in
deploying technology to every nook and crannies of the
Federation to enable the relevant stakeholder key into the 21st
Century technology in Nigeria through Central Database.
The Minister pointed
that this will enable the relevant stakeholder key
into the 21st Century technology in Nigeria which
guarantees transparency and ensures there is accountability on the
part of public officers.
He expressed the
Ministry’s readiness to work with the Judiciary at all
levels, Anti-Corruption Institution at both the States and Federal
levels and the Nigerian Police in order to run the information
center real time.
“Let me state in
addition to what the Solicitor General of the Federation and
Permanent Secretary has said about the Central Criminal Justice
Information System (CCJIS), the Office of the Attorney General of
the Federation and Minister of Justice, is developing legislation
for the full implementation and operation of the CCJIS in order to
ensure compliance” he explained
In his opening
remarks, the Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent
Secretary, Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata,
SAN, disclosed that, the Central Database for
assets recovery and Central Criminal Justice Information System are
practical expression of the administration’s willingness to have a
one-stop information centre where timely and verifiable information
is sourced and provided to all Stakeholders, whether as private,
public, local or international entity.
He said, “let me
recall that, following the issuance of the asset tracing, recovery
and management regulations on the 29th October,
2019 by the AGF, the need to put in place a centralized database
for the storage of records of all recovered assets within and
outside of Nigeria as contained in Section 3 of the ATRM
Regulations, 2019 became obligatory for Nigeria. Hence, the AGF
team worked tirelessly with minimal funding to develop these
tools.”
Enumerating the
objectives of the ATRM, Apata said, it is centralised asset
depository for easy coordination for all Stakeholders with regards
to asset Management. Most importantly, the Central Database for
recovered assets compliments Central Criminal Justice Information
System.
Speaking on National
Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS), the Solicitor General of the
Federation explained that, following the directives by the Federal
Executive Council (FEC) on 5th July, 2017, the
Ministry under the HAGF developed a robust implementation plan for
NACS.
“Let me inform
Stakeholders present here today that, Federal Ministry of Justice
has developed Central Criminal Justice Information System under the
NACS in line with ‘Pillar 1’ on prevention, with specific emphasis
on strengthening the legal, institutional and operational framework
designed to prevent and combat corruption”.
He therefore
encouraged all relevant Stakeholders and Nigerians to never relent
in fight against corruption for the battle requires
perseverance.
In his good will
message, the Speaker, House of Representatives, RT. Hon Femi
Gbajabiamila represented by the Chairman, House Committee on
Justice, Hon. Ugonna Ozurigbo said that the ATRM is a panacea to
rekindling the value system of a nation. He added that it is a core
value of good governance and effective management of this venture
will serve as a deterrent to would-be fraudulent minded individuals
who may find themselves in public offices.
He described the
initiative as apt for the 21st century, assuring
that NASS will continue to empower relevant agencies to recover
looted assets via quality legislation.
In a short remark, the
both acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) and Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and
Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), DCP Mohammad Umar and
Professor Bolaji Owasanoye jointly described the initiative as a
welcome development, saying they were ready to key into the
initiative.
According to Umar, the
initiative will enhance effective management of seized assets,
saying the agency is already maintaining a database which contains
all frozen or seized assets.
While commending the
federal government, Owasanoye described the initiative as long
overdue, saying apart from preventing any form of looting and
re-looting of assets, the initiative will remain a key component of
transparency and accountability.
The British High
Commission through its representative, Andrew Clowes also pledged
its partnership with the Nigeria government in the fight against
corruption, describing it as a step forward.
Also, in his goodwill
message, the Auditor-General for the Federation, Mr Anthony Ayine
represented by Andrew Magaji lauded the Ministry on the initiative
of ATRM.
He commended the HAGF
for the memo presented to the Federal Executive Council on a bill
to seek the approval of the Council to transmit to the National
Assembly for passage into law “the proceeds of Crime and Management
Agency Bill” which to him was a move in a right direction.
Also present at the
event are; Representative of Inspector General of Police, FIRS
Chairman, Muhammed Nani, Representative of UNODC and Civil Society
Organisations and other relevant stakeholders.
Modupe
Ogundoro
Deputy Director
17th September, 2020