Peter Uzoho
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has stressed the need for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to explain to Nigerians how funds deployed for the drilling of oil at the Kolmani River between Bauchi and Gombe states were expended.
The Principal Consultant to IPMAN, Mr. Maurice Ibe made the call Wednesday night while featuring on the Prime Time, a programme on Arise News Channel.
He also joined other enthusiastic Nigerians in welcoming the eventual supplying of diesel and jet-fuel to the local market, but cautioned that the impact of the supplies would not be felt by the citizens until after some days.
Responding to a question on the seeming abandonment of the Kolmani drilling project 16 months after former President Muhammadu Buhari flagged off the project with a lot of fanfare and publicity, Ibe said NNPC was the right authority to provide information on what happened in the project.
The Kolmani River Field, located in-between Bauchi and Gombe States in the Upper Benue trough, had been estimated to hold about 1 billion barrels crude oil reserve and 500 billion cubic feet of gas deposit.
Also, the Kolmani Integrated Development Project, which had reportedly attracted Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) of about $3 billion, was designed to house a 120,000-barrels per day refinery, a 500-million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant, a 300-megawatt capacity power plant, and a fertiliser plant of 2,500 tons per day.
NNPC is the developer of the field in partnership with the Northern Nigeria Development Company Limited (NNDC), a company owned by the 19 northern states, and the asset operator, Sterling Global, a Nigerian affiliate of the Indian Sandesara Group.
According to the IPMAN consultant, many of the members of the association had argued for and against the drilling campaign in Kolmani, adding that some people think it was a waste of resources.
Ibe maintained that a lot of money had been spent in the process, noting that NNPC needed to tell the country everything concerning the drilling campaign.
He said: “Honestly, I will try not to delve into that issue. It’s actually within the realm of NNPC. The are better informed, they have the data, they have the feasibility, they are the one supervising that project. So, I will not want to delve into discussing that issue in Bauchi.
“A lot of members have argued for and against it. Some think it’s a waste of resources, others think that it was good to explore. So I would stay neutral on that. I think NNPC would be the better people to speak on what is happening with.
“Frankly, there is a lot that meets the eye, but we don’t have all the information. We are not on the ground. A lot of money has been spent.
“A lot of money has been abused in that process, and what we are saying is that NNPC needs to tell the country what is happening, what has happened, how the resources have been deployed and what has been achieved.
“If it is a total waste of resources, the country needs to know and somebody needs to account for it. But for now, nobody so far is saying anything,” he stressed.
However, speaking on the supply of products to the generality of filling stations in Nigeria by Dangote Refinery, Ibe described it as a welcome development, but cautioned that the actual impact on the market would not be felt immediately.
“However, the impact will not be felt fully probably till the next couple of days. The trucks that are trucking this products are making their way to various sections of the country. So, the actual impact of the move by Dangote Refinery will not be fully felt by our members and also by the generality of Nigerians till the next couple of days.
“So, I wouldn’t want to precipitate and answer in terms of the impacts, but let’s wait a little bit and see what happens,” he stated.
He said IPMAN had been at the forefront in advocating that the public refineries be made functional.
He said several refineries in the country have been virtually comatose for many years and billions of dollars spent on them without the refineries being able to produce a single litre of petroleum products.
He noted that the key to solving Nigeria’s problem was the effective functioning of the idle refineries.
“The government must do more, pressure more on those currently servicing this refineries to get them functional. Dangote is doing his best. We really applaud him for what he has done.
“But the country still can’t and will not feel the effect of Dangote Refinery for now because if you look at the price at the pump, PMS is still N680, N660 in some places, some parts of the country are selling at N700 per litre”, Ibe argued.
He said IPMAN is currently talking to some investors to build their own modular refineries, stating that the answer to Nigeria ‘s problem is not having just one or two refineries, but having small refineries spread all over the country.CIFCFIN to Partner Ministry of Finance, EFCC to Enhance Revenue Growth
Bennett Oghifo
The Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria (CIFCFIN) is planning a tripartite partnership with the Ministry of Finance and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This, it said, is to provide technical forensic support and assistance to the federal government in enhancing revenue improvement, fiscal discipline, accountability, and transparency in the management of government resources.
This was disclosed by the Institute’s President, Dr. Iliyasu Gashinbaki at its 6th direct training and award of fellowship which took place at the EFCC Academy in Abuja, according to a statement by the institute.
Also in the works, the group said, is collaboration with the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to conduct a comprehensive resource disbursement and value-for-money forensic audit.
Gashinbaki said. “It is an ambitious initiative to establish a transparent tracking system for government disbursements, ensuring accountability and traceability of all funds allocated.”
Meanwhile, discussions have reached an advanced stage with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to collaborate with the institute to undertake risk profiling, analysis, and investigations into issues associated with economic sabotage, financial mismanagement and non-compliance with budgetary regulations.
“Through these partnerships, we believe that the institute can significantly contribute to promoting good governance, transparency, and accountability in the Nigerian public financial management systems,” Gashinbaki asserted.
On the new members and fellows of the institute, Gashinbaki charged them to consider the greater purpose of their profession and be shining lights for others to follow.
“From today, you are now change agents and change makers who are duly enlisted in the anti-corruption army that will transform Nigeria into greatness. As certified professionals and fellows, you have been equipped with the knowledge, tools, skills, and ethical foundation necessary to make a positive impact on your communities and the nation at large.
“Beyond your personal success, you are now bestowed with the duty to assist government in combating corruption, recovering stolen assets, preventing financial crimes, supporting economic development, strengthening legal system, and most importantly, offering a comprehensive approach to poverty alleviation in Nigeria and Africa,” he added.
Forty seven members were awarded fellowships and 110 graduated as certified members of the institute at its 6th direct training and awards of fellowships.3rd Mainland Bridge Reopens, Weeks after Closure
Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja
The federal government yesterday directed the official reopening of the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos, nearly three months after the critical road infrastructure which links the Island to the Mainland was shut down for rehabilitation.
A statement by the Director of Information in the ministry of works, Ben Goong, stated that the directive was given by the minister overseeing the ministry, David Umahi in a phone call in the early hours of Thursday.
It stated that Umahi directed the Controller of Works, Lagos State, Mrs Olukorede Kesha to open the bridge to traffic in order to ease the stress which motorists had been subjected to, during the period of the first phase of rehabilitation works on the bridge.
He quoted the minister as saying that the successful completion of the first phase of the rehabilitation works which was started and completed by the Bola Tinubu administration was a clear indication that the government is working .
Umahi called on all Nigerians to continue to have faith in the “Renewed Hope Agenda” of the president ,maintaining however, that nothing good comes so easy.
The minister pointed out that work has already begun on the underwater damage to the bridge, which is the second phase of the rehabilitation works on the bridge.
Similarly, the minister said that rehabilitation works will commence on the Carter Bridge in the coming weeks, adding that the contractor had already been mobilised.
