Maritime
NAOC: 50 Years Of Corporate Service
Wow! The live band is set, the champagne is on ice, the red carpet is ready to be rolled out, the paparazzi is out, waiting for snaps of a towering oil glant who have achieved Golden Jubilee in extraction of oil and gas in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
How time flies, record has it that Eni & P Division commenced activities in Nigeria in 1962 through a wholly owned subsidiary – Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited.
Praise God, Activities of Eni in Nigeria grew tremendously over the years resulting in establishment of other companies, namely Agip Energy and Natural Resources (Nigeria) Agip Exploration Limited which operates in the shallow waters offshore and the Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited which concentrated on the deep-water frontier region.
It is true that since 1962 Eni activities in Nigeria have demonstrated a strong commitment to active involvement of Nigeria and her people in its operations. An eloquent testimony to this commitment was the pioneering participating offer (Joint Venture) to the Federal Government of Nigeria upon commercial discovery of hydrocarbons. There are various highlights of NAOC’s commitment.
Credit must be given to Nigerian Agip Oil Company for pioneering the conservation and development of the nation’s gas resources, and indeed she has executed several gas development projects targeted both at the domestic and export markets.
NAOC built her first gas recycling plant at Akri-Oguta (in joint venture with shell) progressively invested in targe scale Gas injection plant in 1985 with the construction of Obiafu-Obrikom Gas plant, with initial capacity of 270 MMSCF per day, which is now upgraded to 400 MMSCF per day. Closely followed by the kwale Gas plant in 1987, with capacity for 75 MMSCF per day, now upgraded to 150 MMSCF per day. Kudos for diversifying investments for the company.
Furthermore, NAOC signed a Gas supply agreement with the Rivers State Government for the supply of 36 MMSCF/d of gas to the state’s owned power plant located in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area. Of a truth, it is a unique initiative by NAOC to support the Government in promoting the economic and social development of the state. But today as I write this piece the city of Omoku and its environs is in total darkness in the last two weeks and without potable drinking water with her Agip-China roads – now pot holes – dead traps.
NAOC, your score sheet of extracting hydrocarbons from the Niger Delta is second to none. Your effort to boost utilisation of gas resources in Nigeria is laudable. More grease to your elbow, more oil to your Omls, more gas to your gas master plan.
It is unfortunate that in almost 50 years of operations in Nigeria, you have a fair record in your community relations efforts. Sincerely I put it to you that to whom much is given, much is expected.
NAOC as a corporate entity has taken so much from us, your host communities, as such expected much from you. Taking the ONELGA Community as a case study – the total value of oil and gas extracted from ONELGA in the last forty seven years is in excess of 350 billion US dollars. Yet, till date, there is no visible sign that the area had produced such staggering amount of money. No palliatives to cushion the effect of the soil/earth degradation.
Kindly note that: Community Relations, as a function of Public Relations is an organisation planned active and sustained participation within a community to maintain and enhance its environment to the benefit of both the organisation and the community.
Subsequently, an organisation (i.e. NAOC) needs to marry the community it settles with, especially a peaceful community like Ogbaland. The need for community relations might be seen as wife/husband relations.
As NAOC roll out the drums in celebration of fifty years in Nigeria, she must come to realisation that sound community relations is for social growth.
And community relations, as a concept, refers to all the activities undertaken by a corporate organisation on behalf of its host community/publics. It is a shame that oil companies blow their trumpets to the highest decibel because they grudgingly decided to spend meager amounts to execute a project in a community or assist an individual in need of financial aid.
To the undiscerning mind, it would seem true, that the oil industry is really spending millions of naira to execute community development projects in their areas of operations, but rarely is the question asked: how much do these firms make from such communities?
Thank God, for President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda. Probably things will go right, it is a known fact that the Nigeria government do not know how much crude is actually being lifted by the oil companies, as certain oil companies fill their high capacity vessels without prejudice, at the expense of the nation’s ignorance et al.
NAOC at 50, I think a new dawn has to begin now. I call on Hon. Otelemabara Dan Amachree led Rivers State House of Assembly to enact legislation to curb the non-challant attitude of oil companies and other expatriate firms. A fixed percentage of the companies’ profits must be ploughed back into the host communities in the form of quality projects, daily need manufacturing industries as to cut down unemployment rate amongst our teeming youth, total scholarship – both domestic and overseas. With these in place, then the companies can be seen as partnering with their host communities.
NAOC, should look at areas, she fell in the past years and make amends. In year 2000, late senator (Dr) Ibiapuye Martins Yellowe, then senate committee chairman on Petroleum, invited me to cover a one day brainstorming session tagged” A armonious Investor Friendly Environment” seminar held at catering Rest House, Ahoada, Rivers State. The Seminar was put together by NAOC.
Agip ex-Chief Image maker, Bashorun Akin Aruwajoye said and I quote “Agip is charting a new course in her relationship with her host communities, this is because we listen, our plans is to see how we can assist our host communities, using ONELGA as a prototype, a framework of moving forward towards achieving industrial harmony. Agip will be more pro-active, responding positively to the complains and needs of the communities within its operations.”
Almost twelve years after these beautiful words, the people of ONELGA is yet to see words being translated to action as promised. ONELGA has the most peaceful environment and Agip is operating unhindered.
ONELGA is the highest oil and gas producing community in Nigeria. The community also host Agip’s LNG Gas supply project. In the light of this, I call on NAOC to recognise the significance of partnership and community stake holding and without much ado, uplift our sons Prince Nwachukwu Obi, to the position of Divisional Public Relations Manager and Chief Okoroma as security manager, respectively. For a sound fifty years of excellence in Nigeria, Agip should promote all our sons and daughters who have proved their mettle via sound service delivery.
Finally, I use this medium to call on the amiable Governor of Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibike Rotimi Amaechi, CON to use his good office and compel Nigerian Agip Oil Comlpany to relocate its operational headquarters to Port Harcourt or Omoku city. And also enforce the first law enacted under your leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly that ht position of Human Resources Manager be reserved for erudite Rivers Men/Women, for all companies operating in Rivers State. Happy Golden Jubilee NAOC.
Emma Nwabrije
The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, has called for increased collaboration between the federal agency and state governments to enhance the safety and security of inland waterways transportation.
Speaking at a one-day consultative forum on safety and insecurities on inland waterways, organized by the Nigeria Transportation Commissioners’ Forum in Ilorin, Oyebamiji emphasized the critical role that safety and security play in fostering a thriving water transportation system.
The forum, themed “Prevalent Safety, Security Hazards and Practices in Inland Waterways: Passenger Transport Safety in Ilorin, Kwara State”, sought to address the pressing issues facing the inland waterways sector.
Oyebamiji acknowledged the ongoing efforts by NIWA to improve safety, such as the recent unveiling of the transportation code for public use, the inauguration of several operational assets including survey boats, gunboats, water ambulances, and a passenger ferry.
He also noted that safety campaigns have been launched across all operational bases, targeting local communities in their native languages.
The NIWA boss stated the support from the National Assembly, including the ongoing discussions on establishing coastal guards and the attention safety and security on inland waterways have received from the House Committee on Inland Waterways.
In his closing remarks, Oyebamiji appealed to the Commissioners for Transportation across relevant states to collaborate with NIWA in areas such as training, safety campaigns, infrastructure development, and financial empowerment.
He stressed that while the challenges are significant, they are surmountable through collective action.
The Federal Government has conveyed its support for the establishment of the National Coast Guard.
The Government also commended the proponents of the bill for having the hindsight to initiate a course of action that, when passed, will be the catalyst needed in unlocking the nation’s maritime potential.
In a statement by the Head of Press, and Public Relations for the ministry, Muhammad Tahir Zakari, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, was reported to have made this known at the National Assembly complex at the 1-Day Public Hearing on National Coast Guard Bill (NCG).
The statement stated that the bill when passed, will guarantee maritime safety, sustainable marine resource development and enhance economic growth.
Highlighting the major need for the National Coast Guard, the Minister identified: Maritime safety; Environmental protection through enforcing environmental regulations and conservation of marine ecosystems; and Enforcement of civil maritime laws to uphold laws governing civil maritime activities and enforce fishing regulations while preventing illegal exploitation.
It also include search and rescue to maritime emergencies and also conduct timely search and rescue operations.
He cited a 2009 publication by the African Centre for Strategic Studies, which noted that 15 of the 21 independent maritime nations in sub-Saharan Africa have dedicated coast guards and identify themselves as such.
Despite this, none of these nations have Nigeria’s population or the extent of its inland waterways and coastline.
While acknowledging the significant role of the Nigerian Navy in safeguarding the Nigerian maritime space following the collaborative effort with the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in the Deep Blue Project, which has shown great results with zero piracy in Nigeria’s territorial water in the last three years.
He, however, stressed the need for the National Coast Guard to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Navy in playing a critical role in preventing accidents, crime, and other threats to maritime activities
“A vast coastline of 850 km, the equivalent of 10,000 km in two ways. It is also a place of rich and diverse economic sources.
“While these opportunities are promising, they also present challenges such as pollution, overfishing, and unsustainable use of marine resources. The proposed National Coast Guard is equipped to tackle these issues”, he stated.
He urged the Senate and the National Assembly to lend their full support to the bill, noting that, “Nigeria Coast Guard will act as a vital complement to the Navy, of fostering a safe and sustainable maritime environment”.
He appealed for the establishment of a flexible, adaptive implementation strategy that would evolve into a midwife for the bill to succeed, while urging those with reservations to see the pressing need of the institution.
Earlier during the hearing, the President of the Nigerian Senate, Godswill Akpabio, commended members of the Committee on Marine and Transport for their unwavering dedication in piloting the initiative and advocating for the establishment of the National Coast Guard Bill.
Akpabio, represented by Sen. Akintunde Yunus, said the essence of the bill was to make critical decisions that will guarantee the safety of the nation’s waterways and protect the marine resources.
He stated that “the establishment of the National Coast Guard is not merely a legislative formality, but a dire necessity”.
Speaking also, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Marine and Transport, Sen. Sanni Eshinlokun, said the Bill was first read in the Senate on the 3rd of October while the Senate at its plenary deliberated on the General Principles of the Bill.
Senator Eshinlokun said, “The Bill was read for the second time and referred to the Senate Committee on Marine Transport for further legislative action.
Former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Barr. Hassan Bello, has charged the Federal Government not to designate any of its agencies as the lead agency to drive the blue economy if it actually wants Nigeria to make progress in the sector.
Bello, who made this call in his remarks at the 10th anniversary, lecture and awards of the Primetime Reporters in Lagos, midweek, advised the Federal Government to avoid the mistake made during the Cabotage era when it designated an agency as lead agency and the rest was now history.
He said for the sector to succeed, it required everyone’s contribution, urging the Minister to allow the private sector to drive the blue economy.
According to him, “Two things which we must be very careful about is to make.mistake, like we did with cabotage. If we remember carefully, Cabotage was coastal and Inland shipping, but that inland shipping was not emphasized.
“It was just for supply of oil and gas to the mother vessel, we couldn’t trade as we were doing from Asaba to Baro in Niger State, or carry cement or even petroleum products. So, we cannot restrict that to customs.
“Secondly, don’t give the Blue Economy to an agency to say it is the lead agency because everybody must have contributions to the Blue Economy. As we want to do, we have seen agencies struggling to have seminars on Blue Economy, it’s not even a government thing.
“Allow the private sector to take over this blue economy, don’t create fantastic departments and overload into the private sector. This is what is our problem.
“When we had the Cabotage, it was a NIMASA thing and when you talk about Cabotage, no! don’t go there, what is your own with Cabotage? So, Cabotage was colonized, the Blue Economy should not be colonized. We should have the ramification of that Blue Economy to make sure that everything trickles down”.
He however, noted that there had been a lot of progress by the various organs of government even before the designation of the Blue Economy Ministry saying, “Blue Economy has always been there just as we had the red economy, which is characterized by China’s quest for export for state directed economy.
“We even have the grey economy, which is that which is informal. We have the green economy and all shades of economy. So, it’s not new that we have the Blue Economy, what has been the call by stakeholders is for us to have a ministry that will cater for transportation and transportation is a cardinal or even the paramount part of the Blue Economy.
“I know we have sustainable use of ocean resources and many other things, but when you talk about the Blue Economy, the central point is the use of ocean and the inland waterways and other resources for diversification of our economy as the Convener has said”.
“We have to be conscious, concerted and even calculated to make sure that it works for us. It’s not just fancy thing that there’s a ministry for blue economy. There must be active participation of stakeholders and the involvement of the private sector to harness the resources and not anything fancy or pretentious. The government must involve the private sector.
By: Stories by Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos