News
PH Refinery May Resume Operation, July …As NNPC Releases 1.1bn Litres Of Fuel To Public
Members of the Rivers State House of Assembly voting yesterday to approve a N10bn loan from Zenith Bank Plc for the State Governor to undertake developmental projects in the state.
The Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Joseph Dawha, yesterday said the Port Harcourt Refinery might resume operation by July.
Dawha said this while addressing newsmen after a tour of some filling stations in Abuja with some top management staff of the corporation.
“When the refinery comes up stream in late June or early July we expect that it will run at least 80 per cent installed capacity.
“It will give us a contribution of about five million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on a daily basis.”
Dawha said the ongoing Turn Around Maintenance(TAM) of the refineries was a conscious effort to ensure that they were all running.
“If the refineries were not in depth or in good state to process crude for maximum gain there was no need of sending crude to such refineries for processing.
“What we do is to fix them so that we can get the real value for products.
“We are satisfied with the level of work carried out so far at the Port Harcourt Refinery so that if we start processing crude now we will get value for the refined products.
“So there will not be distraction as it will be, if refineries were operating properly.”
The GMD also decried the spate of vandalism of the pipeline in the country, stressing that the NNPC was working hard to put in place mechanism to minimise the menace.
He described the situation as “a very serious matter”, noting that NNPC could not use the pipeline network supply because of vandalism.
“If you send products through the vandalised pipeline then you lose the product.
“We cannot live it that way; we have to repair them but as you do that, it is vandalised again. It is a very serious matter.
“We are left with the option of trucking which involves a lot of logistics to succeed.”
The Managing Director of the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Prince Haruna Momoh, condemned the recent vandalised system 2B pipeline of the NNPC in Lagos.
According to him, the system 2B pipeline in Ije Ododo in Lagos is the most vandalised structure.
He said that already the situation had been controlled and repair of the pipeline would soon begin.
“As at today, the NNPC imports 50 per cent of the petroleum products into the country as part of the 40 million litres daily consumption by Nigerians.
“The corporation will continue to intensify its efforts to wet the country with products from its coastal depots to inland depots.”
He said the NNPC was ready to work with all the relevant stakeholders in the downstream sector of the Oil and Gas Industry to end the lingering fuel scarcity.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) said yesterday that it had 1.1 billion litres of petrol in stock to ease the current fuel scarcity nationwide.
The NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr Joseph Dawha, made the disclosure in Abuja while briefing newsmen on the petrol supply situation.
“As today, (Thursday), June 11, 2015, PPMC/PPMC has Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) stock level of 1.1 billion litres, representing 27 days sufficiency.
“This stock is excluding volumes with firmed delivery Laycans (dates) within the next couple of days.
“With this level of stock, we have intensified our vessels and trucking operations to ensure that PMS is available at our inland depots and retail outlets nationwide,” he said.
According to him, NNPC, through its subsidiary, NNPC Retail Ltd., has embarked on massive PMS lifting to its mega and affiliate stations in Abuja and across the nation.
“In the last five days, we have brought into Abuja 428 trucks of PMS, averaging 85 trucks daily to address the PMS requirement in Abuja and its immediate environs,” he said.
Dawha said that NNPC/PPMC was committed to ending the fuel queues in Abuja and across the states by the weekend in collaboration with the major marketers and other stakeholders.
“Evidence has begun to emerge in the last two days as most of our stations are wet and the severity of the queues has started to reduce,’’ the NNPC chief said.
He said that this was sequel to the Federal Government’s meeting with the oil marketers and other stakeholders on June 5.
“We have taken steps, as supplier of last resort, to improve availability of PMS in the country and ensure its effective distribution nationwide.
“The supply and distribution efforts must be sustained with the support and cooperation of our stakeholders in the downstream and government agencies, such as police, army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC).
“We are optimistic that we can put this ugly experience behind us,” he said.
Dawha appealed to the public not to engage in panic buying, hoarding or patronising the black market operators.
He also urged all major and independent marketers, Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association (DAPPMA) and other stakeholders to deliver their PMS allocation as given by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.
The NNPC chief said that this would further assist in stabilising the system.
He also reminded them of the commitment made during the stakeholders’ meeting at the Ministry of Petroleum to deliver the agreed number of trucks to Abuja daily.
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.
