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132 Firms Bid For NNPC’s Crude Sales Contract
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday, opened the 2019 Direct Sale of Crude Oil and Direct Purchase (DSDP) to its local and international business partners, and potential off-takers and suppliers with 132 organisations indicating interest.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Dr Maikanti Baru, who set the process in motion, said the essence of the bidding was to ensure reputable qualified companies were engaged.
The 132 companies are bidding for about 14 billion liters of products under the DSDP scheme.
Baru explained that the process was to ensure that the selection of off-takers aligned with transparent and accountable procedures in compliance with the Public Procurement and Nigerian Content Acts.
“The third public bid opening ceremony for the DSDP tenders is fully in line.
“The DSDP scheme was introduced in 2016 with efficient and cost effective systems and processes to plug the value eroding loopholes of the January, 2015 OPC contracts.
“Since the inception of the DSDP scheme in 2016 until March, 2019, about 29.5million metric tons (39.6 billion liters) of petroleum products have been supplied under the scheme representing over 90 per cent of the national requirement.
“Through a transparent competitive bidding and evaluation process, the scheme has enlisted a robust supplier mix comprising of the big international players and strong Nigerian downstream companies for supply flexibility and local capacity development,” Baru said.
According to him, the scheme has over the years, ensured significant reduction in product demurrage cost in the range of 84 per cent and cost savings of about $2.2 billion.
He assured the bidders that all the bids would be given fair consideration.
The Group General Manager (GGM), Crude Oil Marketing Division, NNPC, Mele Kyari, said the bid process was open to all to optimise local participation.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, yesterday, disclosed that it has saved $2.2 billion since the introduction of the Direct Sales, Direct Purchase scheme, DSDP.
The DSDP scheme involves the NNPC allocating certain volume of crude oil to the successful companies, while the companies are required to bring in equivalent value of different petroleum products to the country.
Speaking at the DSDP bid opening ceremony in Abuja, Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, also disclosed that the agreement the NNPC was looking to enter into with the successful companies would involve about 14 billion litres of petroleum products per annum.
He stated that over the years, through a transparent competitive bidding and evaluation process, the DSDP scheme had enlisted a robust supplier mix, comprising big international players and strong Nigerian downstream companies for supply flexibility and local capacity development.
Baru said, “The scheme prides itself with a competitive pricing framework, that is lower than the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, benchmark, which over the years has ensured significant reduction in product demurrage cost in the range of 84 per cent and cost savings of about $2.2 billion.”
He added that 132 bids were received for the 2019/2020 programme, noting that the DSDP marks a milestone that aimed to maximise Nigeria’s crude oil for the benefit of all Nigerians. He stated that the programme was designed to plug loopholes recorded in previous Offshore Processing Arrangement deals, explaining that reputable and qualified companies would be engaged for the scheme.
According to Baru, credible, tested and compliant offtakers would be engaged for the scheme, as well as strong Nigerian downstream companies to ensure steady supply of petroleum products and also develop their capacity.
Also speaking, Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of the NNPC, Mallam Mele Kyari, disclosed that the key objective was to eliminate corruption, adding that corruption cannot be eliminated without putting in place measured to eliminate opacity. He said, “We are trying to ensure that out processes are open to all the DSDP is an intervention 6to ensure unfettered supply of petroleum products.”
He said the scheme would ensure optimal value for Nigeria’s crude oil, ensure cost saving and also guarantee that it’s processes can be validated.
He noted that each of the partners must be able to demonstrate financial capacity to a minimum of $72 million as well as cognate experience in crude oil marketing and petroleum products import. He added that the NNPC, “would do its best efforts to conduct its own internal estimates, setting up minimum price levels.
This is not a highest or lowest bidder tender, because we know some prices are not realistic. “We want to ensure best value, secure products supply, encourage local participation and grow capacity of indigenous companies. These are the aims of the programme. The companies are expected to pay taxes to government, while we would get best and fair prices.”
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.