News

Reps Summon Aiteo E&P, Agip Oil Over Oil Spillage In Bayelsa Community

Published

2 months ago

October 9, 2024

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives joint Committee on Environment and Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum (downstream ) has summoned the Managing Directors of Aiteo E & P Company, Victor Okoronkwo and Nigerian Agip Oil Company, Bolondi Fabrizio (now Oando Oil Ltd) to appear within 7 days over oil spillage at Olugboboro Community in Southern Ijaw area of Bayelsa State.

The Commitee also expressed its displeasure over the refusal by oil companies executives to appear before the it after three consecutive invitions.

Chairman of the Commitee, Rep. Pondi Gbabador in his address, on Tuesday at the commencement of the investigative hearing, he said the Commitee’s mandate, was to investigate the activities and operations of Aiteo E & P Company and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (now Oando Oil Ltd).

According to him, these companies’ allegedly portend deadly environmental consequences in their host communities and, by extension, the nation at large.

Rep. Gbabojor explained that the oil industry plays a critical role in the economic development of the country, and it’s contributes significantly to the national income, provides employment, and supports infrastructure development in various regions.

He however stated that contributions by oil companies should not be at the cost of the health, well-being, and livelihood of the people in the host communities, nor the expense of the environment.

He said: “You may recall that the House of Representatives, at its sitting of Tuesday, 12th March 2024, considered a motion titled Environmental Impact of Transporting Crude Oil by Mega Seagoing Vessels from Nembe Creek Trunk to Offshore Crude Oil Storage in the Atlantic Ocean by Aiteo E & P, and resolved to:Urge the Federal Ministry of Environment to compel the Management of Aiteo E & P to conduct an environmental impact assessment of the project, as dictated by the Environment Impact Assessment Act, 2004, and include the host communities, the State Government and stakeholders, in line with international global practice, subject to scrutiny of the public and environmental experts.

“Recall that the House in a motion mandated it’s committees on Environment and Petroleum Resources (Midstream) to:Investigate Environmental Impact of Transporting Crude Oil by Mega Seagoing Vessels from Nembe Creek Trunk to Offshore Crude Oil Storage in the Atlantic Ocean by Aiteo E & P, and Monitor compliance with the Ministry of Environment and the Management of Aiteo E & P with this requirement, and report within four (4) weeks.

“In the same vein, the House also on Tuesday, 23rd July 2024, considered a motion titled Oil Spillage at Olugboboro Community in Southern Ijaw from Nigerian Agip Oil Company Facility, and subsequently resolved to:Urge the Management of the Nigerian Agip Oil Company to urgently stop/contain the oil leakages from its Facilities at Ogboinbiri/Teibidaba affecting Olugboboro community in southern Ijaw Federal Constituency;

“Also urged the National Emergency Management Agency to urgently supply relief materials to ameliorate the suffering of the impacted communities who have lost sources of livelihood;Further urge the Nigeria Agip Oil Company to immediately pay compensation to the affected community for the economic trees and aquatic life damaged since April 2024, by the spillage; and Mandate the Committees on Environment and Petroleum Resources (Upstream) to carry out extensive investigation into the immediate and remote causes of the spillage, to ascertain and assess the extent of impact to Olugboboro community of Southern Ijaw Federal Constituency and report within four (4) weeks.

“In light of the above, we have invited the Managing Directors of both Aiteo E & P Company and Nigerian Agip Oil Company (now Oando Oil Ltd) to this Hearing, to provide us with detailed explanations regarding their activities, particularly in their areas of operations. We expect full cooperation and transparency from all stakeholders in this process.

“It is our collective responsibility to ensure that the operations of oil companies in our country are carried out in a manner that is sustainable, environmentally responsible, and respectful of the rights and welfare of the communities they operate in and the Country at large.

“It is also noteworthy, to emphasize that the Committees are not here to vilify any corporate entity but to ensure accountability, transparency, and adherence to environmental laws and regulations that govern the oil sector in our country. We aim to find solutions, hold the responsible parties accountable where necessary, and recommend the appropriate remedial actions”.

According to the chairman, the outcome of the Hearing will not only affect the immediate communities involved but will also set a precedent on how Nigerians approach environmental issues related to industrial activities in the future.

“The environment is our common heritage, and we must protect it for ourselves and future generations.I trust that the deliberations today will be conducted with the highest level of professionalism, respect, and commitment to justice.Thank you all for your attention, and I look forward to a productive session”, he added.

Speaking at the meeting, Rofikat Odetoro who represented the ministry of Environment said the EIA approval issued by the ministry stipulated that the crude oil from Altio oil fields should be evacuated through pipelines and not through barges as being currently practiced by the company.

“In terms of children, they are not used to have cyanosis. They are not used to wear glasses. You see 8-month-old children are using glasses.Children are not used to have fatty liver. Now we see children having fatty liver. Even if it is a rare condition, it’s not supposed to be as young as that.You start touching the fingers. They put that in the system. That entire human being is responsible.So your action is timely. And it’s very well concentrated.

“However, we also have this to say, that the Ministry was neither notified or advised or even sought for permitting sake – they are guardians of the Ministry in respect of the deviation or change in scope. In line with best global practices, if you are given a medication and you want to change to a similar effect, the best thing to do is to go back to the doctor. So if you are going to change the scope of the EIA approval, the best practice is to come back to seek the guidance of the Ministry.

“This they acknowledged that is a mistake on their part, but it was as a result of a sister agency putting pressure on them to produce more in order to have more revenue. So the issue of synergy also comes to fore.

“At our meeting, we reached the following resolutions.Altio should urgently register for the EIA of the project or in the alternative conduct a post-embargo assessment since they have been operating for two years. Let’s see what has been done, what has been the effect of that particular activity that has been going on for the last two years.

“Altio should submit to the Ministry within two weeks the technical details, the video clips and other relevant documents in the project process that will enable us to take an informed decision that will be in the overall interest of Nigerians.

“We also noted Altio’s concerns of its existing pipeline’s integrity and the need not to disturb it so that we don’t have more leakage in or spill into the environment. We also saw the need and advised Altio appropriately for an inclusive stakeholders engagement in order to be able to define the project as better persons, those communities, and so on and so forth.

“To reduce the distance of crude oil transportation through the pipelines. Because the integrity of the pipelines were no longer what it was supposed to be.There were leakages along the line. It’s a swampy environment. Some are on the seabed.They couldn’t ascertain where the leaks were coming from.

“If they now decide to disturb it, it will create more havoc. More leakage and so on.As a result of that, and also with the activities of pipeline vandalization, they decided to construct an oil sand farm at the Nambe Creek flow station. Where crude oil is transported via the St. John-Rio Beto River through Nambe Grass, Okoma and Benema to the offshore crude oil storage facility in the Antarctic Ocean. That’s seven kilometers off the shoreline of the Grass Island.

“Accordingly, after receiving your letter, the ministry forwarded a letter to the company requesting the company to update the ministry on the status of the project and intimate us of any associated developments that were not covered by the previous EIA approval.

“We also had a meeting with the representative of the company and it was noted, not to waste your time, let me go straight to the point, that the EIA approval issued by the ministry stipulated that the crude oil from Altio oil fields should be evacuated through pipelines and not through barges as being currently practiced by the company.

“I am not an expert on barges transportation.We have relevant agencies that could give more advice on the merits and demerits of that. But be it as me, they have been doing that for the past three years. So if they have actually wanted to comply with the provisions of the law, that could have been done much earlier.Let me digress a little bit, sir.

“The proceeds of the joint venture is for Nigerians, including myself. And being an indigenous company, they are also Nigerians.So we are all answerable to governments and the entire Nigerian populace. We also noted that Altio has completed the installation of the FSO, that is Floating Storage Offshore Storage Facilities, the 54-kilometer pipeline that was also permitted by Nigerian upstream, has been finalized, but construction is yet to commence. I will reiterate my earlier suggestion.

“If there were more synergy and perhaps joint monitoring exercises, maybe we would have had better compliance. When you make a law and you compartmentalize the law, it gives into duplication and less efficiency, and you spend more.

“So that needs to be looked into.Also, Altio adopted and commenced temporary budgeting of crude oil about two years ago. We requested that they should furnish us with the details, visuals, audio-visuals of the budgeting exercise, and if there has been any incident of spillage or accident or incident, and we equally informed them of this investigative panel, and we advised that it would be good we have such before this panel today. I regret to inform this honorable committee that the Ministry, the Department, is yet to receive any submission from Altio.

“On behalf of my Director, Dr. Abbas Suleiman, I regret to inform this Honorable Committee that the House is yet to receive the EIA registration documents from Altio and other documents that would have enabled us to give appropriate advice or suggestions to this Honorable Committee”, she stated.

While responding to inquiries from the lawmakers, Mr. Yahaya who earlier disclosed that NUPRC granted the first permit of six months to Aiteo to badge to avoid loss of about 90 percent of the 50,000 barrels per day oil production, however affirmed that two years permit was given to Aiteo to badge considering the criticality of oil production.

According to him, any attempt to ask Aiteo to shut down will have huge cost implications on the oil production target.

News

Wike gives final ultimatum to land owners to pay for C-of-O

Published

41 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Austin Ojomah

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has given owners of the 762 plots of land in Maitama II District, Cadastral Zone, A10, Abuja, a fresh two-week ultimatum to pay for their Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) or risk final revocation of their allocations.

According to a statement on Friday, by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the FCT Minister reiterated that the primary interest was not for people to lose their lands, but to get them to make necessary payments to the government.

The statement read: “It should be recalled that on October 5, 2024, list of 3,273 allottees/title holders that were yet to pay for their C-of-O were published. They were offered two weeks to pay their bills or lose their Right of Occupancy (R-of-O) titles. Out of the 3,273, a total of 2,511 complied, leaving 762.

Yesterday, notice of withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of the 762 defaulters was published.

“Since then, many of the affected allottees have offered to pay, and since the primary aim of the government is to ensure payment, a two weeks grace has been given.

“Consequently, the 762 allottees and the 614 others with outstanding payment on C-of-O will have till January 3, 2025 to pay, or have their R-of-O titles withdrawn, pursuant to the provisions of Section 28 of the Land Use Act of 1978.

After January 3, 2025, there will be no further extension and withdrawal of the R-of-O titles of defaulters will be final.”

News

Land Title:Speaker Abbas insists he’s not owing FCTA

Published

51 minutes ago

December 20, 2024

Austin Ojomah

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas has declared that he is not owing FCTA a dime as alleged in a section of the media.

The speaker who made this declaration via a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Musa Abdullahi Kirishi stated that:

“The attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, has been drawn to reports in both the print and electronic media to the effect that the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) revoked land titles in the FCT, belonging to certain individuals, including the Speaker, due to non-settlement of outstanding payments.

“For the record, His Excellency, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Ph.D, GCON, has only one land allocated to him in the FCT, and has since settled his outstanding payment in October 2024, following the FCTA’s newspapers’ publications to that effect.

“It is, therefore, an error for the FCTA to include his name among those having outstanding payments, leading to the revocation of the land titles. The FCTA is advised to be more circumspect in handling such issues.

The Speaker cautions the media to always verify their facts before going to press with such issues.

The media are, therefore, urged to desist from further publishing or spreading such misleading information about the person of the Speaker.

News

Army Council elevates 35 Brigadier Generals, 73 Colonels

Published

4 hours ago

December 20, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Army Council on Thursday approved the promotion of 35 Brigadier Generals and 73 colonels.

A statement by the Director Army Public Relations, Major General Onyema Nwachukwu on Friday said the Brigadier Generals were promoted to the rank of Major General, while the colonels were promoted to Brigadier General accordingly.

Those promoted to the rank of Major General include, Brig Gen A Garba Acting Provost Marshal Nigerian Army, Brig Gen UM Alkali Deputy Chief of Administration, Directorate of Veteran Affairs (Army), Brig Gen AGL Haruna, Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division and Commander Sector 1 North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen IA Ajose Acting General Officer Commanding 8 Division and Commander Sector 2 North West Operation FANSAN YAMA, Brig General NB Ebulue Headquarters Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig Gen LG Lepdung Commander Operation WHIRL STROKE, Brig Gen OA Awolo Director Military Training Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig Gen UG Ogeleka Commander Nigerian Army Space Command, Brig Gen OA Fadairo Commander 12 Brigade, Brig Gen OD Williams Commander 22 Brigade , Brig Gen JR Lar Commander 32 Brigade, Brig Gen AG Mahmuda Commandant Warrant Officer Academy, Brig Gen VD Beryo Commander Nigerian Army Special Forces School, Brig Gen AOD Okoro Director Army Headquarters Department of Special Services and Programmes, Brig Gen SO Adejimi Director Movement Army Headquarters Department of Army Logistics, Brig Gen TT Sidick Director of Finance Nigerian Defence Academy, Brig Gen MCE Ejike Commander Sector 2 Joint Task Force North East Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen MF Babayo Commander Sector 3 North East Joint Task Force Operation HADIN KAI, Brig Gen H Yanet Commander 51 Signal Brigade and Brig Gen MK Gara Army Headquarters Department of Training.

Also promoted to the rank of Major General are Brig Gen BP Koughna Deputy Chief of Military Affairs, Army Headquarters Department of Civil Military Affairs, Brig Gen I Otu Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, Brig Gen AO Adegbite Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport, Brig Gen IE Ekpeyong Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Engineers, Brig Gen AA Idris Army Headquarters Department of Army Standards and Evaluation, Brig Gen SA Gumel Nigerian Army Resource Centre Strategic Management and Policy Studies, Brig Gen MT Jinadu Commander 82 Division Ordnance Services, Brig Gen SA Jimoh Deputy Director Tender Board Department of Procurement, and Brig Gen UT Opuene Deputy Director Policy and Plans Defence Intelligence Agency, among others.

Officers promoted from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier General are Col SM Iliya Commander 43 Engineers Brigade, Col O Igwe Commander 78 Supply and Transport, Col NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical Mechanical Engineers, Col UR Okoroji Commander 404 Engineers Brigade, Col GS Oyinwola Army Headquarters Department of Military Secretary, Col S Ahmadu Defence Intelligence Agency, Col CI Nwonyi Commander 81 Division Provost Group, Col AS Aliyu Commander 1 Division Military Intelligence, Col T Garba Commander 77 Supply and Transport Brigade, Col K Imam Commander Army Headquarters Garrison Ordinance Services, Col NS Onuchukwu Chief Medical Director 44 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Col A Musa Commander 108 Division Equipment Support, Col DM Baba Office of the National Security Adviser, Col OA Obochi Defence Headquarters, Col PAJ Ebuk Commander 1 Division Supply and Transport, Col IP Omoke Office of the COAS Directorate of Procurement and Col P Elayo Headquarers Department of Space Administration.

Others elevated to the rank of Brigadier General are Col NI Abdullahi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Col JC Mbanefo Army War College Nigeria, Col IO Amah Department of Operations Defence Headquarters, Col M Jimoh Defence Headquarters Garrison, Col TA Ayoola Army Headquarters Department of Army Operations, Col SA Jimoh Office of the Chief of Army Staff Department of Procurement, Col OC Ameni 103 Division Equipment Support, Col OU Okwuosa 2 Division Medical Hospital and Services, Col AO Odubiyi Armed Forces Command and Staff College, and Col NE Udofia Headquarters Nigerian Army Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, among others.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Olufemi Oluyede, while congratulating the newly promoted senior officers and their families, also charged them to redouble their efforts to justify their elevation and the confidence reposed in them.

He further tasked the newly promoted officers to lead their subordinates by example and evolve “out of the box” ideas and innovations to speedily tackle contemporary security challenges bedeviling the nation. He added that they must remain committed to their oath of allegiance to defend the nation at all times and maintain unalloyed loyalty to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.