NNPC, private firm to build 100,000bpd refining facility within PH refinery

Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has signed an agreement with African Refinery Port Harcourt (ARPHL) for the subscription of 15 percent equity in Nigeria’s second largest private refinery after Dangote Refinery.

The agreement was executed by Mr. Omotayo Adebajo (Managing Director) on behalf of African Refinery Port Harcourt Limited (ARPHL) and Mr. Adedapo Segun, the NNPC Executive Vice-President, Downstream signed the agreement on behalf of NNPC Ltd.

The 15 percent Share Subscription Agreement, which was finalised on Thursday at a signing ceremony at the NNPC Towers in Abuja is a crucial step towards increasing Nigeria’s refining capacity.

Adedapo Segun, the NNPC Executive Vice- President for Downstream, said after the signing of the agreement, “African Refinery is one of the partners we have been working with to co-locate in our various refinery assets and they are our partners for the Port Harcourt Refinery.

“The proposed 100kbpd will be co-located with the two existing refineries in the PHRC complex, and it will increase our refining capacity in Port Harcourt from 210kbpd to 310kbpd.

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Tola Ayo-Adeyemi, Group Executive Director Legal, and Regulatory Compliance at African Refinery Group (ARG), speaking on behalf of the African Refinery Group stressed the significance of this collaboration, highlighting that the event signals NNPC Ltd’s full commitment to the ARPHL refinery project to be sited on 46 hectares of land within the Port Harcourt Refinery complex, Eleme, Rivers State.

The project stands as the largest private refinery in Nigeria’s South-South and South-East geo-political regions.

He noted, “NNPCL and ARPHL since signing a Project Framework in 2017 have made significant progress, that a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for later in the year, and that the estimated project delivery schedule aims for commencement of construction in 2025, and commercial operations by 2027.”

The project will be developed in phases and upon completion, the refinery is anticipated to produce over 30 million litres of various petroleum products daily, including petrol, diesel, jet fuel, LPG, and LPFO. The project is estimated to cost over US$2 billion.

The agreement inked today is the penultimate stage in the cooperation documentation between NNPCL and ARPHL.

Among the dignitaries present at the signing ceremony were Ayo Adebajo, Chidi Momoh, and various representatives from NNPCL Management.

NNPC, private firm to build 100,000bpd refining facility within PH refinery

Address 2024 Hajj concerns, reps tell NAHCON

The House of Representatives Committee on Hajj has called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to address concerns regarding its preparations for the upcoming 2024 Hajj operations.

The committee’s chairman, Rep. Jafaru Muhammed, made this statement while speaking to journalists on Thursday about the committee’s activities.

He explained that the committee had received numerous complaints from Nigerians, particularly intending pilgrims, regarding the 2024 Hajj. Many of these complaints centred on difficulties in meeting payment obligations, especially due to fluctuations in the exchange rate. Rep. Muhammed emphasized the need for NAHCON to clarify the situation and address the concerns of affected individuals.

The committee expressed sympathy for intending pilgrims who faced challenges in meeting financial obligations, particularly farmers who had deposited funds when the exchange rate was much higher. Rep. Muhammed highlighted the importance of ensuring transparency in financial matters related to Hajj operations and called for clarity on the costs involved.

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Another issue raised by the committee was the reduction of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) from $700 to $500, which had led to complaints from constituents and National Assembly members. Rep. Muhammed stressed the importance of understanding the reasons behind this reduction and exploring potential solutions to address the concerns raised by affected individuals.

In addition to addressing immediate concerns, the committee expressed its commitment to proactive measures to prevent similar issues in the future. They emphasized the importance of discussing and resolving issues before they escalate, highlighting the need for effective communication and collaboration between NAHCON and stakeholders.

Furthermore, Rep. Muhammed stated that the committee would advocate for decentralising Hajj operations to enhance participation and encourage private sector involvement, aligning with practices in other countries. This approach aims to improve efficiency and accountability in Hajj operations while ensuring the welfare of pilgrims.

Address 2024 Hajj concerns, reps tell NAHCON

Place arms embargo on Nigeria, IPOB tells Italy

The separatist group, IPOB, has called upon the Italian government to halt the sale of air force jets to Nigeria due to ongoing human rights violations against indigenous people and communities in the country

IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, emphasized the need for all civilized nations to refrain from further supplying military hardware and software to Nigeria.

Powerful said, “The Nigerian government has created the terrorist groups that they are pretending to have been fighting in order to displace indigenous nations and allow individuals in power to loot the country’s funds.

“Therefore, we appeal to the Italian government to stop the military aircraft purchase deal they entered into with the Nigerian government.

“We also ask other countries considering selling arms to Nigeria to stop because Nigeria is not using the arms for their intended purposes.”