News
JTF attributes oil output rise from 1.2 to 1.83 mbpd to intensified battle against oil theft
Commander of the Joint Task Force (JTF) in Niger Delta, Rear Admiral John Okeke, on Thursday attributed the rise in oil output from 1.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) in January to 1.84 mbpd currently to outcome of intensified battle against oil theft.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Okeke gave the figure during a review of the operations of the task force for the year 2024.
He said that following a Presidential Order to increase oil production to 2.2 mbpd, the Chief Defence Staff authorised intensified crackdown on oil thieves.
“Of course,this feat came along with challenges resulting in some of our colleagues paying the supreme price.
“The need for today’s conference is to assess our performances and projections for 2025 which is necessary to sustain the JTF efforts to enhance Nigerian economic prosperity towards our national development as emphasised by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the C-in-C of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,” Okeke said.
He explained that following a dip in oil output in the second quarter of the year, the joint task force launched a 90 day operation aimed at restoring oil and gas production to full capacity in the South South and South East geo-political zones.
He explained that the operation was conducted in 2 phases with each phase lasting for 45 days, adding that the operation ended on Oct 16 with remarkable successes resulting in major achievements.
Okeke listed the results of the enhanced operations to include reduction in crude oil theft and illegal refining activities by about 85 per cent within the fourth quarter of 2024.
He also said the joint force also terminated about 95 per cent breaches on the Trans-Niger, Trans-Ramos and Trans-Escravos Pipelines in the last 3 months and Key Performance Indicator of 89, 96 and 97 percent in the Eastern, Western and Central Corridors respectively as at Dec 4.
Okeke noted that with the increased crude oil output from 1.2 mbpd in June, 24 to 1.83 million bpd as at 11 Dec, attaining the 2.2 mbpd benchmark is achievable.
According to the JTF commander, the troops have commenced picketing of facilities of suspected end-users of stolen crude and illegally refined products.
Okeke also listed the bursting of a four-man syndicate that specialises in the production of fake documents since 2011 for movement of stolen crude oil.
“Other achievements include: Deactivation of about 1,546 illegal refining sites each with different camps, destruction of over 1,428 storage facilities and 1,121 large wooden boats.
“Seize and appropriate handling of over 300 vehicles including tankers, trucks, cars and tricycles conveying crude oil and illegally refined products.
“Recovery of about 15,634,207 litres of stolen crude oil, seizure of about 4,004,968 litres of illegally refined Automotive Gas Oil AGO).
“The JTF also seized about 41,770 litres of Dual Purpose Kerosene and seizure of about 273,225 litres of petrol,” he said.
According to Okeke, a total of 1,217 suspects in connection with various crimes were apprehended by the JTF code named, Operation Delta Safe (OPDS) within the period under review.
He said the OPDS also achieved enhanced community engagement and mediation between International Oil Companies and host communities resolving about 98 CSR related disputes involving Chevron, SEEPCO, SPDC, Aiteo, NECONDE, TotalEnergiex and Oando.
He explained that to sustain the gains, the OPDS is advocating robust stakeholders support to the fight against oil theft in addition to intensified intelligence sharing amongst security agencies.
Okeke identified the need to extend security coverage to gas facilities which hitherto were not targets of criminals due to the emerging security threat of attacks on gas infrastructures.
He said that in the coming year, the force would deploy advanced technology by use of tactical drones to provide online real-time coverage of the activities in the JTF’s area of responsibility. (NAN)
The Confederation of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Group (CASG) and Concerned Nigerian Citizens for Justice and Sovereignty have condemned what they describe as a coordinated campaign by US federal agencies targeting President Bola Tinubu, warning that such actions threaten Nigeria’s sovereignty and democratic integrity.
Engr Muhammed Kailani, Director General of the groups in a statement
issued on Wednesday, accusing the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of orchestrating a “politically engineered witch-hunt” against Tinubu.
He described the actions as an affront to Nigeria’s democracy.
“President Tinubu was elected to lead, not to be distracted by foreign conspiracies or trial by media,” Kailani said.
“The world must respect our sovereignty and our right to choose our leaders without external intimidation.”
The groups pointed to the recent release of decades-old documents by US agencies as evidence of a deliberate attempt to tarnish Tinubu’s reputation and undermine the will of Nigerians, who elected him in the 2023 presidential election.
The vote, widely regarded as free and fair, saw Tinubu emerge as the country’s leader despite longstanding allegations that have never been substantiated in court.
“This sudden rush to dredge up old documents is nothing short of a politically motivated attack,” Kailani added.
“Nigeria is a sovereign nation, not a satellite state to be dictated to by foreign intelligence bodies acting on behalf of interest groups.”
He called on the FBI and associated agencies to “immediately halt this charade,” warning that continued actions could be interpreted as foreign interference in Nigeria’s domestic politics.
The groups also raised concerns about the timing of the allegations, suggesting they were fuelled by “politically biased actors” seeking to destabilise the country.
The brand new magnificent Enugu State International Conference Centre was the venue of the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance with the theme “The Imperative Of Good Governance: Nigeria in a Global Comparative Perspective”, and organised by the Board of Youth Affairs International Foundation.
The event was a Spectacle of immense didactic importance with great minds in attendance. The Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku was the Star of the day, the former Military Governor of the Old Imo State, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Major General Ike Nwachukwu was the Chairman of the event, and Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari was the Guest Speaker at the event where the Performing Governor of Enugu State Dr Peter Mbah amongst other Esteemed Guests stood in honour of a nonagenarian whose life is a testament of dignity, integrity and discipline.
At the event, the Former Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, described Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State as an epitome of good governance, noting that the Governor was genuinely and quietly transforming Enugu State.
Chief Emeka Anyaoku was clear and unambiguous in his appraisal of the Enugu State Governor as a visionary, and that Peter Mbah’s leadership style works for the speedy development of the State. Anyaoku was emphatic that the spate of development in Enugu State under Governor Peter Mbah, would become the norm should Nigeria have a genuine Federal Constitution that engenders True Fiscal Federalism.
The Super Diplomat whilst speaking at the 14th Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series on Good Governance hosted in his honour at the Enugu State International Conference Centre on Tuesday, was unequivocal in his praise of the Enugu State Governor, hear him, “Allow me the privilege of describing him (Governor Peter Mbah) as a truly performing Governor. Yesterday, I was given glimpses of projects that have either been completed or in active progress towards completion. I saw, for example, this magnificent International Conference Centre. I saw an array of CNG Buses at Okpara Square. I saw the Smart Green Schools, which I gather that the Governor’s plan is to replicate in every Electoral Constituency (Wards), and I learnt that there are as many as 260 of them. I was also able to visit a state-of-the-art Bus station, the Holy Ghost Terminal. So, I would say that Governor Peter Mbah is genuinely transforming Enugu State, which used to be described as a Civil Service State. He is transforming it into an Industrial, Educational Hub and Agricultural Innovation.”
Chief Anyaoku continues, “The surprising thing is that all these developments are going on with little publicity. I had expected, as my experience visiting many other States in this country has shown, that in places where you have two to three projects going, you will have massive publicity of them. But not so in Enugu. So, Governor Peter Mbah is not just a performing Governor, but he is also a quiet and noiseless Governor”, he noted.
In a few days, the Enugu State Government will be hosting the National Convention of the Nigerian Bar Association NBA, another testament to the beauty, the peace, the Security, the Industry and the camaraderie that attends the Enugu space, thanks to the ebullient Servant Leader, Dr Peter Ndubuisi Mbah.
We, the Concerned Professionals For Good Governance (A Good Leadership Advocacy Group) are committed to a private sector driven appraisal of leadership any and everywhere in Nigeria. We shall praise, applaud and celebrate PERFORMERS whilst profusely lampooning all underperforming Political operators across the nation, such is our creed. And in furtherance to this creed of ours, we hereby adopt the salient and unequivocal words of the 92 years old Elder Statesman, Chief Emeka Anyaoku to wit that Peter Mbah is genuinely quietly transforming Enugu State… And such is the unassailable TRUTH.
Okechukwu Nwafor
Concerned Professionals For Good Governance. (A Good Leadership Advocacy Group).
Emomotimi Agama, director general (DG) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), says the agency has not received any formal notice regarding the sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to Chinese investors.
Agama announced in a letter dated April 23, addressed to the clerk of the national assembly, and distributed during a hearing with the committee on the capital market on Wednesday.
The clarification followed a resolution by the senate (S/Res/2/78/24), which urged the federal government to stop the reported sale of Lafarge Africa Plc to Chinese interests on the grounds of national security and economic sovereignty.
“I acknowledge receipt of your letter referenced above, requesting the Commission’s intervention in the ongoing sale of Lafarge Africa Plc, with specific emphasis on safeguarding national security and economic sovereignty,” Agama said.
“The Commission wishes to inform the national assembly that it has not received any formal filing regarding the proposed divestment of majority shareholding in Lafarge Africa Plc.”
He noted that the commission was only informed of an internal restructuring by Holcim Group, which holds 83.81 percent of Lafarge Africa’s issued share capital.
Agama explained that Holcim Group controls its stake through two wholly owned entities — Caricement B.V. with 56.04 percent, and Associated International Cement Limited with 27.77 percent.
“As part of the internal restructuring, the 27.77% equity stake held by Associated International Cement Limited was transferred to another Holcim-owned entity, Davis Peak Holdings Limited,” he said.
“There has been no change in the ultimate beneficial ownership of the shares as a result of this transaction.”
He added that no regulatory action has been taken and no approval has been granted by the commission in relation to any sale to Chinese investors.
“Please be assured that the Commission remains committed to transparency, strict adherence to regulatory requirements, and the protection of national interest in all capital market operations,” Agama said.
In February, Agama assured the national assembly that the capital market operates a disclosure regime rather than a merit regime.
“Every company and director has a responsibility for figures that are disclosed to the public,” he said.
The DG also said it is the responsibility of the SEC to monitor and ensure that documents provided to members of the public are accurate, adding that if they do not meet standards, such institutions will be penalised.