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Tag: Petroleum Industry Act

  • Ekpeye Monarch Calls for Unity to Address Oil Exploration Challenges, PIA Implementation

    Ekpeye Monarch Calls for Unity to Address Oil Exploration Challenges, PIA Implementation

    The Ekpeye monarch, His Imperial Majesty, Eze Amb. Kelvin Anugwo JP, Eze Ekpeye Logbo III, has urged the Ekpeye people to embrace unity and overcome internal divisions to effectively address longstanding challenges arising from oil exploration and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA in their communities.The monarch made the call during a sensitisation programme titled “Proper Utilization of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) Host Communities Trust Fund and the Contribution of Pipeline Surveillance in the Reduction of Insecurity in Ekpeye Land,” organised by Ekpeye Oil & Gas (EOG) in Ahoada town, Rivers State.

    Represented by his Chief of Staff, HRH Roland Ebaledhi, Eze Anugwo expressed concern that despite decades of oil exploration in Ekpeye land, the area still suffers from poor infrastructure and severe environmental degradation. He attributed the lack of tangible development to internal disunity and competing personal interests.“We are the problem of our problems,” the monarch said, calling on Ekpeye sons and daughters to set aside differences and work collectively for the common good. He stressed that unity remains critical to maximising the benefits of the PIA Host Communities Trust Fund.T

    he royal father commended Comrade Chidi Dogini, Chairman of Ekpeye Oil & Gas, alongside Tantita Security Services Limited and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, for their roles in reducing crime and improving security through pipeline surveillance. He noted that more than 1,000 Ekpeye youths have been employed in surveillance activities across the area.Eze Anugwo further emphasised that oil-related employment opportunities should prioritise qualified indigenes, pointing out that many Ekpeye graduates remain unemployed despite the extensive oil infrastructure within their land. He pledged the support of the palace for initiatives that promote unity, local participation, and sustainable development in the oil and gas sector.

    In his welcome address, Comrade Chidi Dogini, National Chairman of EOG, thanked the monarch for his consistent support and described the programme as timely. He said the sensitisation was designed to correct misconceptions about the PIA and ensure Ekpeye communities fully benefit from its provisions.Dogini highlighted Ekpeye’s significant contribution to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, noting that the ethnic nationality hosts eight oil mining licences, over 10 pipelines, and two delivery lines.

    Despite this, he said the communities have received limited socio-economic benefits.He also praised Tantita Security Services Limited and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited for engaging local youths, stating that employment through pipeline surveillance has reduced unemployment by about 70 per cent and contributed to a decline in insecurity.Dogini acknowledged the federal government for creating an enabling environment for oil operations and renewed calls for increased Ekpeye representation in the sector, including appointments to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) board.

    Delivering a lecture at the event, Augustine Bello, Zonal Head of the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), underscored the importance of community unity in strengthening Ekpeye’s bargaining power within the oil industry. He cautioned youths against vandalising oil facilities, warning that such actions cause long-term environmental damage and undermine sustainable development.Bello advocated constructive engagement with industry stakeholders, stressing that peace and cooperation are essential for lasting development in oil-producing communities.

  • Bayelsa Government Intervenes as Ijaw Youth Protest Halts SEL Operations

    Bayelsa Government Intervenes as Ijaw Youth Protest Halts SEL Operations

    By Amgbare Ekaunkumo, Yenagoa

    The Bayelsa State Government has stepped in following the shutdown of operations belonging to Sterling Exploration Ltd (SEL) after Ijaw youths in Onuebum community, Ogbia Local Government Area, staged a protest over alleged violations of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Act and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

    The demonstration, tagged “Operation Stop Work,” began around 5:30 a.m. and was led by the National Leadership of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, headed by Comrade Ari Fekorigha. Protesters accused the company of operating without conducting an EIA, breaching environmental and petroleum regulations, and failing to honor an existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the host community.

    Youth leaders, including Comrade John Bailiff Egapekpar, Chairman of the Onuebum Oil & Gas Committee, and Engr. Odumomusi Obaguo, led the demonstration, with participants displaying placards such as “SEL, Effect Section 326 of the PIA,” “Stop Violating the EIA and PIA,” and “Implement Section 235 of the PIA.”

    Senior government officials and security agencies intervened to prevent an escalation. The Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police, CP Francis Idu; the Office of the Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, all played key roles in calming tensions and initiating dialogue.

    Representing the Commissioner of Police at the protest site, Mrs. Stella Izevbigie—Divisional Police Officer of the Otuopkoti Police Division—announced that the Deputy Governor had scheduled a high-level negotiation meeting for November 26, 2025, at the Government House in Yenagoa. The meeting will bring together SEL management, IYC officials, and representatives of the Onuebum host community.

    Following the government’s intervention, Comrade Fekorigha confirmed that the protest would be temporarily suspended to allow room for negotiation.

    Reiterating the community’s grievances, Comrade Egapekpar alleged that SEL had failed to conduct an EIA as required by law and had not complied with key provisions of the PIA. He added that the company did not follow due process in acquiring its operational site and had yet to formally recognize or engage its host community.

    Protesters warned that the shutdown would resume if SEL fails to address the issues raised. They said their priority is a peaceful resolution but stressed that the company must uphold environmental and petroleum laws and respect its obligations to the community.

    IYC Director of Mobilization, Comrade Ari Fekorigha, expressed frustration over what he described as SEL’s repeated failure to implement agreements reached with the Onuebum community, noting that the matter had lingered unresolved for more than four years.

    The community is demanding compliance with environmental regulations, adherence to the PIA, formal community engagement, and full implementation of the MOU.

    The Bayelsa State Government assured the community of its commitment to facilitating dialogue and ensuring a peaceful resolution. It urged all stakeholders to remain calm as preparations continue for the negotiation meeting.

    The scheduled meeting on November 26 is expected to provide a platform for all parties to address grievances and move toward a mutually acceptable solution.

  • Nigeria Lost $15bn Annually to Oil Theft, Pipeline Sabotage Between 2019 and 2024 — Prof. Muhammed

    Nigeria Lost $15bn Annually to Oil Theft, Pipeline Sabotage Between 2019 and 2024 — Prof. Muhammed

    By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna

    Nigeria lost an estimated $15 billion annually to oil theft and pipeline sabotage between 2019 and 2024, resulting in stagnant crude oil production averaging 1.4 million barrels per day, well below the nation’s OPEC quota of 1.8 million barrels per day, according to a study by Professor Usman Muhammed of the Department of Political Science and International Studies, Kaduna State University.

    Prof. Muhammed disclosed this during the 1st Citizens Engagement Conference (North-West Edition) held in Kaduna on Monday. He explained that the persistent losses have severely undermined Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector, weakening its contribution to national economic growth.

    The study, which assessed Nigeria’s oil sector performance over five years, linked the nation’s economic health to the productivity of its upstream industry, describing the relationship as “positive yet weak” due to large-scale revenue leakages.

    According to Prof. Muhammed, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and OPEC indicate that the sector’s contribution to the GDP dropped from 9% in 2019 to 6.6% in 2024. He added that investments declined by 24% within the same period, largely due to insecurity and fiscal uncertainty.

    He stated, “Despite the introduction of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, designed to overhaul the oil sector, its impact has been limited by implementation gaps and institutional inefficiencies.”

    The researcher emphasized that without strategic reforms, Nigeria risks further underperformance despite possessing vast oil and gas reserves. He urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the NNPC Limited to harmonize their operations, eliminate bureaucratic bottlenecks, and accelerate licensing rounds to attract foreign investment.

    The study suggested that full implementation of the PIA, alongside improved security for oil infrastructure, could boost fiscal revenue by as much as N3.2 trillion annually.

    Benchmarking Nigeria’s performance against oil-producing nations such as Norway and Saudi Arabia, the report noted that these countries have achieved production stability and economic diversification through transparent regulatory institutions and synergy between the state and corporate stakeholders.

    While Norway produces 1.9 million barrels per day and Saudi Arabia 9.2 million barrels per day, Nigeria’s 2024 output of 1.4 million barrels per day underscores the need for urgent reform and stronger governance.

    Prof. Muhammed concluded that revitalizing the oil and gas sector is not an end in itself but a catalyst for financing national development, including infrastructure, job creation, and economic diversification under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    In a separate interview, Mallam Nasir AbdulQuadri, co-convener of the conference, said the initiative aims to enhance accountability and public understanding of government policies, particularly reforms in the oil and gas sector.

    He defended the administration’s full deregulation of the petroleum industry, saying it was necessary to eliminate corruption associated with the former subsidy regime. “Over time, people looted subsidy funds and enriched themselves. Deregulation closes those loopholes,” he said.

    AbdulQuadri also supported the government’s plan to sell moribund refineries, asserting that “it’s not the government’s business to run businesses, but to regulate them.” He cited the Dangote Refinery as a positive example of reforms encouraged by the PIA, adding that Nigeria’s growing energy independence was “long overdue.”

    He urged Nigerians to remain patient despite the hardship caused by current reforms, noting that genuine transformation takes time. “We are not asking citizens to keep quiet but to engage constructively, ask questions, and hold leaders accountable,” he said.