The problems facing the Nigerian economic continue to worsen with the persistent bombing of oil installations in the country. Another set back to the efforts of the government to return the country crude oil production levels of January of 2.2 million barrels per day was the attack over weekend on the pipeline operated by Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC), which resulted in the loss of 10,000 barrels per day.
The Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) on Friday claimed they blew up the Nembe 1, 2, and 3 trunk lines which link the Brass and Bonny terminals in Bayelsa State in the early hours of the morning. The attack led to the shut-in of about 10,000b/d with Agip suffering production loss of 4,000b/d equity.
This development is coming in the wake of the disclosure by by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu of a possible crack in the federal government’s reported dialogue with militants in the Niger Delta.
“We are working on it (dialogue with militants) and I need to meet with Mr. President for I just returned and obviously there’s a lot more engagement that is required. There are gaps that seem to have developed and I need to understand what issues warranted that. But we will work towards closing those gaps,” he had said.
Also in a related development, the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru who took over from Kachikwu has said he would adopt to achieve a 12-point agenda at the NNPC, which will include the creation of an all-inclusive internal advisory council on security.
Baru said in a statement from the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of NNPC, Mallam Garba Deen Muhammad that the security council will comprise of representatives from the corporation; International Oil Companies (IOCs); oil workers unions and security operatives in the country and will brainstorm and address host community agitations in oil producing areas.
He said the council would complement existing efforts of the government’s security team.
According to Baru, the NNPC under his watch will equally undertake new business models in its operations; grant autonomy to its strategic business units (SBUs) and autonomous business units (ABU) as well as provide relevant directions and control that would ensure their growth and profitability.
He noted that he would, while exploring ways of relieving the government from the burden of cash calls obligation, address and defray the agreed cash call arrears of IOCs and restore oil and gas production.
Other areas he disclosed that will take his attention include, increasing Nigeria’s crude oil production through the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC); review of all weak contractual agreements and terminate bad ones as appropriate; as well as repair and restoration of oil and gas pipeline infrastructure in the country.
Baru said he will also set up a robust security system to detect and deter vandalism of oil assets in conjunction with existing security arrangement. He said the NNPC under him will equally upgrade its commitment to renewable energy and frontier exploration services.
