Oil & Gas: Working For, Not Destroying Nigerians

I recently visited with the victims of the Abule Egba tragedy at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital. The experience was as sobering as it was disturbing.

http://www.champion-newspapers.com/sunday%20files/News/article_4.htm

The explosion is another horrifying reminder of the failure of Nigeria’s political leaders to demonstrate leadership on 2 key issues: job creation and the dignity of human life. From the horror of the Jesse firestorm in 1998 to 2006’s Abule Egba tragedy, thousands of precious citizens have perished, victims of a failed policy.

I believe that no Nigerian who has a job of their dreams will willingly choose to suffer the indignity and risk of scooping fuel from a broken pipeline. We as a society have repeatedly said no more, yet our leaders have failed to act on our call. What I told the victims - many in unimaginable pain - is that I have heard them. I will provide leadership that will finally transform the interlinked issues of injustice in the Niger Delta, the lack of refinery capacity in Nigeria, the poor fuel distribution infrastructure and the long standing failure of NNPC to meet the aspirations for which it was founded. As president, I will work on these interlinked issues in the manner outlined below:

• New Refinery Projects: Expansion of the refining capacity to a target of 2-4 million barrels per day with the aim of transforming Nigeria’s refinery market. The project will cost an estimated $8 - $16 billion. The plan will enable Nigeria to meet domestic demand as well as export globally. New refineries will be built in partnership with private investors, with the Federal Government taking a variety of roles including direct equity stake and/or credit line support. In addition, existing refinery capacity such as Port Harcourt and Kaduna will be upgraded as part of a capacity expansion program. As part of the process, changes to regulations will be made in order to create a competitive retail market for all market players
• New Products Distribution Network: Creation of new petrol, kerosene and jet fuel distribution network composed of new environmentally safe pipelines, rail road tanks, road based tankers and marine vessels. Existing above ground pipelines such as the ones in the Niger Delta and Lagos will be relocated and buried. Every corner of Nigeria will be amply supplied by a variety of sources e.g. pipeline to Ibadan and Enugu, marine vessel to Lokoja and train to Kano. Combined with a transformed refinery capacity, Nigeria will never suffer a shortage of petrol and other refined products. The Federal Government will create joint private-public partnerships to transform fuel distribution, a process that will build on the strong initiatives of private companies such as Oando’s rail distribution project.
• Transformation of NNPC: NNPC will be turned around to make it work more effectively for the Nigerian people. Elements of that transformation will include changes to its corporate strategy to emphasize building a world class integrated upstream and downstream energy company, and diversification of its ownership including taking it public on the Nigerian Stock Exchange
• Return to Local Control of Minerals: The derivation and resource control principles articulated in the 1963 constitution will be reinstituted, with the bulk of federal revenues coming from tax revenues not direct control of resources. Such a federalist approach to resource management will help ensure that significant investment flows into a range of other energy assets such as coal.
• Reinforcement of Environmental Laws: Under the Utomi Administration, the focus will shift in 2 important ways: a revitalized enforcement regime will impose significantly revised penalties on companies that break Nigerian environmental laws. When Nigerian law is insufficient, the best practices from the most compliant region e.g. the US Gulf, North Sea etc will be applied. Institutionally, enforcement responsibility will be transferred to a new Environmental Crimes Division of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ).
• Creation of Government of Nigeria Investment Fund: In partnership with Nigeria’s federating states, the Utomi Administration will work to amend the Nigerian Constitution to improve management of receipts from energy assets and similar exports. The Administration will work to create a Government of Nigeria Investment Fund similar to that utilized by the United Arab Emirates and Norway. Assets transferred to the Fund will be invested in a range of opportunities within and outside Nigeria by the fund’s professional managers, with dividends and capital gains shared across its shareholding structure (e.g. the Federal center and the 36 states).

Robot  Villager

# 1 Oil & Gas: Working For, Not Destroying Nigerians I recently visited with the victims...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 31.12.2006 12:41

blackscorpion  Villager

# 2 Prof, Compliments of the season.I just read your post and i must confess your inclusion of the champion newspaper coverage of your Abule Egba visit left a sour taste.Its so unlike you. While one appreciates the action plans so well outlined here i cant but read political intonations into this. While wishing the souls of the departed a desrved peaceful rest,i wish you also Prof every success in your political aspirations, Kunle Posted by blackscorpion| 31.12.2006 12:49

Zanderlex  Villager

# 3 Too much theory prof, all these ideas look very good on paper. Please take Nigeria in realistic terms prof! because you are the only credible person out there. It should be easy to comprehend that what we really need are simple things, 1) How to make more garri , yam and rice (FOOD and Water) 2) How can we travel to Abuja, Lagos, or Enugu without being killed by accident or armed robbers.(TRANSPORT AND SECURITY) 3) How to prevent elcted officials from looting our money.(CORRUPTION). How to be sure Chris Uba will not throw away my vote (RESPECT FOR MY RIGHTS and RULE OF LAW ). How can I go to school or trade without having malaria, TB or HIV (HEALTH AND EDUCATION). If we can do something about these things first then we have started. Thank you. Posted by Zanderlex| 31.12.2006 13:24

saemoenl  JJC

# 4 Its quite unfortunate that Mr President is not interested in all this your experience as he handed/ supported kastina state Governor as the next President of our Nation come 2007. Its quite Unfortunate that we black and most famous country can't even make a different in our lifes and blessed gifts God gave to us.... So disappointed... Samuel Italy Posted by saemoenl| 31.12.2006 13:57

Palamedes  Villager

# 5 Addendum • Investigate the fuel importers: Investigation of all long-standing fuel importers and their contribution to the degradation of existing production facilities. In fact I will go as far as investigating all long-standing importers of commodities that can be produced in Nigeria. You would find that these are ENEMIES WITHIN and they must be brought to book. • Educate the public on public safety—that is, if they would listen. Posted by Palamedes| 31.12.2006 14:51

akuluouno  Villager

# 6 Dear Prof, Return to local control of minerals. Fiscal federalism. This is the summary of the whole thing. But the owners of Nigeria will not allow that to happen. Thank you for elevating politics to the level of ideas. Posted by akuluouno| 31.12.2006 17:51

zizzy  Villager

# 7 wonderful piece. atleast we still have people who are willing to change the nigerian system. i pray that god will ever help you to achieve the dream of the nigerian people. Posted by zizzy| 29.01.2007 08:50