PPMC completes rehabilitation of Aba-Enugu pipeline … To reopen Enugu fuel depot

Business Energy Finance News

March 12, 2015
Diezani-Alison-Madueke

In display of commitment to efficient products distribution nationwide at uniform price, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has completed the rehabilitation of Aba-Enugu products pipelines. This is to ensure free flow of products from Port Harcourt refinery to Enugu fuel depot and boost distribution of petroleum products in South East States of Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, Anambra and also Benue state in North Central.

A source close to NNPC hinted that the completion of the pipeline rehabilitation damaged by vandals at several points between Aba and Enugu will enable the PPMC to reopen the Enugu depot. This, he said is a follow up to the certification of the project by project consultants and in-house engineers of the corporation.

The re opening of Enugu fuel depot is expected to boost products supply and reduce the suffering of fuel marketers spending extra cost in bringing products to Enugu.

The Federal Government had commenced the rehabilitation of pipelines from the NNPC refinery in Port Harcourt to its depot in Enugu last year.

The rehabilitation of the depot followed government’s commitment to make petroleum products available to Nigerians at the official price.

An official of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) excited about the news commended the commitmentsof NNPC/PPMC in ensuring that the depot was reactivated to serve residents of the state.

http://pearl.com.ng/2015/03/ppmc-completes-rehabilitation-of-aba-enugu-pipeline-to-reopen-enugu-fuel-depot/

Gov Orji Commissions First Aba Mega Mall, Performs Ground Breaking of Second Phase
By Daily Post Staff on May 27, 2015

Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, has advised the incoming government in the state to build on the foundation already laid by his government in advancing the course of the state.

He gave the advice while commissioning the first phase of the Aba Mega Mall by Greenfield Assets Ltd and laying the foundation of a new phase at Okpu Umuobu, Osisioma Local Government Area.

Governor Orji further asked the incoming government to learn from past experiences in order not to make mistakes that will retard the growth of the state.

According to him, his administration has put in sustainable infrastructure in the state that will stand the test of time, adding that Aba remains a melting pot of great resources.

He thanked the Osisioma people for donating their land to the government for the building of the shopping mall and urged other communities to release their land for development purposes when the government asks for such land.

Governor Orji thanked Aba people for their support and urged them to renew their attitude to make the city great.

In his speech, the Group Managing Director of Green field Assets Ltd, Paul Obanua thanked the Abia state government for the support it received, pointing out that nobody from the government asked the company of any favours with respect to the project.

He said that the first phase was made up of 1000 stalls while the next phase will comprise an abattoir, cinema , a dry port as well as a motel, maintaining that the company is interested in harnessing the industrial capacity of Aba.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Elder Emma Adaelu thanked the Greenfield Assets Ltd for siting the mall in Aba and the Governor for giving his full support to the project and urged Aba people to buy stalls in the mall.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/05/27/gov-orji-commissions-first-aba-mega-mall-performs-groundbreaking-of-second-phase/

Mega Malls Lead Nigeria’s 2014 Retail Revolution

By Our Reporter on January 2, 2015 Business, Trending

In 2014, Nigeria witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of shopping malls that berthed in major cities like Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Aba amongst others.

Major Nigerian cities, especially Lagos and Abuja, saw in 2014 what seems a revolution in the retail segment of the real estate market driven by the country’s encouraging demographics, changing household shopping culture, strong purchasing power and high consumer spend coming from the upper and emerging middle class population.

The rebirth of shopping malls has redefined consumers’ lifestyle in the areas where they are established, the surge in the growth of Nigeria’s retail sector may not have seen the last of investors as Resilient Africa says it has seen a huge potential in the sector notwithstanding that it is still relatively immature.

In 2104, a joint venture by Shoprite and Stanbic IBTC as development partners and Resilient Africa – a real estate investment and development company from South Africa – is out with an intention to develop as many malls as it can within the shortest possible time in Nigeria.

“The potential of this (Nigerian) market is unlimited and it is relatively immature. We see big international (European) retailers coming here in the next two to three years. I think Africa is the flavour of the moment and it is only natural for international investors to migrate to the continent,” Japie Swart, Resilient Africa’s chief operating officer, told BusinessDay in an interview in the outgoing year.

Swart disclosed that they were already tapping into the opportunities which this market offers with the development of Delta Mall, a retail outlet sitting on 14,000 square metres gross lettable area estimated to cost $58 million on completion.

The mall which is located at Effurun roundabout in Delta State, Swart said, is a joint venture project involving his company, Delta State government and an undisclosed local businessman, adding that March 2015 has been set for the opening of the mall already 70-80 percent ready on construction side.

“This mall occupies 14,000 square metres gross lettable area and there are 65 individual shops. About 70 percent of these spaces have been let and we are negotiating letting another 20 percent. So, we anticipate that the mall will be 90 percent let at opening.

“Shoprite as the anchor tenant and project partner occupies 3,400 square metres, Lifemate Furniture occupies 1,100 square metres while Mr. Price occupies 650 square metres,” the COO said.

Delta Mall was one of the many shopping outlets that ca me into the Nigerian retail sector to operate outside the traditional city centres of Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and this development was explained by Matthew Chency, project manager, Resilient Africa at Tenant’s Forum in Lagos.

“Wherever we see opportunity, we pursue it. All of us cannot just focus on the big cities. By doing that, we will be over-supplying the market there, but not tapping the opportunities in the rest of Nigeria,” he said, explaining that their choice of Effurun for the Delta Mall was based on available business opportunities and market research.

The mall had modern facilities such as public toilets, a lift for accessing the first floor; parking space that will take 570 cars and, as an enclosed structure, it will be fully air-conditioned for climate control. The price per square metre of space ranges from $25 to $70 depending on the size and location of the shop space, and this price, according to Swart, is market-related and competitive.

For logistics reasons, Swart said their investment focus, for now, was on the Southern part of Nigeria, disclosing that they have broken ground for the development of another mall in Owerri that would be opened in December 2015.“Our focus, for now, is on the Southern part of Nigeria from logistics point of view.

We usually engage local contractors for our construction and we cannot move them about because we are not a construction firm like Julius Berger. Right now, we are using artisans and professionals from Nigeria to develop our malls”, he said, disclosing that the design of the Delta Mall was done by South African architects in conjunction with Nigerians.

In a related development in 2014, market received another major boost as Berverly & Sam Properties launched its upscale Purplestone Mall, Abuja into the market with not only a new development proposition but also a new shopping experience that will be pocket-friendly.

Though the developer said the choice of Abuja for the development of this mall was because of the ‘cheaper’ cost of acquiring land in Abuja relative to other locations plus the ease of doing business in the city, Abuja also presents investment and economic indices which investors find compelling.

With a rapidly growing population of 2.2 million, Abuja – Nigeria’s federal capital city –became a very strong market comprising A and B level consumers which underpin the residents’ potential buying power. The city is said to have the highest per capita income in Nigeria and according to a recent study on the city’s consumer spend, there are over 68,000 households in the city with annual expenditure of over $150,000 per household.

Lilian Agbakoba, Berverly & Sam Properties’ MD/CEO, explained that Purplestone, in its residential and commercial developments, targets people at the lower level of the society, thus mall would be more affordable than its peers in order to reach this class of people.

The Mall, which opened in November 2014, sits on 300 square metres of land, offering 400 shop spaces and opportunities for banking halls, hair-dressing salon etc, and according to the CEO, these shop spaces go for prices 30 percent lower than those of known brands in town.

With a huge consumer market, growing economy and increasingly urbanised population base, Nigeria represents one of the biggest opportunities for the retail sector in Africa. However lingering concerns over select risk factors, including tariffs imposed on the industry in 2014.

Currently, more than 80m of Nigeria’s 170m citizens live in or close to urban areas, a figure that is set to rise in coming years as the economy moves away from its traditional rural base. This shift to the cities, and the rise of a broader middle class, represents a vast pool of customers for retailers.

According to a report released in July 2014 by research firm McKinsey Global Institute, Nigeria’s consumption could rise to $1.4trn a year by 2030, from its present level of $388bn a year, an average annual increase of 8%.This rise in consumption was driven by higher income levels, with the report forecasting 35m households to be earning more than $7500 a year by 2030, greatly expanding the middle-income bracket.

This increased affluence is expected to result in 7.1% annual growth in sales of food and non-food consumer goods. The rise of non-food goods such as personal care products will record an even sharper rate of growth, with sales rising by 10.6 percent a year through to 2030, compared to 6.8% for food.

Another report prepared by international management consultancy A T Kearney earlier in 2014 tipped Nigeria, along with Gabon, as offering the best retail investment opportunities in Africa. Kearney’s African Retail Development Index ranked Nigeria second overall for retail potential, saying it had rapidly evolving retail dynamics and demographics, with many other global retailers planning to set up shop.

In 2013, French retail giant Carrefour partnered with the French distributor CFAO, which specialises in African sales and distribution, and plans to open stores in eight countries across the continent by 2015, including in Nigeria.

In the same vein, 2015 is expected to mark a technological milestone as the number of households possessing a mobile telephone will surpass 90 percent for the first time (90.3 percent), according to Euromonitor forecasts (based on 86 countries which account for 87.3 percentage of global households). This is important for several reasons:Mobile telephones are growing in ubiquity and are now considered an essential household item, even in less affluent countries and regions.

In Africa, for example, mobile phones have leapfrogged personal computers enabling consumers in remote areas to get connected; this trend is also representative of a growing global middle class; communications is often amongst the first categories where discretionary spending occurs, once consumers enter the realms of spending beyond the essential items of food and housing; as more consumers seek to upgrade their handsets to smartphones or mobile phones enabling web access, marketers should consider mobile and Internet marketing as an area for growth in order to reach new consumer prospects directly.

There remain discrepancies in mobile phone penetration rates across the world with higher income countries tending to have a greater proportion of mobile phone ownership.

However, big emerging markets such as India, Nigeria and Mexico with relatively low mobile phone penetration offer growth potential, while saturated markets in developed economies can be targeted with more sophisticated devices as consumers seek products that can help them stay digitally active while on the move and where one device will satisfy all needs. The boundaries between personal and work technologies will continue to blur as more workers can work from anywhere at any time.

(BUSINESS DAY)

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=98378

Concessionaire Votes N4bn to rehabilitate Enugu Hotel Presidential
By Our Reporter on May 26, 2015 Trending

BY MADUKA NWEKE

One time pride of the Eastern Nigeria, the Hotel Presidential Enugu (“the Hotel”), one of the first iconic buildings built post-independence as part of the Eastern government’s industrialization plan created under the late Dr. Mike Okpara is about regaining its past glory. With a unique offering of recreational and lifestyle elements, the Hotel Presidential quickly became a popular destination for Nigerians and foreign visitors. The collapse of the pride of the East led the Government of Enugu state to concession the Hotel to capable hands to bring it back to life and upgrade it to world class standards at a cost of over N4 billion. The Hotel sits on prime land within the Independence Layout Enugu and is approximately 15 minutes by car from the Enugu International airport.

At the time it was open to the public, the Hotel offered 100 rooms on 4 floors with recreational facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and a night club considered best in class. Many people growing up in Enugu and other eastern states have fond memories of Sunday lunch in the Hotel’s restaurant as well as attending functions in the grand ball room. These memories however quickly faded once the reality of the Hotel’s current state of disrepair is revealed. Many years of poor management, particularly during the many years of military rule, culminated in a complete rundown of the Hotel and subsequent closure of the once iconic facility. In a bid to remedy the situation, the current Enugu State Government, sought proposals from private sector investors willing to invest in the redevelopment of the Hotel as well as manage it under an international hotel brand name. After due consideration of a number of proposals from private sector investors, the Government of Enugu State granted a concession on the Hotel to E-Hospitality Services Limited (EHSL).

EHSL will undertake the project through a special purpose company – Primeview Hotels Limited. EHSL will also engage a suitable International hotel management company to operate the Hotel post renovation. Following extensive research, EHSL noted the lack of international standard hospitality services in the South-East. Given the strong demand for quality hotel, leisure and conferencing facilities in the region EHSL aims to breach this supply gap by providing what would be undoubtedly the premier business and leisure facility in the South-East zone when completed. EHSL also expects that with the growing FDI flowing into the zone and the commencement of direct international flights into Enugu airport and significant foreign traveller traffic, the Hotel is expected to become the destination of choice. Enugu is strategically located, being approximately an hour’s drive from the state capitals of Anambra, Abia, Imo and Ebonyi and about ninety minutes from Port Harcourt. The Hotel when completed would play a key role in facilitating business and socio-economic activities across the South-East and South-South zones.

Primeview Hotels Limited has since taken possession of the facility and concluded preliminary surveys and assessments including a structural integrity test carried out by Sanni Ojo and Partners, a leading firm of structural engineers. The results of the tests have been positive. In line with the forgoing, EHSL has assembled a team of world class design and engineering consultants and produced a redevelopment concept. A contractor has also been mobilised to the site and has commenced the stripping of the Hotel in preparation for the redevelopment works. The Proposed Redevelopment concept involves reconfiguring and modernising the existing hotel facilities such as Restaurants, Conferencing facility, Outdoor swimming pool, 4 tennis courts and increasing the stock of rooms from 100 to 150 rooms. In addition a family leisure center would be incorporated and the number of restaurants and other elements increased in line with the requirements of the preferred hotel manager. It is expected that the main contract for the redevelopment would be awarded in Q4 2015 and the Hotel ready to be opened by Q2 2017.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=121587

Chime Commissions Ultra Modern Workers’ Secretariat, Gives Car to Best Worker
By Emmanuel Uzodinma on May 22, 2015

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State, Friday, commissioned the new ultra modern civil service secretariat in Enugu with a charge to workers in the state to upgrade their capacities in line with the facilities obtainable in the edifice.

Speaker during the ceremony, Chime disclosed that the multi-billion facility was built entirely with internally generated revenue, adding that it was designed to improve job satisfaction and productivity among the workers.

Recalling the criticisms and doubts that had greeted the project when it was started, the Governor said its completion was a demonstration of the commitment of his administration to radically transform the lives of Enugu people in all respects despite daunting odds.

“When we started this project, we were called all sorts of names and all kinds of allegations were leveled against us but today we can see that the dream has become a reality. I feel highly fulfilled”, he said.

He further disclosed that all cadres of workers in the state had been undergoing requisite training to enable them function properly in the new secretariat, adding that they were now expected to show more dedication and commitment to their duties.

The Governor, who was accompanied at the occasion by the Governor-elect of the state, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and his Deputy Hon Cecilia Ezeilo, along with other top government functionaries, thanked Enugu people for their support in ensuring the completion of the project.

He enjoined them to continue paying their taxes, especially when fully assured that the funds will be used for their own benefits.

Highlights of the occasion, were the cutting of a tape by Governor Chime to declare it open and the dedication of the complex by the Catholic Bishop of Enugu Most Rev Dr Callistus Onaga.

Also at the occasion, Governor handed over a brand new Hyundai Elentra car to the winner of the best worker in the state award, Mrs Veronica Ogbu.

http://dailypost.ng/2015/05/22/chime-commissions-ultra-modern-workers-secretariat-gives-car-to-best-worker/

Factory! Factory!! Programme Okorocha To Commence 26 Industries In Ogboko Home Promises 10 New Universities
Posted by admin on Jun 17th, 2015

In line with his pre-campaign promises, Governor Rochas Okorocha has declared intention to begin the industrial revolution in Imo from his Ogboko, Ideato South LGA home.
Speaking during a thanksgiving mass organized in honour of Governor Okorocha by the coalition of Ideato nation, on Sunday at the (Holy Trinity Parish Ogboko) the Governor disclosed that he will in few days time lay the foundation stone of 26 industries and 10 universities in line with his Factory, factory, Industry, industry and employment,” employment programs in Imo.
According to him, arrangements have been concluded for the takeoff as Ogboko people have indicated interest to provide land for the smooth take off of the industries.
The Governor used the opportunity to advise the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese and stakeholders of the area to provide a secondary school for the first Catholic University in Imo which according to him will admit students this September. He explained that the secondary school will serve as a temporary site while the construction of the permanent site goes on.
He maintaine that youths of the state will be gainfully employed, adding that investors have already arrived in Imo to contribute in the massive development project going on in the state right now.
The Governor advised the youths to take advantage of all the Rescue Mission programs to excel in life and be good ambassadors of their various home.
One of the priest who preached at the church service challenged Governor Okorcha on his abandoned projects.
In his words “if you can complete all the abandoned projects in Imo you will stand the chance of being the best Governor in the world” the priest told Okorocha.

http://www.imotrumpeta.com/?p=14417

RareDiamond:
Factory! Factory!! Programme Okorocha To Commence 26 Industries In Ogboko Home Promises 10 New Universities
Posted by admin on Jun 17th, 2015

In line with his pre-campaign promises, Governor Rochas Okorocha has declared intention to begin the industrial revolution in Imo from his Ogboko, Ideato South LGA home.
Speaking during a thanksgiving mass organized in honour of Governor Okorocha by the coalition of Ideato nation, on Sunday at the (Holy Trinity Parish Ogboko) the Governor disclosed that he will in few days time lay the foundation stone of 26 industries and 10 universities in line with his Factory, factory, Industry, industry and employment,” employment programs in Imo.
According to him, arrangements have been concluded for the takeoff as Ogboko people have indicated interest to provide land for the smooth take off of the industries.
The Governor used the opportunity to advise the Catholic Bishop of Orlu Diocese and stakeholders of the area to provide a secondary school for the first Catholic University in Imo which according to him will admit students this September. He explained that the secondary school will serve as a temporary site while the construction of the permanent site goes on.
He maintaine that youths of the state will be gainfully employed, adding that investors have already arrived in Imo to contribute in the massive development project going on in the state right now.
The Governor advised the youths to take advantage of all the Rescue Mission programs to excel in life and be good ambassadors of their various home.
One of the priest who preached at the church service challenged Governor Okorcha on his abandoned projects.
In his words “if you can complete all the abandoned projects in Imo you will stand the chance of being the best Governor in the world” the priest told Okorocha.

http://www.imotrumpeta.com/?p=14417

all Na wash if the industries are going to be built by govt

It is going to be done by private investors.

asha80:
all Na wash if the industries are going to be built by govt

RareDiamond:
It is going to be done by private investors.

@RareDiamond, Your love for Igboland is great. Your efforts here are commendable. Keep it up.

Good that chino did not creep in like a thief to spam this your beautiful and informative thread.

Thanks. God bless Ala Igbo !!!

millionaireman:


@RareDiamond, Your love for Igboland is great. Your efforts here are commendable. Keep it up.

Good that chino did not creep in like a thief to spam this your beautiful and informative thread.

Obiano Plans for Modern Abattoir in Anambra State
Published on News 2015-06-08 13:48:34

Worried about the physical conditions in which butchers and meat-dealers operate in the state, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano has concluded plans to set up an ultra-modern abattoir in the state that will be managed in a manner that the slaughter, processing and packaging of meat will be done in the best possible hygienic conditions.
To this effect, the governor last Tuesday signed an MoU with the management of Integrated Farms Ltd for the construction and management of a modern abattoir valued at $11.4m in the state.
Under this agreement, Integrated Farms is expected to contribute 90% of the equity while the state government will contribute the remaining 10%. It was also agreed that 5% of the annual dividend would be set aside for giving back projects in the host community,
Speaking at the agreement signing at the Governor's Lodge, Amawbia, Governor Obiano said the latest MoU brought the total investments attracted by his administration in the past one year to $2.4 billion USD.
According to him, the project is one of numerous such initiatives his administration had initiated across the various sectors with a view to securing a new lease of life for Ndi Anambra. He noted that having beefed up security in the state and taken proactive measures to improve power supply to Industrial clusters across the state, the coast was now clear for investors to bring their investment into the state, expressing delight that Ndi Anambra were now heeding the call by government to think home.
Assuring his total commitment to the project, Governor Obiano charged the investor to show immediate presence on ground by taking off now that the MoU had been signed.
Earlier, the chairman of ANSIPPA, and traditional ruler of Umuoji, Igwe Cyril Enweze, disclosed that the project would create jobs through direct and indirect avenues for Ndi Anambra in line with indigenous content policy as well as ensure the transfer of expertise to other operators in the meat industry, attributing the realization of the MoU to the immeasurable cooperation the ANSIPPA enjoyed from the Ministry of Health.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of the investing company, Engineer Azubuike Onowu, explained that the project was not aimed to displace the incumbent operators in the state's meat industry but to support them improve on their practice with a view to availing Ndi Anambra quality protein delivery produced under the highest standards of hygiene in the world.
For his part, the Managing Director of the Company, Engineer Dozie Abajue thanked Governor Obiano for the opportunity given them to invest in the state and assured that the project would fully commence operations in line with its terms of reference within the next 15months.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of ANSIPPA, Chief Joe-Billy Ekwunife restated the commitment of the agency to drive the governor's vision to effectively engage the private sector in transforming the economy of the state, describing the project as human oriented.
In her own remarks, the state commissioner for lands, Mrs Stella Onuorah, said Ndi Anambra were blessed to have a leader like Governor Obiano whose resolve to improve their living condition was unflinching, commending the conducive investment environment he had enthroned in the state.

http://fidesnigeria.org/article/17313/obiano-plans-for-modern-abattoir-in-anambra-state

Obinao sign N18.5bn natural gas deal for industrilisation
20:22 19/03/2015

Anambra - The Anambra Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Falcon Corporation, a foreign firm for the distribution of natural gas in the state.

Ms Ngozi Okoye, Senior Special Adviser to Gov. Willie Obiano on Oil and Gas, made the disclosure on Thursday in Awka at a news conference on activities in the sector in the past one year.

Okoye, said the gas project which was worth about N18.5 billion would facilitate the growth and further development of industrial clusters in the state.

She assured also that the 20,000 bpd capacity of Orient refinery cited at Umuleri/Nsugbe, a joint venture of the Anambra Government and Orient Petroleum could still be delivered at the end of the year.

Okoye, also Secretary to the State Committee on Oil and Gas, said the construction of a pipeline from the refinery to the proposed airport for dispensing of aviation fuel was ongoing.

Also read: Oil communities threaten to shut down gas plant

"A dual carriage road to the airport has already been flagged off by His Excellency and is nearing completion,” she said.

Okoye said the government through the committee was actively involved in the plan to establish a Petrochemical Plant in the state.

"If completed, the plant will have a 400 million standard cubic feet of gas per day extraction capacity and be able to produce 2,200 tons per day of mixed Nitro-Gas liquids.

"It will also yield a 4,000 tons per day of Methanol, 2,300 tons per day of Ammonia Urea (fertilizer), 1,400 tons per day of Acetic Acid, 150 tons per day of Formaldehyde and 6,200 tons per day of portable water,’’ she said.

She further said that the state now boasted of 13 existing viable Oil Blocks in the state.

They are OPLs 228, 280, 901, 902, 903, 904, 905, 906, 907, 914, 915, 916, and 917, Okoye said.

She said most oil production activities in the state were concentrated in the Anambra Basin, with OPLs 915 & 916 that had an estimated reserve of 193 million bbls Oil/Condensate and 30 TCF of Gas (owned by Orient Petroleum) witnessing the most activity.

The governor’s aide, who restated Obiano’s determination to make Anambra industry-driven, noted that the government had proposed a cargo airport to handle international cargo as well as domestic passenger flights.

Okoye said the airport for which license had been obtained, was a 50/50 joint venture between state government and Orient Petroleum and would have about 3.7km runway capable of handling big couriers.

She noted that with the passage of the bill which sought to establish the Anambra State Oil and Gas Development Agency (ASOGDA) in April 2014, the Oil had become hugely activated.

She rued the damage to Orient Oil facilities caused by the 2012 flooding, saying the production capacity of the company was greatly hampered but would come up soon if the wells become functional.

Okoye said efforts were being made to get the Federal Government to include Anambra in the exclusive list of oil producing states by making it the 10th member of Niger Delta Development Commission.

This, she said, was a major concern of Obiano and that the governor was already at it as its reality would attract more revenue and development.
- NAN

http://m.news24.com/Nigeria/National/News/Obinao-sign-N185bn-natural-gas-deal-for-industrilisation-20150319

Jonathan Approves Establishment of Enugu Free Trade Zone

By NAN on May 26, 2015

The Enugu State Government says it has received approval from the Federal Government to establish a Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in Enugu to serve the South East.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Jude Akubuilo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu on Tuesday that President Goodluck Jonathan gave the approval in April.

He said that the FTZ, to be located at the Ninth mile corner in Enugu metropolis, would have 402 hectares of land and another 16.8 hectares at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

The commissioner said that Gov. Sullivan Chime worked hard to secure the approval.

“We are waiting for the licence backing the approval and we are optimistic that it will come before the end of May.

“If you bring in goods and it is cleared and taken to the zone, an enhancement will be done to those goods, you will almost get them tax free.

“The industrial activities in the state will be astronomical because everybody who owns a factory in Nnewi, Onitsha, Orba, Nsukka, Ebonyi, Aba will be clamouring to have their factories in the zone.

“ Jobs will be created, improved infrastructures, enhanced road network, enhanced rail activities will be enjoyed in the state,’’ Akubuilo said.

He appealed to the incoming APC-led administration to support the development of the trade zone to enhance the nation’s economy and lives of people in the area.

NAN reports that the FTZ scheme was evolved to strategically improve investment climate in Nigeria, by stimulating export oriented business activities through the strengthening of strategic national economic policies.

It is to streamline administrative approval processes and provide a one-stop-shop service for businesses.

The target is to also create an enabling environment for the growth and development of export-oriented goods in the non-oil sector of the economy.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/05/jonathan-approves-establishment-of-enugu-free-trade-zone/

FG, UNIDO to establish small power plants in 4 states

By NAN / April 15, 2015 / No Comments

Energy Commission of Nigeria said the Federal Government, in partnership with United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, UNIDO, plans to establish small power plants in four states, using rice husk to generate electricity.
Director-General of the commission, Prof. Jere Bala said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN on Tuesday in Abuja.
Bala named the states as Niger, Adamawa, Gombe and Bayelsa.
He said an additional 5 MW pilot power plant would be established in Ebonyi to complement the existing 30 KW bio-mass pilot, using rice husk to generate electricity in the state.
He said after the completion of the project in Ebonyi, government would then replicate it in other rice growing states of Niger, Adamawa, Gombe and Bayelsa.
Bala said the replication was aimed at promoting industrialisation, employment and empowerment of the citizens in the country.
He said the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the government and UNIDO had brought about the establishment of small power plant development pilot projects in the country.
He said the commission, in collaboration with UNIDO, had already established 150 kw small hydro plants in Waya Dam in Bauchi State, 130 kw in Enugu State and 400 kw inTaraba.
Bala, who said the Federal Government had developed 30 MW small hydro-plant in Gurara, noted that many more dams would be built in partnership with private investors.
“Many more dams are expected to come now through exploiting the existing down and realising the potentiality for electricity generation.’’
He said UNIDO, through its Regional Centre for Small Hydro-Power Plant and the commission, had developed lots of feasibility studies that would encourage capacity building of the people for the project.
He said the issues of renewable energy in terms of power development had come to stay in Nigeria and it was expected to provide 20 per cent of the country’s power supply.
The D-G said by 1999, the availability of power was less 2,000 MW while the installed capacity was 6,000 MW but noted that Nigeria currently had 10,000 MW with available 4,000 MW.
He said that privatisation of the power sector would soon increase the level of electricity supply across the country.
“The private sector has high efficiency which will improve electricity production. It is going to improve because nobody will invest and dump his money.’’
The D-G said the situation would improve as 75 per cent of Nigerians would have access to electricity by 2030.
He said the commission was mandated to produce strategic plans for national policy to ensure adequate and affordable supply of energy.
Bala said all these were integrated into the National Energy Master Plan and the Renewable Energy Master Plan, adding that a lot of development had been ongoing in line with the plans.
The D-G said stakeholders from the power sector, the petroleum, the solid mineral (coal energy), the nuclear power sector and the renewable sector were involved in the development of the plans.
Bala said the economic and social development of any country depended on the adequate and constant supply of energy, saying Nigeria had been growing about seven per cent from alternative energy.
He said for Nigeria to achieve self sufficiency of power supply, the sector had to be private-sector-driven “and that is why reforms are ongoing at the power and energy sector’’.
“Energy is necessary to drive growth. The grind is the cheapest sources of energy,’’ he said.
He said the commission’s mandate was to develop strategic plans for National Energy Policy on renewable energy, adding that the renewable master plan was developed in conjunction with UNDP.
He said the commission would collaborate with the public and private sectors, NGOs, academia, universities, research centres and CBOs, to establish synergy among the stakeholders for development of renewable energy.(NAN)

http://nigerianpilot.com/fg-unido-to-establish-small-power-plants-in-4-states/

African Development Bank approves N40 billion for Abia State
By Agwu Okojogho, Umuahia on 02/07/2015

The development programme of the Dr Omezie Ikpeazu-led government of Abia State has received a big boost as the African Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $200 million facility for the state.

The fund which is approximately N40 billion would be committed to building of roads, sanitation and provision of water.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu made this known yesterday in Umuahia while receiving the General Superintendent of Deeper Life Christian Ministries, Pastor William Kumuyi, at Government House. He hinted that part of the money would be deployed to rehabilitating the dilapidated Aba - Port Harcourt Road which has remained impassable for years.

The governor also revealed that other roads, including Ohanku Road Aba, would equally receive attention.

News Express reports that on assumption of office, Ikpeazu launched the Aba Urban Renewal programme under which the commercial city would be transformed through massive renewal and provision of dilapidated infrastructure.

Under the programme, the governor has commenced road rehabilitation programmes involving reconstruction of seven urban roads and desilting of drainages in Aba.

Already, a Chinese firm, the China Geology Engineering Company has arrived Abia to explore areas the firm could collaborate with the Ikpeazu administration to realise the Aba Urban Renewal programme.

“In Abia State, we are mindful of the challenges that confront us. But big as they may seem, we are also confident that our God is bigger than whatever challenges there may be and that is the reason we are confident that victory is assured,” Ikpeazu said.

Responding to requests placed on his table by his visitors, Ikpeazu promised to provide the church with a piece of land in the state to build their university

as well as construct a 5km access road to the school.

He expressed belief that God would use Kumuyi’s visit to turn things around in Abia, describing him as the father of Pentecostal movement in Nigeria.

Pastor Kumuyi said he was in the state for the annual Gospel Crusade of the ministry and used the forum to commend the Governor for the road construction efforts of his government in Aba, as well as for cutting his salary to ameliorate the plight of workers in the state and called on other politicians and even ministers to emulate him.

Also, the Abia State Overseer of Deeper Life, Pastor Damian Umeh, said the church would continue to pray for the governor and appealed to him to grade the Ohanku and Aba - Port Harcourt Road, the road leading to the ministry’s camp ground in Aba and also provide them with land for building their proposed university in the state.

http://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/detail.php?news=12562&title=African-Development-Bank-approves-N40-billion-for-Abia&scid=46

A thread for dreamers......... ......why r there no people in these pictures.....all hiding selling gala in lagos

Diamond Bank, Geometric, Others Seal N15bn Power Deal
09 Jul 2015


The Aba Integrated Power Project (Aba IPP), scheduled for commissioning in November, has entered into a new Transaction Implementation Agreement with its sponsors and creditors pursuant to which Afrigem Integrated Utilities Limited becomes a core investor in the power project.

Afrigem, a West African focused development and investment company with a 720mw pipeline of energy solutions project in the region, is expected to inject N15 billion into the project, making Geometric Power one of the most capitalised private sector driven power companies in the sub-region.

A statement explained that the agreement signing ceremony which was hosted by Diamond Bank Plc, provides Afrigem the milestones for the restructuring of the existing debt stock of Geometric Power’s project companies, recapitalisation and also, the restructuring of the company. These, it explained, were expected to help fast-track the inauguration of the plant.

“Geometric Power led the sponsors of Aba IPP while the creditors include Diamond Bank Plc, Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc. In its 3-year growth plan, the Sponsors and Afrigem expect to increase the plant capacity from 141MW to 341MW by 2018,” it stated.

According to the parties, the capital restructuring agreement will also ensure that the project companies: Geometric Power Aba Limited and APL Electric Limited have the required capital to deliver reliable power. It will also bring on board the expertise of Afrigem’s team in the operations and management of the Aba IPP while the new capital will be applied towards the commissioning of the project and part payment to creditors with enough left to run the company.

Chairman of Geometric Power Limited, Professor Bart Nnaji, led the signing on behalf of the project sponsors while the Vice Chairman of Afrigem, Mallam Samaila Zubairu, led the signing on behalf of Afrigem Integrated Utilities Limited at the ceremony attended by energy consultants, top bank executives and representatives of the various professional parties.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Risk Officer of Diamond Bank Plc, Caroline Anyanwu, stated that the new agreement signalled a huge economic leap in the generation and distribution of electricity energy in Nigeria.

According to her, Diamond Bank was very passionate about the project because of the economic ripple effect that uninterrupted electricity power supply would bring to the numerous Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) operators in Abia State and the country generally.


More from: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/diamond-bank-geometric-others-seal-n15bn-power-deal/214190/

A New Abia Beckons

05 Jul 2015

By Ojo Maduekwe

The inauguration of the administration of Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu on May 29, signalled the rebirth of a new Abia State. So far, the goodwill from Abians at home and abroad, and also from Nigerians across the country, are evidence of the trust placed on Governor Ikpeazu, to which the governor has justified with thoughtful engagements since assuming office.


Accepted that some people feel it is proper to give the new government sometime to solidify on its promises, especially on rebuilding Aba, before raining encomium on Governor Ikpeazu; nonetheless, the governor’s immediate actions have not left anyone in doubt as to his commitment in keeping his word to the people of Abia state.


Focused on improving the living standard of every resident in the state, Governor Ikpeazu, poised to ensure that his campaign promises materialise from words into concrete infrastructure, more security, and, respect to the state civil servants that are the engine of government, has without doubt, started well.


From setting up of the office of Aba Urban Renewal, inaugurating the construction of seven roads in Aba to cutting down by 50 per cent his salary and travel allowance, the governors actions are based on the vision of opening up the state for business through the repositioning of Aba as Nigeria’s SME capital. An economic team is working tirelessly to help realise this vision.


For those who still see refuse dumps in Abia, Governor Ikpeazu’s vision to transform the state into a centre of commerce where business is conducted seamlessly, and in a secure and clean environment, has kicked off. Beneath the piles of dirt are great opportunities recognised by the new government. In no distant future Abia would be one of the cleanest states in Nigeria, and among the biggest contributors to the national coffers by virtue of its increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).


Work is ongoing, and structures are being laid. The government has commenced an Integrated Payroll Verification System aimed at checking the menace of ghost workers in the state; while tax collection has been stopped until the tax system is automated and harmonised.


The Abia State Economic Advancement Team which is chaired by the governor, has been tasked with the job of increasing the states monthly IGR profile from the current average of N350 million to N1.5 billion within the next one year. In carrying out this task, the team will focus less on new taxes while channelling more energy towards plugging existing leakages.


In an effort to meet the new IGR benchmark of N1.5 billion, there are existing structures the new government would build upon. For instance, when the new Umuahia City, designed to include sophisticated malls, recreational parks, housing estates, and an International Conference Centre capable of boosting the states revenue through tourism is amplified with the rapid rebuilding of Aba, Abia state will wear a new look.


With a total seating capacity of about 9,000, that includes a main hall, four conference halls and a banquet hall, the centre is complete with a VIP lounge, gallery, offices and a huge parking space. A lot of revenue would be generated by the new government from this building that would be hosting some of the biggest events the country has ever seen.


In the South-east, before the centre in Umuahia, there were no good places to hold conferences of world class standard. The International Conference Centre, when fully functional would fill the gap and be what the Calabar International Convention Centre is to the state of Cross River.


The centre is digital, with advanced information technology such that events can be recorded and the signal beamed live for people to watch anywhere in the world. Also, the centre is the best not only in Nigeria, but in the rest of Africa. This would help boost tourism-related revenue for the state.


Also, there are yet to be tapped IGR from Aba. As the commercial and industrial nerve centre of Abia, Aba, with its plethora of small and medium scale industries, ranks as the only city in Nigeria with the largest concentration of cottage industries, a reality which has been acknowledged on several occasions by local financial organisations, and international organisations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).


Only recently, the African Development Bank (AfDB) granted approval of a $200 million facility for the state to be used in tackling the challenges of water, sanitation and road construction. With this fund, which Governor Ikpeazu has assured would be applied on the Port Harcourt road, Aba, and other roads, the challenges of refuse dumps and deplorable roads within the city are being tackled. Already, the Office of Aba Urban Renewal has commenced aggressive work on the drainage system in Aba.


Now is the time to invest in Abia state. There are vast opportunities for serious investors. South African chain store giant and owners of Shoprite, Pall Mall, are presently in the state, constructing the Abia Shopping Mall. Talk of the manufacturing industry in Aba, or is it real estate, Abia state is ready for business. Question is, are you?

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/a-new-abia-beckons/213881/

Anambra Govt sends Emissary to Eagle Farm, Promises to Boost Agric

By Our Reporter on July 8, 2015 Oriental News

From ALOYSIUS ATTAH, Onitsha

Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has reinstated the desire of his administration to provide farmers with adequate support to enhance agricultural productivity in the state.

The governor, who chose Agriculture development as one of the four pillars of development and a top priority of his administration, made this known when he visited Eagle Food Processing Industry at Umuchu in Aguata Local government Area of the state recently.

Governor Obiano, who was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon Afam Mbanefo, said that the visit was to look at the situation on ground at Eagle Food, a National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award winning farm which is a leading mega farms in the state with over 300 employees.

He observed that the situation at the Umuchu farm was wonderful and quite impressive by all standard.

Hon Mbanefo who was conducted round the farm by top officials of the company led by the Managing Director, Prince Ugochukwu Okpalaeke, said that he was impressed to see that Eagle Food has a huge poultry farm with hundreds of thousands of birds, a functional mill and other sections like piggery, fishery, cattle rearing, palm produce processing plant, cultivation of yam, cassava, maize, vegetable plants, banana plantation, among others.

He said that the Obiano administration has since its inception last year intensified massive campaign for the people, particularly the youths to embrace agriculture as a measure to reduce unemployment and also enhance food security in the state, adding that the visit to the Umuchu Farm was part of the efforts being made by Governor Obiano to support famers and propel interest into Agriculture among the people in the state.

Maintaining that the farm was great and amazing, he observed that the facilities, stock and huge products of the Umuchu Farm carry the message of what the state government wishes to achieve with farmers in the state, noting that the governor would certainly be happy and proud with the news about Eagle Food when the report is presented to him.

The commissioner commended the management of the NPOM winning farm and assured that having come to see things there, efforts should be made by his office to see that government attends to some teething problems of the farm, adding also that the government would see how to take advantage of the huge facilities in the farm as well as the wealth of experience of the managing director to assist young farmers in the state.

Speaking, Prince Okpalaeke who commended the governor for the visit, gave a brief history of the Farm, echoing that it was commissioned in the late ‘80s by the then governor of old Anambra State, the late Group Captain Emeka Omeruah, adding that the farm boasts of massive experience of over 30 years of operating a poultry, processing of palm produce, cultivation of yam, cassava, maize, vegetable plant, banana plantation, cattle rearing, piggery and fishery business, among others.

He lamented that the Farm could have gone into vegetable refinery, frozen chicken, fish and pock meat if there was enough support from government pointing out that the farm has enough capacity and experience to go into refining oil and frozen products if it was helped in the area of sourcing fund for the farm.

“We have a palm produce processing plant already and all we need to transit into refining vegetable oil is fund to procure some equipment, that is why we are seeking the attention of our governor, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, to come to our aid and bail us out with a source than can guarantee us soft loan to take off the refinery, the project can accommodate not less than 200 employees when it takes off,” he said.

He also said that the farm needs more help in the areas of procuring tractors to enhance cultivation works plus egg hashing machine, adding that like every other industry in the country, Eagle Food was heavily suffering from poor power supply as the farm consumes not less than four drums of gas daily.

“We are spending a lot of money on gas and sometimes we find it difficult to cope, so if government can improve on power supply our business will definitely improve”, he assured.

The Anambra leading farmer said that the people of the state were lucky enough to have a governor who is so passionate about development of Agriculture and called on the good people of the state to take advantage of the governor’s interest to buy into the business of farming and endeavour to start off even on a small scale measure.

“I started with 50 birds in 198”, He said that the management of Eagle Food was very appreciative of the governor’s visit to Umuchu.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/anambra-govt-sends-emissary-to-eagle-farm-promises-to-boost-agric/

RareDiamond God bless you my brother, only if you will accept my pleas and always ignore that guy messing up Imo state thread.

God bless you once again nwanne madu

Oil-Rig Bridge Aguleri Anambra-State to be completed before the end of this year!. This bridge is very important in helping to open up the emerging Oil Business in The Area & Alaigbo in general!

RareDiamond:
I foresee a massive agricultural boom never witnessed in Igboland recent time coming to Ala Igbo. Just yesterday governor Obiano on Channels tv signed an MoU with a private sector investor to commence revival and production from the big Omor rice mill which would source supply from 10,000 hectares of land owned by co-operatives and the private sector. The biggest cassava flour plant in the south east is under construction in Abiriba Abia State with 5,000 hectares of land allocated to the plant. Co-operatives and rural farmers are billed to benefit from this plant.

. I will always respect the south east, self reliance, hard working and stable people.

Masters Energy floats industrial city in Abia State
By Sulaimon Salau on July 7, 2015

AN integrated energy firm, Masters Energy has commenced works on its multi-billion naira industrial city located in Onuaku, Uturu, Abia State. The project, which is at advanced level of construction, is expected to commence operations by September.

Taking-off with integrated plastic making factory, noodles production and the organic fertiliser plant in the first phase, the industrial city will also have lubricant blending plant, storage facility, aluminium profile factory and pipeline manufacturing plant among others, when fully completed.

The Manager, Corporate Affairs, Masters Energy, Emmanuel Iheanacho, at the facility tour to the site at the weekend, said the project would become the industrial hub of the South-East region when completed. Iheanacho, expressed the company’s commitment to local content, adding that the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Uchechukwu Ogah was passionate about growing the local economy.

According to him, the industrial city will create about 14,000 jobs (direct and indirect) when fully completed, adding that it has already employed about 200 staff and over 800 contract workers, totalling over 1000 workers on site.

“What drives us at Masters Energy is the need to empower people and grow the domestic economy because creation of jobs will reduce crime rate and raise the local capacity,” he said Iheanacho also noted that the project would also save the nation of huge capital flight and have direct impact on the livelihood of indigenes of Abia, Enugu and Ebonyi States.

Other facilities expected in the industrial city includes; an Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre, high-tech laboratory facility, a well-equipped hospital, police\security base, fire fighting station and residential quarters for workers.

Iheanacho however assured on the quality of products that will be coming out of the city, “because we will follow the international standards with our state-of-the-art laboratory monitoring the quality of the inputs,” The Administrative Manager, Masters Energy, Emmanuel Arukwe, said safety is key in their operations, adding that the company has recorded zero-incidence since it started construction in 2011.

He noted that adequate programmes have been extended to the host communities as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). These include the donation of an auditorium for Abia State University; award of scholarships; electricity supply network; and health care centre, among others.

Masters Energy, an integrated oil and gas firms, has diversified into various sectors of the economy to emerge an one of the fastest growing industrial conglomerate in the country. The firm had also in 2006 acquired over 143 hectares of land in Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the construction of an ultra modern integrated oil and gas logistics centre, tagged, “Masters Energy City”.

Within the Energy City is a petroleum products storage facility of 158,000 metric tonnes storage, which has significantly bridged the supply gap of petroleum products in those areas.

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/07/masters-energy-floats-industrial-city-in-abia/

Thanks bro and God bless you

BuddahMonk:
RareDiamond God bless you my brother, only if you will accept my pleas and always ignore that guy messing up Imo state thread.

God bless you once again nwanne madu

Oando Set To Increase Gas Production
Posted by Maureen Nzeogu Oil & Gas, Trending News Thursday, June 4th, 2015

Oando is set to increase gas production by 20 million cubic feet with the construction of three gas-compression plants in Aba, Abia State; Port Harcourt, Rivers State and a third to be located in central Nigeria worth about $36 million (N7.2 billion).
In an interview in Lagos, Bolaji Osunsanya, chief executive officer, Oando gas and power, said with domestic gas demand projected to reach 5 billion cubic feet daily in the next two years, Oando is targeting big energy users such as cement and steel plants, who currently rely on diesel to generate at least 1.5 megawatts of power per factory, to switch to gas.
Osunsanya noted that compressed to become more than 200 times smaller than its original volume, gas could be delivered to companies connected to pipelines during supply disruptions.
He further said that the company is building a business to truck natural gas to industrial users whenever they are cut off from pipeline supply. “We’re basically creating a market for the future, markets that otherwise you won’t have been able to use pipelines to serve. Today, it is possible to truck compressed natural gas there. The technology can be utilised on all modes of transportation. Today it is trucks, but there is a future for rail and for barges, so we can wheel compressed natural gas through the rivers upstream,” he said.
Another subsidiary, Oando Energy Resources, OER, a couple of weeks back expressed optimism of meeting its medium-term new production targets of 100,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) and reserves of 500 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMboe) by 2017.
OER, said such high expectations is being driven by its reserves, exploration drive and vision of becoming a leading exploration and production player in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.
The company further said that it is well on track to meeting these production targets with its recent announcement of an 82 percent increase in reserves despite the downturn in the sector. The company’s proved and probable net reserves, 2P reserves were significantly increased from 230.6 million barrels of oil equivalent, MMboe to 420.3 MMboe at an economic value of $545 million to $1.8 billion.

http://energynews-ng.com/oando-set-to-increase-gas-production/

Seven Energy Supplies Gas to Alaoji Power Plant
Posted by Maureen Nzeogu Oil & Gas, Trending News Thursday, May 28th, 2015

Accugas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Seven Energy International Limited, has commenced the supply of gas to the Alaoji Independent Power Project, Abia State.
Accugas, one of the two suppliers with an initial contractual commitment to supply 30 million cubic feet per day (mmcfpd) gas to the 504-megawatt capacity power station commenced this month.
Alaoji project, the largest of the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs), has the first phase commissioned in March 2015.
Phillip Ihenacho, chief executive officer, Seven Energy, said reliable supply of gas to the NIPPs had been one of the core obstacles to their completion, and the consequent addition of significant generation capacity into the grid.
“Seven Energy is pleased to be able to provide this solution, ensuring that Alaoji has access to the gas it needs to commence electricity generation. Seven Energy is committed to providing the gas that will support the generation of electricity across Nigeria through our expanding gas distribution network.
“The addition of Alaoji to our gas supply network means we are now delivering affordable and reliable gas to three of Nigeria’s power stations. As a core of Seven Energy’s strategy to meet growing domestic energy demand, the Company has continued to invest in the expansion of its gas infrastructure in the southeast Niger Delta region, from its processing hub in Uquo, Akwa Ibom State,” he stated.
Steve Tierney, managing director, Accugas, said Alaoji’s decision to choose Accugas as one of its initial gas suppliers is a further endorsement of the quality and reliability of the service the company delivers to its customers.
“By ensuring our network is strategically located to deliver gas to the NIPP’s coming on stream in the south east of the country, and having proven our ability to deliver almost 100 per cent uptime of service, we expect to continue to expand our customer base in the coming months. Alaoji power station joins a growing list of gas off-takers, including Ibom Power Company, the United Cement Company of Nigeria, Notore Chemical Industries Limited and Calabar NIPP, who now rely on Seven Energy for the supply of gas to meet their power and industrial needs,” he explained.
Seven Energy International Limited’s upstream assets include licence interests in the Uquo Field and the Stubb Creek Field (southeast Niger Delta), an indirect interest in oil mining leases (OMLs) 4, 38 and 41 through a strategic alliance agreement with the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (northwest Niger Delta) and licence interests in OPLs 905, 907 and 917 (Anambra Basin).
Its midstream infrastructure assets, focused on southeast Niger Delta, include the 200mmcfpd Uquo gas processing facility and a gas pipeline network of 227 km with distribution capacity of 600 MMcfpd.
Seven Energy and its subsidiary company, Universal Energy Resources Ltd, had earlier announced the commencement of crude oil production from the Stubb Creek Field, in Akwa Ibom State, following approval to embark on the delivery of oil through ExxonMobil’s Qua Iboe Terminal.
This feat came barely few weeks after Seven Energy commenced the supply of natural gas to Notore Chemical Industries, a leading fertiliser and agro-allied company in Africa, and few days after the company also commenced the supply of gas to the 560-megawatt-capacity Calabar Power Station built under the NIPP.

http://energynews-ng.com/seven-energy-supplies-gas-to-alaoji-power-plant/

Shells Petroleum $3-5 Billion Assa Gas Plant in Imo State Set to Kick Off

Construction work is said to have begun at the $3.6 billion Shell
Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC’s) major Gas plant
project at Assa North – Ohaji South in Imo State.
Meanwhile, Shell Petroleum, the owner of the multi-billion dollar
gas plant, and Bortir International Company Limited, a subsidiary
at the Dangote group of companies have opened a partnership
deal on utilization of gas from the project.
On Tuesday both companies led by Walter Weilenger, project
manager, Shell and Ahmed S. Yakassai of the Dangote group,
inspected the project site at Ohaji Local Government Area of the
state.
BusinessDay checks indicate that the major gas plant is sited on
200 hectares of land provided by Imo State, which was according
to a request in June 2012 by the Managing Director of Shell, Mutiu
Sunmonu.
Sunmonu had appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha for the state
to provide the land as part of its collaboration for the project,
expected to be commissioned in 2018, beginning with the phase
one.
On its part, the Imo State Government has assured Shell Petroleum
Development Company and Borkir International Company Limited
(a subsidiary at Dangote Group), of its guarantee of security and
cooperation to ensure the project took-off and functioned
effectively.
“As you come to Imo, we would like to partner with you. We have
set up a committee to liaise with Shell on the development of Assa
Gas Plant. Imo Government is solidly behind you,” Okorocha said.
In his speech, Walter Weilenger, project manager of the Assa
North-Ohaji South Gas Plant project, Shell Petroleum Development
Company Limited, thanked the state government for a warm
welcome; and assured that the project would bring a lot of benefits
to the people of Imo State.
In June 2012, Sunmonu, Shell MD had said the gas plant would
supply domestic gas to power energy plants across the country as
well as generate massive job opportunities for Nigerians, adding
that the project which would be executed in two phases will be
completed in 2018.
While soliciting the collaboration of the state government in
handling of the project, he urged the government to play its part by
providing 200 hectares of land for the project, including an
enabling environment for the expatriates and workers to ensure a
healthy collaboration between SPDC and the host communities.
Sunmonu then promised that his company would always live up to
expectation in the area of its Corporate Social responsibility (CSR)
in the course of executing the project.

http://businessdayonline.com/2015/07/shells-3-5-billion-assa-gas-plant-in-imo-set-to-kick-off/#.VajFsTNw3EI

Abia, Eastgate move to realise Aba ICD
July 16, 2015 | Filed under: Breaking News,Maritime | Author: GODFREY OFURUM

The long awaited Aba Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Avor Intigha, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, will soon be realised following interest shown by the new administration in the state, BusinessDay has gathered.

According to a source, preparation for the construction and operation of the facility is almost completed by the Abia State government and Eastgate, concessionaire to the project, as the state governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has also been billed to meet with officials of the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC), Federal Government’s ports economic regulator, to discuss modalities for the realisation of the project.

The new government in Abia is expected to realise the project for the benefit of the people, as the multiplier effect of such a facility cannot be over-emphasised, the source said.

The ICD project was initiated to ease off congestion at the country’s ports as well as fast track clearing services to importers in the country, of which Aba has a large number.

Out of the six ICDs recommended to be built across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, the Aba ICD was the first to be issued with a certificate of occupancy, a feat Adamu Biu, former CEO of NSC, observed was as a result of the good relationship that existed between the host community and the concessionaire, as well as the doggedness of the management of Eastgate to realise the project.

Based on the arrangement, the Abia State government is to provide infrastructure and other logistics for Eastgate to move in and develop as well as manage the terminal.

Eastgate was issued with a certificate of occupancy in 2008 by the NSC, while the agreement for the commencement of the physical development of the project was signed in 2009.

All the parties to the project, including the Federal and Abia State governments, NSC and the concessionaire – Eastgate Inland Terminal Limited, expressed their commitment to ensuring the realisation of the Aba ICD, believed to be the most viable of the six ICDs proposed for different parts of the country.

The project, which is to be executed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, BusinessDay gathered, has been stalled due to civil service protocols, a situation a source said would, not had cropped up if the project was to be executed by the concessionaire alone.

BusinessDay also gathered that the project estimated to gulp about N70 million, would now be executed at about N100 million, no thanks to the global economic meltdown, which resulted to further devaluation of the naira.

http://businessdayonline.com/2015/07/abia-eastgate-move-to-realise-aba-icd/#.Vaf9i9oo_Fo

Mini Dubai springing up in Eastern Nigeria

The Aba Mega Mall has been de­scribed as a mini Dubai springing up in Eastern Nigeria. The project, which cost $300million, has indeed commenced at the heart of Igboland. Ugo Umeseaka, Managing Director of Aba Mega Mall Ltd, owners of the project, spoke to PETER AGBALAKU.

Excerpts”

Sir, I must confess, I am dazed by what I’m seeing here. Who’s the brain behind Aba Mega Mall Ltd?

(Laughing) Ok, Aba Mega Mall Ltd is a brainchild of Greenfield Assets Ltd; Greenfield Assets Ltd is actually the developer of Aba Mega Mall Ltd.

You say the developer of …?

(Cutting me off) Developer of Aba Mega Mall Ltd.

Is this their first project?

No. Greenfield has various projects in the South East. We have projects across virtually from Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom – road proj­ects, other infrastructure projects, and power projects in the South-East. And we have some buildings that we’ve done in Abuja, Lagos and indeed all round the country but mostly in the South-East.

Apart from Aba Mega Mall, can you mention specifically any of the proj­ects you have done?

Yes. Before we even go too far, Greenfield is responsible for the 13-kilometre road that leads to the ex-President’s home i.e. 13 kilometres to Otuoke. That’s one of the projects we have in Bayelsa. We’re also responsible for that of bul­let-proofing of NNPC Towers in Abuja.

Ok. So, the whole building is bullet –proofed?

Yes. Anti-shatter glass actually that’s what it’s called. Anti-shatter proofing so that there wouldn’t be any breakages.

What is the concept behind this Aba Mega Mall?

Aba Mega Mall is a concept to move the open-market system into more refined, clean­er, managed spaces. It is just an aspect of what is trending today. It actually represents, gives us an idea and its reflections of the direction Greenfield wants to go.

Greenfield is particularly interested in urban renewal. Our vision is to renew urban centres, improve communities and restart economic ac­tivities in those cities. Our passion beyond Aba Mega Mall is urban renewal. Greenfield is a company focused primarily on urban renewal.

This is your first mega project in this type?

Yes. It is our first flagship project, urban re­newal project among many others that are al­ready on different stages of development. We’re looking at doing the Port Harcourt Enugu-Ex­pressway; we’re about to conclude on what is required to do the Port Harcourt-Enugu axis.


How are these projects funded?

We have our own money. Then we have also partnerships with some foreign investors; then we have our local banks. That’s the structure we have on ground for funding the projects.

What is the worth or projected cost of the Aba Mega Mall project?


We’re also working with Abia State govern­ment – we started with the out-gone govern­ment and we will continue with current gov­ernment to develop a special economic zone in Aba that would have pharmaceutical industries, leather industry (leader cluster) and of course we already have a very strong industry in leath­er – a 60,000-member leather cluster in Aba. And we actually have the mandate with this government to develop a cluster for the leather industry. We’re also working towards develop­ing and industrial cluster for metal industry and the plastic industry.

We’re also looking at the fertilizer, pet­rol-chemical direction as well. We just want to set up a manufacturing cluster where the capacity of Igbo people would be encouraged in the manufacturing area. We want to provide the right environment, the right specifications and the co-ordinating support that is required to enable the South-East and South-South love for industry to be actualized. Our vision is to actually drive this economic empowerment for the South-East through provision of infra­structure, all kinds of infrastructure that would now encourage or release the passion that the Igbo man already has. It’s not that we’re trying to develop something that is not there already. What we’re trying to do is to create the enabling infrastructure that would jump-start and encour­age business activities in Aba. You know Aba people love buying and selling a lot. They have the capacity and also Aba is a very interesting position

Aba Mega Mall is a $300 million project. But we projected that by the date of completion, we would have expended over $300 million.

On Aba Mega Mall alone?

Yes.

Not N300 million, but $300 million?

Yes, it’s a $300 million project.

Is this the total assets of Green­fields Assets Ltd that you are proj­ect or just investment into Aba Mega Mull. I just want to be doubly sure that am hearing right.

No-no-no. That’s the investment we want to bring unto Aba – the total investment we want to bring into that cluster, that Aba Mega Mall.

The industries, the industrial clus­ters you’re talking about including pharmaceutical industries, and so on, are they going to be within the Aba Mega Mall?

No. This is a special economic float. We’re working on identifying at large, we’re talking about 2,000 hectares to 5,000 hectares of land going beyond what we have now. So, for the special economic zone we’re looking at the belt around Imo River where we can also have a waterway.

The special economic zone is a totally dif­ferent project apart from Aba Mega Mall. Aba Mega Mall is what will take $300 million be­cause a lot is going to happen. We’re going to have a licence for a dry port; it is going to be a full-fledged dry port in the Mall. That will make Aba Mega Mall the first mall in the world to have a dry port.

Aba Mega Mall is going to have a 100 to 200 – room hotel, with a 5-Star status. We will have a luxury mall, an amusement park, children’s area, big-screen cinema, facilities and indepen­dent power plant to provide a 24-hour and 24/7 power supply. We’re going to manage the facil­ities plus adequate space for parking all around.

How many stores are you looking at?

We’re looking at 10,000 stores. It may be more but we’re looking at a minimum of 10,000 stores.

You have space for them?

Yes. We have more than enough space for them.

Do you think Aba has the capacity and the economy to drive your proj­ect?

Aba, as a city, has the human resource and the drive; the people are resilient and have the drive we need as a catalyst to handle the project. Aba, as a city, cannot handle it alone; Aba, for instance is a city of about 5 million to 10 million persons and we’re talking about an investment that is way beyond that number.

Aba as we know, is already a centre of trade and commerce for the entire states that I men­tioned – Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Imo etc, all of them derive their trade and commerce from Aba. Again, Aba has the ability and capac­ity to go beyond becoming a centre for trade and commerce and also for manufacturing for Nigerian and West Africa.

It’s not rocket science, the day is already here. Our mission is to provide the enabling environment to jump-start what is already here. People ask why not Lagos, why not Abuja and we ask: why not Aba? People also ask why not take this beautiful thing to Port Harcourt or to Ibadan? These people are totally wrong in our own understanding. You can start the process of restarting an economy when the fundamentals are there. In this case, the fundamentals are so ripe; Aba is overwhelmingly ripe for industrial­ization and to champion the industrialization of the South-East, Nigeria and also affect the West African states.

So, the question should be: why not Aba? Aba should be the place where it would happen because it has all these things in place. All we need is something to mix all of these together in the same centre. In Aba we have people who do leather works that you cannot match. We have people that manufacture basic metal works that produce all sorts of equipment, they’re here. Moreover, to trade is a skill, everybody cannot trade. But here in Aba, they can buy and sell and look out for products that people want and then sell them at a profit

We’re not trying to force something new into Aba. We’re actually trying to highlight what is already here. And some people say there is no tribe or no ethnic group that is not represented in Aba – Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi etc, whatever it is they’re all here. If you go to Ariaria, you would see the best of Igbo men and women gathered together trying to drive trade. So, in our eyes, Aba is just like Lagos where you have every ethnic representation. I don’t want to say “No man’s land” but basically we’re saying every­body is here and we’re all here with our best. For what Lagos represents in Nigeria, Aba can represent to the South-East and also to Nigeria, and even to West Africa. That’s over view; that’s our vision for Aba.

This will attract a lot of Igbo in the Diaspora. You have the capaci­ty, from what I have seen on ground and what you’ve been explaining to me. So, what really motivated you to come to Aba, apart from the economic aspect?

Another thing if you ask me, apart from the fact that I grew up in Aba here, I had my early education here, my boss would have gone to an­other direction. He would have gone to Abuja; he could have gone to Port Harcourt. So, having grown up here, I was able to convince my boss, so to speak, that this city is viable.

If you ask me, the principal reason, is that Aba requires urgent renewal. At some point Aba was touted as the “Japan of Africa” and the owners of Greenfield believe that Aba can come back and take that status of the “Japan of Africa”. Aba has the capacity as I have always empha­sised to assume that status. It has potentials and it requires help.

We’re not looking for where it is finished and done. We’re looking for areas where there is still a huge gap and people are hungry. We want to maximize their skills. When we came here and reviewed the factors particularly in terms of skill and location, Aba came up tops. Our project therefore is to affect so many lives and rebuild the community and also to encourage other in­vestors and other industries to come to Aba. I’m sure that if we had only one company in Nnewi for instance, nobody will know Nnewi as a cen­tre of manufacturing. But for the fact we have several industries coming together in one loca­tion it all adds up and gives everybody presence.

So, we’re excited to see other companies coming to Aba contrary to what people may think. It’s all going to the same direction; there’s so much to do.

Investment and economic activities should be our main priority. Kudos to Govs. Obiano, Ugwuanyi, Rochas et all for their investment drives.

Shell’s $3.5 billion Assa Gas Plant in Imo set to Kick-off | BusinessDay

Construction work is said to have begun at the $3.6 billion Shell Petroleum Development Company’s (SPDC’s) major Gas plant project at Assa North – Ohaji South in Imo State.
Meanwhile, Shell Petroleum, the owner of the multi-billion dollar gas plant, and Bortir International Company Limited, a subsidiary at the Dangote group of companies have opened a partnership deal on utilization of gas from the project.
On Tuesday both companies led by Walter Weilenger, project manager, Shell and Ahmed S. Yakassai of the Dangote group, inspected the project site at Ohaji Local Government Area of the state.
BusinessDay checks indicate that the major gas plant is sited on 200 hectares of land provided by Imo State, which was according to a request in June 2012 by the Managing Director of Shell, Mutiu Sunmonu.
Sunmonu had appealed to Governor Rochas Okorocha for the state to provide the land as part of its collaboration for the project, expected to be commissioned in 2018, beginning with the phase one.
On its part, the Imo State Government has assured Shell Petroleum Development Company and Borkir International Company Limited (a subsidiary at Dangote Group), of its guarantee of security and cooperation to ensure the project took-off and functioned effectively.
“As you come to Imo, we would like to partner with you. We have set up a committee to liaise with Shell on the development of Assa Gas Plant. Imo Government is solidly behind you,” Okorocha said.
In his speech, Walter Weilenger, project manager of the Assa North-Ohaji South Gas Plant project, Shell Petroleum Development Company Limited, thanked the state government for a warm welcome; and assured that the project would bring a lot of benefits to the people of Imo State.
In June 2012, Sunmonu, Shell MD had said the gas plant would supply domestic gas to power energy plants across the country as well as generate massive job opportunities for Nigerians, adding that the project which would be executed in two phases will be completed in 2018.
While soliciting the collaboration of the state government in handling of the project, he urged the government to play its part by providing 200 hectares of land for the project, including an enabling environment for the expatriates and workers to ensure a healthy collaboration between SPDC and the host communities.
Sunmonu then promised that his company would always live up to expectation in the area of its Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) in the course of executing the project.

http://www.nigerdeltanews.com/shells-3-5-billion-assa-gas-plant-in-imo-set-to-kick-off-businessday/

CBN takes financial inclusion, reliable payments system fair to Imo
July 20, 2015 | Filed under: Banking,Breaking News,Company News,Markets | Author: BEN EGUZOZIE

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has taken its sensitization of mainly the ordinary people on the financial inclusion and reliable payments system, as well as information about its people-friendly policies to Imo State.
According to the CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, who was represented by the director of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Mu’azu, the apex ban was committed to ensuring a safe, reliable and efficient payments system in the country; and is therefore, urging the Imo people to embrace its various payments and development initiatives.At a well-attended stakeholders’ engagement (tagged CBN fair) in Owerri, the Imo State capital, the corporate communications boss disclosed the CBN’s position aimed at sensitizing the people of the state on the Bank’s initiatives, policies and programmes.
He said the CBN in collaboration with relevant stakeholders in the country, had put in place several controls and security to enhance the safety of the Nigerian payments system.
He informed the stakeholders that the CBN has initiated several security platforms aimed at detecting fraud in banks, and protecting customers; adding that some of these initiatives include: the Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum, Bank Verification Number (BVN), as well as the Mandatory second level authorization for card presented for payments, among others, in order to guarantee the safety of customers’ deposits and transactions.On the Cash-less Nigeria policy, the director said it is aimed to reduce physical cash amount carried by people and corporate institutions.
While explaining the CBN’s approach to real sector interventions, Mu’azu said the apex bank intervention mainly covered the agriculture, infrastructure and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). He added that the Bank was mindful of the role of women in national development; hence 60 percent of the MSME Development Fund had been earmarked for women; while two percent of the Fund would be disbursed to economically active persons living with disabilities.
There were series of interactions with the people, led by other CBN top officials: Halima Lawal of Development Finance department; Damola Atanda, in charge of Consumer Protection; Chai Gang, Banking and Payments System and B.I.C Maduagwu, Currency Operations. Each of these officials took time to speak with the large crowd of people, who were later grouped in a break-out session, into farmers, cooperative societies and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMES), civil and public servants and business people, where the people asked questions and were clarified on them.

http://www.businessdayonline.com/2015/07/cbn-takes-financial-inclusion-reliable-payments-system-fair-to-imo/#.Vaz0izNw2iA