₦airaland Forum

The rumour is FALSE and shows how desperate people are going about the removal of this work horse!! She is fighting for you whilst you are fighting to have status quo remain same. Read the ariticle below and see how much efforts she has put into making Nigeria a better place.

National Assembly are looking forward to advancing the efforts of the Petroleum Minister to push for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill against all odds. International Oil firms have expressed reservation about the passage of the bill just as they were wary about the passage of the local content law. The Petroleum Minister told journalist recently that “over 50 years' experience in the oil and gas industry continues to reveal the complex dynamics of balancing global energy security, domestic economic growth, climate, and environmental considerations," One of those considerations to grow the Nigeria economy can only be achieved in the sector if more local participants are encouraged to go into the sector. "We expect in a few short weeks it will be promulgated into law," Alison-Madueke said of the bill while she met briefly with reporters after giving a keynote speech at a conference about emerging carbon management policies.
Regarding oil and gas reforms in Nigeria, Alison-Madueke said the government is getting closer to outlawing flaring natural gas , although she listed no specific time for when a complete ban is expected to be implemented but she gave an insight into what is known as “The Gas Plan” where a radical shift will be made from consumption of fuel to alternative cleaner energy sources.
She said that with the subsidy removed partially, that initiatives are already in place to bring LPG and CNG to the fore beyond PMS consumption. "We are transitioning from gas flaring to gas utilization," she said, citing the Agip Okpai combined-cycle power plant as an example. The associated gas often is considered to be a waste product of oil production rather than an economic resource. That will change.
In 2002, the World Bank started a public-private partnership initiative called Global Gas Flaring Reduction of which Nigeria is a member. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration estimated that during 1994-2008, the total amount of gas flared worldwide corresponded to 70% of total US greenhouse gas emissions during 2007. In a Baker Institute study entitled "Gas Flaring and Venting: Extent, Impacts, and Remedies," three researchers said flared gas volumes in Nigeria have decreased somewhat although most of that decrease is likely due to decreased oil production caused by civil unrest. "Both regulatory enforcements and financial incentives are proving insufficient in Nigeria," said the flaring study. "Several gas utilization projects are under way; however, the completed projects have not been as successful in reducing gas flaring volumes as claimed. In Nigeria, less complicated and lower cost technologies, such as LPG and gas-to-power, could be put in place to utilize associated gas locally".
Most of the oil fields involved with gas flaring are close to poor communities that desperately need energy sources.






Carbon-neutral plans
Alison-Madueke said the Nigerian government has a goal of making Nigeria carbon-neutral by 2025. Nigeria, which signed the Kyoto Protocol, recently developed a draft policy to address climate change. The Minister and her team are working aggressively to promote a growing gross domestic product, and Nigeria aspires to become one of the world's top 20 economies by 2020 if our economy is given the much need boost through capital projects that will dot the [Is] and cross the [Ts]. "The energy consumption that will be associated with such growth cannot be overemphasized," Alison-Madueke said. "To achieve and sustain the GDP growth aspiration, we are on course to grow our crude oil reserves to and maintain it at about 40 billion bbl through 2020." She called for a "more effective linkage" between the industry and government to help drive Nigeria's GDP through increased local content and participation.
Currently, Nigeria estimates it has 37 billion bbl of oil reserves and a production capacity of 3 million b/d, she said. The nation has proved gas reserves of 187 tcf and another estimated 600 tcf of undiscovered gas potential, she said."Experts are of the opinion that with the estimated undiscovered potential, Nigeria could easily be within the world's top three in gas reserves," she said

National Assembly are looking forward to advancing the efforts of the Petroleum Minister to push for the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill against all odds.  International Oil firms have expressed reservation about the passage of the bill just as they were wary about the passage of the local content law.  The Petroleum Minister told journalist recently that “over 50 years' experience in the oil and gas industry continues to reveal the complex dynamics of balancing global energy security, domestic economic growth, climate, and environmental considerations," One of those considerations to grow the Nigeria economy can only be achieved in the sector if more local participants are encouraged to go into the sector.  "We expect in a few short weeks it will be promulgated into law," Alison-Madueke said of the bill while she met briefly with reporters after giving a keynote speech at a conference about emerging carbon management policies.
Regarding oil and gas reforms in Nigeria, Alison-Madueke said the government is getting closer to outlawing flaring natural gas , although she listed no specific time for when a complete ban is expected to be implemented but she gave an insight into what is known as “The Gas Plan” where a radical shift will be made from consumption of fuel to alternative cleaner energy sources.
She said that with the subsidy removed partially, that initiatives are already in place to bring LPG and CNG to the fore beyond PMS consumption. "We are transitioning from gas flaring to gas utilization," she said, citing the Agip Okpai combined-cycle power plant as an example. The associated gas often is considered to be a waste product of oil production rather than an economic resource. That will change.
In 2002, the World Bank started a public-private partnership initiative called Global Gas Flaring Reduction of which Nigeria is a member. The National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration estimated that during 1994-2008, the total amount of gas flared worldwide corresponded to 70% of total US greenhouse gas emissions during 2007. In a Baker Institute study entitled "Gas Flaring and Venting: Extent, Impacts, and Remedies," three researchers said flared gas volumes in Nigeria have decreased somewhat although most of that decrease is likely due to decreased oil production caused by civil unrest. "Both regulatory enforcements and financial incentives are proving insufficient in Nigeria," said the flaring study. "Several gas utilization projects are under way; however, the completed projects have not been as successful in reducing gas flaring volumes as claimed. In Nigeria, less complicated and lower cost technologies, such as LPG and gas-to-power, could be put in place to utilize associated gas locally". 
Most of the oil fields involved with gas flaring are close to poor communities that desperately need energy sources.






Carbon-neutral plans
Alison-Madueke said the Nigerian government has a goal of making Nigeria carbon-neutral by 2025. Nigeria, which signed the Kyoto Protocol, recently developed a draft policy to address climate change. The Minister and her team are working aggressively to promote a growing gross domestic product, and Nigeria aspires to become one of the world's top 20 economies by 2020 if our economy is given the much need boost through capital projects that will dot the [Is] and cross the [Ts]. "The energy consumption that will be associated with such growth cannot be overemphasized," Alison-Madueke said. "To achieve and sustain the GDP growth aspiration, we are on course to grow our crude oil reserves to and maintain it at about 40 billion bbl through 2020." She called for a "more effective linkage" between the industry and government to help drive Nigeria's GDP through increased local content and participation.
Currently, Nigeria estimates it has 37 billion bbl of oil reserves and a production capacity of 3 million b/d, she said. The nation has proved gas reserves of 187 tcf and another estimated 600 tcf of undiscovered gas potential, she said."Experts are of the opinion that with the estimated undiscovered potential, Nigeria could easily be within the world's top three in gas reserves," she said

Martin Quinlan, LONDON: Shell and other foreign companies with operations in Nigeria's onshore potentially face large compensation claims for past oil spills, following a case brought in London's High Court by a local community. In August, the Shell Petroleum Development Company told the court that it accepted liability for two oil spills in Ogoniland, an area in the Niger delta, in 2008 and 2009 and agreed to pay compensation to the Bodo fishing community.

Shell's wholly owned SPDC operates its joint-venture with a 30% share. Its partners are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (55%), Total (10%) and Eni (5%).

Compensation is to be decided under Nigerian law - according to lawyers acting for the community, it should be made up of the clean-up cost, compensation for damage to community land and compensation to individuals. Shell said it accepted the spills were caused by equipment failure and not by deliberate damage or as a consequence of the theft of oil - the most common causes of oil spills in the delta.

But Mutiu Sunmonu, managing director of the company's Nigeria subsidiary, said the two spills amounted to only about 4,000 barrels of oil. He criticised speculation by the community's lawyers about the scale of the compensation as "massively in excess of the true position".

The community's success in taking its case to the London courts could set a precedent for compensation claims, which up to now have mostly been settled on an individual basis in Nigeria. Shell, the largest operator of onshore acreage in the country, is most exposed to potential claims, but ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and Eni also operate onshore areas in the delta.

Shell's defence

Shell had been defending the action on the ground that it was forced to withdraw from Ogoniland in 1993, and to abandon its fields, when attacks on staff made it too dangerous to operate there. But the company has been trying to draw a line under past disputes. Two years ago, it paid compensation to the families of Ogoni leaders, including the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were executed by the last military government, although the company refuted allegations that it could have prevented the deaths. It is understood that talks are under way to hand over the operatorship of the Ogoniland assets to the state's NNPC, but Shell will not comment.

Shell says 70% of the oil spilled in its Niger delta operations over the last five years has been the result of illegal activity - either deliberate damage to facilities, with the aim of claiming compensation for the resulting spill, or theft of equipment, or as a consequence of the theft of oil from pipelines and wellheads. Last year, the company recorded 144 spills of more than 100 kilograms, of which 112 were the result of sabotage or theft. Shell says many of its operational spills occur when assets that have been out of action following deliberate damage are re-started.

Theft of crude continues on an industrial scale, with organisers hiring barges to take the oil to tankers waiting offshore. Trains and road-tankers are used to carry crude away by land. Last year, the authorities seized 28 barges and 38 other boats in actions against oil theft, but Shell says they represent only a small fraction of the assets being utilised.

Illegal refining

Additionally, recent years have seen an increase in illegal refining - distilling crude with makeshift equipment, which Shell says goes on at numerous sites around the delta's watercourses. A video made by CNN, available on the Shell Nigeria website, shows one such operation: crude is being heated in oil drums over oil fires, with diesel condensed in water-filled drums and flowing out of pipes, only metres away from the fires. A canoe is filled with diesel and paddled away, while unwanted residues are discarded into the rivers.

Also in August, the UN Environment Programme published a report - carried out at the Nigerian government's request - into oil contamination of Ogoniland. The organisation's 14-month study had involved drilling 142 wells to test groundwater; drilling 780 boreholes to test soil; surveying 122 km of pipelines; and examining over 200 locations. The report describes serious and widespread pollution, with contamination of groundwater, drinking water, the vital mangrove swamps and the soil. Restoration could be "the world's most wide-ranging and long-term oil clean-up exercise", taking 25-30 years.

Martin Quinlan, LONDON: Shell and other foreign companies with operations in Nigeria's onshore potentially face large compensation claims for past oil spills, following a case brought in London's High Court by a local community. In August, the Shell Petroleum Development Company told the court that it accepted liability for two oil spills in Ogoniland, an area in the Niger delta, in 2008 and 2009 and agreed to pay compensation to the Bodo fishing community.

Shell's wholly owned SPDC operates its joint-venture with a 30% share. Its partners are the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (55%), Total (10%) and Eni (5%).

Compensation is to be decided under Nigerian law - according to lawyers acting for the community, it should be made up of the clean-up cost, compensation for damage to community land and compensation to individuals. Shell said it accepted the spills were caused by equipment failure and not by deliberate damage or as a consequence of the theft of oil - the most common causes of oil spills in the delta.

But Mutiu Sunmonu, managing director of the company's Nigeria subsidiary, said the two spills amounted to only about 4,000 barrels of oil. He criticised speculation by the community's lawyers about the scale of the compensation as "massively in excess of the true position".

The community's success in taking its case to the London courts could set a precedent for compensation claims, which up to now have mostly been settled on an individual basis in Nigeria. Shell, the largest operator of onshore acreage in the country, is most exposed to potential claims, but ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total and Eni also operate onshore areas in the delta.

Shell's defence

Shell had been defending the action on the ground that it was forced to withdraw from Ogoniland in 1993, and to abandon its fields, when attacks on staff made it too dangerous to operate there. But the company has been trying to draw a line under past disputes. Two years ago, it paid compensation to the families of Ogoni leaders, including the writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were executed by the last military government, although the company refuted allegations that it could have prevented the deaths. It is understood that talks are under way to hand over the operatorship of the Ogoniland assets to the state's NNPC, but Shell will not comment.

Shell says 70% of the oil spilled in its Niger delta operations over the last five years has been the result of illegal activity - either deliberate damage to facilities, with the aim of claiming compensation for the resulting spill, or theft of equipment, or as a consequence of the theft of oil from pipelines and wellheads. Last year, the company recorded 144 spills of more than 100 kilograms, of which 112 were the result of sabotage or theft. Shell says many of its operational spills occur when assets that have been out of action following deliberate damage are re-started.

Theft of crude continues on an industrial scale, with organisers hiring barges to take the oil to tankers waiting offshore. Trains and road-tankers are used to carry crude away by land. Last year, the authorities seized 28 barges and 38 other boats in actions against oil theft, but Shell says they represent only a small fraction of the assets being utilised.

Illegal refining

Additionally, recent years have seen an increase in illegal refining - distilling crude with makeshift equipment, which Shell says goes on at numerous sites around the delta's watercourses. A video made by CNN, available on the Shell Nigeria website, shows one such operation: crude is being heated in oil drums over oil fires, with diesel condensed in water-filled drums and flowing out of pipes, only metres away from the fires. A canoe is filled with diesel and paddled away, while unwanted residues are discarded into the rivers.

Also in August, the UN Environment Programme published a report - carried out at the Nigerian government's request - into oil contamination of Ogoniland. The organisation's 14-month study had involved drilling 142 wells to test groundwater; drilling 780 boreholes to test soil; surveying 122 km of pipelines; and examining over 200 locations. The report describes serious and widespread pollution, with contamination of groundwater, drinking water, the vital mangrove swamps and the soil. Restoration could be "the world's most wide-ranging and long-term oil clean-up exercise", taking 25-30 years.

African Press Organization
Drinking Water Pollution in Some Places So Serious Immediate Emergency Action Needed in Niger-Delta.

Full Environmental Restoration May Take Up to 30 Years with Calls for an Initial US$1 Billion Fund to Kick-Start Clean-Up
The environmental restoration of Ogoniland could prove to be the world's most wide-ranging and long term oil clean-up exercise ever undertaken if contaminated drinking water, land, creeks and important ecosystems such as mangroves are to be brought back to full, productive health.

A major new independent scientific assessment, carried out by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), shows that pollution from over 50 years of oil operations in the region has penetrated further and deeper than many may have supposed. The assessment has been unprecedented. Over a 14-month period, the UNEP team examined more than 200 locations, surveyed 122 kilometres of pipeline rights of way, reviewed more than 5,000 medical records and engaged over 23,000 people at local community meetings.

Detailed soil and groundwater contamination investigations were conducted at 69 sites, which ranged in size from 1,300 square metres (Barabeedom-K.dere, Gokana local government area (LGA) to 79 hectares (Ajeokpori-Akpajo, Eleme LGA). Altogether more than 4,000 samples were analyzed, including water taken from 142 groundwater monitoring wells drilled specifically for the study and soil extracted from 780 boreholes.

Key Findings
Some areas, which appear unaffected at the surface, are in reality severely contaminated underground and action to protect human health and reduce the risks to affected communities should occur without delay says UNEP's Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland.

In at least 10 Ogoni communities where drinking water is contaminated with high levels of hydrocarbons, public health is seriously threatened, according to the assessment that was released today.

In one community, at Nisisioken Ogale, in western Ogoniland, families are drinking water from wells that is contaminated with benzene-- a known carcinogen--at levels over 900 times above World Health Organization guidelines. The site is close to a Nigerian National Petroleum Company pipeline.
UNEP scientists found an 8 cm layer of refined oil floating on the groundwater which serves the wells. This was reportedly linked to an oil spill which occurred more than six years ago.

While the report provides clear operational recommendations for addressing the widespread oil pollution across Ogoniland, UNEP recommends that the contamination in Nisisioken Ogale warrants emergency action ahead of all other remediation efforts.
While some on-the-ground results could be immediate, overall the report estimates that countering and cleaning up the pollution and catalyzing a sustainable recovery of Ogoniland could take 25 to 30 years.

This work will require the deployment of modern technology to clean up contaminated land and water, improved environmental monitoring and regulation and collaborative action between the government, the Ogoni people and the oil industry.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, said the report provided the scientific basis on which a long overdue and concerted environmental restoration of Ogoniland, a kingdom in Nigeria's Niger Delta region, can begin.

"The oil industry has been a key sector of the Nigerian economy for over 50 years, but many Nigerians have paid a high price, as this assessment underlines," he said.

"It is UNEP's hope that the findings can break the decades of deadlock in the region and provide the foundation upon which trust can be built and action undertaken to remedy the multiple health and sustainable development issues facing people in Ogoniland. In addition it offers a blueprint for how the oil industry--and public regulatory authorities-- might operate more responsibly in Africa and beyond at a time of increasing production and exploration across many parts of the Continent," said Mr Steiner.

"The clean-up of Ogoniland will not only address a tragic legacy but also represents a major ecological restoration enterprise with potentially multiple positive effects ranging from bringing the various stakeholders together in a single concerted cause to achieving lasting improvements for the Ogoni people," said the UNEP Executive Director.

UNEP today presented its report to the President of Nigeria, The Hon Goodluck Jonathan and the Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, in the Nigerian capital Abuja.
Among its other findings are:-
* Control and maintenance of oilfield infrastructure in Ogoniland has been and remains inadequate: the Shell Petroleum Development Company's own procedures have not been applied, creating public health and safety issues.
* The impact of oil on mangrove vegetation has been disastrous. Oil pollution in many intertidal creeks has left mangroves--nurseries for fish and natural pollution filters-- denuded of leaves and stems with roots coated in a layer of bitumen-type substance sometimes one centimetre or more thick.
* The five highest concentrations of Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons detected in groundwater exceed 1 million micrograms per litre (µg/l) - compared to the Nigerian standard for groundwater of 600 µg/l.
* When an oil spill occurs on land, fires often break out, killing vegetation and creating a crust over the land, making remediation or revegetation difficult. At some sites, a crust of ash and tar has been in place for several decades.
* The surface water throughout the creeks in and surrounding Ogoniland contain hydrocarbons. Floating layers of oil vary from thick black oil to thin sheens.
* Despite community concerns, the results show that fish consumption in Ogoniland, either of those caught locally or purchased from markets, was not posing a health risk.

The report says that fish tend to leave polluted areas in search of cleaner water. However, the fisheries sector is suffering due to the destruction of fish habitat and highly persistent contamination of many creeks. Where entrepreneurs have established fish farms for example their businesses have been ruined by an "ever-present" layer of floating oil.
* The Ogoni community is exposed to hydrocarbons every day through multiple routes. While the impact of individual contaminated land sites tends to be localized, air pollution related to oil industry operations is all pervasive and affecting the quality of life of close to one million people.
* Artisanal refining (a practice whereby crude oil illegally obtained from oil industry operations is refined in primitive stills), is endangering lives and ultimately causing pockets of environmental devastation in Ogoniland and neighbouring areas.
Remote sensing revealed that in Bodo West, in Bonny LGA, an increase in artisanal refining between 2007 and 2011 has been accompanied by a 10% loss of healthy mangrove cover - or over 307,380 square metres.
* Remediation by enhanced natural attenuation (RENA) - a way of boosting the ability of naturally-occuring microbes to breakdown oil and so far the only remediation method observed by UNEP in Ogoniland - has not proven to be effective.
Currently, SPDC applies this technique on the land surface layer only, based on the assumption that given the kind of oil concerned, factors such as temperature and an underlying layer of clay, hydrocarbons will not move deeper. However, in 49 cases UNEP observed hydrocarbons in soil at depths of at least 5 m.

Next Steps Recommendations
Through a combination of approaches, individual contaminated land areas in Ogoniland can be cleaned up within five years, while the restoration of heavily-impacted mangrove stands and swamplands will take up to 30 years.
However, according to the report, all sources of ongoing contamination must be brought to an end before the clean-up of the creeks, sediments and mangroves can begin.

The report recommends establishing three new institutions in Nigeria to support a comprehensive environmental restoration exercise.
A proposed Ogoniland Environmental Restoration Authority would oversee implementation of the study's recommendations and should be set up during a Transition Phase which UNEP suggests should begin as soon as possible.
The Authority's activities should be funded by an Environmental Restoration Fund for Ogoniland, to be set up with an initial capital injection of US$1 billion contributed by the oil industry and the government, to cover the first five years of the clean-up project.
A recommended Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre, to be built in Ogoniland and supported by potentially hundreds of mini treatment centres, would treat contaminated soil and provide hundreds of job opportunities.
The report also recommends creating a Centre of Excellence in Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland to promote learning and benefit other communities impacted by oil contamination in the Niger Delta and elsewhere in the world.
Reforms of environmental government regulation, monitoring and enforcement, and improved practices by the oil industry are also recommended in the report.
Notes to Editors
The Environmental Assessment of Ogoniland report is available online at: www.unep.org/nigeria
Site-specific fact sheets containing detailed information about 67 of the contaminated sites studied in detail are also available at this website.
This report details how the UNEP team carried out their work, where samples were taken and the findings that they have made.
The UNEP assessment, alongside options for remediation, was conducted at the request of the Government of Nigeria. If requested, UNEP is willing to remain a committed partner of the Nigerian authorities and of the Ogoni people as they address the environmental challenges ahead. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

The investigative article published by Punch Newspaper on the 14th of January 2012, that sought to establish that the Hon. Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke was the brain child behind the January 1st announcement on FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL cannot be anything more than FALSEHOOD because the allegation lacks ethical merit and only seek to take advantage of gullible Nigerians.

Nevertheless, CREDITS must be given to the sensational, vague and verbose writers (Niyi Odebode, Olusola Fabiyi, Everest Amaefule and Fidelis Soriwei), for their efforts at nothing to promote the AGENDA of perceived detractors; who will stop at nothing at carrying out cowardly and unpatriotic campaigns against the people of Nigeria and their government.

I agree with the writers that the January 1st timing of the announcement to implement subsidy removal was not the best of expected dates. Nonetheless, the writers attempt to the single out the Petroleum Minister as regards to January 1st announcement, suggest that there is a sinister and desperate motive by detractors to pitch Nigerians against the Hon. Minister of Petroleum (the unappreciated workhorse); whom I believe is driven by the need to support the transformation agenda of the government whilst returning Nigeria to Nigerians.  Otherwise, why would she subject herself and family to public criticism?
These falsehoods peddled by the aforementioned wanabe investigative writers cannot hold because what Punch published, is a mere speculative opinion of the contributors to the investigation of the writers, if indeed, they carried out an imaginative but frivolous research on ‘Who Announced the Subsidy Removal on the 1st of January 2012?’

If certainly, they carried out such research, and the contributors are part of the government of the day, one has no choice but to rightly refer to such unpatriotic individuals as the ‘Fifth Columnists’ that the President must be wary of. How do Nigerians verify vague reporting centred on sources speculated to be disgruntled but are in the corridors of power.

RE: Diezani Ordered Subsidy Removal –Investigation
The investigative article published by Punch Newspaper on the 14th of January 2012, that sought to establish that the Hon. Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke was the brain child behind the January 1st announcement on FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL cannot be anything more than FALSEHOOD because the allegation lacks ethical merit and only seek to take advantage of gullible Nigerians.
Nevertheless, CREDITS must be given to the sensational, vague and verbose writers (Niyi Odebode, Olusola Fabiyi, Everest Amaefule and Fidelis Soriwei), for their efforts at nothing to promote the AGENDA of perceived detractors; who will stop at nothing at carrying out cowardly and unpatriotic campaigns against the people of Nigeria and their government.
I agree with the writers that the January 1st timing of the announcement to implement subsidy removal was not the best of expected dates. Nonetheless, the writers attempt to the single out the Petroleum Minister as regards to January 1st announcement, suggest that there is a sinister and desperate motive by detractors to pitch Nigerians against the Hon. Minister of Petroleum (the unappreciated workhorse); whom I believe is driven by the need to support the transformation agenda of the government whilst returning Nigeria to Nigerians. Otherwise, why would she subject herself and family to public criticism?
These falsehoods peddled by the aforementioned wanabe investigative writers cannot hold because what Punch published, is a mere speculative opinion of the contributors to the investigation of the writers, if indeed, they carried out an imaginative but frivolous research on ‘Who Announced the Subsidy Removal on the 1st of January 2012?’
If certainly, they carried out such research, and the contributors are part of the government of the day, one has no choice but to rightly refer to such unpatriotic individuals as the ‘Fifth Columnists’ that the President must be wary of. How do Nigerians verify vague reporting centred on sources speculated to be disgruntled but are in the corridors of power.

The love for Oil by the South western cabal will lead them to all manner of lies, juju no work , lies no work now na to mis-inform the general public. Desperate opposition. So Lagos no reach Tinubu and his cohorts, dem wan still oil too.

Even IOCs will want the minister removed because of all the changes she is institutionalising.

liars, checked AIT nothing. This crude matter.

No nation state can make use of peace more than we. We the people of Nigerians knows what it i to struggle to put food on our table. If you are not fighting subsidy removal that is aimed to empower the common at the long run then you are planning to topple a legitimately elected government which in itself is treasonable.

There was an alleged plot to impeach or overthrow President Goodluck Jonathan, but it failed. The plot was hatched in the U.S. To impeach him before the approval of the 2012 Budget and to stop the removal of the fuel subsidy on petrol.

The allegation has it that top oil marketers or the cabal and legislators who mostly benefited from the subsidy regime who are likely to be indicted by ongoing reform,  conspired to impeach the President. This plot so far was sponsored by the richest black man on earth according to the Forbes magazine.

The alleged plot leaked to President Goodluck Jonathan and the evidence is all on tape. These crop were majors donors and sponsors of OBJ's Presidential Library and the election of President Goodluck Jonathan.
The  plotters are the enemies of Nigeria.

I don't have evidence on this one but I want to bounce it around so those with information can share.

The perception that the Minister is neck deep in corruption may not be accurate. It is well known fact that since the KPMG report, Oniwon and co has shielded the content from the view of the minister up till date. NNPC is a rot so it is OK if people think everybody interfacing with them is soiled as well.

Subsidy regime has been on for as long as we can recall. She is barely two years on the job. Cynicism cannot take Nigerians anywhere. We must give government a chance before judging those that has presented themselves to service to this country. I mean she could be part of the cabal but at least she has taken a path and stand with the Nigerian masses.

The Minister of Petroleum Resources, Deziani Alison-Madueke, has invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to review subsidy payments on the importation of petroleum products.

In a statement made available to State House Correspondents shortly after the meeting with the President, key ministers and governors, the minister said this is following the call by Nigerians demanding for accountability and transparency in the oil industry.

The invitation letter to EFCC which was addressed to the Acting Chairman, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde was dated 12 January 2012, received and stamped on the 13th January 2012.

"You will recall that the Federal Government of Nigeria has over the years run a subsidy regime in petroleum imports where the difference between the cost of importation and the pump price is paid for by the government of Nigeria to pre-approved oil marketing companies and importers. Over the years the bill has grown exponentially to unstainable levels.

As petroleum minister, I have become extremely concerned with these figures and following the recent transfer of the PPPRA to my ministry last year, I have moved quickly to change management and inaugurate a comprehensive reform process which include drastic cuts in the list of importers, review of payments and procedures, as well as massive re-deployment of staff within the agency" the letter to EFCC read in part.

According to the minister the EFCC is to review all payments made in respect of subsidies on PMS and kerosene and to take all necessary steps to prosecute any incidence of "malfeasance, fraud, over-invoicing, and related illegalities in an open and transparent manner".

She said as part of her transparency efforts she has set up a unit which will be headed by an independent auditor to review the KPMG and other audit reports of NNPC and other parastatals, and immediately begin implementation of their findings, ensuring, at all times, full probity and value for money.

According to her "I am en-paneling another audit in my office to begin a comprehensive review of management and controls within all parastatals in the Min. of Petroleum, including but not limited to NNPC, PPPRA and DPR.

Accordingly, I expect a report in 30 days to enable us take further action in reforming management, personnel, and
other practices and procedures in parastatals within the ministry. It should be noted however that this process has already begun in PPPRA and DPR where management changes and reform arre beginning to yield
desirable results".

She is expected to meet with the Senate president and the Speaker of the House in the coming week to seek their cooperation and leadership in the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill "so that we can anchor the comprehensive reform of the oil industry".

That is treasonable enough to lock him out for ever. Rapid errant nonsense for a man of God

That is treasonable enough to lock you all out for ever. Rapid errant nonsense for cashing in on genuine calls by Nigerians to cause chaos.

That is treasonable enough to lock him out for ever. Rapid errant nonsense for a man of God

That is treasonable enough to lock him out for ever. Rapid errant nonsense for a man of God

Pastor Tunde Bakare has Prophesied that the President will die in power if he doesn’t revert pump price of fuel to N65. The same old God forsaken prophet who prophesied that former President (Obansanjo) will die in power.

It is a shame that opposition has hijacked this policy decision and are making treasonable utterances. The question is:
1. Does Tunde Bakare have a purview into plans to eliminate the President
2. Is there something he knows that an everyday Nigerian as well as the government don’t know and in the euphoria of the moment made a regrettable statement that an elected President of the Federal republic of Nigeria will die in power.
3. He denied being passionate about this country and more interested in fighting status quo.


The quagmire is: if he is not passionate about this country, why is he leading a protest against the government and calling for the death of a sitting President! Who are those behind Tunde Bakare?

These are the questions our security arms may need to answer and bring those who have hijacked genuine protest against a policy that appears to impose hardship on the everyday Nigerian today but seem to have their interest at heart on long term basis to book.

Tunde Bakare is too irresponsible to represent the voice of the voiceless because you cannot blaspheme using the name of God. Enough is enough. A decent debate on Subsidy is a welcomed development but to have individuals, take laws into their hands is not acceptable under our set principles.

We should learn to draw the line between our freedom of speech and making statements that suggest that we have foresight on the existence of others. Please Tunde Bakare should come out and tell us about his plot and the plot of his cohorts to eliminate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I don’t support the spontaneous approach of government as regards to removing the subsidy on fuel.

I would have imagined a better situation where Nigerians are informed about the reasons why subsidy should be removed and the palliative measures to reduce the negative effects on Nigerians before implementing the policy.

I would have imagined that Nigerians at this time should be calling their government out on how and where this subsidy savings will be spent and not frivolous statements that imply that certain elements in Nigeria have an underlining motive to cash into the genuine protest by Nigerians for other motives.
Tunde Bakare has a lot of questions to answer and the question begins here on Nairaland. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Narcissist sense of self is what is wrong with Tunde Bakare and his cohorts; who believe that beyond their views and opinion on a given issue, that everyone else is wrong.
We Nigerians have decided to heap the shortcomings of government over time on Mr. President. A look back into our recent history, will inform us better during the days of Abacha.
When Abacha increased the price of fuel from N9 to N11, Nigerians cried foul but nonetheless accepted it after he explained to stakeholders that the extra N2 made from the increase will be dedicated to capital projects across the country. To add credence to his argument, He engaged the services of General Buhari under the PTF fund to execute capital projects on behalf of the government of the day. Buhari did a fantastic job at that from obvious projects carried out at the time from the N2 savings from the increment.
This government is telling us that part of the inability of government to perform is because certain individuals with means and capacity to import fuel are milking this country dry under the subsidy scheme for PMS, thus the need to remove the hot pot for corruption from the fire! They benefit, government pays out almost 3 billion to these capatilalist men monthly under the subsidy scheme considering the 1.3 trillion naira figures speculated to be what was paid out in 2011 fiscal year.
I entirely don’t see anything wrong with the removal,and it is encouraging to observe that this government has indulged the services of more competent Nigerians on a board that will oversee how the earning from Subsidy savings will be spent as against the one man show by Buhari.
What I find curious is that even with the logic and all economical permutation pointing towards the increase in targeted capital projects from these funds, Nigerians are crying foul!
I do agree that there is a genuine reason to cry foul because over time Nigeria Government has lost their brand equity as regards to issues bothering on TRUST. However, one thing brings caution to bear in mind and that is the fact that this President promised free and fair election in Nigeria and delivered far more than the much talked about June 12 mandate. He has earned my trust on a lot of issues and I believe that a man who will not be running for office in 2015 has absolutely nothing to lose to initiate a policy of this sort.
The only rational possible reason to trail the path of subsidy removal can be that he want to do something tangible for our economy and create the right atmosphere for free enterprise to thrive in the Petroleum resources sector. Posterity indeed will judge those making treasonable utterances and of course Goodluck Jonathan who has taken a bold step in a perceived right direction. Man will always resist change even if it is for his own good as demonstrated by history. So it is rather frivolous and unbecoming to judge him too soon and despicable to wish him death. Let the man fail or succeed first period.

Bakare should be ashamed of himself. Pathetic!!!

It is on Channels TV and just saw the appalling prayers and statement.

Pastor Tunde Bakare has Prophesied that the President will die in power if he doesn’t revert pump price of fuel to N65. The same old God forsaken prophet who prophesied that former President (Obansanjo) will die in power.

It is a shame that opposition has hijacked this policy decision and are making treasonable utterances. The question is:
1. Does Tunde Bakare have a purview into plans to eliminate the President
2. Is there something he knows that an everyday Nigerian as well as the government don’t know and in the euphoria of the moment made a regrettable statement that an elected President of the Federal republic of Nigeria will die in power.
3. He denied being passionate about this country and more interested in fighting status quo.


The quagmire is: if he is not passionate about this country, why is he leading a protest against the government and calling for the death of a sitting President! Who are those behind Tunde Bakare?

These are the questions our security arms may need to answer and bring those who have hijacked genuine protest against a policy that appears to impose hardship on the everyday Nigerian today  but seem to have their interest at heart on long term basis to book.

Tunde Bakare is too irresponsible to represent the voice of the voiceless because you cannot blaspheme using the name of God. Enough is enough. A decent debate on Subsidy is a welcomed development but to have individuals, take laws into their hands is not acceptable under our set principles.

We should learn to draw the line between our freedom of speech and making statements that suggest that we have foresight on the existence of others. Please Tunde Bakare should come out and tell us about his plot and the plot of his cohorts to eliminate the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
I don’t support the spontaneous approach of government as regards to removing the subsidy on fuel.

I would have imagined a better situation where Nigerians are informed about the reasons why subsidy should be removed and the palliative measures to reduce the negative effects on Nigerians before implementing the policy.

I would have imagined that Nigerians at this time should be calling their government out on how and where this subsidy savings will be spent and not frivolous statements that imply that certain elements in Nigeria have an underlining motive to cash into the genuine protest by Nigerians for other motives.
Tunde Bakare has a lot of questions to answer and the question begins here on Nairaland. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

:p

When will politics of bitterness end and when will politicians begin to see themselves as public servants than dictators.

See what they have done in 24h0urs, rode fencing and leveling, all destruction hidden. Yesterday Army people and mopol seaaled off an entire acess area and destroyed pictures take in the area. The state has bought over the police and the army who they now use to intimidate our people. God help Nigeria.

This action may properly kill Giddies - the owner, He has a broken hand for over five years, he is hypertensive and diabities is there too, now this? God will judge those who bring bitterness to the land.

The Anioma people were known warriors in the past. This i an insult to the Anioma land. So heart darkening an event.

Posterity will judge all men. It is obvious that Victor Ochei , the shameless stooge to Uduaghan is behind this. This is a boy who use to visit drink and eat at Giddy's Place. God will dethrne all of you.

It is sad that because of politics, His Excellency, Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor of Delta state is closing down businesses that existed before Chief James  Ibori  came to power because some members of the state worked with opposition parties.
Giddy's  Place as far back as 1994 has existed and overtime,  recognised as a must visit in Delta state because of the local touch to its building theme. People visit home each season and look forward to visiting Giddy's place for fresh ANIOMA  food and delicacy. It is sad that an Istekeri man has desecrated Enu-ani (Anioma) land all because of politics and nobody is saying anything.  I thought power was meant to be used to help a people and not disenfranchise them?
No regards for culture or a people's pride, a land well documented and personal property of a DPP member has been forcefully taken over by Uduaghan to build a TV viewing centre that he located at intebua round-about.
This is another blow on ANIOMA people and their elders. It is equally sad that some other ANIOMA elders and local chiefs are in support of the action of the Governor.
This is a collective insult on ANIOMA people.  Posterity will judge all men.

Words have it that on the 25th of this month, Uduaghan will be removed in office because of his rigging activities during the last election, INEC offical from that state will be placed under house arrestand possibly taken to court for breaking electoral laws.
Ogobru may likely emerge the winner of the election in that state or there will be a fresh election conducted in that state owing to available fact that DPP and PDP RIGGED elections in various regions of the state.
God bless Nigeria.

Lazy cunts!!! fighting over the wealth of a dead man. Can't a 26 billion estate be shared fair and sqaure. Human greed. Some of them will die while fighting and then they will start pointing fingers at one another that you jujued him or Voodooed him.
Shameless old men.

How much tax do you pay, the proceeds from Niger-delta was what was re-invested into empowering people from that area because they have been neglected over time.
You must living in the moon not to know that Niger-deltans have been subjugated throughout our common history as Nigerians. Left alone to me, there should be a special fund set aside for the education of the Niger-delta region considering the value their lands put on the table for the entire country.

Corruption is not always about money theft, creating a state within a state is a felony offence and inciting anybody against the state is a treasonable act. so arrest these men!!