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Federal Government Awards 49 Flare Sites To 42 Investors, Advancing Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Program
Federal Government Awards 49 Flare Sites To 42 Investors, Advancing Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Program....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The Federal Government, seven years after initiating the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), has announced the allocation of 49 flare sites to a consortium of 42 investors. The primary objective of this program is to mitigate environmental damage and reduce the adverse effects of routine gas flaring on the Niger Delta region’s inhabitants, while also capitalizing on these valuable resources.
Despite escalating environmental concerns and revenue losses in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron, Total, and other oil companies have continued to flare approximately $3.9 billion (equivalent to around N3 trillion) worth of gas over the past four years.
Although these companies have pledged commitment to environmental sustainability and combating climate change, their operations have left Nigeria with 1.2 trillion standard cubic feet of gas and expected carbon dioxide emissions of 65.9 million tonnes.
Frequently falling short of the zero gas flaring target, Nigeria, which possesses a gas reserve of over 209 trillion standard cubic feet, has been consistently criticized on the global stage for its gas flaring practices.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced on Wednesday that the selection of the 42 companies followed a competitive bidding process. Of these, 38 companies received awards for standalone single flare site development, while four were granted nine sites to be developed as clusters.
This move aligns with NUPRC’s responsibilities under Section seven (e) and Section 105 (two) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021. In the third quarter of 2022, NUPRC restructured the NGFCP and relaunched the program to conform with PIA provisions and reflect current economic and operational realities.
The Commission attributes the significant success in the NGFCP bid process to sustained engagement with key stakeholders, including domestic and international investors, development agencies, oil and gas producers, technology providers, and financial institutions.
Approximately 300 companies submitted applications for gas flare sites when the Request for Qualification (RFQ) was issued in the fourth quarter of 2022. The program was relaunched following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The evaluation of Statements of Qualification (SOQs) led to the selection of 139 applicants. After issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) to qualified applicants, 88 entities, including individual companies and consortiums, responded and submitted a total of 137 proposals. These proposals included technical, commercial, and financial documentation for one or more of the 49 flare sites designated for standalone or cluster development.
While some companies were designated as Reserve Bidders for corresponding flare sites in case Preferred Bidders fail to meet RFP terms and conditions, the 42 winners will proceed to individually execute Commercial Agreements with relevant parties and make the required award fee payments for the issuance of the Permit to Access Flare Gas by the Commission.
KPMG, a global network of professional firms, has been approved to collaborate with the Commission in implementing the award process to ensure the successful outcome of the gas flare-out commercialization initiative.
Recall that the gas commercialization program was launched by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources on December 13, 2016, after approval by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), but its realization was delayed for seven years. In 2021, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), now NUPRC, identified 45 out of 178 gas flaring sites in the country for allocation to successful bidders, with additional flare sites expected to join the program.
Bamidele Kehinde, Director of Dynamic Ambassadors for Social Orientation Initiatives and the City Transformation Project, has expressed appreciation to the Federal Government of Nigeria for its efforts in securing the release of Pastor Benjamin Egbaji, who was reportedly held in detention in the Republic of Benin for over two years under difficult conditions.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Pastor Egbaji, a Nigerian cleric, was said to have endured harsh treatment during his detention, including prolonged confinement. His release followed a presidential pardon granted by the authorities in Benin Republic under President Patrice Talon.
Speaking on News Central TV, Dr. Kehinde praised the diplomatic efforts that led to the cleric’s freedom, describing the process as lengthy and challenging. He noted that significant progress was achieved after Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was appointed Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
He stated that although there was no personal connection or financial influence involved, the minister actively engaged Benin Republic authorities through diplomatic channels. According to him, her visit and negotiations played a key role in securing Pastor Egbaji’s release.
Dr. Kehinde also commended all individuals and institutions that contributed to the advocacy efforts, including Moses Eyo, Dickson Umu Unung, the Cross River State Government, CP Alobi Lawrence (rtd), Joseph Bisong Ayi, Blessing Harrison, Eze Sampson, and Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo.
He said their combined efforts were instrumental in achieving the cleric’s freedom.
He added that while Egbaji’s release is a major relief, the cleric now faces the task of recovering and rebuilding his life after years of hardship. He called for continued support to help him reintegrate into society.
Dr. Kehinde also urged stronger government commitment to protecting Nigerian citizens abroad and enhancing diplomatic engagement across West Africa to prevent similar cases in the future.
The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has provided an update on its ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The board stated that 1,120,491 applications were successfully completed and processed, allowing candidates to proceed to the computer-based test (CBT) stage.
It also disclosed that 432,935 applications were left incomplete, while 360,923 applicants were disqualified during screening and shortlisting for failing to meet the required criteria.
In total, the recruitment exercise recorded over 1.8 million applications across the country.
The exercise covers agencies under the board, including the Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Fire Service, and the Nigeria Correctional Service.
CDCFIB also released a breakdown of CBT performance, showing that 221,996 candidates scored between 0–40, 229,155 scored between 41–60, 278,543 scored between 61–80, while 142,697 scored between 81–100.
The recruitment process is now expected to move to the next stage, which includes physical screening and document verification. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted with details of their screening venues, dates, and required documents.
The board reiterated that the entire process is free of charge and advised applicants to rely only on official communication channels for updates, warning against misinformation and unauthorized messages circulating online.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has confirmed that its Air Component of Operation HADIN KAI conducted precise airstrikes in the Yuwe axis of the Sambisa Forest, resulting in the elimination of several terrorist elements on Monday.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, who noted that military operations in the North-East continue to maintain strong pressure on insurgent groups.
He explained that the operation was based on credible intelligence, supported by Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) activities, which identified active terrorist presence within fortified positions and underground hideouts.
According to him, NAF air platforms successfully engaged the targets using precision-guided munitions, destroying the structures, neutralising multiple terrorists, and dismantling key logistics facilities. This was later confirmed through battle damage assessments.
The statement added that sustained air operations have continued to weaken terrorist networks, disrupting their activities and forcing them into more defensive and unstable responses.
The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, also reiterated the Air Force’s commitment to maintaining continuous, intelligence-driven operations aimed at completely neutralising terrorist threats.
He further assured that the NAF remains focused on protecting its personnel, safeguarding national security, and ensuring the safety of citizens, while continuing precision operations in line with strict rules of engagement to minimise civilian impact.
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