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FCT communities, FAAN in face-off over access to water

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FCT communities, FAAN in face-off over access to water

Residents of some communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 protested lack of access to what they say is the only source of water to the areas.

Airport Road
Protesters barricaded the Airport Road in Abuja

The communities are Tungan-Kwaso, Tungan-Kano and Tungan-Kukudagba.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the protest along the Airport Road in Abuja, reports that the protesters barricaded the road.

Armed policemen and other security agents were seen trying to bring the situation under control and to ensure that the road linking the airport was not completely blocked.

Vehicular movement around the junction linking the communities was slow as a result of the protest.

The protesters alleged that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) had built a fence, blocking the road that links the communities to the stream, which was their only source of water.

According to the protesters, the communities have suffered hardship as a result of the development.

They frowned at the insensitivity of FAAN to their plight, despite the fact that the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was established on their land.

Mrs Ladi Danladi, one of the protesters, told NAN that the problem started about seven years ago when FAAN approached the communities that it wanted to fence the airport to protect its facilities.

Danladi said the authority had promised to sink a borehole for the communities when it realised that the fence would block the road to the communities’ stream.

She said the stream was the only source of water to the communities, adding that, to their surprise, the borehole was sank inside the premises of FAAN after constructing the fence.

“Exactly three weeks today, we were told not to enter their premises to fetch water anymore for fear of the communities planting bomb in their premises.

“So, we reminded them that we cannot live without water and that they have blocked the road leading to the stream that supplied water to the communities.

“Instead of finding solution to the problem, they threatened to shoot anybody found within their premises.

“Before we knew it, they used padlocks to lock the gate leading to the borehole and stationed soldiers at the gate,” she said.

Danladi said the protest was to inform the public of the injustice being meted on the communities.

Mr Usman Farouk, another protester, said the communities had suffered a very long period of neglect from the government.

He said the communities originally inhabited the land presently occupied by the airport before they were relocated by the government without any form of compensation.

“As I speak to you, we have been living in these communities without water, hospital, school, road and other basic amenities,” he said.

NAN, however, contacted Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, the General Manager, Corporate Affairs of FAAN, who confirmed that the communities had been enjoying free access into the airport premises to fetch water.

She said the decision to stop them was due to the recent need to beef up security in the airside, adding that the measure was to avoid security breaches at the airport.

The general manager, however, said that the management of the airport was already handling the situation.

“As part of its corporate social responsibility, FAAN has commenced the process of sinking boreholes for them in their communities and in the next few weeks they will have water,” she said.

By Monday Ijeh and Sumaila Ogbaje

Government enlightens market women on Cleaner Lagos Initiative

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Government enlightens market women on Cleaner Lagos Initiative

The Lagos State Government, under its Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI), has called on traders to ensure that markets in the state are cleaner.

Cleaner Lagos Initiative
Cleaner Lagos Initiative waste bins

Commissioner for Environment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, made the call during the Town Hall Meeting with community and market leaders on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 in Lagos.

Durosinmi-Etti said that market women are major stakeholders in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

He said that marketplaces generate a lot of waste, so there is basically the need to see how waste collection can be organised there.

According to him, the CLI and Visionscape will be visiting the marketplaces on Thursdays to ensure that waste is properly handled and evacuated.

”We should expect more stakeholders sessions to hold, as this will enhance government’s visions and policies for a cleaner environment.

”With every vision, as you go along, there will be challenges and there is need to review the strategies to overcome the challenges.

”The forum is how to have a constructive engagement for the market women to buy into the Cleaner Lagos Initiative.

”It also prevails on Visionscape and the Federal Ministry of Environment, an opportunity to have an understanding of the markets and disseminate their duties properly to them.’’

The commissioner said Lagos State Government was doing well in its role, despite the refuse littering the state, which he blamed on rise in population.

”When there are more opportunities in Lagos than elsewhere, people keep coming in every hour, and it affects the infrastructure.

“However, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State has taken a bold step of introducing the CLI to ensure a healthy environment.

”It is probably going to take some time; residents of Lagos need to bear with us.

”Every change, every reform has its own obstacles, but it is definitely going to work out.

“I am sure in a few months’ time, it will be better than what it used to be,” he said.

The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, appealed to the people not to throw waste anyhow on the streets, as it could cause ill-health.

Akiolu also urged the market women to assist government by ensuring that the marketplaces are kept clean.

The Iya Oloja General, Chief Afolashade Tinubu-Ojo, said there was the need to keep the environment cleaner.

Tinubu-Ojo said that the market women were ready to work with the government, as long as they knew the contribution that was needed of them.

”We have to contribute our own quota in order to make Lagos State get better and forge ahead.

”We have taskforces and committees in the markets that ensure that the places are kept clean.

“Every Thursday is our environmental sanitation day, and the markets are not allowed to open until 10.a.m.

”We need to change for better because change is paramount in life.

”We need to know more about the synergy that LAWMA, Cleaner Lagos Initiative and Visionscape have formed, so that we will know where to come in.”

The Iya Oloja urged women to abide by government rules and regulations in enhancing their relationship with the government.

The Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Kamal Salau-Bashau, said that Lagos Island had the highest generation of solid waste and it was a bit challenging.

Salau-Bashau said that the council had designed some mechanisms to handle waste management and had designated six collection points for waste.

He said the situation of waste in the area was a challenge that was surmountable and the council was determined to collaborate with CLI to ensure a healthy environment.

Severe drought hits Southern Africa

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Severe drought hits Southern Africa

Prolonged dry spell experienced across Southern Africa and the invasion of crop-eating worm are said to sharply affect harvests across the region, driving millions of people – most of them children – into severe hunger, warns the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Drought
A dry maize field in South Africa

The warning follows an alert by the regional food security experts that “erratic rainfall, high temperatures and persistent Fall Army Worm infestation, are likely to have far-reaching consequences on access to adequate food and nutrition” over the next 12-15 months.

The alert, by officials from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNET), UN agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), listed Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Zambia and South Africa as the worst-affected countries.

The dry spell, which started in October, has caused crops to wilt. Pasture has also suffered, threatening the survival of livestock herds.

In Malawi, it is estimated that about 140,000 farming families have been affected by the twin scourges of dry spell and Fall armyworms and in terms of hectares, 375,580 hectares of maize have been damaged across the country.

Lonjezo Chiguduli, a farmer in Malawi’s Eastern Region district of Zomba, expressed sadness at loss of crops and predicted tough months ahead. Chiguduli said his maize farm was severally attacked by Fall Armyworms and the prolonged drought made things worse.

“I managed to contain the worms but I was hopeless and helpless with the dry spell. I don’t think my crops will recover even if the rains come today. It’s done,” said Chiguduli a father of three whose ageing mother also depends on him.

Solomon Makondetsa, a rice farmer also from Zomba said out of four of his rice plots, two of the plots have completely wilted that he had to uproot the crop.

Makondetsa said he invested about K450,000 (about $623) which he said he will not be able to recover due to the prolonged dry spell.

A ray of hope though shown last week with most parts of the country experiencing rains for days, however, the rains have come with another problem, flooding. So far, there has been flooding in Salima District in the central region and Karonga district in the northern region of Malawi.

In December 2017, Malawi President, Peter Mutharika, declared 20 of the country’s 28 districts as disaster areas following the dry spell and invasion of the worms.

According to the statement released by the WFP, even if there is above-average rainfall over coming months, much of the damage to crops is irreversible.

“Given that the region has barely emerged from three years of very damaging El Niño -induced drought, this is a particularly cruel blow”, says Brian Bogart, WFP’s Regional Programme Advisor. “But it shows how important it is to address the root causes of hunger and malnutrition in the face of changing climatic conditions”.

There are now fears for another rise in the number of people in the region needing emergency food and nutrition assistance – this fell from a peak of 40 million during the 2014-2016 El Niño crisis to 26 million last year.

The humanitarian community is now working with governments, SADC and other partners to assess the extent of the damage and its likely impact on those most at risk in the region.

Centre blames farmers/herders clash on climate change

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Centre blames farmers/herders clash on climate change

The Africa Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has attributed the farmers/herdsmen crisis in Nigeria to climate change.

Herdsmen
Herdsmen

Coordinator of AFRICMIL, Mr Chido Onumah, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 that global warming had led to desertification, thereby making food for cattle scarce.

According to him, the problem also has political, social and economic causes, which must be addressed.

He said: “There is need for a political solution to the crisis of herdsmen and farmers in this country, understandably the root cause is also political, it’s partly economic and it’s partly social.

“And global warming is real; so, there is desertification. If we do not do something about it, we are even going to go into a bigger crisis than we have.

“These farmers and herders have lived together for many years; they have managed the situation when there was abundance.

“But, because of scarce resources now, people are fighting in the process of finding food for their cattle and invade farmlands.’’

According to him, whether cattle herders or farmers, all Nigerians are entitled to live in peace and enjoy the abundance of wherever they choose to live in the country.

He explained that, in other federal systems, the issue of being an indigene of a particular place would not arise.

He said perception that made Nigerians look down on themselves based on his or her ethnicity or religion must be changed.

On the Benue killing, he opined that the herdsmen should not have taken laws into their hands if they were not satisfied with the anti-grazing law.

“The solution goes to the structure of Nigeria; Benue is a state within Nigeria and has the right to make laws, and if certain people are not satisfied with the law they should fight to get it changed.

“Instead of taking laws into their hands, you cannot say you are opposed to a law and you start killing people, it is not permitted.

“If people oppose the anti-grazing law, they can do something to change or amend it.’’

On proposed ranching system, Onumah said that was practiced in advanced countries, adding that cattle rearing were private businesses.

He explained that cattle rearer should be able to provide space and food for the cattle, instead of inconveniencing others.

He added that the entire country would be in chaos if pigs and poultry farmers start moving them from place to place in search of food.

He, however, said that establishing a state police was essential to enforce laws made by state governments, as the federal police take orders from the Inspector General of Police only.

By Kate Obande-Okewu

59 big banks failing to take adequate climate action, says report

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59 big banks failing to take adequate climate action, says report

The failure of 59 of the world’s largest banks to recognise climate risks and opportunities threatens undermine efforts to support the transition to a low-carbon economy. This is the key finding of a report by Boston Common Asset Management report titled “Banking on a Low-Carbon Future“.

Espinosa-05
Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

Banks play a crucial role in the allocation of capital in the economy by providing financial services to businesses, households, governments and financial institutions.

As a result, banks are exposed to climate change-related risks including extreme weather events including heat waves, droughts, storms and sea level rise, along with energy transition adjustments to limit greenhouse gas emissions which can create both risk and significant financial opportunities

In 2015, the international community adopted the Paris Agreement on climate action. The main objective of the agreement is to limit the global average temperature rise to well below 2°C and as close as possible to 1.5°C.

However, the report indicates that less than half (49%) of banks implement climate risk assessments or 2°C scenario analysis, and a majority (61%) have failed to restrict the financing of coal – the most carbon intensive energy source.

Remarkably, the global banking sector provided $600 billion in financing to the top 120 coal plant developers between 2014 and September 2017.

The report says that the oil, gas and coal industries will suffer significant revenue losses as a result of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the non-compliance of certain investment projects with the 2°C trajectory will jeopardize their financial viability.

Meeting the main objective of the Paris Agreement involves investing in new technologies such as renewable energy, energy storage, carbon capture and storage. All this will not be without consequences on the world economy, and banks cannot ignore this.

Pace of Alignment of Banks with TCFD is Too Slow

Last year, a letter backed by over 100 investors with almost $2 trillion in assets under management sent to over 60 banks last September asking about alignment with the Task Force on Climate Disclosure (TCFD).

The TCFD is a working group set up by the G20 Financial Stability Board chaired by Michael Bloomberg that provides recommendations on financial risks related to climate change.

The report says that whilst 54% of banks say they support the TCFD, the pace of alignment is too slow.

The report also points to large regional disparities among banks around the world. For example, 80% of European banks have undertaken climate-risk assessments, compared with an average of 33% of banks in each of the North America, Developed Asia and emerging market regions.

Achieving the main objective of the Paris Agreement requires the adaptation of the entire global economy by reorienting investments in particular, so that they are compatible with sustainable development and resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Banks to fund clean tech investments in ships

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Banks to fund clean tech investments in ships

Efforts to green the European shipping industry have received a boost, with two major banks pledging to fund €300 million worth of clean tech investments in ships over the next three years.

Werner Hoyer
European Investment Bank President, Werner Hoyer

The Dutch bank ING and the European Investment Bank (EIB) will each contributed €150 million to retrofit existing vessels so that they cause less emissions and are more fuel efficient, and to ensure that new ships are more climate friendly.

Such steps are important to reach the goals of the Paris Climate Change Agreement, given that maritime transport is responsible for around 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions and carbon emissions from shipping and aviation are growing at a combined rate of 3-5% annually.

“I think it’s no secret that the shipping sector is a major contributor to CO2 emissions. Climate action is one of the EIB’s top priorities, and this type of financing should be seen as an incentive for ship owners to consider doing things differently.” said EIB President Werner Hoyer.

The Paris Agreement’s aim is to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Action in all areas of the economy is crucial to reach this goal.

The investment money will be used for a range of projects with a green innovation element, including both the construction of new vessels or retrofitting of existing vessels. The measures will apply to inland and seagoing shipping.

Isabel Fernandez, Head of Wholesale Banking at ING Bank, said: “Sustainability is an important strategic priority for ING and we are very proud to partner with the EIB to encourage our shipping clients to think about more green and sustainable financing options.”

The move is part of a global movement to de-carbonise shipping. Last year, leading shipowners and operators, classification societies, engine and technology builders and suppliers, big data providers, and oil companies signed up to a new Global Industry Alliance (GIA) to support transitioning shipping and its related industries towards a low carbon future.

Thirteen companies have signed up to launch the GIA, under the auspices of the GloMEEP Project, a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)-International Maritime Organisation (IMO) project aimed at supporting developing countries in  the implementation of energy efficiency measures for shipping.

 

UNDP to deliver school, houses, shops to Borno IDPs

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UNDP to deliver school, houses, shops to Borno IDPs

The UN Development Programme (UNDP), Country Director, Samuel Bwalya, says the agency will donate houses, school and health centre to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ngwom, Borno State.

Samuel Bwalya
Samuel Bwalya, Country Director for UNDP Nigeria

Bwalya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that Ngwom, an agrarian community in Mafa Local Government Area, fell victim to violent attacks by Boko Haram insurgents in 2014.

He said that that UNDP would deliver completed 292 permanent houses out of proposed 300, a primary school and one health clinic to Ngwom indigents displaced by the insurgence on Feb. 28.

According to him, UNDP has also completed 288 market stalls, 20 stores-shopping centre, and two boreholes, which would be delivered to the returnees.

Bwalya said that UNDP piloted a comprehensive community stabilisation programme in Ngwom.

“Our intervention was aimed at four inter-related areas of livelihoods, security, basic services, and emerging local governance.

“Using Ngwom as pilot community for the programme, we have built some structures for them.

“Throughout the process we have engaged local labours and cash for work approaches and emergency employment were provided as alternative source of livelihood for already poor and vulnerable communities in the state,” he said.

According to him, UNDP has also distributed rainy-season agricultural inputs to over 550 farmers in the community.

“The community will be officially opened on February 28, 2018, when displaced families will formerly take delivery of these permanent shelters, better than their previous houses which were erased by Boko Haram.

“Until 2014, Ngwom had an enviable reputation of being the livestock and grains trading hub of Borno State and its neighbouring states.

“This include countries of the Chad Basin; Chad, Cameroon, Niger, Libya and as far as to the Central Africa Republic,” he said.

Bwalya said that in Sept. 2014, the settlement was violently attacked and destroyed by Boko Haram insurgents.

The insurgents attacked the small settlement twice between 2014 and 2016 leaving behind unimaginable destruction of lives and property.

“It is estimated that about 100 people were killed during these attacks and the community was destroyed.

“Many public buildings, including the only primary school that served the community, the only healthcare clinic, market stalls, motor park (bus station) and public toilets with equipment were significantly destroyed.

“The once-vibrant and prosperous community was reduced to a waste land and people forced to relocate to nearby areas in search of safety, security and livelihoods,” he said.

Bwalya said that many of the displaced, estimated at about 1,658 are currently registered as IDPs in various camps in Borno; while many more currently live in host communities within Maiduguri and other parts of the state.

“As the tide of the insurgency recedes and people begin to return to the communities, our interventions will facilitate not only easy restarting of lives but also provide a solid foundation for long term development in the area.

“Our investment in the area is already helping to improve human security, promote reconciliation, enhanced citizens’ engagement in service delivery.

“Through emergency employment opportunities, previously vulnerable households are now able to fend for themselves, send their children to school and engage in other productive activities.

“We are steadily strengthening communities’ self-reliance,” Bwalya said.

According to him, UNDP is meeting urgent early recovery needs while addressing the underlying causes of the crisis.

“UNDP is working towards ensuring that necessary early recovery needs are met through vocational skills training, livelihood support, rehabilitation of public infrastructure; these efforts are providing catalytic ingredients for communities to thrive again,” he said.

By Isaac Aregbesola

Jigawa partners IFAD on climate change for sustainable development

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Jigawa partners IFAD on climate change for sustainable development

The Jigawa State Government says it is partnering with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Climate Change Adaptation and Agribusiness Support Programme (CASP) for sustainable development.

Mohammed-Badaru-Abubakar
Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, Governor of Jigawa State

Alhaji Umar Danzomo, Jigawa State Coordinator of IFAD, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse, the state capital, on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 that the essence of the collaboration was to acquire knowledge on climate change in view of the global warming affecting farming business.

He said that the initiative would teach farmers new methods of farming from production to harvest.

The IFAD coordinator pointed out that the state government, in partnership with IFAD-CASP, was working in 14 local government areas of the state on climate change motivation.

He added that IFAD would support farmers in local government areas that keyed into the programme, from land preparation to harvest.

He noted that over 1,000 farmers had already keyed into the programme from the 14 local government areas of the state.

Danzomo pledged the determination of IFAD to assist farmers in processing and marketing their produce locally and internationally.

By Abdullahi Shugaba

Measles cases surge in Europe

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Measles cases surge in Europe

Measles has rebounded in the World Health Organisation (WHO) European Region. The disease affected 21,315 people and caused 35 deaths in 2017, following a record low of 5,273 cases in 2016.

Zsuzsanna Jakab
Zsuzsanna Jakab, Regional Director, World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe

The WHO Regional Office for Europe released new data for 2017 on Monday, February 19, 2018, a day ahead of a health ministerial meeting on immunisation in Montenegro on Tuesday, February 20.

“Every new person affected by measles in Europe reminds us that unvaccinated children and adults, regardless of where they live, remain at risk of catching the disease and spreading it to others who may not be able to get vaccinated. Over 20,000 cases of measles, and 35 lives lost in 2017 alone, are a tragedy we simply cannot accept,” says Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.

“Elimination of both measles and rubella is a priority goal that all European countries have firmly committed to, and a cornerstone for achieving the health-related Sustainable Development Goals,” Dr Jakab continues. “This short-term setback cannot deter us from our commitment to be the generation that frees our children from these diseases once and for all.”

 

Large measles outbreaks affect one in four European countries

The surge in measles cases in 2017 included large outbreaks (100 or more cases) in 15 of the 53 countries in the Region. The highest numbers of affected people were reported in Romania (5,562), Italy (5,006) and Ukraine (4,767). These countries have experienced a range of challenges in recent years, such as declines in overall routine immunisation coverage, consistently low coverage among some marginalized groups, interruptions in vaccine supply or underperforming disease surveillance systems.

Greece (967), Germany (927), Serbia (702), Tajikistan (649), France (520), the Russian Federation (408), Belgium (369), the United Kingdom (282), Bulgaria (167), Spain (152), Czechia (146) and Switzerland (105) also experienced large outbreaks, many of which were in decline by the close of 2017.

Actions to stop the current outbreaks and prevent new ones are taking place on various fronts. They include raising public awareness, immunising health-care professionals and other adults at particular risk, addressing challenges in access, and improving supply planning and logistics.

 

Progress continues despite upturn in cases

The process of verifying measles and rubella elimination by country, introduced in 2012, has moved the Region closer to its measles and rubella elimination goal. Each year, the independent Regional Verification Commission (RVC) reviews country data and immunisation activities and recommends actions to resolve the specific challenges faced by countries. As of the end of 2016, 42 of the 53 countries in the Region had interrupted endemic measles transmission. However, outbreaks will continue to occur until every susceptible child and adult is protected.

Ministers of health of 11 countries meet on Tuesday (February 20, 2018) to discuss working together to achieve the goals set out in the European Vaccine Action Plan (EVAP) by 2020, including measles and rubella elimination. A Region-wide midterm EVAP progress report will be presented at the 68th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in September 2018.

Shell excels in technology, innovation at petroleum summit

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Shell excels in technology, innovation at petroleum summit

The in-country Subsea Tree Refurbishment feat by Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo), drew a deafening applause on the night of Monday, February 20, 2018 as it earned Shell Companies in Nigeria the Best Performing International Company in Technology and Innovation at the awards night of the maiden edition of the Nigeria International Petroleum Summit in Abuja. The state-organised event was attended by Nigerian and international industry leaders.

Shell-NIPS Award
L-R: Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu; Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor; and the Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, during the presentation of The Best International Company in Technology and Innovation to Shell at the 2018 Nigeria International Petroleum Summit held in Abuja… on Monday

SNEPCo pioneered the in-country feat and achieved significant savings in the cost of the subsea equipment led by Nigerian engineers. A Subsea Tree is an arrangement of valves and other components installed at the wellhead to control and monitor production flow and manage fluids injection. SNEPCo embarked on a Tree Refurbishment initiative in 2013 to ensure timely delivery of the equipment at lower cost for the Bonga Phase 2 project, an in-field wells delivery and hook–up programme within the Bonga Field which has been in execution since 2007.

On hand to receive the award presented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, were the Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Mr. Osagie Okunbor, and the Managing Director of SNEPCo, Mr. Bayo Ojulari.

An excited Okunbor described the award as a recognition of the pioneering role of Shell Companies in Nigeria in local capacity development and Nigeria content.

“We are pleased that this feat has continued to receive recognition within and outside Nigeria. Beyond cost consideration, we were also looking to indigenise the know-how so that Nigerian engineers can acquire the necessary skills,” he said.

Speaking on the award, Ojulari said, “This is a success story not only for Shell but for Nigeria. The first Subsea Tree under the programme was installed on schedule in May 2015. This was the first of its kind re-using a Subsea Tree fully stripped down and refurbished locally in Nigeria, with all of its original functionality restored.

“The scope of work entailed the retrieval of the Subsea Trees for disassembly, repair and rebuild following procedures developed by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) to international standards and codes. The work was done at the OEM/SNEPCo logistics base at Onne in Rivers State with Nigerian engineers and technicians playing key roles. The quick turnaround of these Trees has helped to increase oil production in the Bonga field. The expenditure on this work in Nigeria aligns with the cost of similar Subsea Tree refurbishment in Europe. We have since sustained the in-country refurbishment.”

SNEPCo saves about $6 million for every refurbished Subsea Tree, and this is delivered within 15 months as against 36 months for newly manufactured ones.

SNEPCo helped to create the first generation of Nigerian deep water professionals through the Bonga project which started production in 2005, as Nigeria’s first oil and gas production project in more than 1,000 metres of water. The project was expanded with further drilling of wells in Bonga Phases 2 and 3 and through a subsea tie-back that unlocked the nearby Bonga North West field in August 2014, which has peak production of approximately 60,000 barrels of oil equivalent a day. Bonga Phase 3 achieved first oil in October 2015.

SNEPCo operates Bonga field on behalf of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in partnership with Esso Exploration and Production (Deepwater Ltd) – Exxon, Total E&P Nigeria Ltd – Total and Nigerian Agip Exploration Ltd – ENI. The other Shell Companies in Nigeria are SPDC and Shell Nigeria Gas.

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