Politics
Nigeria needs $200billiion for gas infrastructure – NEITI …As Senate kicks against less than 1% contribution of solid minerals to GDP
By George Mgbeleke, Abuja
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative ( NEITI) , declared in Abuja on Monday that Nigeria requires injection of $200billion into gas infrastructure for maximization of the natural resources as the ninth highest gas producer in the World and number one in Africa .
This is as the Senate through its Committee on Public Accounts, declared as unacceptable , the less than 1% contribution of proceeds from solid minerals to GDP on yearly basis .l
Executive Secretary of NEITI , Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji , in his 2021 – 2023 reports on Oil, Gas and Solid Minerals presentation to the Public Accounts Committee chaired by Senator Aliyu Wadada Ahmed, said the required infrastructure for maximization of gas resources in the country are not there .
” Based on NEITI’s findings , Nigeria needs to invest at least $20billion per year into gas infrastructure for a period of ten years
” The only thing that Qatar Energy does is gas processing through required infrastructure .
” So, in Nigeria, what we need, is to invest in gas infrastructure to evacuate gas. And our study shows that we need an initial investment of $20 billion annually for 10 years to be able to generate the kind of gas infrastructure required to provide gas for the whole of Africa and beyond.
” This of course , will require construction of gas pipelines along and across,West African sub-region, and beyond which is a huge expenditure”, he said
When asked on what NEITI is doing on alleged $8.5billion unremitted into the consolidated revenue fund by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited , Federal Inland Revenue Service and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in 2023, the NEITI boss said the Economic and Financial Crime Commission ( EFCC) , is already probing the agencies involved .
He however added that the Solid Minerals sector is not giving the country desired revenue as yearly proceeds from the sector is less than 1% to GDP .
Irked by the submission , the Chairman and members of the committee said NEITI’s report on solid minerals , is not reflective of what is going on in the solid mineral sector .
They wondered why only States like Ogun , Osun , Kogi , Edo , Ebonyi , Rivers , Cross Rivers and FCT , were mentioned in the report leaving out Nasarawa , Zamfara , Kebbi , Plateau , Bauchi etc .
Specifically the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Wadada described the less than one 1% contribution of solid minerals to GDP as quite ridiculous and unacceptable .
” This definitely must not continue, there must be complete overhaul of the sector “, he said .
By David Owei, Bayelsa
Governor Ademola Adeleke is not defecting to African Democratic Congress (ADC) nor aligning with anybody within the ADC ahead of the 2026 state elections, his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed has disclosed.
Responding to media publication and enquiries, the Spokesperson affirmed that Governor Adeleke remains in Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and is going to win, with wide margins, the 2026 governorship elections on the platform of the PDP.
The statement reads further: “Our attention has been drawn to news reports and media enquiries about the imminent defection of Governor Adeleke to the ADC or alignment with ADC big wigs ahead of the 2026 governorship race. There is no truth in those publications and speculations.
“First of all, we, the PDP Osun, have already adopted and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the 2027 presidential election, so there is no alliance with ADC.
“Secondly, Governor Adeleke has no alliance with anyone in ADC. He remains in PDP, will run in PDP, and needs no alliance with ADC to win with a wide margin in 2026.
“The Osun electorate supports Governor Adeleke because of his impressive performance since he came to office. That good work is still ongoing and Osun people are committed to sustaining the delivery of good governance by re-electing Governor Adeleke in 2026”, the Spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Governor Adeleke urges PDP members to forge ahead with the ongoing strengthening of the party structures across all levels to prepare for fresh victory next year”, the statement from the Spokesperson concluded.
By David Owei,Bayelsa
The umbrella body of Ijaw Elders, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) has rejected the Bill in the Senate seeking to permanently elevate the Ooni of Ife and Sultan of Sokoto as the exclusive Co-chairmen of the Traditional Rulers Council.
The INC said the move would be at the expense of apex traditional rulers from other ethnic nationalities and geopolitical divides.
The Second Vice Chairman of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Chief Alabo Nengi James (OON) said, in a statement on Sunday in Odi, Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government area of Bayelsa State, the proposal is a continuos infringement on Traditional Rulers in Nigeria.
Alabo Nengi James describes the provision of the Bill as unacceptable and against the Rights of the indigenous People across tribes, Religion, Culture and Customs.
He said the Bill should be reviewed to include clauses such as No permanent Chairmanship for Sultan and Oni only must be allowed in the ongoing bill being discussed in the Senate.
He advocates that the National Assembly should allow the National Council of Traditional Rulers to Appoint their Leadership themselves, rotationaly and based on Federal Character.
“Include the Role of Traditional Rulers into the Constitutio and No Traditional Ruler from another tribe or religion is superior to another.”
“The National Assembly should Step down the Provocative and dehumanizing offensive Bill that will cause a serious rift and breach of peace in Nigeria.”
Chief James called the attention of the Senate President, Rt. Hon. Godswill Akpabio, urging him to immediately step down what he termed a “highly insensitive and dangerous bill.”
He emphasized that traditional rulers across the country must be given equal recognition and should be allowed to choose their national leadership through internal mechanisms that reflect rotational leadership and the federal character system.
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