Aso Villa Reads for 23/01/2020
Every day, we bring you the best stories that the Media is reporting about the Government of Nigeria
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), and a private oil firm, and Waltersmith Petroleum Oil Limited, are collaborating with Equatorial Guinea to develop modular refineries in the central African nation. The collaboration is aimed at increasing Equatorial Guinea’s local refining capacity to process some of its crude oil and derive increased value from the hydrocarbon resources. The bi-lateral cooperation was confirmed at the weekend after the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Simbi Wabote, and Chairman Waltersmith, Abdulrazaq Isah, hosted the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons, Equatorial Guinea, Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, at the 5,000 barrels/day Waltersmith modular refinery being developed at Ibigwe in Imo State, with 30 per cent equity investment from NCDMB. Commending stakeholders of the Nigerian petroleum industry for the achievements recorded so far with modular refineries, Lima said his country plans to replicate the initiative, so it can stop the wholesome export of its crude oil and begin to add value to the resource. He said: “We believe that with this cooperation and experience between our country and Waltersmith and the Nigerian petroleum industry, we should be able to replicate it.” Guardian reports.
As reported by Business Day, President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated with President Xi Jinping and all citizens of People’s Republic of China home and abroad, as the country celebrates the Chinese Lunar Year from January 25. President Buhari who is currently attending UK-Africa Investment Summit 2020, in London, in a formal letter, recounted the strides being taken in Nigeria-China relations, and said “we have new opportunities for mutual benefits”. The President in the letter hailed the celebrations of the Chinese Year of the Rat by the Chinese community in Nigeria and across the world commence on 25th January this year. The President on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, extended his warm greetings and best wishes to the Chinese people, while also wishing them a “promising and auspicious Lunar New Year.”
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has completed the installation and commissioning of another power transformer in its Asaba transmission substation, Delta State. The new Asaba 300MVA 330/132/33kV capacity power transformer replaces a disused 150MVA 330/132/33kV Siemens brand transformer, commissioned by NIPP on February 15, 2015. February 15, 2015 to September 3, 2019, the 150MVA transformer tripped on two major faults, necessitating the invitation of experts on two occasions by Akay Nig. Ltd (NIPP Contractor) to effect repairs before restoration. Before the newly energised 300MVA power transformer was installed, TCN temporarily fed the Asaba Transmission Substation through the Onitsha-Asaba 330kV transmission lines connected to the Onitsha — GCM 132/33kV transmission line. This restricted maximum load transmission on Onitisha — Asaba transmission line. With the commissioning of the new 300MVA power transformer however, TCN now has available 240MW bulk electricity available in Asaba TS, that would enable Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) distribute more stable and longer hours of electricity to its customers in Asaba Metropolis, Ogwashiukwu, Ibuzor, Agbor, and other towns in Delta North Senatorial Zone. Independent reported.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammad Sabo, has called for more collaborative efforts from development partners on Recovery and Livelihood programme project within the Lake Chad basin. This, he said would help improve food value chain within the region and help lift Nigerians out of poverty. Nanono, stated this when he received a delegation led by the Vice Chairman of the Kare Hi-Tech Group ,Alhaji Abba Gana, recently in Abuja. According to This Day, he said such projects would provide part of the answers of what the ministry could do to make impact in the Lake Chad Basin region, especially in the cultivation of the food value chain. Nanono, also added that the North East region bordering the Lake Chad Basin was a strategic and important agricultural producing area which formed the hub of trading activities that spans to Chad, Sudan, Cameroun, Central African Republic, Libya and also connecting other African Countries.
According to him, “other development partners could buy into the project in order to make it a model for job and wealth creation,” he said.
