Sunday, June 1, 2025
The Lagos Today
  • Login
  • Home
  • Tech
    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

    Stitch Teams Up with Standard Bank’s Shyft for Instant Wallet Top-Ups in South Africa

    Stitch Teams Up with Standard Bank’s Shyft for Instant Wallet Top-Ups in South Africa

    Kenya Takes Action Against TikTok Following Child Exploitation Exposé

    Kenya Takes Action Against TikTok Following Child Exploitation Exposé

  • Startups⚡ by CRAWL
    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    Kenyan Tourism Venture Studio Purple Elephant Ventures Increases Seed Round to $5 Million

    Kenyan Tourism Venture Studio Purple Elephant Ventures Increases Seed Round to $5 Million

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    GIIG Partners with SparkRockets to Launch AI-Powered Startup Validation Tool

    GIIG Partners with SparkRockets to Launch AI-Powered Startup Validation Tool

    Tanzania’s Kilimo BaNDO Revolutionizes Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers

    Tanzania’s Kilimo BaNDO Revolutionizes Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Biotech
  • Industry
    iPhone 16 Sales Surge 20% in China, Signaling a Strong Comeback

    iPhone 16 Sales Surge 20% in China, Signaling a Strong Comeback

    Grid Africa Secures $2.8 Million for Renewable Energy Initiatives in South Africa

    Grid Africa Secures $2.8 Million for Renewable Energy Initiatives in South Africa

    Millennials and Gen Z Show Shorter Tenures Despite Clear Career Paths, New Report Shows

    Millennials and Gen Z Show Shorter Tenures Despite Clear Career Paths, New Report Shows

    Kenya’s Octavia Secures $3.9M Seed Funding to Tackle Carbon Emissions

    Kenya’s Octavia Secures $3.9M Seed Funding to Tackle Carbon Emissions

  • Features & Interviews
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Art & Design
    • Books
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    Pick n Pay Set to List Boxer Business in Africa’s Largest IPO of 2024

    Pick n Pay Set to List Boxer Business in Africa’s Largest IPO of 2024

    One Direction Star Liam Payne Dies after Hotel Balcony Fall

    One Direction Star Liam Payne Dies after Hotel Balcony Fall

    It’s important to set boundaries in entertainment industry – Reminisce

    It’s important to set boundaries in entertainment industry – Reminisce

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Ready to Face Lions of Cameroon on Saturday – Peseiro

    Flying Eagles moves to Ikenne for camping in prep for 2024 WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo

    EGUAVOEN APPOINTED NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

    Eguavoen gives conditions for turning Super Eagles interim job to full time role

    Jagun Jagun secures 7 nominations at 2024 AMAA

    Jagun Jagun secures 7 nominations at 2024 AMAA

    Atiku Faults 2020 Budget Review, Urges FG to Prioritize Welfare of Citizens

    Atiku proposes single term of 6-years rotational Presidency

    Oba Elegushi donates 3 standard tennis courts to LASU, reveal reasons behind donation

    Oba Elegushi donates 3 standard tennis courts to LASU, reveal reasons behind donation

    Covid-19: Cinema Operators Decry N22Bn Losses

    FG grants licensing waiver for community cinemas investors – NFVCB

  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Tech
    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

    Stitch Teams Up with Standard Bank’s Shyft for Instant Wallet Top-Ups in South Africa

    Stitch Teams Up with Standard Bank’s Shyft for Instant Wallet Top-Ups in South Africa

    Kenya Takes Action Against TikTok Following Child Exploitation Exposé

    Kenya Takes Action Against TikTok Following Child Exploitation Exposé

  • Startups⚡ by CRAWL
    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    NjiaPay: South African Fintech Startup Reshaping Payment Solutions for African Businesses

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    Ghana’s Kofa Secures $8.1M Pre-Series A Funding to Drive Clean Energy Access Across Urban Africa

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    South Africa’s CureRoot Leverages AI to Unlock New Medicines from African Medicinal Plants

    Kenyan Tourism Venture Studio Purple Elephant Ventures Increases Seed Round to $5 Million

    Kenyan Tourism Venture Studio Purple Elephant Ventures Increases Seed Round to $5 Million

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    SA’s Peach Payments Expands into Francophone Africa with PayDunya Acquisition

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    Egypt’s Enza Secures $6.75M to Drive Financial Inclusion in Africa

    GIIG Partners with SparkRockets to Launch AI-Powered Startup Validation Tool

    GIIG Partners with SparkRockets to Launch AI-Powered Startup Validation Tool

    Tanzania’s Kilimo BaNDO Revolutionizes Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers

    Tanzania’s Kilimo BaNDO Revolutionizes Agriculture for Smallholder Farmers

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    South African Prop-Tech Startup Preferental Unveils Innovative Tenant-Screening App

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

    LoftyInc Capital Secures $43 Million for First Close of New Pan-African Seed Fund

  • Opinion
  • Business
  • Biotech
  • Industry
    iPhone 16 Sales Surge 20% in China, Signaling a Strong Comeback

    iPhone 16 Sales Surge 20% in China, Signaling a Strong Comeback

    Grid Africa Secures $2.8 Million for Renewable Energy Initiatives in South Africa

    Grid Africa Secures $2.8 Million for Renewable Energy Initiatives in South Africa

    Millennials and Gen Z Show Shorter Tenures Despite Clear Career Paths, New Report Shows

    Millennials and Gen Z Show Shorter Tenures Despite Clear Career Paths, New Report Shows

    Kenya’s Octavia Secures $3.9M Seed Funding to Tackle Carbon Emissions

    Kenya’s Octavia Secures $3.9M Seed Funding to Tackle Carbon Emissions

  • Features & Interviews
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Art & Design
    • Books
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Sports
    Pick n Pay Set to List Boxer Business in Africa’s Largest IPO of 2024

    Pick n Pay Set to List Boxer Business in Africa’s Largest IPO of 2024

    One Direction Star Liam Payne Dies after Hotel Balcony Fall

    One Direction Star Liam Payne Dies after Hotel Balcony Fall

    It’s important to set boundaries in entertainment industry – Reminisce

    It’s important to set boundaries in entertainment industry – Reminisce

    AFCON 2023: Super Eagles Ready to Face Lions of Cameroon on Saturday – Peseiro

    Flying Eagles moves to Ikenne for camping in prep for 2024 WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo

    EGUAVOEN APPOINTED NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

    Eguavoen gives conditions for turning Super Eagles interim job to full time role

    Jagun Jagun secures 7 nominations at 2024 AMAA

    Jagun Jagun secures 7 nominations at 2024 AMAA

    Atiku Faults 2020 Budget Review, Urges FG to Prioritize Welfare of Citizens

    Atiku proposes single term of 6-years rotational Presidency

    Oba Elegushi donates 3 standard tennis courts to LASU, reveal reasons behind donation

    Oba Elegushi donates 3 standard tennis courts to LASU, reveal reasons behind donation

    Covid-19: Cinema Operators Decry N22Bn Losses

    FG grants licensing waiver for community cinemas investors – NFVCB

  • Reviews
No Result
View All Result
The Lagos Today
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

NIGERIA NATURAL RESOURCE CHARTER’S BENCHMARK EXERCISE REPORT 2019

by Eucharia Egwuma
June 19, 2020
in Opinion
Reading Time: 7 mins read
0
2
NIGERIA NATURAL RESOURCE CHARTER’S BENCHMARK EXERCISE REPORT 2019
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

HIGH PERFORMING NATIONAL OIL COMPANIES, THE PETROLEUM INDUSTRY GOVERNANCE BILL & THE URGENT NEED TO REFORM NNPC

Two reports published shortly before the COVID-19 lockdown paint a stark picture of NNPC as a sub-optimally governed and remarkably inefficient commercial enterprise that is also neither transparent nor accountable.
The first report by the Nigeria Natural Resource Charter (NNRC) is the 2019 Benchmark Exercise Report (BER 2019). The BER 2019 assesses Nigeria against a set of 12 Precepts that benchmark performance in the stewardship of petroleum resources. Precept 6 benchmarks the performance of a national oil company. It simply says: Nationally owned companies should be accountable, with well-defined mandates and an objective of commercial efficiency. NNPC scored red, meaning it performed poorly, for the 4th consecutive report, against this Precept. Unlike NNPC’s Precept 6 performances under previous BERs, BER 2019 observed limited improvements in some areas such as greater autonomy from government for NNPC to meet some of its Joint Venture funding obligations.
It does appear that since BER 2019 was released, NNPC has published audited accounts of its Strategic Business Units (SBUs), including the loss making refineries for 2018, on its website (https://www.nnpcgroup.com/pages/afs.aspx). This is a significant positive milestone. However, there appear to be no audited accounts for the Central Headquarters (CHQ), where the Crude Oil Marketing Department (COMD) is located, which according to the NNPC Monthly Financial and Operational Report for December 2018 accounted for N158.64 billion or nearly 45% of the total losses of N355.62 billion incurred by all NNPC SBUs and CSUs. Moreover, the issue of sustainability identified in BER 2019 is still a live concern.
While the above are laudable improvements in reporting performance, a second publication, a policy brief titled “NNPC: The burden of Africa’s Oil and Gas Giant” by #FixOurOil and BUDGiT – a civil society organisation devoted to fiscal and budgetary transparency – gave a more blunt assessment of NNPC’s actual financial and operational performance: “NNPC has been overwhelmed by commercial inefficiencies, scandals and a reputational damage that has lingered for nearly four decades” from the 1980 Crude Oil Sales Tribunal (Irikefe Panel), that investigated some $2billion worth of earned equity crude that Nigeria failed to lift, to the 2017 NEITI request to probe the $15.8 billion of NLNG dividends traced to NNPC’s accounts that weren’t remitted to the Federation. The report blames political interference, unreasonable demands of staff unions, a defective operating model, saboteurs and oil thieves thwarting the best efforts of some of “NNPC’s leadership… to improve the corporation’s commercial efficiency”

NNPC’s nine-member board


The net result is a heavily indebted NNPC that one former minister of state for finance said as far back as 2010 “is insolvent as current liabilities exceed current assets” by N745 billion. Six years later, as a leaked memo revealed, NNPC had total audited liabilities that stood at N7.5 trillion as of 31st December 2016. While it demonstrates NNPC conducted audits, it sadly did not and has not published these audited reports that suggest a staggering 10-fold increase in the 6-year period of record oil prices. How NNPC racked up crippling debt during a time of plenty is beyond baffling. In that memo, NNPC sought permission to apply NLNG dividends to meet petrol import obligations, putting the government, as an IMF Publication warned, “on the hook for debts the NOC has incurred” because NNPC is too big to fail.

Beyond debts as a measure of NOC efficiency, other crude measures can be found in an NOC’s (a) revenues and profitability, (b) its Refineries capacity utilisation or how efficiently it runs its refineries. A third measure (c) reserves and reserve replacement ratios is not considered here. Measuring NNPC’s performance on revenues against Petrobras (of Brazil), and refinery capacity utilisation against Equinor, illustrates how inefficient NNPC is.

Comparing revenue and profit performance for the two years 2015 and 2018 makes for revealing contrasts between NNPC and Petrobras. Not least because Petrobras was in the throes of its most searing failure of governance as exposed by a bribery scandal dubbed “Operation Car Wash” during this period. A scandal that ultimately contributed to a Petrobras CEO going to jail, Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff’s impeachment and removal, and Brazil’s former President Lula Da’Silva’s conviction and imprisonment.
For Petrobras itself, the consequences were severe. In 2018, it settled on a fine of $1.7 billion with American authorities for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations. In 2015 it was forced to publish an audit report declaring it paid $2.1 billion in bribes, and also had to set aside US$17 billion in contingencies. Yet by 2018, it generated US$95 billion in revenues and posted US$7 billion in profit. NNPC by contrast generated, according to its Monthly Operational and Financial Performance Report some $16 billion in revenues and posted profits, at prevailing exchange rates, of $0.27 billion ($270 million). In the absence of consolidated audited accounts, it would be speculative to attempt to aggregate and harmonise the separate audited reports of SBUs and CSU. Especially, as they appear not to include audited reports of CHQ.
Comparing Equinor and NNPC’s Refinery Capacity utilisation shows that Equinor’s three refineries averaged 92.8% capacity utilisation in 2018, to NNPCs three refineries of 11.21%. A 2015 comparison of average refinery capacity utilisation in the USA of 90.98% and Nigeria of 4.88% is even worse. Unless NNPC’s refineries can operate at 90% capacity they will continue to lose money.


Unlike Equinor and Petrobras, which are mixed ownership NOCs with government and private shareholders, Petronas and (to all intents and purposes) Saudi Aramco are wholly government owned like NNPC. Private shareholders in both Petrobras and Equinor are entitled to nominate their own directors onto the board. In the case of Equinor, there is even a board member to represent staff. Petronas, Saudi Aramco and NNPC don’t have such constraints on board appointments. However, both Petronas and Saudi Aramco value diversity of expertise on their leadership teams or boards. In particular 5 of the current 11-member board of Saudi Aramco are independent directors. Two of the five are; Sir Mark Moody a former CEO of Shell, and Mr Mark Weinberger former chairman and CEO of EY the global accounting firm.
By contrast NNPC’s board has always been a bone of contention as can be seen from board tenure and GMD turnover. The average tenure of a Petronas CEO is 6 years. The average tenure of a Saudi Aramco CEO is 9 years. NNPC by contrast has had 20 GMDs in 42 years, an average tenure of 2 years. It is no wonder that in a study surveying over 2000 NNPC staff members, Dr. Olive Egbuta observed that staff viewed GMDs as political appointees. With staff viewing their chief executive as a politician they can hardly be faulted for not operating as if they worked in a commercial enterprise.

The GMD is one of three government officials mandated by law on NNPC’s nine-member board, including the minister, the law designates as chairman unless an Alternate Chairman is appointed. Neither Saudi Aramco nor Petronas have the minister as a board member. It is unclear from the announcement whether the Alternate Chairman appointed in 2019, Mr Thomas A. John, remains in that position with the Minister on the board making 10 members. Since the Board was tasked with reducing costs, it would pay handsomely to have the expertise Aramco has on its board in a time like this. Of a potential pool of 10 board members, only 2 appear to have 15 years or more management experience in petroleum operations or cost management expertise. None compare to the experience or expertise of Saudi Aramco’s board.

NNPC GMD, Mele Kyari

By publishing audited accounts of its subsidiaries for 2018, NNPC is laying a positive marker in the march for greater transparency and accountability. Hopefully, these practices will survive this GMD and this administration to become ingrained in NNPC’s culture. It is also hoped that the audit is expanded to include CHQ and the opaque practices of the Crude Oil Marketing Department. In light of the dire economic situation in Nigeria, we cannot be shy about bold new endeavours.
Reforming NNPC therefore requires new thinking and new strategies. It starts with the recognition that NNPC is not and was never designed, from the beginning, to be a commercially driven enterprise. Had it been so those 42 years ago, it would have been capitalised, granted more operational autonomy and burdened with fewer regulatory functions in the NNPC Act. Its board would reflect that of a commercial enterprise, even if government owned like Saudi Aramco, with fewer ‘political appointees’. This defect can only be remedied by passing a new law – the Petroleum Industry Bill, which goes to great lengths to separate commercial from regulatory, and asset management functions, leaving the national oil company to focus on what it does best, find and produce petroleum.
However, passing the PIB will never be enough on its own. Implementation requires ensuring that the habits and culture of the past do not infect the new organisation. This means putting in place a board of the most proficient hands with the skill sets needed to turn our strategic national assets into productive wealth to drive and diversify our economy. This also means keeping an eye on the future of energy by having effective energy transition strategies to make sure that we do not become prisoners to our past.

Najim Animashaun
Partner at Gulf of Guinea Consulting in Abuja

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • X

Like this:

Like Loading...
Tags: Covid-19NNPCNNRCPetroleum Industry Governance Bill
Previous Post

Trump’s bid to end Obama-era immigration policy ruled unlawful

Next Post

WHO Declares Nigeria Polio-Free

Eucharia Egwuma

Eucharia Egwuma

Related Posts

Lagos Establishes Cybersecurity Advisory Board to Enhance Digital Security

South-West Governors Elect Sanwo-Olu as Chair, Await Outcome of Minimum Wage Negotiations

by Julius Afolalu
June 11, 2024
0

The governors of the South-West geopolitical zone have said that they are waiting for the outcome of negotiations between the...

Unleashing the Power of Technology: Maximising Efficiency for Revenue Agencies

Unleashing the Power of Technology: Maximising Efficiency for Revenue Agencies

by Eucharia Egwuma
November 14, 2023
0

Revenue agencies play a pivotal role in the economic functioning of a country. They collect taxes, enforce compliance, and contribute...

Next Post
WHO Declares Nigeria Polio-Free

WHO Declares Nigeria Polio-Free

Please login to join discussion

Recommended

Only Strategic Preparedness Can Save Us from Emerging Infectious Diseases – Sanwo-Olu

Covid-19: Lagos Pumps $20m Recovery Fund For Indigent Residents

4 years ago
COVID-19: Lagos records 120 new cases as total toll exceed 26,000

COVID-19: Lagos records 170 new cases, with four deaths

4 years ago

Popular News

    Connect with us

    Tags

    #EndSARS 2023 Elections 2023 polls 2023 Presidency ACCIDENT Africa All progressives Congress APC Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Babajide Sanwo-Olu CBN Central Bank of NIgeria Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Coronavirus pandemic Covid-19 Covid-19 in Lagos Covid-19 in Nigeria Covid-19 Vaccine Cryptocurrency Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC Federal Government Federal Government of Nigeria Fraud Gov. Sanwo-Olu House of Representatives Lagos-Ibadan expressway Lagos state Lagos State Government Lagos State House of Assembly Lagos State Police command Muhammadu Buhari Murder Naira NDLEA Nigeria Nigeria Customs Service Nigerian Economy Nigeria Police Force Rape Strike action TECH UK United Kingdom US

    News

    • Industries
    • National
    • Startups
    • Biotechnology

    Opinion

    • Editorials
    • Today’s Opinion
    • Letters
    • Sunday Review
    • Advertise
    • Opinion
    • Features & Interviews
    • Investigation
    • Contact

    © 2020 The Lagos Today - Nkali.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Tech
    • Business
    • Biotech
    • Startups
    • Entertainment
    • Feature & Interviews
    • Reviews
    • Opinion

    © 2020 The Lagos Today - Nkali.

    %d