NLNG Dismisses Bribery Allegation

Fri, Mar 13, 2015

By publisher

4 MIN READ

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THE Nigeria LNG Limited has described as misleading and false the allegation that it bribed the Bonny local government council of Rivers State in respect to the payment of its 2014 tenement rate. In a statement on its website signed by Kudo Eresia-Eke, general manager, external relations, NLNG said its attention had been drawn to recent social media posts about an alleged bribery incident linked to 2014 tenement rate payments made by the company to the local government council.

The statement said NLNG’s assets in Bonny had been assessed in accordance with the relevant bye-laws of Bonny LGC and issued a demand notice dated November 13, 2014, for N140 million only. “NLNG wishes to set the records straight by categorically stating that the allegations are misleading and false. The company made the payment for the invoiced sum of N140million and not N180million as alleged. The payment was made on February 6, by electronic transfer in line with standard NLNG practice to the account in Ecobank Nigeria Plc nominated by Bonny LGC, and not by cheque as alleged in the misleading social media posts.

The company emphasised that it would continue to conduct its businesses in full compliance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and applicable tax regulations. The NLNG is owned by the federal government, represented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (49 percent), Shell Gas BV (25.6 percent), Total LNG Nigeria Limited (15 percent), and Eni International (10.4 percent).

It remains the arrowhead of the federal government’s drive to derive value from the country’s vast natural gas resources, diversify the economy and eliminate gas flaring, according to the statement.

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Eko Electricity Partners OneCard Nigeria

EKO Electricity Distribution Plc, EKEDP, has entered into partnership with OneCard Nigeria to give post-paid and prepaid electricity customers instant recharge for their metres using scratch cards, web and mobile technologies. The post-paid and prepaid EKEDP customers will now be able to recharge their electricity meters instantly, using the OneCard multi-purpose recharge cards, as well as OneCard’s Direct TopUp vendors, who will be able to recharge electricity meters from anywhere in the country, using handheld devices.

Corporate clients and individuals will also be able to use the company’s online platforms to set up automatic, recurring recharge for their metres. The service is the first of its kind in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, and uses technology to enable individuals and businesses make instant top up to the power distribution company.

Sam Nwaire, chief commercial officer, EKEDP, said the partnership with OneCard would greatly enhance service delivery to customers, while enabling the company to collect revenue always and power EKEDP for decades to come. “We are pleased to offer our customers the added convenience of recharging their metres from the comfort of their own homes or from recharge card vendors close to them without having to travel to our service centres.”

OneCard said it developed this service to empower Nigeria’s electricity customers and ensure they never have to spend a day in the dark due to lack of credit. Tunde Odulaja, OneCard chairman, said the company has provided prepaid and post-paid recharge channels for mobile, TV and toll providers in the country. “We are very excited to be able to extend our innovative service to the power distribution sector in Nigeria. Soon there will be a Direct TopUp vendor on every street with an EKEDP customer, for the added convenience. Our technology has been gaining popularity steadily in the consumer markets, as customers discover that they now have a more convenient way to recharge services they use every day.”

OneCard Nigeria has brought the same mobile convenience to Nigerian consumers by partnering Startimes TV, LCC and all major mobile network providers. Odulaja confirms that the company is in the process of developing similar service agreements with other DISCOs, Internet Service Providers, ISPs, and the National Health Insurance Scheme, among other services. OneCard Nigeria is a technology-based fast moving consumer goods company that gives individuals and businesses of all sizes, secure and convenient ways to recharge mobile phones, toll passes, pay TV, internet, electricity and much more.

— Mar. 23, 2015 @ 01:00 GMT

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