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OPL 245 Deal May Unlock 150,000bpd For Nigeria’s Oil Output — Ojulari

The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, has said the resolution of the dispute surrounding oil prospecting lease (OPL) 245 will enable the development of the Zabazaba–Etan deepwater project.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Ojulari noted that advancing the project could increase Nigeria’s crude oil output by about 150,000 barrels per day (bpd).

On March 5, the Presidency of Nigeria announced that a settlement agreement had been successfully concluded between the Federal Government, Eni, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAEL).

According to the presidency, the agreement ended the protracted dispute over OPL 245 and created the opportunity to move forward with the development of one of Nigeria’s most important deepwater resources.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Oversees Historic Resolution Of OPL 245 Dispute

Commenting on the development, Ojulari described the resolution as a major milestone for both the country and NNPC as efforts continue to promote responsible development of Nigeria’s strategic energy assets.

“We are honoured that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR entrusted NNPC Limited with the responsibility of supporting the resolution of the long-standing OPL 245 dispute involving the Federal Government of Nigeria, ENI, and Nigerian Agip Exploration Limited (NAEL),” he said.

“As noted by the President, this resolution clears the path for the development of one of Nigeria’s most strategic deepwater assets — the Zabazaba–Etan project.

“Progressing this development could add approximately 150,000 barrels per day to Nigeria’s oil production, representing a significant step toward strengthening our national energy security and economic resilience.”

Ojulari further said the achievement demonstrates the value of collaboration, persistence, and a shared determination to utilise Nigeria’s vast energy resources for the country’s benefit.

The Presidency had said the agreement was reached at a meeting in the President’s office attended by the Chief Executive Officer of Eni, Claudio Descalzi; Chief Operating Officer of Eni, Guido Brusco; Head of Sub-Saharan Region, Mario Bello; Managing Director of Nigerian Agip Exploration, Fabrizio Bolondi; and Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen.

This brought to a close the long-standing dispute over Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245, paving the way for the development of one of Nigeria’s most significant deepwater resources, according to a statement by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga.

‘The whole squad thinks it’s their team’ – Farrell

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Ireland head coach Andy Farrell feels the togetherness of his squad has been key to the progress of three Six Nations victories in a row after suffering an opening night defeat to France.

A hard-earned 27-17 bonus-point win over Wales in Dublin on Friday night set up a Triple Crown decider against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium on 14 March, with both sides also harbouring title aspirations going into the final round of fixtures.

Ireland have used 33 players in this year’s championship so far but Farrell says there is a solidarity among the group which is driving the squad on.

“You’ve got to find out about people but these [caps] are not freebies – we’ve given starts and the chances out to people who deserve it.

“It just shows that the whole of the squad is hungry to be part of it, and grow the squad.

“It’s nice to feel that the whole squad thinks it’s their team and that they’re all trying to contribute to us pushing forward.”

Farrell singled out some of the players who particularly impressed him in the victory over the Welsh, many having also contributed positively in the emphatic win over England at Twickenham two weeks previously.

“For people to back up good performances at this level that haven’t had that much exposure, that’s pretty impressive,” he said.

“We’re probably talking about Robert Baloucoune. To have a performance like he did in the last game and then to back it up this week is what you want.

“I thought Jack Conan, he’d have been a bit peeved off [after missing the England game because of illness], so to get his start he showed up really well.

‘We didn’t exit quite as well’

The Ireland head coach identified some of the areas for improvement from the display against Wales as the team prepare to try and finish their campaign on a high.

“I thought we didn’t exit quite as well as we did in the past. They obviously pressured Jamison [Gibson-Park] quite a bit and got some rewards from that.

“There was an exit that we overplayed from about 25 or 30 out but you’ve just got to feel where the game’s at and respect the game for what it is.

“I thought we overplayed sometimes from around halfway. Sometimes you have to respect what the opposition are doing well, and they were defending pretty well.

“A bit of territory is what we needed to take the pressure off I would have thought.”

Farrell went on to explain that the players would take the initiative in addressing the issue.

“We’ll obviously review it and talk about it, but they will come up with it themselves. They know the score, we’ve already talked about it.

“That’s what the lads do, they watch the game before we have the meetings about it so they’ll be up to speed.

“Because the speed of ball was nowhere near as quick as it was last week the clear and obvious thing they were doing was hitting in two, slowing the ball down, but almost opening from the edge defence there.

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Wang also called for the sovereignty of Iran and all countries to be respected, and demanded an “immediate stop to military operations” in the Middle East to prevent an escalation and avoid a spillover of the conflict.

“This is a war that should not have happened, and it is a war that does no one any good,” Wang said. “Force provides no solution, and armed conflict will only increase hatred and breed new crises.”

The people of the Middle East are the true masters of this region, and the region’s affairs should be determined by the countries there independently, he said, urging noninterference in internal affairs.

“A strong fist does not mean strong reason. The world cannot return to the law of the jungle,” he told reporters.

Wang urged “all sides” to return to the negotiating table “as quickly as possible” to resolve differences through dialogue, and work to realise common security.

China, he added, stands ready to work with the regional countries to “restore order to the Middle East, calm to its people, and peace to the world”.

According to a classified US National Intelligence Council report, even a large-scale US military offensive would be unlikely to overthrow Iran’s military and clerical power structure.

The report – published on Saturday by The Washington Post, citing three sources familiar with the classified document – undercuts US President Donald Trump’s assertion that he could “clean out” Iran’s leadership and install a preferred successor, indicating that such an outcome would be far from certain.

Beijing has condemned the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

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Children wounded in the US-Israeli strikes receive treatment in Tehran

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Children wounded in US-Israeli strikes on Iran are being treated at a children’s hospital in Tehran, with some patients requiring intensive care. Iranian officials say children account for around 30% of those killed in the bombardment, which began as the United States and Israel launched joint military operations against Iran.

US, Israel Hit Five Oil Sites In And Near Tehran

The United States and Israel hit five oil facilities with overnight strikes in and near the Iranian capital that killed four people, an official told state TV on Sunday.

“Last night, four oil depots and a petroleum products transport centre in Tehran and the Alborz were attacked by enemy aircraft,” the CEO of the National Iranian Oil Products Distribution Company, Keramat Veyskarami, told state TV.

“Four of our personnel, including two oil tanker drivers, were killed in the incident,” he added, saying facilities “were damaged” but the “fire was brought under control”.

READ ALSO: Netanyahu Vows To Carry On War, ‘Eradicate Iranian Regime’

Smoke from fires overnight hung over the capital, casting a dark haze across the city as morning broke.

Residents reported the smell of burning lingered in the air.

Veyskarami said Iran’s oil depots have “sufficient gasoline reserves”.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran that killed its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and triggered a war in the Middle East.

Iran responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as US interests across the region.

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