1. PREAMBLE 
We, the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria, held our Second Plenary Meeting for the year 2024 at the Nezer Towers and Suites, Afowa/Afasho-Uzairue, in Auchi Diocese, Edo State, 22 – 30 August. Having prayerfully reflected on issues affecting the Church and the Nigerian State, we issue this Communiqué: 

2. YEAR OF PRAYER: REDISCOVERING THE HUMAN AND CHRISTIAN VALUES  
The year 2024 is dedicated to prayer, in preparation for the Jubilee Year of Hope 2025. As Christians we are a people of prayer. We pray in season and out of season, in an expectation that is typical of Christian hope. Our prayer amounts to nothing if it is not accompanied by action. No meaningful action would take place without repentance. We need to repent of all our wrongdoings, as individuals and as communities, as leaders and as followers, as Church and as a Nation. 

3.  PROMOTING RESPECT FOR THE LITURGY  
The Sacred Liturgy is “an exercise of the priestly office of Jesus Christ,” “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed” and “the font from which all her power flows”. (Sacrosanctum Concilium, nn. 7, 10). We must always bear in mind that the liturgy is received and not invented. It must therefore be safeguarded with the utmost reverence and fidelity. However, despite our constant directives and admonitions, we observe with deep concern, an alarming increase in aberrations during worship across the country such as unduly lengthy Eucharistic celebrations, excessive monetary collections, and the near absence of silence and decorum during Eucharistic celebrations (CBCN Communique 2016). There is also the unfortunate incident of altering the words and elements of the Sacraments at will at the risk of invalidating the Sacraments (Can 846; Gestis Verbisque, n 22). We also observe with sadness the wrong use of the exposed Blessed Sacrament as if it were an instrument for magical and theatrical display during adorations. We equally note as abhorrent the inappropriate manner of dressing on the part of some priests and the lay faithful during liturgical celebrations. These deviations from the norm constitute a direct affront to the sanctity of the liturgy and a scandal to many. As bishops, who have the primary responsibility of safeguarding the decorum of the sacred liturgy, we shall intensify our vigilance, in order to ensure that the liturgy is celebrated according to the approved norms of the Church. At the same time, we call on priests, our closest collaborators, to take the responsibility of celebrating the liturgy with utmost seriousness, shun arbitrariness, and not allow for a personal interpretation of the laid down norms. 

4. PRIVATE “MINISTRIES”    
The proliferation of private “ministries” by some priests and lay faithful in our Church is a matter of great concern. These ministries often tend towards unorthodox practices, causing scandal among the faithful, thereby hurting the unity of the Church. Additionally, many of the priests involved in this trend become too distracted from their primary duty as pastors of souls. We reaffirm the teaching of the Church, that there is no other ministry than that of Jesus Christ entrusted to and guarded by the Holy Mother Church. We equally remind all, priests, religious, and lay faithful alike, that charisms are given to individuals in the Church in order to build up the body of Christ. They are not to be used for selfish and self-serving glorification (cf. I Corinthians 12: 7-18).  As pastors vested with the oversight function over the pastoral life of the Church, we call on all who want to use their charisms for the Church and not against her, to submit themselves to the competent authority, abiding by the rules and regulations established by the Church and Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria in this regard. The faithful are further advised to be wary of those who while claiming to be Catholics set up “ministries” that are not under the pastoral or spiritual guidance of any competent ecclesiastical authority. In fact no ministry, association or institution can bear the name Catholic without the express permission of the competent authority (Cf Can 216). 

5. STATE OF THE NATION 
(a) In our nation, there are complaints at all levels, even from government officials who, however, blame the previous government for the current hardship in the country, claiming that the current government is, in fact, taking painful but courageous steps to turn things around. The government officials keep calling for patience and sacrifice, but their call does not fall well on the rest of the citizens who continue to suffer hunger and dehumanizing poverty, while those in power live an affluent lifestyle, with no visible effort at reducing the cost of governance. There is an unfortunate general feeling in the nation that we are stuck in a tight web of corruption from which we cannot extricate ourselves. There are economic policies that seem to be in favour of those in the corridors of power and their cronies in the business sector. May we at this point mention some of the recent worrisome developments in our nation: 

i. #EndBadGovernance Protest 
Our people recently embarked on a protest as Nigeria’s economy continues to deteriorate and reduce millions of citizens to a life of abject poverty and ineffable hardship. We note that Nigerians have the constitutional right of expression to show their grievances through peaceful protests. The recent protest by a cross-section of the people was aimed at openly expressing their distress and frustration in a nation endowed with rich human and natural resources, yet unable to provide the basic needs of its citizens. There was a fear that the planned protest could be hijacked by miscreants and hoodlums to wreak havoc on the nation. In spite of all odds, the protest commenced peacefully, but went skewed along the line. In some parts of Nigeria, it became violent as there were reports of arson, looting, destruction of lives and property worth billions of Naira. Many were also reported injured. Unfortunately, some security operatives, who should normally protect citizens during protests, resorted to threats, intimidation and blackmail to deter citizens from protesting, and, in some cases, it was alleged that they engaged in extra judicial killings. We pray for the happy repose of those who lost their lives, the speedy recovery of the injured and the consolation of the bereaved. We equally sympathise with all who lost their precious property during the protest. 

We denounce the use of violence by some people and equally condemn in the strongest terms the killing of some protesting citizens by security operatives. Yet, we reaffirm the constitutional right of every Nigerian to peaceful protests. We wish to stress that as long as the nation is afflicted with poverty, hardship and corruption, and as long as the future of people remains bleak, we must continue to reckon with protests. We call on governments at all levels to address the issues that engender protests, and release all who are being detained for their support and expression of their constitutional rights to protest within the ambit of the law.  

While we thank the federal government for its efforts in working for the autonomy of local governments for the benefit of the people at the grassroots, we urge that the Local Government Council elections should be free and fair and measures put in place for proper utilisation of resource allocations to the local governments. We equally call on the federal government to embark on a general electoral reform that will make for transparency and fairness such as compulsory and seamless electronic transmission of election results from the polling units in real time. 

ii. Debilitating Debt Burden 
Our nation’s huge debt burden is a great affront to our present and future generations. We observe that servicing huge debts to international monetary agencies and consequently sourcing funds internally to balance budget deficits gave rise to the present government’s economic reforms, consisting mainly in the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and the floating of the Naira. We are aware that these reforms have triggered a galloping inflation that has reduced most Nigerians to a life of cruel suffering and wretchedness. The majority of Nigerians is now stuck in living conditions that detract from human dignity. Thus, the debt burden has turned out to be a new form of enslavement of present and future generations.   

We note that the socio-economic difficulties of our nation are clearly beyond what economic reforms alone can effectively resolve, no matter how well thought-out and how accurately executed. We must admit that the cost of running governments with many elected and appointed officials is stunning and unsustainable. We therefore urge the present administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reconsider its economic reform policies with a view to lifting the burden of hardship from the citizens and engender people-oriented and progressive development.  

iii. Multiple Taxation 
Taxes and levies are sources for government to generate revenue to meet its statutory duties. To finance its organs and to provide goods and services for the public, government has the authority to levy taxes on salaries, business profits, business transactions, goods and services to the public. Payment of tax is a civic duty, evasion of which is a grave offence. Yet, multiple taxation is a severe burden on business enterprises and individuals, especially within the Nigerian context, where many factories, industries and companies are being strangled by epileptic power supply, high costs of petroleum products, spiralling inflation, rising labour costs, the continuous weakening of the Naira, and scarcity of foreign exchange. Due to the present adverse operating environment, many businesses, both foreign and indigenous, have shut down. Many others are merely struggling to survive, due to the harsh operating environment in the country. The situation has been further compounded by continuous hiking of bank interest rate and multiple taxation. Federal, state and local government agencies come up with different names to collect the same taxes from business enterprises and even voluntary agency institutions with threats, intimidation and blackmail. All these contribute to the poor ranking of Nigeria in the ease of doing business index, and cause disincentive in the business community. 

We appeal to governments at all levels to take urgent measures to harmonise taxes and address multiple taxation, in order to stem the tide of businesses collapsing in Nigeria with its consequent unemployment. This will also encourage investors already faced with the challenges of high production costs, low sales, insignificant profit margins and the depletion of business capital. 

iv. Hardship and Food Insecurity 
Nigerians are currently groaning under the yoke of hardship which is fuelled by high electricity tariffs, high cost of petroleum products, transportation and Medicare, and general lack of basic infrastructure. This situation has been heightened by grave threat of food insecurity and malnutrition due to increasing cost of basic food items. We learn from experts that food insecurity and hunger in Nigeria are caused, among other factors, by persistent insecurity from terrorists, bandits, kidnappers and herdsmen that has disrupted agricultural activities and livelihoods in many parts of the country.  We recognise the efforts of governments to deal with this problem such as declaration of state of emergency on food insecurity, importation of food, cash transfer scheme and the distribution of palliatives to the most vulnerable. Nevertheless, it is sad to observe that, in spite of these measures, the prices of food items have continued to surge. 

We demand that governments put in place policies, programmes and initiatives that would address the multi-faceted factors that adversely affect food security with a good action plan for implementation such as provision of safety and security to farmers and their crops across the country. We enjoin governments to support farmers with subsidies, soft loans, modern technology and, improved seedlings, but not genetically modified seedlings. It would also involve supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) struggling to add value to raw local food products through processing, preservation and packaging technology. We encourage families and individuals to embark on farming and call on government to ensure the security of farmers and their crops, offer incentives to private-sector agribusinesses, and take urgent and decisive steps to achieve food self-sufficiency in our nation.  

(b) Need for Repentance and Concerted Efforts 
Our nation is in a bad shape, as there is a deep sense of despair.  We must accept, however, that it is largely self-inflicted, especially through corruption in all its ramifications, from the head to the entire body of the nation. Therefore, we all need to accept responsibility for what has befallen us: from the highest levels of government to all the citizenry, with special responsibility to those who are in government to manage the affairs of our nation; and from all successive governments, past and present, but especially the present government who have asked for our votes to put things right. There is need for national re-orientation away from lies and dishonesty to truth and integrity.  

(c)  Some Contributions and Expectations of the Church 
The Church is an expert in education. Our educational system, with its emphasis on all-round formation of the mind, conscience, and character, has continued to produce thousands of personalities who are doing exceedingly well in all sectors of life both within and outside the country. We therefore urge the ministries of education to respect the Curriculum of Catholic education and to offer our educational institutions the assistance they need to perform optimally.  Our numerous health facilities spread across the country have continued to provide quality healthcare service delivery to Nigerians at affordable prices. Though these social services are patronized across ethnic and religious lines, they hardly enjoy support or sponsorship by the various levels of government. We do not accept the fact that our schools and hospitals are seen by government as private ventures. They are indeed not-for-profit public facilities that render public services to all without exception. We therefore urge the government to complement the effort of the Church through regular financial subsidies for her to do more for our people across the board. This is a matter of justice for the children who attend our schools (Child’s Rights Act s. 15) and for the sick in our health institutions. 

6. NEWS FROM THE CHURCH 
We cheerfully received the news of the appointment of His Excellency, Most Rev. Michael Francis Crotty, Titular Archbishop of Lindisfarne, as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria on 16 July 2024. We are grateful to the Holy Father Pope Francis, for appointing him to the Apostolic Mission in Nigeria. As a Conference, we welcome Archbishop Crotty to Nigeria and pray for the success of his mission. 

We call on all the faithful in Nigeria to observe the ongoing Year of Prayer, which will lead us into the 2025 Jubilee of Hope. We continue to enjoin Nigerians to pray and fast sincerely for our country as we go through the very difficult times, which we are assured by our faith in God that we shall overcome. 

We are grateful to God for the successful ordination of Most Rev. Thomas Obiatuegwu as the Auxiliary Bishop of Orlu Diocese on 20 March 2024. We wish him a fulfilling and fruitful Episcopal ministry.  We thank the Holy Father Pope Francis, for the appointment of Most Rev. Simeon Nwobi, CMF, as the Bishop of Ahiara Diocese. He was installed on 20 June 2024. We pray that he has a grace-filled pastoral ministry.  

7. CONCLUSION: PRAYER AND ACTION: SEEKING REPENTANCE 
Prayer is a concrete and vital exercise for spiritual renewal. It assists transparency and accountability both in public and private life. At the heart of spiritual renewal is repentance. Repentance consists of examination of conscience, admission of guilt, taking responsibility for our wrongdoing, as Church and political entity, with a concrete desire to make amends. There is need for a radical change of heart from a political ideology that -promotes arbitrary use of power for self-enrichment to politics as service and solidarity with the people. We therefore call on one and all to genuine repentance.  For scripture says: Unless we repent likewise, we shall all perish (Luke 13:3-5) While we continue to pray for Nigeria in distress, we commit our nation to the auspicious protection of our Mother Mary, Queen, and Patroness of Nigeria. 

Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru UGORJI 
Archbishop of Owerri
President, CBCN

Most Rev. Donatus A. OGUN, OSA 
Bishop of Uromi
Secretary, CBCN 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN).

Technology and service provider SLB – through its OneSubsea subsidiary – was recently awarded a contract by multinational energy corporation TotalEnergies for the supply of subsea production systems for the Kaminho deepwater project in Block 20/11, offshore Angola. The contract, which was granted to OneSubsea last month, involves a 13-well subsea production system for the 70, 000 parrel per day project which expects first production in 2028. 

In an effort to advance technologies and support sustainable development in Africa, the company will participate in African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energy 2024 as a gold and networking sponsor – scheduled for November 4-8 in Cape Town. SLB’s involvement in AEW: Invest in African Energy 2024 highlights its strategic focus on enhancing sustainable development and driving progress in Africa’s energy landscape.  

AEW: Invest in African Energy is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

As part of its agreement with TotalEnergies, SLB will support the Kaminho project locally for onshore operations with assembly, manufacturing of modules, installation, commissioning and life-of-field services. The project’s first phase will see SLB collaborate with the supermajor to deploy a highly configurable subsea production platform with a standardized vertical monobore subsea tree, wellhead and controls system and is expected to significantly enhance Angola’s access to potential energy resources. 

SLB focuses on technology and services for the energy industry with a strong focus on sustainability and technological advancement to achieve optimal performance while minimizing environmental impact. In January, SLB announced plans to increase its investments in Algeria, focusing on expanding its operational footprint and enhancing oil and gas production capabilities in the country. This includes deploying advanced oilfield technologies and real-time data analytics to optimize production and efficiency. The company has also committed itself to advancing local content and supporting local businesses in the country. 

Last year, SLB inked a contract with Libya’s parastatal National Oil Corporation (NOC) to drill three new wells in the country, further expanding its presence and activities in North Africa. The contract was the first of its kind in Libya and aligns with the the country’s goal to boost oil production at the Nesr and Al-Waha fields. Exemplifying the NOC’s commitment to enhance collaboration with global companies, the initiative is poised to enhance recovery from existing fields by accessing untapped reserves with new technologies and expertise. These efforts are crucial for optimizing production and supporting Libya’s economy, which relies heavily on oil revenues. 

Meanwhile, SLB and Angola’s oil and gas company Etu Energias signed a technical service agreement last September, which covers the development of Block 2/5 in Angola. The collaboration between SLB and Etu Energias involves the development of advanced engineering wells designed to optimize extraction processes and maximize production efficiency. These engineering wells are integral to tapping into the block’s vast reserves, ensuring that the extraction process is both effective and environmentally responsible. 

Additionally, the company has a longstanding presence in Egypt where its partnership with the Egyptian government and local companies serve to modernize the country’s oil and gas infrastructure. SLB’s activities in the country include the deployment of cutting-edge technology to improve exploration, drilling and production operations. The company is involved in the Zohr gas field project – one of the largest gas discoveries in the Mediterranean –, providing drilling and production services to enhance gas extraction and processing. 

“SLB’s innovative approach and unwavering commitment to excellence are critical for shaping the future of Africa’s energy industry. The company’s cutting-edge projects and technological advancements, such as advanced drilling techniques and real-time data analytics, are important in unlocking Africa’s vast energy potential. By enhancing recovery rates and optimizing production efficiency, SLB is not only driving economic growth but also setting new standards for sustainable energy practices across the continent, and we are more than thrilled to have them return to AEW: Invest in African Energy as a gold and networking sponsor” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber. 

During AEW: Invest in Africa Energy 2024, SLB will showcase its latest innovations and discuss their ongoing and future projects in Africa. The conference will provide a platform for SLB to engage with industry leaders, financiers and government officials. The company’s participation underscores its dedication to driving growth and technological advancement within Africa’s energy sector. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

Earlier this year, market research firm Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecast (https://apo-opa.co/3z0nVKo) Africa’s lithium production to triple year-on-year in 2024, increasing the continent’s share of global output from 4% to over 10%. The rise can be attributed to a surge in financing from China, which is responsible for 90% of Africa’s planned lithium supply through 2030. Africa’s position within the global lithium market will be a key talking point  of this year’s Critical Minerals Africa summit (https://CriticalMineralsAfrica.com) – taking place in Cape Town on November 6-7 – where a dedicated Minerals Showcase: Lithium session will explore the continent’s future role in the energy transition as a major producer of the critical mineral.

Lithium is an essential element for the energy transition, as it’s used in a variety of applications including batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Zimbabwe (https://apo-opa.co/3XnqpM0) is home to the world’s largest known deposits of lithium and is estimated to have the highest number of lithium projects under exploration in Africa. In April 2024, Chinese mining company Rwizi Rukuru commissioned a 300-ton-per-day lithium concentrator in Mutoko – the third lithium processing plant located in the country’s Mashonaland East province. With investment flowing across the country’s mining value chain, Zimbabwe is estimated to meet upwards of 20% of global demand if its full potential is unlocked.

CMA is the largest gathering of critical mineral stakeholders in Africa. Taking place from November 6-7 in Cape Town, the event positions Africa as the primary investment destination for critical minerals. This year’s edition takes place under the theme Innovate, Enact, Invest in African Critical Minerals to Sustain Global Growth, connecting African mining projects and regulators with global investors and stakeholders to untap the full potential of the continent’s raw materials. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Meanwhile, newly-formed joint venture (JV) Deccan Gold Mozambique (https://apo-opa.co/4dJH7el) LDA announced in May 2024 that it will conduct lithium exploration activities in Mozambique’s Alto Ligonha Pegmatite Belt. The company will establish a 100-ton-per-day lithium processing facility, leveraging a $10-million capital injection from JV partner Deccan over the next three years. Lithium produced from the Mozambican concessions will be exported to India to meet growing demand for critical minerals crucial for the energy transition. Also in the East African region, mining exploration company Aterian recently announced plans to start drilling at the HCK lithium project in southern Rwanda by September 2024. Positive results indicate the presence of lithium-bearing minerals at the mining project, and the company is now advancing with preparatory work and the drill planning stage.

In Mali, Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng Lithium finalized an agreement worth more than $342 million in May 2024 to acquire a 40% stake in the Mali Lithium Project from Australian mining firm Leo Lithium. The deal will enable Ganfeng Lithium to buy the entire output from phase one of the 506,000-ton-per-year project. In the same month, exploration and development company Atlantic Lithium disclosed promising drilling outcomes at its Ewoyaa project in Ghana, highlighting the growth potential of existing lithium resources, which currently stand at 35.3 million tons.

In addition to Africa’s raw lithium prospects, several countries are exploring opportunities for local value addition. Earlier this month, Zimbabwean mining company Kivumba Mining House signed a $310-million deal to construct a 3 million-ton-per-year lithium processing plant at the Sandawana mine in Mberengwa. The facility is expected to be operational within 18 months and will initially produce 600,000 tons of lithium concentrate annually, falling under the country’s efforts to ban the export of unprocessed raw lithium.

A similar move by Tanzania was announced last year, as the country aims to maximize value addition across its critical mineral industry through the development of downstream infrastructure. The government has outlined an export license process, stating that mining companies are required to establish in-country refining facilities alongside their respective operations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.

Angola serves as sub-Saharan Africa’s second largest oil producing country, boasting an estimated 9 billion barrels of proven crude oil reserves and 11 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. As such, the country anticipates an investment pipeline of up to $60 billion over the next five years, largely directed towards exploration and production. An Angola Oil&Gas (AOG) fireside chat will offer exclusive insights into the country’s strategic vision, investment opportunities and future prospects in the oil and gas sector.

The fireside chat will feature an exclusive one-on-one discussion with Angola’s Minister of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas Diamantino Pedro Azevedo, who will participate at this year’s AOG 2024 conference – taking place in Luanda from October 2-3 – as a keynote speaker. At AOG 2024 – the country’s premier event for the oil and gas industry – Minister Azevedo is poised to position Angola as an attractive investment destination while setting the stage for robust and engaging discussions for industry leaders and stakeholders.

AOG is the largest oil and gas event in Angola. Taking place with the full support of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas; the National Oil, Gas and Biofuels Agency; the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute; national oil company Sonangol; and the African Energy Chamber; the event is a platform to sign deals and advance Angola’s oil and gas industry. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Angola’s strategic vision for the oil and gas industry is to maintain production above one million barrels per day, with exploration and block development set to drive national output. To support investment, Angola will launch a limited tender in Q1 2025. The tender will put on offer 10 blocks for exploration, including Blocks 40, 25, 39 and 26 in the Benguela Basin as well as Blocks 22, 35, 37, 38 and 36 in the Kwanza Bain. Additionally, the country has four onshore blocks available; 11 blocks on permanent offer; and five marginal fields ready for exploration. In preparation for the 2025 licensing round, Norwegian seismic company PGS released its Angola Central Basin Time screening dataset last year, which offers the opportunity for companies to evaluate open acreage for proven pre- and post-salt plays in the deepwater Kwanza Basin. As Angola’s upstream market continues to attract investment on the back of historic drilling success and fresh seismic data, the AOG 2024 fireside chat will unpack emerging block opportunities with a view to accelerating exploration.

Beyond exploration, projects such as the Begonia conventional oil development in Block 17/06 are expected to start operations in late-2024 while the Agogo integrated West Hub Development in Block 15/06 is set to come online in late-2025. With production for the country’s first non-associated gas project the New Gas Consortium’s Quiluma and Maboqueiro fields set for 2026, Angola is well positioned to sustain production while driving long-term economic growth.

Downstream, Angola’s national oil company Sonangol and the Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas have sought to increase Angola’s refining capacity through the construction of three new facilities. The Lobito Refinery will have the capacity to produce 200,000 bpd and is scheduled to commence refining in 2025 while the 60,000-bpd Cabinda Refinery and 100,000-bpd Soyo Refinery are also set to supply products to the domestic market.

The AOG 2024 fireside chat will offer a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Angola’s oil and gas sector, showcasing the country as an attractive investment destination. The session will offer international service companies and investors the opportunity to connect with local players across the entire oil and gas value chain while exploring strategies to support market access and financing for the sector’s latest projects.

For more information about the AOG 2024 program, visit https://apo-opa.co/3Tbt3SF.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.