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Stakeholders Urge Upscale In Modular Refineries’ Activities … Task FG To Subsidise License By 70%
Stakeholders in the management of oil and gas have stressed the need to scale up the activities of the modular/artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta for more economic benefit to the country.
The stakeholders also harped on the need for the Federal Government to consider the subsidisation of modular/artisanal refinery license by 70percent in order to allow artisanal operators to acquire these licenses.
These were part of the resolutions reached at the end of the second stakeholders’ engagement on integration of modular/artisanal refinery operations convened by the Office of the Presidency through the Special Assistant to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Ita Enang in Abuja.
Addressing the gathering, yesterday, Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Niger Delta Affairs, Sen. Ita Enang explained that the aim of the meeting was to discuss ways out of the country’s present oil challenge.
Enang stated further that the gathering was also focusing on the review of the causes of losses of revenue from oil due to irregular activities in the creeks and along oil pipelines and the effect it had on the nation’s economy.
According to him, the world is faced with an energy crisis, and all the nations of the world are now looking to internal sources of solving their problems and Nigeria is not left out.
“Domestic refining which we call artisanal refining is part of the internal sources of solving these problems, but these refined products are going into our generators, going into our systems, and we still call it illegal refining.
“But we are driving our cars with it and we still call it illegal refining, people are feeding from it and we still call it illegal artisanal refining”.
Enang said it was high time for the country to regularise the artisanal refined products for the purpose of saving the nation’s economy.
“It is time for us to meet and regularize it for the purpose of saving the economy,” Enang said.
In his remark, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Ruke, who welcomed the idea of the forum, said it would salvage the challenge of fuel crises and loss of revenue.
According to him, the youths are using the local process of producing local gin to produce the fuel which is the local technology that works.
“Having this at the back of our mind to see that the products they have produced, Federal University of Petroleum Resources has tested the products and it is actually in line in terms of specificity with others that are imported into this country, so the technology is working.”
On the way forward, he said the institution had developed an indigenous modular refinery and it was already on ground the authority of and that the institution has all it takes to train the youths on it.
On his own, executive secretary, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), assured the stakeholders of the agency’s support to the full operation of modular refineries in the country.
According to him, the project is a passionate one not only for the oil sector but for the entire nation for a way out of the fuel crises and loss of the nation’s revenue.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting read in part: “Scale up the activities of the modular/artisanal refineries in the Niger Delta for more economic benefit to the country.
“Government should take inventory of the domestic modular/artisanal refinery operators and send them to the Federal University of Petroleum, Effurun (FUPRE) for further training.
“Need for formalisation of the modular/artisanal refinery operators in Nigeria.
“Subsidisation of modular/artisanal refinery license by 70percent in order to allow artisanal operators to acquire these licenses.
“Curb the activities of the security personnel involved in illegal bunkering in the Niger Delta
“Need for continuous interface between the Federal Government and the operators of modular/artisanal refineries in the country to assist the government in curbing cases of illegal bunkering
“The government should minimize their threats in order to allow artisanal operators to come out to engage more with the government.
“Opening up of the petroleum industry process to allow for more participation, including the modular/artisanal operators.
“Approve the implementation of the recommendations from the first stakeholders’ engagement.
“The Federal Government should approve the formation of the Presidential Artisanal Crude Oil Refining Development Initiative (PACORDI).
“Foreign Technical Partners who are willing to invest in the oil industry in the country should be encouraged to partner with the artisanal operators with the involvement of the communities.
“The Federal Government through the Amnesty Programme has trained a lot of engineers, welders and fabricators hence should be included when the modular/artisanal refineries would be set up/formalised.
“Emphasis must be placed on the safety of the people of the Niger Delta in the operations of the modular/artisanal refineries.”
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.