Oil & Energy

Rivers Electricity Workers Protest Planned Privatisation

Published

15 years ago

December 20, 2010

Employees of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Rivers State joined their counterparts in other parts of the country to protest Thursday last week against the Federal Government planed privatization of the company.

Workers in the thirteen business units in the state who had coverage in the morning at the Diobu Business Unit premises along Ikwerre Road with plan to protest to the Rivers State Government House and the State Assembly Complex but were however prevented from matching in the streets by security agents.

Our power reporter who covered the event said as early as 8.00 am workers had already gathered at the Diobu Business Unit premises but leadership of National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) were still discussing with the state Police Command for permission to carry out the rally and that until 11.00 am they could not obtain permission, instead, the presence of Police men where building up at the venue.

The PHCN workers chanting solidarity songs wielded plycards with the inscriptions: “No to privatization, u\yes to Liberalisation”, “Pay us the balance of 137 per cent of our salary increase”, “Casualisation causes casualty”, “We say no to Prof. Nnaji’s Wayo, lie, lie”, “Casualisation is modern day slavery”, “FG Regularise the 10,000 verified casuals in PHCN”, Publish the Power Sector Report and tell Nigerians the truth”, amongst others.

Comrade Micheal Mbari, Secretary of Rivers State branch of NUEE who spoke to The Tide accused the government of hiding the truth about pHCN privatization from Nigerian masses.

The NUEE scribe explained that the workers are not against the reform in the sector but rejected privatization as it would mean selling off the company to the friends and cronies of those in power. “We have severally advised the federal Government to liberalise the power sector so that it would open more opportunities for private investors to come and compete with PHCN instead of outright sale of PHCN”, he stated.

He noted that the power sector remains a key sector that galvanises the industralisation as well as the socio-economic development of any nation stressing that it would be wrong to take such a strategic sector from the hands and control of the government and hand it over to overzealous private investors as the step will lead to more woes to Nigerian masses who will not be able to afford the high tariffs by profit driven private investors.

According to him, many countries in the world tried the approach and it failed. “South Korea, Venezuela, South Africa, Iran, Agentina tried it and failed, so why try it here in Nigeria by privatizing PHCN?, he querried.

The Union claimed that NITEL, NAFCON, ALSCON, Nigerian Airways, Daily times that were privatized under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration have collapsed and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to retrace the step of FG on PHCN privatization for the interest of Nigerian masses.

“137 per cent balance of our salary increase is still lying there with nobody addressing it, 10,000 casual staff of the company that were verified is not being addressed and other promises not fulfilled, yet the government is hell-bent on privatizing the company”, said Comrade Mbari.

He said the workers decided to protest so that Nigerian masses will know the plight of PHCN workers.

Comrade Benibo Benjamin NUEE Chairman, Diobu Business Unit described the interference of the security agents in the workers’ peaceful rally as undemocratic stating that nothwithstanding the Police restriction, the rally was a huge success as the workers came out enmass and their message have been sent out to the Nigerian masses.

He called on the government to also remove the heavy presence of the Police and Military men whom he said have taken over the installations of the company in the state.

The security agents wisked off three journalists who were covering the event and also seized their cameras but about 45 minutes later, they were brought back to the scene.

An assistant Commissioner of Police, Habilla Joshakt who addressed the crowd said the journalists were not arrested stressing that the workers were not permitted to match in the streets to avoid criminals from hijacking the rally to cause problems in the state.

“If we had seen your letters or permission, we would have organized security contingences to monitor your movements. It took us sleepless nights for us to get to where we are in the state today security wise and would not take any chances that can disrupt the security situation in the state”, he said.

The Tide gathered that the rallies were disrupted by security agents especially in Delta, Ondo, Ekiti, Ogun amongst other states where protesters were arrested.

Chris Oluoh

Oil & Energy

“NCDMB, MJD, Renaissance Launch Pipeline Engineering, Corrosion Control Training

Published

12 hours ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

A leading indigenous oil & gas construction and servicing company, MJD Oilfield Services Limited, in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, has officially commenced a comprehensive 12-month Nigerian Content Human Capital Development (NC-HCD) training programme.

The programme is designed to equip 33 Nigerian graduates in engineering and related disciplines with advanced technical competencies in pipeline pigging, corrosion control, and integrity monitoring, thereby strengthening local capacity within the oil and gas sector.

The intensive, year-long initiative integrates both theoretical instruction and practical, hands-on training, with the objective of developing highly skilled and industry-ready professionals capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

Speaking at the official kick-off ceremony in PortHarcourt, the Managing Director, MJD Oilfield Services Ltd., Olayemi Familusi, emphasised the significance of the programme and urged participants to take full advantage of the opportunity.

He also commended the NCDMB for its sustained contributions to the growth and transformation of the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“The Nigerian oil and gas industry has undergone remarkable development since the establishment of the NCDMB,” he stated. “We commend the Board for its unwavering commitment to the advancement of Nigerian talent and the industry at large. Beneficiaries are encouraged to apply these acquired skills within the country, where opportunities for growth and impact continue to expand.”

In his address, the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, described the initiative as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s energy security.

Represented by the Manager, Human Capital Development, NCDMB, Mrs. Tarilate Bribena-Teide, Ogbe highlighted the critical importance of pipeline integrity expertise, particularly for key national assets such as the 614-kilometre Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline.

He further underscored the Board’s strict expectations regarding discipline and commitment, insisting that a minimum attendance rate of 99.9 per cent is mandatory.

Ogbe said “The Board will not hesitate to withdraw and replace any participant who demonstrates a lack of commitment. This programme requires full dedication and has the potential to significantly transform participants’ career trajectories.”

Also speaking at the event, representative of Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, Funso Alabi, reaffirmed the importance of strategic collaboration in developing a competent workforce capable of sustaining the long-term reliability and efficiency of Nigeria’s energy infrastructure.

The technical training partner, DORET Limited, presented an overview of the curriculum, which is aligned with the NCDMB Human Capital Development Implementation Guidelines (2020) and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.

The programme combines classroom-based learning with practical workshop sessions, with a strong emphasis on promoting local content development and technical excellence.

To ensure participants’ full engagement, the programme is fully supported with monthly stipends, meal allowances, mobilisation and demobilisation allowance, learning resources (including laptops and Personal Protective Equipment), health insurance coverage, and both local and international certifications upon successful completion.

The initiative further represents a critical pathway for young Nigerian graduates to transition into the oil and gas industry, reinforcing nation’s capacity to meet its complex technical demands with locally developed expertise.

Oil & Energy

Fuel Price Hike: NAJA Tasks FG On Crude Supply To Local Refineries

Published

12 hours ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association(NAJA ), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive steps toward stabilising Nigeria’s fuel market by guaranteeing the direct supply of crude oil to domestic refineries, particularly the Dangote Refinery, as global tensions continue to unsettle energy prices.

In a statement issued last Thursday, the association warned that the rising cost of petrol, exacerbated by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, poses a serious threat to economic stability and the welfare of Nigerians already grappling with inflationary pressures.

NAJA argued that Nigeria must urgently insulate its downstream petroleum sector from external shocks by strengthening local refining capacity.

The association’s intervention comes amid heightened volatility in the international oil market, where geopolitical developments have continued to influence crude prices and, by extension, the cost of refined petroleum products.

NAJA noted that while recent policy measures by the federal government signal a willingness to address the crisis, more targeted interventions are required to achieve lasting stability. The group specifically referenced the government’s plan to distribute 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits nationwide, describing it as a commendable but insufficient response to the scale of the challenge.

According to the association, the CNG initiative represents a forward-looking approach to energy diversification, particularly within the transportation sector. However, it stressed that alternative fuel adoption alone cannot resolve the immediate pressures facing petrol consumers. Instead, NAJA maintained that ensuring the efficient operation of domestic refineries remains the most viable short-term solution.

Speaking on behalf of the association, its Chairman, Theodore Opara, urged the federal government to implement policies that would enable local refineries to access crude oil directly from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, preferably in naira. He argued that such a move would significantly reduce the exposure of domestic fuel production to fluctuations in the global oil market.

Opara, while noting that the current arrangement, under which the Dangote Refinery imports a substantial portion of its crude feedstock, undermines the refinery’s potential to stabilise local fuel prices explained that reliance on imported crude effectively ties domestic refining operations to international pricing dynamics, thereby limiting the benefits of local production.

“Dangote Refinery imports most of its crude, hence it is exposed to the effects of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East,” he said. “If the refinery gets direct crude supply from the NNPC, it will strengthen the country’s long-term energy diversification strategy and reduce exposure to international supply shocks.”

The NAJA chairman further noted that Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported refined petroleum products remains a major vulnerability, despite its status as Africa’s largest crude oil producer. He described the situation as economically unsustainable, particularly at a time when global uncertainties are driving up energy costs.

“If Nigeria’s major refineries, including Dangote, receive crude locally and transact in naira, the country will reduce its vulnerability to global market disruptions. It will also help stabilise the downstream petroleum sector,” he added.

While acknowledging the potential of the CNG programme to reduce dependence on petrol over time, NAJA insisted that the backbone of Nigeria’s energy strategy must remain anchored in efficient domestic refining. The association warned that failure to address crude supply constraints could undermine ongoing efforts to reform the sector.

“CNG is a good transition policy for transportation, but the backbone of Nigeria’s fuel supply must still come from efficient domestic refining,” Opara said.

Oil & Energy

FG Advances $20bn Nigeria-Europe Gas Pipeline Plan

Published

12 hours ago

March 23, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government said it has progressed in its plan on the proposed transcontinental gas pipeline aimed at delivering its vast natural gas to European markets.

The proposed pipeline, still at an early development stage, is being advanced by a consortium of global industry players and would be subject to extensive technical, commercial, and regulatory processes.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, who spoke alongside key industry stakeholders, during discussions on the proposed pipeline, at a meeting in London, United Kingdom, described the engagement as both timely and historic, adding that Nigeria is poised to attract investors into its gas sector.

In his words “Nigeria is set for investors to take advantage of this natural gas. The Petroleum Industry Act and the executive orders by Mr President for the petroleum sector have set a conducive environment to attract investments to the sector.

“We must be intentional in the utilisation of our resources. So long as we have these reserves, we must take advantage of them and better the lives of those in the region,” Ekpo said.

The minister further noted that, with appropriate financial backing in place, he sees no obstacle to the project coming to fruition.

In a statement signed by the Spokesperson to the minister, Louis Ibah, Ekpo noted that the move is aimed at strengthening energy security and unlocking long-term economic value.

The proposed pipeline, described as a transformative gas corridor, is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of gas annually from Nigeria’s southern reserves through Chad and Libya, before extending subsea to Sicily, Italy, and into the broader European market.

According to the statement, stakeholders expressed optimism that the proposed pipeline project would redefine Nigeria’s role in the global energy market while deepening ties with Europe.