News

Lawan Vows To Break Jinx On PIB Passage …Tasks Oil Firms On CSR

Published

7 years ago

July 5, 2019

President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, pledged to ensure conclusive reform in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, saying that the Ninth National Assembly would quicken the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) for the benefit of all.
Lawan stated this when he hosted the Chief Executive Officer of the ExxonMobil Group of Companies, Mr Pul McGrath, who led the team of Executives from the company to his office in Abuja.
The President of the Senate noted that several failed attempts have been made by previous assemblies to conclude the passage of the PIB.
He said, “We came closer to it in the 8th Assembly. We disaggregated the bill, we did better than previous assemblies, but unfortunately, we ran out of time. We have a vibrant team now, I promise Nigerians, we will start as soon as we inaugurate our committees and they will start the work on the PIB.
“This time around, we will work with every stakeholder in the industry. Whatsoever it will take to make this Bill beneficial to Nigerians and the players, we will not hesitate.
“We demand your collaboration. We will work together in the interest of the country and everyone”, Lawan said.
Lawan also seized the occasion to call on multinational companies which operate in the Niger Delta region to, as a matter of priority, intensify efforts to deliver on their corporate social responsibilities (CSRs).
According to him, “Corporate Social Responsibility is one area that requires our attention. The host community that produces this oil must be taken care of. The goose that lays the golden eggs must be protected,” Lawan advised.
Earlier, the ExxonMobil CEO, Mr Paul McGrath, had congratulated the President of the Senate and the leadership for the smooth take off the Ninth Senate, even as he promised that ExxonMobil was always available to work with the parliament on reforms in the sector.
MaGrath promised an unalloyed support for Nigeria and her people,
“We look forward to closer working relationship with the Ninth National Assembly, and in particular, the Senate. We will support the reform in the industry and our commitment is intact”, MacGrath said.
However, the Senate, yesterday, passed a motion to increase budgetary allocation for the management of Primary Health Care (PHC) in the country.
The resolution of the Senate was hinged on a motion sponsored by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC – Lagos Central) on the need to increase funding of PHC for the benefits of Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the PHC in Nigeria was adopted in 1998 by the National Health Policy to provide promotive, curative and rehabilitative services.
The motion was co-sponsored by 108 other senators.
Tinubu, said the motion became necessary because of the challenges associated with health management in the country.
She said the health problems were traced to the low performance of PHC facilities.
The senator added that available indicators from World Bank survey showed that the performance of PHC was being hampered by lack of financial resources, infrastructure deficit, lack of drugs, equipment and vaccines.
Tinubu quoted the Frontiers in Public Health Journal as having said that “Only about 20 per cent of the 30, 000 PHC centres in Nigeria are working, with most of them lacking capacity to provide essential services.”
She said the failure of PHC and the belief that it is for low-income earners had resulted to influx of patients to secondary and tertiary health care facilities.
The motion attracted contributions from senators like Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East), Sen. Adamu Alero (Kebbi Central), Dahiru Ashatu (Adamawa Central), among others.
They said that accessibility to healthcare was a fundamental right and must be accorded the required attention.
The Senate, in addition to increasing of the funding, urged the Ministry of Health to create awareness on benefits of health and life insurance.
It directed the Ministry of Environment to put in place policies to ensure that every employer of labour has health insurance package for employees.
It also urged federal and state Ministries of Health to encourage medical technological innovations in primary health facilities in their respective domains.
Similarly, the Senate, yesterday, condemned the death of about 50 persons in Benue State sequel to the explosion of a petrol tanker in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
The Upper Chamber also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to intervene and help the victims undergoing medical attention in various health facilities.
Debating the motion to that effect during its plenary, which was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Oker-Jev, the lawmakers further charged the management of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to quickly assist the victims with relief materials to ease their suffering.
The senators also urged the Federal Government to release funds for the dualisation of the Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi-Enugu road to enhance accessibility of the road.
In his lead debate on the motion titled: ”Benue tanker explosion: Urgent need to curb incessant explosions of petroleum tankers in Nigeria”, Senator Oker-Jev, revealed that over 100 people who sustained various degrees of injuries were battling for survival in various hospitals across the state.
Meanwhile, after the debate, the Senate resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to liaise with relevant agencies, organisations and stakeholders to identify the remote and immediate causes of the incessant petroleum tanker explosions in Nigeria.
The committee, when constituted, would come up with sustainable solutions to the Senate within eight weeks.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

News

Be Patient With Us, Diri Tells Bayelsans … Inspects New 60mw IPP …Expresses Confidence In Technical Partners, BECL MD

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has sued for patience on the ongoing installation of the state’s new independent power project.

The Tide gathered that the 60-megawatt gas turbine project, which installation commenced in October this year, was earlier scheduled to be completed by December but suffered logistics related delays.

The governor called on people of the state to have an open mind about the project, which he said now requires a new completion date due to unforeseen challenges.

?The Tide further reports that the State’s Chief Executive who undertook an on-the-spot-assessment of the project at Elebele in Ogbia Local Government Area on Wednesday, said like other citizens of the state, he was also disappointed that the December completion deadline could not be met.

However, he stated that his reaction to the delay had been that of understanding rather than being angry as had been noticed, particularly on the social media.

?”You can see I’ve gone round the whole facility. It was based on the working agreement and information available at my disposal that I gave the December date. But as it is with every human endeavor, we must all have an open mind, when it comes to issues, particularly technical matters like this.

?”I am as disappointed as any other Bayelsan because I believed that we were going to celebrate the 2025 Christmas with our own independent power, but it turned out not to be so.

?”I call on Bayelsans to have an open mind. These technical experts are working virtually 24 hours, but delays like this will certainly come”, he said.

He implored the people 9f the state to appreciate the work of the engineers, stressing that a minor mistake was capable of jeopardising the millions of dollars expended on the project.

?”For 29 years Bayelsa has been in darkness or has endured epileptic power supply. Now that we are getting close to the day of liberation, some people have become impatient.

“Let us not behave like the proverbial tortoise in the prison for years that asked to be released immediately as the place was smelling the moment he knew it would regain freedom the next day”, the governor added.

?The Bayelss Governor gave a thumps up to the technical partners, Jampur Group, and its team on ground as well as the Managing Director of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Ltd, Engr. Olice Kemenanabo, saying they were working round the clock to ensure the job was completed.

?”Those who have been following me on this inspection would know that work has not stopped even for one day since it started. I am sure the job is more than 90 per cent complete. So let us hold our fire.

“Engineer Olice, I am not putting you under any pressure. From the reports I have, Olice is one of the best electrical engineers in Nigeria”, governor Diri said.

The governor, however, hinted that the government was looking at inaugurating the project during its sixth anniversary in February.

The MD of the Bayelsa Electricity Company Limited, Kemenanabo, who also spoke, said the state was on the right track towards actualising the project and assured that the alignment of the entire system, including the gas generator and alternator were on course.

He also stated that the remaining two turbines would be delivered to the project site in a few days.

?Speaking on behalf of the Jampur Group, Mr. Sherrif Abu-Anif said the company was in good position to meet its own end of the bargain and appreciated the state government for playing its part very well.

By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

News

Akpabio Withdraws All Defamation Suits After Priest’s Sermon

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.

Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.

He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.

“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”

In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.

In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.

Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.

Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.

The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.

With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.

News

‘Best Way To Show Gratitude Is To Deliver Tinubu in 2027’

Published

1 day ago

January 2, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.

Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.

“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”

Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.

He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.

“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.

Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.

In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.

She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.

Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.

“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.

In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.

He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.

The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.

Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.

Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.

Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.

By: Taneh Beemene