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1% Oil Industry Contracts For Local Content Fund –Nwapa

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Henceforth, one per cent of every contract awarded in the Nigerian oil and gas industry is to be paid into the Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) in accordance with the Nigerian Content Act.

Mr Ernest Nwapa, the Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Monitoring Board (NCMB), made the disclosure in Onne, near Port Harcourt, on Thursday, after inspecting the pipe threading yard of a private firm.

 The Tide’s source  reports that NCMB is an off-shoot of the Nigerian Content Bill recently assented into law by President Goodluck Jonathan.

 The NNPC quoted Nwapa in a statement in Abuja on Friday as explaining that the NCDF  would be deployed specifically for developing the capacity of  Nigerian service providers in the oil and gas sector.

 He said the fund would be managed by the board of NCMB and was different from the $350 million Local Content Fund which was put together by NNPC in 2007 to serve as a working capital for Nigerian companies that got service contracts in the industry.

Nwapa said: “In this case, you need to demonstrate the bankability of an investment and the board will begin to talk to you”.

 “You are going to show a business plan and prove that the investment will be able to repay the loan”. 

“The fund will not be managed by engineers or officials of the board. It will be managed by a proper fund manager with international best practices”.

“So, there is no question of utilising the fund for what it is not meant for.”

 Nwapa said the vision of the NCMB was to grow the funds and use it to attract other financial players who would leverage on it such that Nigerian service providers would do business knowing that the fund was available for them to use.

 He said the Nigerian Content Act was very robust as it was put together by legislators who understand the oil  sector with inputs from members of the industry.

 The chief executive called on Nigerian investors to take advantage of the immense opportunities which the Nigerian Content Act had created for them.

 ”Even if you create these opportunities and  Nigerians do not take them, the board would not become manufacturers”.

 “The board would only protect the rights of manufacturers, so Nigerians should take advantage of the law,” Nwapa said.

 He also commended the management of Botro Marine & Oil Services, who he said took a risk to invest in the pipe threading yard in Onne in 2007 because of their confidence in the Nigerian Content Policy.

 ”This is the model we want to see because from cutting these threads, it is no longer in his hands.

 “The next step would be how to think of manufacturing the pipes themselves because the time has come for us to do anything that can be done in Nigeria.

 ”Those machines are not made in Nigeria. The law allows you to bring machines from anywhere to work here and retain capacity in the country.

“It is important to our government and our people that we create opportunities for Nigerians to work here,” Nwapa said.

 He said about 100 companies were operatiing at the Onne Free Trade Zone a few years ago, but the number had swelled to 150.

 Nwapa said the government had the challenge to ensure that service providers at the Onne zone got jobs.

He said that with the Nigeria Content Act now operational, it was no longer at the discretion of officials to decide whether to give jobs to one or two companies.

 ”It is now law and they have a right to challenge anybody who does not give them jobs and rather takes it elsewhere outside Nigeria.

  “President Goodluck Jonathan is bent on ensuring the successful implementation of the Nigerian Content Act.

“He did not keep that bill for more than two weeks before signing it into law and set  up this board immediately.

 “And, he has given us marching orders and already we have hit the ground running,” Nwapa said.

 The source  also reports that Nwapa, until this recent appointment, was the Group General Manager, Nigerian Content Division in NNPC.

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Anglican Bishop Urges Politicians To Lead With Integrity

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The Bishop of Anglican Diocese of Niger Delta, Dr Emmanuel Oko-Jaja, has called on Nigerians, especially those in positions of authority to uphold moral standard and integrity.
Oko-Jaja said this at a thanksgiving service to mark the 90th birthday of Prof. Sylvanus Cookey at Saint Paul Anglican Church in Opobo Town, Rivers yesterday.
The Tide’s source reports that Cookey was the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) in 1982.
Oko-Jaja advised political leaders to always be self-aware and avoid actions that could damage their reputation.
“In today’s Nigeria, hardship has changed how the people behave, as lies have become more popular than the truth.
“We now live in a country where injustice is now celebrated and lowering moral and social standard have become the new normal.
“Leaders must follow the exemplary legacies set by our forebears by becoming upright and live a life that would not bring shame to their family and community,” he said.
He attributed the country’s current economic challenges and declining living standards to leaders failing to prioritise the well-being of citizens.
“The younger generation should emulate the virtues of our predecessors like Prof. Cookey, who prioritised integrity over material gain.
“Good reputation was the norm back then, and I hope that God will restore it to Nigeria, where leaders’ goal will be to have good names.
“If anyone wants to commit evil, they should remember that their actions can bring a bad name to their family and community,” he cautioned.
Addressing the celebrant, the King of Opobo Kingdom, HRM Dandason Jaja, praised Cookey for his impact on society and described him as a mentor and philanthropist.
He said that the celebrant was a distinguished academic, who had impacted numerous youths through vocational training, leading to their successful employment in different sectors.
Speaking earlier, Cookey expressed gratitude to God for attaining 90 years and acknowledged the support of his family and friends.
Reflecting on his contributions to the country, he encouraged leaders to leave behind positive legacies for future generations to celebrate.

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Senators, Reps To Resume Plenary In Remodelled Main Chambers

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Nineteen months after federal lawmakers movement to  temporary chambers,  the Nigerian Senate and House of Representatives would finally resume sittings in  their  newly remodelled main hallowed chambers tomorrow
Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi Jnr, and the Clerk to the Senate, Barrister Chinedu Akubueze confirmed the planned movement to the main chambers in separate written announcements made penultimate week on the change in resumption date by lawmakers from their ongoing recess.
Hon. Rotimi, who is the chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, in the official announcement dated April 4, 2024 to the honourable members, cited the need to resume plenary at the renovated and reconfigured main chamber, as reason for the postponement in line with the general wish of the lawmakers.
“The House of Representatives wishes to inform the public and stakeholders of the rescheduling of the resumption date from the ongoing recess, originally slated for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, to  Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
“This adjustment is necessary to accommodate the completion of renovations to the main chamber of the House of Representatives to ensure its readiness for plenary sessions, henceforth,” he stated.
Two days after, the Clerk to the Senate also issued a statement, postponing resumption of plenary by the Senate from April 16 to 23, 2024.
Akubueze ‘s statement reads in part: “Distinguished Senators are hereby invited to note that the resumption of the plenary sitting of the Senate, which was scheduled for Tuesday, 16th April, 2024, has been postponed to Tuesday 23rd April, 2024”
It would be recalled that ahead of the projects delivery, the Site Engineer of Visible Construction, Tajudeen Olanipekun, had early last month informed journalists covering the Senate, that the two main chambers, would be ready for use by both the Senate and the House of Representatives in April this year.
Olanipekun’s assurance on delivery of the fully transformed and reconfigured hallowed chambers to management of the National Assembly, coincided with call by the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, to the Clerk to the National Assembly, CNA, Alhaji Sani Magaji Tambawal that both the Senate and the House of Representatives, want to move to their main chambers as soon as possible after close to two years of using temporary ones.
In carrying out the subtle marching order, the construction firm in the last five weeks has carried out the required finishings on
the upgraded and reconfigured hallowed chambers fixed with state-of-the-art chairs, parliamentary equipments,  appliances and extended sitting terraces.
Physically, the entire ambience of the space in and around the hallowed chambers have been transformed, just as barricades used to restrict movements at the foyer have been removed.
The  Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, had in March 2021 awarded a N30billion renovation contract to Visible Construction Limited to rehabilitate critical segments of the National Assembly complex.
The law makers had in September  2022 vacated the main chambers to enable the Contractors;   handle the renovation work of both chambers
Some of the critical segments are the office buildings housing the office accommodation for the senators and honourable members, watertightness of the roof of the complex, the cooling system, replacement of lifts that are inoperable in the White House as well as in the House of Representatives and in the new Senate Wing among others.

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

 

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Police Commence Recruitment Process In Anambra, Enugu

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The Zone 13 of the Nige- rian Police Force, comprising Anambra and Enugu States, has announced the venue and time for both General Duty and Specialist Constable recruitment medical screening in the two States.
This is contained in a statement issued yesterday by the Zonal Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Ihunwo, yesterday in Enugu.
Ihunwo said that prospective candidates from Zone 13 should note that the exercise would take place at Police Hospital, Awka.
She said that the medical screening would commence simultaneously nationwide on Tuesday, April 16, and end on April 30, 2024.
“Candidates are advised to visit the recruitment portal: https://apply.policerecruitment.gov.ng to know their status, specific time, date and other mandatory requirements.
“So also, qualified applicants are to appear in clean white T-shirt and short with the following requirements;
“National Identity Card/Slip; Print Out of Medical Examination Slip and all necessary documents.
“The Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 13 Command, AIG Godwin Aghaulor, wishes all prospective candidates success as they embark on this exercise,” he said.

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