Niger Delta

Local Content: Five Firms Get OEM Certification

Published

14 years ago

July 2, 2012

A major milestone in the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Law 2010 was achieved last Monday in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital when five multinational companies were granted the first-ever permission to manufacture in-country, original equipment for the oil and gas industry.

The five companies are Endress-Hausser, ABB, Siemens, New Way, and Bonney Forge; all world-class original equipment manufacturers (OEM), who have indicated readiness to roll out by 2014, critical equipment hitherto imported into the country for use by the oil and gas industry players.

Signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to herald the commencement of the process designed to domicile the manufacturing facilities of the companies in Nigeria, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr Ernest Nwapa, said the quantum leap would fast track the availability, accessibility and affordability of critical equipment required in the industry, create employment opportunities for thousands of Nigerians and boost wealth creation across the value chain.

Nwapa said that the initiative, facilitated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), would avail operators in the industry opportunity to procure original equipment hitherto imported into the country, directly from the manufacturers within Nigeria, thereby saving huge foreign exchange, procurement time, among others.

He said that with the building of original equipment manufacturing plants in Nigeria, the companies’ would have strong manufacturing footprint in-country, thus enhancing the prospects of achieving 70 per cent local content in the industry in line with the law.

Nwapa noted that when completed in 2014, the plants would manufacture equipment for both local consumption and export, and commended participating companies for blazing the trail in local content development, promising to recommend them to the minister of petroleum for special windows to enjoy prescribed privileges in the industry.

Speaking, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Local Content, Hon Asita Honourable, expressed the conviction that Shell was actually leading the way in local content development in the industry, and stressed the determination of the National Assembly to provide the enabling climate for the development of local content that would deepen Nigerians’ participation in the industry.

He said that the National Assembly was impressed with the level of compliance with the Nigerian Content Law 2010 by some of the major companies, and stated that members were ready, more than ever before, to strengthen the legislative framework to make greater number of Nigerians benefit from the industry.

In his remarks, General Manager, Nigerian Content Development, SPDC, Mr Igo Weli, said the company was delighted to be pioneering the certification of original equipment manufacturers to establish plants in-country, and added that with the development, more Nigerians would be gainfully employed, huge foreign exchange saved for re-investment into other areas of need while facilitating improved revenue generation and wealth creation.

Weli, who represented the Managing Director, SPDC, Mutiu Sunmonu, said that the strategy was in keeping with the company’s desire to deepen its impact on the people within its areas of operation, and promised to encourage more indigenous oil and gas companies to partner more internationally-recognised genuine equipment manufacturers to invest in Nigeria.

President, Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engr Emeka Ene, praised Shell for the initiative to facilitate the partnership between indigenous and foreign oil and gas equipment manufacturing companies, and charged other multinational firms to emulate the policy.

Niger Delta

850-bed UCTH overstretched, services 5m patients – CMD

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Prof. Ikpeme Ikpeme, has said the 850-bed hospital is overstretched, as it currently serves over five million patients.

He disclosed this on Friday during a media tour of the facility to showcase ongoing renovations and facelift in the hospital.

The CMD noted that, aside being the only tertiary healthcare facility servicing the state, UCTH also serviced neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Ebonyi.

He said the hospital also received referrals from neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea and Central African Republic.

According to him, the 850-bed hospital faced persistent space constraints because of increasing patients inflow and expanding healthcare demands.

“This hospital currently operates 62 clinical and non-clinical departments as well as between 30 and 38 wards covering medical, surgical, paediatric, orthopaedic and specialised services.

“Most wards have undergone facelift, remodelling, or complete renovation to improve patient care and working conditions for healthcare professionals”, he said.

He disclosed that the hospital was constructing a new 106-bed emergency medicine facility to address the rising demand for healthcare services.

According to him, the facility will include trauma bays, intensive care units, neonatal wards, and three fully equipped trauma theatres.

Speaking on the remodeled wards, Ikpeme explained that they followed modern nursing principles, allowing one nurse to attend to a maximum of 10 patients.

He said relatives would be restricted to designated waiting areas to reduce interference with medical procedures and improve emergency response efficiency.

The CMD noted that the hospital had strengthened specialist services in orthopaedics, neurosurgery, obstetrics, radiology, and minimally invasive surgery.

“UCTH now performs hip and knee replacements, arthroscopy, sports medicine, and complex brain tumour surgeries.

“Our surgeons also conduct keyhole procedures for appendectomy, hysterectomy and other conditions with faster patient recovery periods,” he said

In power, the CMD said the hospital relied on solar power from a seven-megawatt plant, constructed by the Federal Government at the University of Calabar, as well as public power supply, and generators to sustain its operations.

He appealed to governments, organisations, and philanthropists to support infrastructure expansion, equipment procurement, and specialised healthcare projects.

The CMD said the hospital required additional incubators, ward expansions, and a stand-alone amenity facility for private healthcare services.

He used the opportunity to dismiss allegations of ethnic discrimination, insisting that the hospital does not reject workers or patients based on tribe or origin.

According to him, the institution recently honoured an Igbo pioneer physician by naming a ward after him in recognition of decades of service.

The CMD said the hospital maintained strict disciplinary procedures to address negligence, poor attitude, and unethical conduct among staff.

The Tide’s source reports that some of the units visited include, intensive care unit, Department of Radiology, Urology Clinic, and Opthalmology Clinic.

Niger Delta

Police Burst Child Trafficking Syndicate In A’Ibom … Nab 3 Suspects

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Police Command in Akwa Ibom State says it has busted a child trafficking syndicate and arrested three suspects for conspiracy and unlawful sale of a newborn baby in the State.

The State’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfom John, who disclosed this in a statement in Uyo on Friday, said the three female suspects were arrested on Wednesday at about 1900hrs.

She said a complainant reported that his wife gave birth to a baby boy on May 7 and shockingly, shortly after delivery sold the newborn child to one of the suspects for N145, 000.

“Upon receipt of the report, operatives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of the suspects and the successful recovery of the baby boy.

“The suspects reportedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, while investigation has been expanded to identify and apprehend all individuals connected to the trafficking syndicate”, John said.

She said the State’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Azare, reiterated the Command’s commitment to sustaining aggressive intelligence-led policing in the state.

Niger Delta

A’Ibom Launches Operation Crack Down Scrap Dealers

Published

2 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa-Ibom State Government has launched a statewide crackdown on unregistered scrap dealers and scavengers, shutting down illegal operations and arresting operators accused of violating environmental and public safety regulations.

The enforcement operation, led by the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), followed the implementation of the state’s Waste Metal Scrap Law 2026, officials said.

AKSEPWMA Chairman, Obong Prince Ikim, said the exercise was aimed at regulating the scrap sector, protect the environment, and prevent criminal groups from operating under the guise of waste collection and metal trading.

“If you want to do scrap business, you must register,” Mr. Ikim said during the operation in Uyo, the state capital.

“Many people now hide under scrap trading to perpetrate nefarious activities”, he said.

According to him, dump site operators and scrap dealers who failed to register with the government risked closure and prosecution.

Authorities accused some operators of involvement in vandalism of public infrastructure and indiscriminate waste disposal, adding that investigations had uncovered criminal activities linked to several dump sites across the state.

“Some people vandalise government facilities in the name of scrap business and encourage indiscriminate dumping of refuse,” Mr. Ikim said.

He added that the state government and security agencies would continue efforts to enforce compliance and maintain public order.

“The Commissioner of Police has zero tolerance for criminality, and the Governor wants Akwa Ibom people to sleep with their eyes closed. We will fish out every defaulter”, he said.

Police officials involved in the operation said investigations showed that some criminal suspects used scrap yards and refuse dump sites as cover for illegal activities.

CSP Okwuzulike Vincent of the Itam Police Station said some suspects pretended to be mentally unstable while hiding ammunition and other suspicious items in makeshift shelters around dump locations.

The police officer praised the environmental agency for what he described as proactive efforts to sanitise the sector and pledged continued cooperation between law enforcement and the agency.

Officials said some first-time offenders arrested during the operation were released after profiling and signing undertakings, while repeat offenders would face prosecution.