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Stakeholders Task NSCDC On Illegal Refineries

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13 years ago

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Following reported cases of operations of illegal refineries in the Niger Delta region which has impacted negatively on the environment, as well as reports of impact made by Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in western states on such issues, some stakeholders in the Niger Delta have urged the NSCDC and other security operatives to beef up its operations in the region so as to control the menace.

Stakeholders have lamented over the negative impact this has left to the environment, and want something done very fast to save the environment.

Speaking on the matter, an environmental analyst in Port Harcourt, Victor Okpara said he is always scared about the future of the environment of the Niger Delta, particularly in Rivers State, anytime it came to his notice that illegal bunkering and refinery business is still thriving in the region.

He said that those who are engaged in this business, although may be enjoying it now for their selfish and criminal purpose, but that the negative impact it will have on the environment will be so diver-stating and the effect will be on innocent people also.

To this end, Okpara called on the civil defence operators and other security agents in Rivers State to team up and tackle this issue so as to save the environment from total destruction, and gave instances of the NSCDC success stories in other states like Ondo.

Also, leader of the Niger Delta Volunteer Force (NDVF) Alhaji Asari Dokubo has raised alarm over the activities of illegal refineries in the region and its negative impact on the environment, and has called on the people and relevant authorities to wake up and take action to stop the monster that wants to destroy the environment.

Asari in a press statement has lamented that the activities of the pipeline vandals and illegal refineries all over the region is a clear indication that the environment is being polluted, as oil is being spilled all over the place.

He therefore called on those engaged in such activities to have a change of heart, and as well urged those in authority and security operatives to do their jobs very well to save the environment from total collapse.

The NSCDC, Ondo State command in the week destroyed an illegal crude oil refinery located at Iju-Osun village in Irele local government area.

Public Relations Officer, Mr Kayode Balogun in a statement said the action was carried out following a tip-off from some residents of the area, and that the illegal refinery was located in a creek beside River Siloko that links Ondo and Edo States.

 

Corlins Walter

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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19 hours ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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19 hours ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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19 hours ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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