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Brass To Become Oil, Gas Free Zone

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10 years ago

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Commercial activities resume after the Eid El-fitr holidays at Idumota Market in Lagos, yesterday

Commercial activities resume after the Eid El-fitr holidays at Idumota Market in Lagos, yesterday

The Bayelsa State Gov
ernment has announced plans to establish Brass Island Oil and Gas Free Zone.
The Governor of the State, Hon Seriake Dickson who disclosed this plan said he would set up a committee that would collaborate with the management of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority of Nigeria to work out a detailed plan of action for the take-off of the new Zone.
Dickson revealed the plan of the state when officials of the authority visited him in Creek Haven, Yenagoa, and expressed his appreciation over the Federal Government’s designation of a free zone for Brass Island.
Describing the location of the venture in Brass as well as the visit as appropriate and timely, he stated that his administration had done so much to provide jobs and condusive environment for businesses to thrive.
Dickson explained that the Brass Island Oil and Gas Free Zone is a crucial project that would transform  the economy of Bayelsa State noted that his administration intends to make the state, the Dubai of Africa in view of abundant human resources in the area.
He said, “Our focus is to expand the base of our economy beyond oil and gas. We have formulated a lot of policies to enable us expand our economy to attract industrialists and promote industrialisation, to create wealth, jobs and a stable environment for business.
Analysts believe that if the proposed Free Zone becomes a reality, it would provide job engagement to thousands of youths and also boost businesses for indigenous businessmen and women, not only in oil and gas sector but in other business interests.
One of the business operators, Prince Emmanuel Ogba said, “Brass Island Oil and Gas Free Zone is what not only Bayelsans but Niger Delta need to take business to the next level. It would also impact positively on the reduction of youth related crimes in the area.
Ogba, a director Nedal Oil and Gas Company Limited Commended the effort of both the federal and state governments towards establishing the zone.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority, Victor Alabo said the authority was on a visit to intimate the state government as well as present the necessary regulations and requested the permission of Gov Dickson to formalise Brass as an Oil and Gas free zone.

 

Chris Oluoh

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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2 days 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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2 days 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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2 days 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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