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Fuel Imports To Crash As PH Refinery Beefs Production
General Manager, Garden City Radio, Mr Dagogo Ezekiel-Hart, addressing the Deputy Governor of Rivers State, Dr Ipalibo Harry Banigo, during a courtesy visit to her office at Government House, Port Harcourt, recently
Executive Chairman, Chrome Oil Services, Mr Emeka Offor, says importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) would drop by about 40 per cent when critical unit of the Port-Harcourt refinery begins operation.
Offor gave the assurance while speaking with energy correspondents yesterday in Lagos.
He said the critical constituent of the refinery; the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Unit (FCCU) would become functional next week.
The FCCU is where Vacuum Gas Oil (VGO) and Heavy Diesel Oil (HDO) are cracked to obtain more valuable products.
Such products include FCC gasoline used as PMS blend and Light Cycle as blend component for Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
Offor confirmed that the restoration work at the FCC had reached 98 per cent conclusion and would come on stream before end of the week.
“Hope of petroleum products supply stability is about to be accomplished as we at Chrome Oil Services company, the major contractors handling key rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery will complete work on the FCCU.
“The FCCU is about 98 per cent completed and we are hopeful that by next week it will be completed, and it will reduce 40 per cent on Federal Government importation of refined products.
“The company is among other contractors carrying out overhaul of the facility as government takes giant steps to revamp the country’s four refineries in a bid to address the lingering fuel scarcity,’’ he said.
The company’s chairman assured Nigerians that when it becomes fully operational, the unit would concentrate on the production of petrol which would also go a long way to reduce importation.
He added that it would then resolve the lengthened petrol scarcity.
Offor said that lack of Turn-Around Maintenance (TAM) of the existing refineries in the country had contributed to the perennial fuel scarcity.
“Over time, the refineries are working but below installed capacity, the last TAM was done in 2000 and this is an exercise that should be carried out every two years.
“The inability of the refineries to refine at full capacity further complicated the fuel supply situation across major cities in the country,’’ he said.
Offor attributed the problem to pipeline vandalism, an infrastructure which transports crude oil to the refineries and lack of TAM to sustain product refining.
“We have outstandingly provided urgent situation repair work at both Kaduna and Port-Harcourt refineries.
“The vital technical and engineering services we have turned to have guaranteed the continuous running of those refineries to make sure they are not totally grounded,’’ he said.
He said that over the years there had been tremendous inroads into the oil and gas industry through servicing of refineries, petrochemical plants and rehabilitation of jetties, tanks and installation of oil and gas facilities.
“All these culminated in the award of the TAM contract of both the old and the new Port-Harcourt Refineries in Nigeria to Chrome Consortium.
Chrome is a consortium of firms headed by Chrome Oil Services – the first indigenous oil service firm to execute such a project.
He said that with strategic alliances, joint ventures and consortiums with major international engineering and construction companies,
Chrome Oil Services was poised to become a vital contributor to Nigeria’s infrastructure.
The old refinery was commissioned in 1965 with current nameplate capacity of 60,000 barrels per stream day (bpd).
The new refinery which was commissioned in 1989 with an installed capacity of 150,000 bpd brings the combined crude processing capacity of the Port-Harcourt Refinery to 210,000 bpd.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.