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Five Win NDDC GEMS Contest …Get N5m Each

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10 years ago

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Residents of Chika and Aleita protesting over outrageous March electricity bill and lack of functional electricity transformer in Abuja last Friday.

Residents of Chika and Aleita protesting over outrageous March electricity bill and lack of functional electricity transformer in Abuja last Friday.

Five female secondary
school students have won the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC’s) scholarship to pursue their educational career up to tertiary level.
A statement issued Thursday in Port Harcourt by the Commission’s Head of corporate Affairs Unit, Chijioke Amu-Nnadi, said the students from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Ondo States emerged winners from NDDC-Sponsored “Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science (GEMS) Competition.
According to Amu-Nnadi, total sum of the award is N25million and each of the winners will benefit N5 million. The winners are Ayomide Adeyeye, Amarachi Orjuigo, Edidiong Frances Bassey, Blessing Jeremiah James and Grace Bassey.
The statement said, “Ayomide Adeyeye emerged over all winner at the competition’s grand finale, which featured 33 GEMS Finalists who were selected from three regional competitions organized by NDDC.”
It quoted the Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Mrs Ibim Semenitari as saying that the winners emerged from a rigorous elimination process that featured 2,880 girls from the region.
It further stated that the programme is aimed at promoting and encouraging female students who are innovative and research-minded to develop passion in disciplines such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
It expressed confidence that science and technology could become exciting in such a way that girls in the region can interpret science in a manner that can serve to resolve everyday challenges.
“GEMS is positioned to ignite a spark within every girl in the society to do great things for our society, the Niger Delta region, and for our collective future,” Semenitari stated, and called on corporate organizations including oil and gas companies in the region to partner with the commission to develop the girl-child in various “GEMS-related careers.”
In the statement, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said the GEMS Programme provided the girl-child with unique opportunity to excel in male-dominated science disciplines.
It disclosed that the minister has also established a gender desk for women with objective of mentoring most importantly, the girl –child in primary and secondary schools.
The statement also quoted the minister as saying that,” the Niger Delta region is highly endowed with enormous human capital and natural resources which make it very strategic to the socio-economic development of the nation,” and promised that the ministry would partner with NDDC to develop women and the girl-child.
The minister, who was represented at the event by a Director in the ministry, Dr Nnenna Okoronkwo, urged the beneficiaries of the award not to relent in their pursuit of academic excellence.

 

Chris Oluoh

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Electricity Boost: Abia Launches Waste-To-Energy Project 

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5 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, says the state is no longer experiencing power failures caused by frequent collapses of the national grid.
This is as his administration begins investing in converting organic waste Into electricity.
Speaking to the media at the State Government House, last Thursday, Governor Otti revealed that waste products are now being transformed into renewable energy through Biogas.
He stated that the state is no longer fully under the supervision of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
Otti explained that the new arrangement has been negotiated and accepted by the the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), the utility firm responsible for power distribution in Abia.
In his words “This is a pilot programme. Instead of discarding waste, we can convert it into clean energy, enabling us to power numerous areas, particularly the Umuahia In-Farms.
 “I had earlier reported that our proposals to EEDC have been accepted, and we are in the process of raising funds to settle obligations with them.
“On 24th December, the Abia State Electricity Regulation Authority took iver the regulation of power from NERC. From now on, generation, transmission, and distribution will be regulated within the state.”
Otti highlighted that the initiative is aimed at improving efficiency and achieving energy independence, similar to how Aba Power provides electricity for the Aba In-Farms.
“You may Have noticed that during some recent national grid collapses, our state remained unaffected because a significant portion of our power infrastructure is now under our authority,” he said.
Governor Otti further expressed optimism on the Progress of the programme saying “That is the entire purpose acquiring the Umuahia in-farms, and i am pleased with the advancements we are making in this regard.”
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NUPRC Pledges Transparency In 2025 Oil Pre – Bid Round

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5 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has reiterated its dedication to a transparent process for the 2025 Oil Bid Round.
The Chief Executive, NUPRC,  Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, while speaking at a Pre-Bid Webinar, at the Weekend, emphasized that the process is an opportunity for investors to participate in a stable, rules-based system that fosters genuine value creation.
Eyesan disclosed that the process involves five steps including “Registration, Pre-qualification, Data acquisition, Technical bid submission, and Evaluation and Commercial Bid Conference.
“This has been done to increase competitiveness and a response to capital mobility,”.
“Only candidates with strong technical and financial credentials will move forward, chosen through a transparent merit-based process”.
She noted that with President Bola Tinubu’s approval, signature bonuses have been adjusted to reduce entry barriers, prioritizing technical capabilities, credible programs, financial strength, and production delivery speed.
“Let me state clearly that the bid process will comply with the PIA 2021, promote the use of digital tools, for smooth data access and remain open to public, and international and institutional scrutiny through partners like NEITI, and other oversight agencies. Indeed, transparency is an integral part of our process,” she stated.
“To further strengthen the process, today’s Webinar, the first of its kind, aims to clarify bid requirements and helps you participate effectively before the tender deadline as well. We also invite your questions and feedback to improve the licensing round process and outcomes.
“In closing, let me emphasize that the Nigerian 2025 Licensing Round is not merely a bidding exercise; it is a clear signal of a reimagined Upstream Sector anchored on the rule of law, driven by data, aligned with global investment realities, and focused on long term value creation”, the NUPRC boss stated.
The 2025 Licensing Round, launched on December 1, 2025, offers 50 oil and gas blocks across various terrains, including frontier, onshore, shallow water, and deep water.
Since then, all licensing materials have been posted on the Commission’s portal, and dedicated support channels have been created to address applicant inquiries.
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Dangote Refinery Affirms 75m Litres PMS, 25m Litres Diesel Daily Supply 

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5 days ago

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February 2, 2026

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery has reaffirmed its capacity to supply fuel volumes significantly more than Nigeria’s estimated domestic consumption.
The refinery said it can supply 75 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) daily against an estimated national consumption of 50 million litres.
The company, in a statement issued to Journalists, at the Weekend, also said it has capacity to supply 25 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) compared with an estimated daily demand of 14 million litres, along side capacity to supply 20 million litres of aviation fuel daily, above the estimated maximum domestic consumption of four million litres.
According to the refinery, the availability of volumes above prevailing demand provides critical supply buffers, enhances market stability and reduces reliance on imports, particularly during periods of peak demand or logistical disruption.
“The management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery would like to reiterate our capability to supply the underlisted petroleum products of the highest international quality standard to marketers and stakeholders,” the company said in a public notice.
The refinery reaffirmed its commitment to full regulatory compliance and continued cooperation with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), stating that its supply approach is aligned with ongoing efforts to ensure market stability and orderly downstream operations.
The refinery said it remains fully engaged with regulators and industry stakeholders in support of Nigeria’s national energy security objectives, as the country deepens its transition from fuel import dependence to domestic refining.
It expressed willingness to work closely with market participants to ensure that the benefits of local refining, including reliable supply, competitive pricing and improved market discipline are delivered consistently to consumers nationwide.
The statement added “With domestic refining capacity expanding, stakeholders believe Nigeria is increasingly positioned to reduce foreign exchange exposure, improve supply security and strengthen downstream efficiency through locally refined petroleum products”.
By: Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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