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Stakeholders Okay Modular Refineries Plan …Projects Excite Buhari’s Aide
Local refinery operators and some stakeholders in Bayelsa State yesterday commended the proposed liberalisation of modular refineries by the Federal Government to drive development in the Niger Delta region.
Acting President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, had during his last tour of oil communities announced that the Federal Government would establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta to drive its development strategy for the region. Owner and operator of an artisanal refinery in Bayelsa, Mr. Roland kiente told newsmen that the policy if implemented would transform the economic fortunes of the oil bearing communities in the Niger Delta.
“Those of us currently doing the business are pleased with the proposed plans by the Federal Government.
“We have been advocating for it for long and I have been very vocal in calling on government to come down to our level and assist.
“Our advice, however, is that government should not politicise it, they should identify those who are already in the business and leverage on their expertise also enhance their capacities.
“Those with some kind of experience will be easier to train for the pilot scheme.
“And we shall be more than willing to work with the government to showcase our skills, before now they had branded us illegal and saboteurs.
“But what we are doing is source crude and refine; it is those who sell the crude to us that are involved in illegality.
“Also that has been denting the image of the vocation of local refining; we are driven by entrepreneur instinct to survive.
“There is a big misconception, the artisanal refiners just like the big refineries buy crude from people who get it from illegal sources, so when the government comes in, everything will be formalised.
“With government involvement the revenue will be paid into government coffers rather than individuals who break pipelines to steal crude, it is those persons that are illegal not we that refine and sell’’, Kiente said.
In his reaction, Special Assistant to Bayelsa Governor on Niger Delta Youth Matters, Mr. Kenedy West noted that the modular refinery concept was a novel concept that could transform the Niger Delta region.
“It is a strong answer to eliminate unsafe illegal refineries which are dangerous to our environment.
“The modular refinery is a perfect solution to the dangers of what our people are doing.
“Legitimizing it to make room for small investors, who may not have the capital to build big refineries can build smaller refineries.
“The benefits are so enormous amongst which is increasing the local refining capacity.
“It will organise the local refineries operators into companies and encourage the people of the region to invest in local refining according to the level of their capital under a controlled and regulated framework
“It is wonderful idea that we support but it involves a lot; and we all have to work together to achieve success from it, there is a role for stakeholders,” West said.
An Environmentalist, Mr. Alagoa Morris also applauded the government for acceding to the yearnings of the people but called for the establishment of standards to protect the environment.
He advocated for baseline Environmental Impact Assessment studies by experts and putting in place safety measures prior to establishment of the refineries to ensure they run in an environmentally sustainable manner.
“It is thumbs up to the government and we want the refineries to be driven by the Niger Delta people.
“They should be organised into cooperatives with ownership of shares and incorporation of real companies.
“( “Government should set the standards and enforce; it also should establish formal channels where the operators of the refineries should buy crude officially to check the menace of oil theft.
“The refineries will definitely provide job opportunities and help in tackling the security challenges in the region’’, Morris said.
An Ex-Militant leader, Mr. Ramsey Mukoro who also spoke in favour of the proposed modular refineries, noted that it would provide jobs for the teeming youths in oil communities.
He said that when young minds are meaningfully engaged, they would direct their youthful energies to productive ventures.
Meanwhile, the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Retired Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh says the Federal Government planned liberalisation of modular refineries will boost development in the oil rich Niger Delta region.
Boroh, who is also the Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, assured the people of the region that the proposed modular refineries in oil producing communities would usher in a new era in the Niger Delta region.
Gen. Boroh in a statement made available to newsmen on Saturday in Yenagoa, reiterated the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to develop the Niger Delta region.
He maintained that the intention to make oil producing communities the hub for refining and related activities would put them in a better position to drive the local economy.
Boroh appealed to the youths to be calm, focused and more articulate in their quest for better living conditions and take advantage of the good gestures of the present administration.
The amnesty coordinator explained that the Federal Government is seeking better ways for Niger Delta people to participate in the development process of the region through meaningful engagements.
According to the amnesty boss, the Federal Government’s new partnership arrangement will bring about an unprecedented infrastructural development in the region.
Boroh commended the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for taking the pains to identify with the people through his tour of the region.
According to Boroh, the planned oil-communities-intervention-meeting by the Federal Government to chart short, medium and long term development blueprint was a strategy to enhance the socio-economic activities in the region.
He expressed the hope that with the proposed coming on stream of modular refineries, the ex-agitators and other youths in the region will be meaningfully engaged in decent jobs.
Meanwhile, the leadership of Phase II ex-agitators in the Niger Delta region in a reaction to the development, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for demonstrating his sincere wish for the people of the region,
The ex-agitators said that the option of allowing modular refineries to be located in oil bearing communities, speaks volume of the sincere intentions of the present administration towards the Niger Delta youths
Chairman of the Phase II ex-agitators,Mr Salvation Rifus, told newsmen that the tour of the oil communities by the acting president had shown that the Federal Government was committed to development .
He noted that the decision to allow the communities to legally operate modular refineries was the best thing that has happened to the people, describing it as a welcome development.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Rivers Council, has called for policies that will improve the economic situation of the country in order to ensure enhanced living standard for workers.
The State Chairman, Mr Alex Agwanwor, made the remark on behalf of the unions affiliated to Labour Congress during the 2025 workers day celebration in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Agwanwor highlighted the demands of the Unions which included the immediate payment of pension arrears, implementation of the N32,000 minimum wage for pensioners, and payment of gratuities and death benefits without further delay.
“We are calling for the regulation and protection of e-hailing drivers, implementation of increments and promotions, and resolution of long-standing issues in the polytechnic sector,” he said.
Agwanwor on behalf of the unions appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reinstate the democratically elected Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly.
He stressed the importance of democratic governance and good working relationship with elected representatives.
According to him, the unions expressed disappointment over the imposition of taxes, increase in electricity tariff, and high cost of goods and services, which have further worsened the plight of workers.
“We urge the federal government to take measures to alleviate the suffering of citizens,” he said.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima says President Bola Tinubu is committed to unlocking Nigeria’s full potential and position the country as a leading force on the African continent.
Shettima stated this when he hosted a delegation from the Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, led by its Senior Fellow, Dr Rolf Alter, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja last Wednesday.
He said Nigeria was actively seeking expertise from the global best institutions to enhance policy formulation and implementation, particularly in human capital development.
The Vice-President noted that President Tinubu was determined to elevate Nigeria to its rightful position as a leading force in Africa.
“The current crop of leadership in Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is ready and willing to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian nation on the African continent.
” We are laying the groundwork through strategic reforms, and at the heart of it, is human capital development.”
He described the Hertie School as a valuable partner in the journey.
According to him, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin, has track record and institutional knowledge to add value to our policy formulation and delivery, especially in this disruptive age.
Shettima reiterated the government’s priority on upskilling Nigerians, saying ” skills are very important, and with our Human Capital Development (HCD) 2.0 programme.
“We are in a position to unleash the full potential of the Nigerian people by enhancing their capital skills.”
The Vice-President acknowledged the vital support of international development partners in that effort.
” I want to thank the World Bank, the European Union, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and all our partners in that drive to add value to the Nigerian nation,” he maintained.
The Vice-President said human capital development was both an economic imperative and a social necessity.
Shettima assured the delegation of the government’s readiness to deepen cooperation.
” We need the skills and the capacity from your school. The world is now knowledge-driven.
“I wish to implore you to have a very warm and robust partnership with the government and people of Nigeria.”
Shettima further explained recent economic decisions of the government, including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange reforms.
“The removal of fuel subsidy, the unification of the exchange rate regime and the revolution in the energy sector are all painful processes, but at the end of the day, the Nigerian people will laugh last.
“President Tinubu is a very modern leader who is willing to take far-reaching, courageous decisions to reposition the Nigerian economy,” he added.
Earlier, Alter, congratulated the Tinubu administration for the successful launch and implementation of the Human Capital Development (HCD) strategy.
The group leader described the development as ambitious and targeted towards the improvement of the lives of the citizens.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of his engagements since arriving in the country.
He applauded the zeal, commitment, energy and goodwill observed among stakeholders in the implementation of Nigeria’s HCD programme.
Alter said the Hertie School of Governance would work closely with authorities in Nigeria across different levels to deliver programmes specifically designed to address the unique needs of the country.
He, however, stressed the need for government officials at different levels to be agile and amenable to the dynamics of the evolving world, particularly as Nigeria attempted to successfully accelerate its human capital development aspirations.
The Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board says it has begun the compilation of list of retired civil servants who have defaulted on the full repayment of housing loans obtained.
Head of Information and Public Relations, FGSHLB, Mrs Ngozi Obiechina, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja, yesterday.
Obiechina quoted the Executive Secretary of the Board, Mrs Salamatu Ahmed, as saying that the move was aimed at recovering mortgaged properties from retirees who failed to meet their loan obligations.
Ahmed noted that the decision followed a recent memo issued by Mrs Patience Oyekunle, Permanent Secretary, Career Management Office, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
According to her, the memo reminded public servants of the mandatory requirement to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness to the FGSHLB and MDA Staff Multipurpose Cooperative Society as a precondition for retirement.
The Executive Secretary said that the board would take necessary legal steps to repossess properties where applicable, in line with the terms of the loan agreements.
She said this was in line with the provisions of the Public Service Rules 021002 (p), issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“I am directed to bring to your attention the provision of Public Service Rule (PSR) 021002 (p), which mandates all public servants to obtain a Certificate of Non-Indebtedness as a prerequisite for retirement.
“The Federal Government will commence the seizure of mortgaged properties belonging to retiring federal public servants who have failed to fully repay housing loans obtained from the board,” she said.
Ahmed explained that the FGSHLB reserves the legal right to repossess any mortgaged property in cases where a public servant exits service without fully repaying the loan.
She reiterated that the directive also applied to already retired officers who were still indebted.
She urged all affected public servants to regularise their loan status and obtain the required clearance certificate without delay.
“The board is currently compiling a list of such retirees, which will be forwarded to relevant regulatory agencies for debt recovery.
“The FGSHLB remains committed to enforcing compliance and ensuring proper loan recovery procedures are followed, “ she added.
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