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Modular Refinery: IYC Advises FG

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9 years ago

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The Secretary-General of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC), Comrade Bristol Alagbaria, has advised the Federal Government, not to do away with the local way of refining petroleum products but work towards improving on it.
Alagbaria who was a quest on a radio news and current affairs programme in Port Harcourt, recently, gave the advice following Federal Government’s plans to establish modular refineries in the Niger Delta region, using youths floating illegal refineries to manage them.
The IYC Secretary general who also lamented that the youth of Rivers State were not given an audience at the Stake holders interactive session with the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, asked the Federal Government to stop the alleged intimidation of youths in the area using the military.
“This local technology that has its roots from the Niger Delta should be developed, using experts, and as well as carry out research on them.
“It is cheap, it is economical and if it is improved upon, we can also export that knowledge across the world”, he said.
He added that, if the Federal Government has plans to set up the modular refineries and in addition import equipment to the region then it would be a welcome development.
He however averred that the local technology of refining crude oil into other sources of energy should not be done away with.
“If they are talking about modular refinery and they want to bring in the machines and everything,  it is good but that local technology should not be jettisoned”, he said.
Similarly, the National Publicity Secretary, IYC, Comrade Victor Burubo, who was also a quest on the programme, said non-militant youths in the region should also be engaged as well as the repentant militants.
Burubo said the militants should not be encouraged by recognizing them above well-behaved Niger Delta Youths.
“Nigerian governments from 1960 have been notorious for ignoring people until they make trouble. “Even the suggestion that those who are into illegal refining business, would have government cooperate with them, and establish modular refineries so that they can be engaged, what of the teeming youths of the Niger Delta who have done none of these”, he asked.
The IYC National publicity Secretary, questioned the rationale behind the neglect of those who have not been into kidnapping, carrying guns and doing illegal refining business.
“You Ignore those that have not done such things and go ahead to satisfy only those who have caused trouble, thereby creating the impression that if you want to be heared, you have to cause trouble and that is very unfortunate”, he said

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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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