Business
Eleme Bridge Collapse: The Untold Story
Eleme, like other Niger Delta Communities, stands on a Pinnacle of Wealth, but the natural disposition of the area as the hub of hydrocarbon exploration and development in Nigeria seems to have turned a mirage for the people.
The height of this ironical situation was the recent collapse of the Alode bridge which has resulted in untold suffering for the people and other users of that axis of the East-West Road.
Since the collapse of the bridge, three days ago, tension and anxieties have continued to mount, as life is now unbearable for the teeming road users.
Commercial motorists, tanker drivers and private vehicles owners that ply the route are presently cut off, as the major link road is now shut down.
Angered by the prevailing circumstance, youths from Eleme communities now besiege the road on daily basis in protest, calling for a total shut down of vehicular movement until permanent solution is put to the problem.
The protesting youths in a voiced discontent, said they have consistently raised alarm over the deplorable condition of the road, but such appeals seem to fall on deaf ears.
The aggrieved youths pointed out that before the final collapse of the bridge, users of that axis of the East-West Road, experienced grave difficulties trying to get to their destinations.
Rather than give urgent attention to the deplorable state of the road, the youth, said tankers loaded with petroleum products and other heavy lorries belonging to the various multi-nationals operating in the area continued to stretch the aging bridge until it collapsed.
With the mounting tensions, an orgy of violence is imminent, as the youths have vowed to continue with the protest even in the face of military resistance.
A visit to the road last weekend revealed shootings by soldiers to disperse the protesting youths, leading to a pandemonium, as pedestrians scampered for safety from stray bullets.
Travelling the route is now nightmares as a long file of pedestrians was spotted trekking from Akpajo junction to Refinery Junction where vehicular movement is a little bit freer.
The languid spectacle of line-up of stationary heavy trucks and tankers and the spectacle of pedestrians in long files trying to meet up their appointments painted an odious scene of organised chaos.
Some of the road users who spoke with The Tide, during a visit to the road, bemoaned what they considered the “total neglect of the road, despite the fact that it was the major access route to the two federal terminals, a Mega Petrochemical Plant, Port Harcourt Refinery and myriads of other multi-nationals that prospect for the economic fortune of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority”.
A commercial bus driver, Mr Akanimo Udosen, lamented the sufferings to which the road users are subjected as a result of the collapse of the bridge.
Akanimo, who decried the loss of man hour as a result of the collapse of the bridge, thanked God for ensuring that no life was lost in the unfortunate incident.
He called on the Federal Government to construct the road and save the road users from further sufferings.
A private car owner, Engr Festus Tor, said the road has become a death trap for drivers. Tor said the total breakdown of the road had caused severe difficulties to him as he now parks his car and uses Okada, which takes advantage of the situation to swindle the public with exorbitant fares.
Another commercial bus driver, simply known as Mr David, who plies Port Harcourt-Bori route, said the bad road has severely affected his business.
He said commercial drivers now pass through Ban Ogo 1, in Tai Local Government Area through a meandering track route to Afam, Oyigbo before getting to Port Harcourt. This development, he said, has resulted in the increase in Transport fare from Bori to Port Harcourt, while a journey of two hours is now five hours, according to him, the fare which was previously N400, is now N700.
Apart from the increase in the transport fare, he said, the journey has become risky because of the narrow bush track, which is now also used by heavy trailers.
Also in apparent protest to the bad road, tanker drivers in the state have also embarked on an indefinite strike action.
According to the Zonal Chairman of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, Comrade Charles Aleto, the strike is not an industrial action intended to bring hardship to the people but to save the lives of its members.
Aleto said the continuous movement of tanker drivers on the road was dangerous, adding that the strike may be sustained if the Federal Government failed to fix the road. Aleto called on the Federal Government to treat the road as a matter of national emergency, as companies have also, within the past few days, suffered incalculable losses which “vehicles cannot carry products to their target destinations as a result of poor shape of the road”.
A stakeholder in the Oil and Gas Sector, Mr Ali Nyobana, has warned that if the road is not fixed as a matter of urgency, it may result to scarcity of petroleum products in the state.
“It is regrettable that, the road had been abandoned to declay to its present state of disrepair, it is the major route for tankers to carry petroleum products for distribution.
If nothing is done, then there may be fuel scarcity”, he stated.
A social activist, Mr Christain Lekia, described the situation as “the height of political gimmickry and insensitivity to the plight of the people. It is something of a puzzle that the federal government would neglect the major road that leads to its economic nerve wire”.
According to Lekia, the situation amounts to “snuffering of life out of the proverbial goose that lays the golden egg”.
Also in apparent reaction to the bad road, the Ogoni Youth Federation (OYF), has expressed dismay at the state of events in the area.
Coordinator of the Eleme Chapter of the Organisation, Comrade Nwigbalor Gideon Gad, expressed shock over the abandonment of the road, despite its strategic importance to the Nigerian economy. He said the government should urgently swing into action to avert further disaster on the road. He said “the sacrifice of Eleme to the Nigerian economy has turned awry for the people who are now cut off from the rest of the world”.
Apart from serving as a major route to the various companies in the area, the collapsed bridge is also a major route to adjoining L.G.As like Khana, Gokana, Andoni, Okrika, Tai, Opobo/Nkoro and states like Akwa Ibom and Cross River.
The said road had been a major subject of public concern and criticism. Many pundits blame the state of the road on partisan intrigues and lack of political will.
With apparent failure of remediation and palliative measures in fixing the road, it has now become a national emergency to put the road in proper shape to ameliorate the plight of the people. It could be recalled that recently, the Acting President of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, commissioned the world’s largest single-line Urea fertilizer plant, estimated at over $4 billion in Eleme.
The months ahead will, therefore, determine the seriousness or otherwise of government to create a sustainable access route to the mega plant, with 1.5 million tonnes per annum capacity, which places Nigeria on a vantage economic position of being the largest exporter of urea in the world.
Taneh Beemene
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), in partnership with a firm, Sweetcrude Ltd., has announced detailed selection criteria for the inaugural “Champions of Nigerian Content Awards”, designed to honor outstanding contributions to local content development in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The Tide learnt that the event, scheduled to hold 21st May, 2025, at the NCDMB’S content tower headquarters in Yenagoa, capital of Bayelsa State, will recognize individuals and organizations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to advancing Nigerian Content in 2024.
The Tide further gathered that the ceremony will coincide with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), which promises to spotlighting industry excellence and contributions to national economic transformation.
A statement by the Board’s Directorate of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination says the event has 12 Award Categories, which include, “Nigerian Content Icon of the Year”, “Nigerian Content Lifetime Achievement Award”, “Nigerian Content International Upstream Operator of the year”, and the “Nigerian Content Independent Upstream Operator of the year”.
Others are, “Nigerian Content Midstream Operator of the year”, “Nigerian Content Downstream Operator of the year”, “Nigerian Content International Service Company of the year”, Nigerian Content Indigenous Service Company of the year”, and the “Nigerian Content Innovator of the year”.
Also included are, “Nigerian Content Financial Services Provider of the year”, “Nigerian Content Media Organization of the year”, and “Women in Leadership Award for Promoting Gender Equality and Empowerment”.
According to the NCDMB, the criteria for oil and gas operators will include key and empirical benchmarks such as Production output for crude oil and gas volumes, Compliance with Nigerian Content Plans (NCPs) and Nigerian Content Compliance Certificates (NCCCs).
Other criteria are adherence to NOGICD Act reporting requirements, such as submission of Nigerian Content Performance Reports and Employment & Training Plans.
The Board’s statement added that similar criteria will apply to financial institutions, media organizations, and individuals, ensuring a transparent and merit-based selection process.
“Winners for the Nigerian Content Icon of the Year, Innovator of the Year, and Women in Leadership Award will also be selected based on measurable performance indicators.
“The Advisory Committee of Industry Titans will Oversee the process to uphold the prestige of awards. The Committee consist of distinguished experts set up to oversee nominations and validate winners”, the NCDMB said.
Members of the committee, according to the Board, include: Pioneer Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Dr. Ernest Nwapa; Secretary-General, African Petroleum Producers Organization, Dr. Omar Farouk; and former Zonal Operations Controller, DPR, Mr. Woke Akinyosoye.
The Statement quoted the Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, as emphasizing that the awards aim to becoming the oil and gas sector’s equivalent of the Oscars, celebrating genuine impact rather than mere participation.
“This recognition is reserved for those who have gone beyond compliance to drive tangible growth in Nigerian Content.
“With a focus on credibility, compliance, and measurable impact, the Champions of Nigerian Content Awards is poised to set a new standard for excellence in Nigeria’s energy sector”, the NCDMB Executive Scribe said.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
Nigeria’s apex Banking institution, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), has declared that Federal Government’s debt servicing increased to N696billion in January 2025.
The CBN’s recently published Economic Report revealed a precarious fiscal position, which worsened in January 2025 as debt servicing obligations exceeded total retained revenue by a wide margin.
According to the report, the Federal Government’s debt servicing obligations for the month stood at N696.27bn, while total retained revenue amounted to only N483.47bn, indicating that debt service alone consumed about 144 per cent of all government earnings.
This development highlights the growing debt burden and dwindling fiscal space facing Africa’s largest economy.
According to the report, despite slight improvements in some revenue categories, the retained earnings were grossly inadequate to cover obligatory debt repayments, exposing the government’s continued reliance on borrowing to meet basic obligations.
The report further revealed that retained revenue in January 2025 only recorded a marginal 0.89 per cent increase when compared with the N479.21bn generated in the corresponding month of 2024.
”FGN retained revenue declined in the review period, owing largely to lower receipts from Federal Government Independent Revenue and FGN’s share of exchange gain.
“At N0.48tn, provisional FGN retained revenue was 69.19 and 70.40 per cent below the levels recorded in the preceding period and monthly target, respectively”, it revealed.
While this points to stagnation rather than growth, the marginal rise was wiped out by the overwhelming debt service obligations.
The retained revenue components showed that the Federation Account contributed N167.69bn, while the VAT Pool Account delivered N90.73bn.
By: Corlins Walter
The Federal Government has announced plans to commence the payment of the outstanding N35,000 wage award arrears owed workers in the Federal Civil Service.
A statement issued by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), which was signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Bawa Mokwa, said the outstanding arrears will be paid in instalments, with workers set to receive N35,000 per month for five months.
It clarified that the first tranche of the wage award arrears would be released immediately after the April salary payment.
“The wage award arrears was not paid with the April 2025 salary; it will come immediately after the salary is paid”, the statement read.
The Federal Government had earlier disbursed wage awards to federal workers for five months as part of efforts to cushion the impact of economic reforms. However, five months’ arrears remained unpaid.
The AGF office further reiterated the government’s commitment to fully implementing all policies and agreements relating to staff remuneration and welfare, noting that such efforts were geared towards enhancing productivity and operational efficiency across ministries, departments, and agencies.
The N35,000 wage award was introduced in 2023 as a palliative measure to support workers following the removal of the petrol subsidy and other economic adjustments.
In January this year, the Federal Government assured workers that it would clear the arrears of the N35,000 wage award, just as it also said the government had resumed the payment of the wage award.
The government also reiterated its commitment to addressing issues in the National Minimum Wage agreement reached with the Organised Labour in 2023.
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, had disclosed the government’s commitment towards implementing agreements with trade unions during separate meetings with the leadership of the Trade Union Congress and Congress of University Academics, in Abuja.
The Nigeria Labour Congress had criticised the Federal Government over the delay in the payment of the minimum wage for certain workers in the federal civil service.
Also, the Federal Government had earlier blamed the delay in payment on the prolonged approval of the 2025 budget.
By: Corlins Walter