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NAEE President Wants Buhari To Sign PIGB
The President, Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE), Prof. Wumi Iledare, last Saturday urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sign the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) before 2019 elections campaigns begin.
Iledare made the call at a pre-conference news briefing in Abuja, ahead of the 11th NAEE/IAEE International Conference beginning today.
The National Assembly passed the bill on March 28 following the unanimous adoption of a report on the Bill presented by Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Upstream), Sen. Tayo Alasoadura.
In passing the bill, the lawmakers approved in it, five per cent levy on petroleum products sold in the country.
Iledare urged Buhari to assent to the bill quickly as it still had 12 months to 24 months transition period after the president’s assent “to cushion any event of macro-economic shock”.
“I am not saying he shouldn’t evaluate. He should not assent to it without reviewing it further and that is why we have separation of powers.
“I think he has sent the bill to some critical sectors in the executive arm to look at it to get informed. If I am to advise the executive, I will say look ahead, not the now.
“If I were the president, I will sign it before the election campaigns begin because it will give him something to say look, I have done it after 18 years.
“The president needs an energy council, a competent body of energy professionals to look at the energy supply mix for Nigeria, just like you have in some other places.
“The reason why you see the shale gas developments in the U.S. is because of the Potential Natural Gas Committee that has existed for many years.
“I said this when Buhari came to power, that there is an energy council that is moribund and should be revamped,’’ Iledare said.
He said the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) was experiencing under-recovery because it could not recover what it pays for in dollars using naira in an unstable market.
“We warned the government then, at that particular time there was an opportunity not to put any price because the price on the street was already N200.
“Unfortunately, you cannot recover what you pay for in dollars using naira, when the exchange rate is unstable and that is what we have.
“I think also that if you look at the industry, we are not in any way operating a deregulated downstream, what we have is what I will call a price ceiling that has been misinterpreted as a price floor.
“This means that when you have a price ceiling, you do not want the price to go beyond that yet, the equilibrium price is somewhere high.
“This is because when you have a price floor, equilibrium is supposed to be below the price floor, and that is more or less a misinterpretation.’’
According to him, under-recovery will not continue for a long time because when the PIGB is assented to, the NNPC becomes a commercial entity with shareholders that will receive dividends.
“This means that there will be key performance indicators that whoever is heading NNPC will deliver to shareholders,’’ Iledare said.
On his part, Vice President of NAEE, Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, said he was worried about the structure of subsidy in Nigeria.
“If you look at Kerosene, the poor people buy it at market price; diesel, the companies buy at market price and petrol, which is the product that is widely used by the elite, is the one that has this kind of issue.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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