Business

Petroleum Engineers Advocate Free Trade Zone For Renewable Energy

Published

7 years ago

July 20, 2018

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) on Thursday urged the Federal Government to create Free Trade Zone (FTZ) that would develop renewable energy and increase investment opportunities.
The Chairman, SPE Nigeria Council, Mr Chikezie Nwosu, made the plea at a press briefing ahead of the SPE’s Nigeria Annual International Conference and Exhibition 2018 slated to hold in Lagos from Aug. 6 to 8.
Our correspondent reports that theme of the conference is entitled: “Diversification of the Nigerian Economy- the Oil and Gas Industry as an Enabler’’.
Nwosu said that diversification of the Nigerian economy from conventional crude oil to renewable energy would go a long way in addressing the threat on dwindling global demand for oil.
He said: “The National Gas Policy must open the vast opportunities to deliver energy and earn significant revenue from our abundant gas resources.
“We are the regional giants in gas and the entire West African, possibly sub-Saharan Africa; the region’s economy will boom, if Nigeria gets it right.’’
He said it has become clear that, with anticipated growth in energy demand, the world was rapidly moving toward an age of cleaner sources of energy.
According to him, with the demand for fossil fuels, this will mean a greater reliance on gas and less reliance on oil and coal.
He said that hydroelectric and gas powered cars would replace diesel engines and with time, gasoline engines.
“With our population, a booming West African region will create huge opportunities in just about any industry.
“Nigerian companies in the renewable energy space, solar, wind, biomass, among others, will also benefit from the human capital we have developed,’’ Nwosu said.
He said that creating the right business environment for the industry to thrive would give room for the much-needed diversification.
According to him, the need for Nigeria to get a FTZ that will concentrate on developing the renewable energy, the better for the country to grow the sector.
“The growing investments in renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind, becomes evident that Nigeria must rethink its energy policy to solidify on the gains in the oil and gas industry.
“We must leverage on these leanings to prepare for an energy mix that will become less reliant on the more polluting fossil fuels,’’ he added.
Nwosu said that there was need to urgently implement the National Gas Policy and maximise the huge gas reserve in a bid to facilitate the diversification of the nation’s economy.
“We have a potential to produce over 20 billion standard cubic feet per day, that is only leveraging on the known contingent 180 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves.”

Business

NPA Assures On Staff Welfare

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

The Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Dr. Abubakar Dantsoho, has said the management will continue to accompany its port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive with the development of the welfare of its personnel.

Dantsoho made the disclosure recently while responding to the commendation by the Maritime Workers Union (MWUN) and the senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations and Government-Owned Companies (SSASGOC) on the clearing of the age-long problem of employee stagnation, when the union paid him a courtesy visit at the Authority’s headquarters in Lagos.

A Statement by NPA’s General Manager Corporate & Strategic Communications, Mr. Ikechukwu Onyemekara, quoted Dantsoho as saying, “our Port infrastructure and equipment modernization drive will go hand-in-hand with continuous staff welfare improvement”.

The NPA MD disclosed that human capital development constitutes the key strategy for creating and sustaining superior performance under his watch, adding that “talent development constitutes a critical success factor for the actualization of the big hairy audacious goals we have set for ourselves especially in the area of Port competitiveness.

“The only way we can meet and indeed exceed stakeholders’ expectations is to deepen the competencies of our human resources assets and boosting their morale.”

Speaking further, Dantsoho commended the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, for approving the strategic proposal of the Dantsoho-led Management team that solved the over a decade-long problem of lack of promotion that had fuelled industrial disharmony.

“I must specially appreciate our amiable Minister for graciously approving the multi-pronged stratagem we deployed that cleared all outstanding cases of employee stagnation by conducting examinations in one fell swoop and instituted timelines to forestall a recurrence of such anomaly”, he sad.

Speaking on behalf of the joint maritime labour unions, the President of Senior Staff Association of Statutory Corporations & Government-Owned Companies (SSASCGOC), Comrade Bodunde stated, “In addition to clearance of the backlog of stagnated promotions, we also wish to express our appreciation for the increase in productivity bonuses, provision of end-of-year welfare packages for staff, and the revision of the Financial Guide to the Condition of Service, which now addresses our members’ concerns about inflationary pressures.”

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

National Secretary of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA), Elder Olumide Fakanlu, has been elected Vice President of the Federation of ECOWAS Licensed Customs Brokers Association (FELCBA).

The election took place during the FELCBA Congress, held from Tuesday, June 17th to Thursday, June 19th, 2025, in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

Fakanlu’s emergence as Vice President marks a significant achievement for Nigeria within the regional customs brokerage community.

Apart from Fakanlu, Secretary of the Seme Chapter of ANLCA, Austin Nwosu, was also elected, securing the role of Secretary of Relations with Institutions.

The Nigerian delegation played an active role in the congress, with Michael Ebeatu nominated as a member of the electoral officer team, ensuring a fair and transparent election process.

The three-day congress concluded with delegates undertaking a visit to the Sierra Leone Port, offering insights into the host nation’s maritime operations, followed by a recreational trip to the Tokeh Beach.

The newly elected executives are expected to lead FELCBA in its efforts to harmonize customs brokerage practices, promote trade facilitation, and advocate for the interests of licensed customs brokers across the ECOWAS sub-region.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

Business

NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement

Published

3 days ago

June 27, 2025

The Tide

In a bid to enhance more enforcement in the nation’s Port, the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has reaffirmed its commitment to stronger inter-agency collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force (NPF).

The Council said the collaboration is aimed at enhancing stronger enforcement, compliance and improve operational efficiency across Nigeria’s ports.

Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of NSC, Dr. Pius Akutah, made this known during a visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

The visit, which he said, focused on strengthening institutional synergy, comes in the wake of growing responsibilities for the NSC under the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

Akutah emphasized the critical role of security agencies in supporting port operations and ensuring regulatory compliance.

He called for the posting of police officers to assist the Council’s monitoring and enforcement teams at key port locations including Lagos, Warri, Onne, Port Harcourt, and Calabar.

“The posting will complement the activities of our revived task teams and enhance our ability to enforce standards across the maritime logistics chain”, he said.

Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Egbetokun, assured the Council of the Force’s readiness to continue supporting the growth of the maritime sector.

The IGP acknowledged that compliance enforcement is essential to the successful implementation of Nigeria’s Blue Economy objectives.

“The NSC and NPF are expected to deepen collaboration in the months ahead, with a shared focus on building a secure, efficient, and competitive port environment”, to the IGP emphasized.

Chinedu Wosu