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Lawan Vows To Break Jinx On PIB Passage …Tasks Oil Firms On CSR
President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, yesterday, pledged to ensure conclusive reform in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, saying that the Ninth National Assembly would quicken the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) for the benefit of all.
Lawan stated this when he hosted the Chief Executive Officer of the ExxonMobil Group of Companies, Mr Pul McGrath, who led the team of Executives from the company to his office in Abuja.
The President of the Senate noted that several failed attempts have been made by previous assemblies to conclude the passage of the PIB.
He said, “We came closer to it in the 8th Assembly. We disaggregated the bill, we did better than previous assemblies, but unfortunately, we ran out of time. We have a vibrant team now, I promise Nigerians, we will start as soon as we inaugurate our committees and they will start the work on the PIB.
“This time around, we will work with every stakeholder in the industry. Whatsoever it will take to make this Bill beneficial to Nigerians and the players, we will not hesitate.
“We demand your collaboration. We will work together in the interest of the country and everyone”, Lawan said.
Lawan also seized the occasion to call on multinational companies which operate in the Niger Delta region to, as a matter of priority, intensify efforts to deliver on their corporate social responsibilities (CSRs).
According to him, “Corporate Social Responsibility is one area that requires our attention. The host community that produces this oil must be taken care of. The goose that lays the golden eggs must be protected,” Lawan advised.
Earlier, the ExxonMobil CEO, Mr Paul McGrath, had congratulated the President of the Senate and the leadership for the smooth take off the Ninth Senate, even as he promised that ExxonMobil was always available to work with the parliament on reforms in the sector.
MaGrath promised an unalloyed support for Nigeria and her people,
“We look forward to closer working relationship with the Ninth National Assembly, and in particular, the Senate. We will support the reform in the industry and our commitment is intact”, MacGrath said.
However, the Senate, yesterday, passed a motion to increase budgetary allocation for the management of Primary Health Care (PHC) in the country.
The resolution of the Senate was hinged on a motion sponsored by Sen. Oluremi Tinubu (APC – Lagos Central) on the need to increase funding of PHC for the benefits of Nigerians.
It would be recalled that the PHC in Nigeria was adopted in 1998 by the National Health Policy to provide promotive, curative and rehabilitative services.
The motion was co-sponsored by 108 other senators.
Tinubu, said the motion became necessary because of the challenges associated with health management in the country.
She said the health problems were traced to the low performance of PHC facilities.
The senator added that available indicators from World Bank survey showed that the performance of PHC was being hampered by lack of financial resources, infrastructure deficit, lack of drugs, equipment and vaccines.
Tinubu quoted the Frontiers in Public Health Journal as having said that “Only about 20 per cent of the 30, 000 PHC centres in Nigeria are working, with most of them lacking capacity to provide essential services.”
She said the failure of PHC and the belief that it is for low-income earners had resulted to influx of patients to secondary and tertiary health care facilities.
The motion attracted contributions from senators like Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu East), Sen. Adamu Alero (Kebbi Central), Dahiru Ashatu (Adamawa Central), among others.
They said that accessibility to healthcare was a fundamental right and must be accorded the required attention.
The Senate, in addition to increasing of the funding, urged the Ministry of Health to create awareness on benefits of health and life insurance.
It directed the Ministry of Environment to put in place policies to ensure that every employer of labour has health insurance package for employees.
It also urged federal and state Ministries of Health to encourage medical technological innovations in primary health facilities in their respective domains.
Similarly, the Senate, yesterday, condemned the death of about 50 persons in Benue State sequel to the explosion of a petrol tanker in Gwer East Local Government Area of the state.
The Upper Chamber also urged the Federal Ministry of Health to intervene and help the victims undergoing medical attention in various health facilities.
Debating the motion to that effect during its plenary, which was sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Oker-Jev, the lawmakers further charged the management of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to quickly assist the victims with relief materials to ease their suffering.
The senators also urged the Federal Government to release funds for the dualisation of the Keffi-Lafia-Makurdi-Enugu road to enhance accessibility of the road.
In his lead debate on the motion titled: ”Benue tanker explosion: Urgent need to curb incessant explosions of petroleum tankers in Nigeria”, Senator Oker-Jev, revealed that over 100 people who sustained various degrees of injuries were battling for survival in various hospitals across the state.
Meanwhile, after the debate, the Senate resolved to constitute an ad-hoc committee to liaise with relevant agencies, organisations and stakeholders to identify the remote and immediate causes of the incessant petroleum tanker explosions in Nigeria.
The committee, when constituted, would come up with sustainable solutions to the Senate within eight weeks.
Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja
The Hausa Community in Rivers State has dissociated itself from media reports credited to one MaiwadaAdamu that the Arewa Community in Rivers State has appointed Alhaji Musa Saidu as the acting SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt, following the inability of the former SarkinHausawa, Alhaji Isa Madaki to carry out his functions.
MaidawaAdamu, who is also the spokesman of the Arewa Initiative for Peaceful Co-existence, had briefed journalists on the change, but in a swift reaction, the Office of Alhaji Isa Madaki, has come out to say that the only recognised body which has the powers to appoint the SarkinHausawa, PortHarcourt is the Council of SarkinHausawa in PortHarcourt headed by Alhaji Isa Madaki.
The statement also said Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki is the only recognisedSarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, adding that his appointment follows the proclamation and endorsement by the council members of SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The statement further called on the general public and all authorities concerned to give Alhaji Hussani Isa Madaki maximum co-operation and support,as he discharges his duties as SarkinHausawa, Port Harcourt.
The Suspended Rivers State Commissioner for health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, has described as baseless allegations in some quarters that she was responsible for the purported disruption of the Nigerian First Lady’s empowerment program in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh, who said this in a statement personally signed by her and a copy made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt also described the allegation as a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers
According to Dr Oreh, “they are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord”
In her words,”the allegations levelled against me, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, regarding the supposed disruption of the First Lady’s empowerment programme on Friday 2nd May, 2025, are entirely unfounded, completely false, and a product of the sick imagination of rumour mongers and conflict entrepreneurs.
“They are nothing more than a feeble and mischievous attempt to tarnish my reputation and sow discord.”
The suspended commissioner challenged those behind the allegation, especially the Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation to show proof of its assertion adding “It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I challenge the “Concerned Rivers Youth Organisation” (assuming such a body really exists) to provide tangible proof to support their assertions.
“It is essential to base criticisms on facts rather than speculation or puerile political agendas.
“I have neither sponsored nor will sponsor any activities aimed at embarrassing or disrupting the activities of the administration appointed by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to oversee the affairs of Rivers State following his declaration of a state of emergency on Tuesday, 18th March, 2025, and have rather spent the time of my suspension from office focused on other endeavours and my doctoral studies.
“I reaffirm my commitment to working tirelessly for the progress and development of Rivers State.
“Furthermore, I believe that it is crucial for all stakeholders to promote a culture of truth, integrity, and respect in public discourse.
“Unsubstantiated wild claims undermine trust and hinder constructive engagement, and this is not what the state needs at this difficult and delicate time.
“I urge everyone to focus on issues that unite us and foster a positive, solution-driven dialogue for the betterment of our State, and urge everyone to work together to build a brighter future for Rivers State, grounded in truth, transparency, and collective effort,”she said.
By: John Bibor
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) has called on key regulators, asset owners and other stakeholders to continue to support the agency toward the goal of remediating the Ogoni environment and restoring the livelihoods of the people and building structures for peace.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, who made the call during the Project’s first quarter meeting with regulators, asset owners and stakeholders in Port Harcourt, urged the stakeholders to remain resolute in supporting HYPREP’s work.
“We particularly expect each regulatory agency and asset owner to deepen their involvement and continue to provide strategic support to the project”, he said, stressing that the quarterly meeting platform remains instrumental in providing a structural avenue for regulators, asset owners, and implementation partners to offer feedback to HYPREP on project performance and deliberate on ideas that move the project forward, as well as strengthen collaboration, deepen synergy and reinforce collective responsibility.
Zabbey disclosed that the socio-economic study of Ogoni has started, as HYPREP has contacted the International Agency for Research on Cancer of the World Health Organisation(WHO) to commence in the next quarter a three-year human health biomonitoring in Ogoniland.
He noted that work on several fronts of the cleanup project is progressing steadily, adding that as key project partners, the insights and shared experience of the regulators and asset owners have always enriched HYPREP’s operations.
He said the policy thrust of HYPREP for 2025 is clear, as the Project is intensifying efforts to complete within stated timelines, the various ongoing projects, including remediation works and mangrove restoration, potable water facilities, the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration, the Ogoni Power Project, Ogoni Specialist Hospital, and Buan Cottage Hospital, among others.
Zabbey, however, announced that HYPREP would commence new set of shoreline cleanup, mangrove restoration and livelihood projects, to sustain the momentum of implementing the Ogoni cleanup, adding that the agency would also conduct detailed site characterisation of the high-risk complex sites, leading to remediation works at the sites.
He noted that HYPREP’s collaboration with Rivers State Ministries of Health, Power and Environment, and civil society organisations remains vital, stressing that the technical and administrative support of all relevant government agencies and funding partners is indispensable in helping HYPREP overcome operational bottlenecks, especially those encountered in interfacing with host communities.
He further indicated that “the people of Ogoni and the nation are looking to us with hope and expectation, and expect tangible results from the remediation initiative”, assuring the participants that the Project Coordination Office is committed to delivering positive results.
“We must, therefore, continue to work with diligence, transparency, and a renewed sense of purpose”, he declared, saying, “ the completion and commissioning of projects this year must reflect not only our technical ability but also our collective commitment to environmental sustainability and sustainable development in Ogoni.”
During the interactive session, the Project Coordinator briefed the participants on the progress made so far by HYPREP to conclude the distribution of starter packs to the 5,000 Ogoni trainees, and called on contractors who had already collected huge chunk of money for the project, to deliver without further delay.
In all, the regulators, asset owners and stakeholders commended HYPREP for the good works it is doing, and urged it to do more.
The National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency(NOSDRA) was represented at the event by Deputy Director, Oil Field Assessment, Dr Abam Komommo Omini, while Dr Vincent Nwachukwu, Director of Medical Services, represented the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
The Rivers State Ministries of Water Resources, Power and Environment were represented by Dr Bealo Brownson; Engr K. J. Osele; and Mr James Ordu respectively, while the Society for Women and Youth Affairs (SWAYA); and the Stakeholder Democracy Network(SDN); among other civil society organisations were also at the event.
By: Donatus Ebi