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FG’s $2 bn Refining Pact With Niger Sparks Outrage 

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5 years ago

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The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and the Niger Republic on refining of petroleum products has sparked a public outrage, mostly from the Niger Delta region.
The Tide’s findings show that the $2 billion pact in which Nigeria will transport crude by pipeline to Niger, and in turn buy the refined product from Niger did not go down well with many Nigerians.
Public analysts who spoke to our correspondent on the development said the pact raised so much questions on the sincerity of the present administration in fixing the existing refineries in the country.
According to a public commentator, Nathan Barine, “it is a big shame that the Federal Government entered into such agreement with the Niger Republic, which is a very smaller country that is not up to Lagos State.
He said the Federal Government was yet to tell the world the real reason behind the agreement it signed with Niger that has a refining capacity of 20,000 barrel per day, compared to Nigeria’s refineries that have the capacity to refine more than that.
Another public analyst, Barr. Chimelem Wodi, described the agreement as another form of colonialism, alleging that it was a deliberate plan by the Federal Government to transport the crude from the Niger Delta to boost refining activities in Niger.
“I see an ethnic collaboration in the whole thing, and the move is to make the economy of Niger and the Northern states closer to them to boom, while the refineries here are undermined which has caused many loss of jobs.
“They know what they are doing. Why can’t our refineries here be fixed, and how much will it cost to fix the refineries here? All of a sudden, you are (Federal Government) signing MoU of $2 billion to boost Niger’s economy and the economy of some northern states closer to them”, he said.
Wodi called on the Niger Delta leaders to wake up and speak on the continuous neglect of refineries in the region.
However, the chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Rivers State chapter, supported the agreement.
He said that the MoU with Niger would be less stringent and stressful than other importations of petroleum products with vessels from far countries, because of nearness of Nigeria to Niger Republic.
According to him, the transportation of crude through the pipeline is cheaper in the supply chain, than through the sea and vessels.
He, however, described as embarrassing the Federal Government’s move to abandon the nation’s four refineries with a refining capacity of 450,000 barrel per day, only to sign an MoU of $2 billion with Niger that has a refining capacity of just 20,000 barrel per day.

 

By: Corlins Walter

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NPA Assures On Staff Welfare 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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
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ANLCA Chieftain Emerges FELCBA’s VP

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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
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NSC, Police Boost Partnership On Port Enforcement 

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1 week ago

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June 27, 2025

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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
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