News

NASS To Pass PIB April, Reps Assure

Published

5 years ago

February 26, 2021

The Chairman of House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Petroleum, Rep. Mohammed Monguno, has said that the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), was expected to be passed by end of April to ensure competitiveness in oil and gas industry.

Monguno made the remark while speaking with newsmen on the side-line of the visit of the National Assembly Joint Committee on Petroleum to the Port Harcourt Refining Company in Eleme, Rivers State, last Wednesday.

According to him, our intention is to pass the PIB with the speed of light by the end of April, 2021, so that Nigeria will get the benefits of reformed oil and gas industry.

He said that there was the need for a reformed oil and gas industry, ”that is much more competitive, attracts much needed foreign direct investment, and then, conserves our own foreign exchange for more deployment of infrastructure needs”.

Monguno, who is the co-chairman of the National Assembly Joint Ad-Hoc Committee, said that the main thrust of the PIB, ”is to reform the oil and gas industry to make it more competitive and to bring the operations in tandem with the international practice”.

He said that the committee was in the PHRC to see its constraints and how best within the provision of the PIB it could leverage on same for enhanced revenue.

He noted that it was with a view to attracting the much needed investment in the oil and gas industry, especially against the backdrop of the fact that the world was moving away from fossil fuel to renewable energy.

”So, there is need for us to make our oil and gas industry more competitive to attract the much needed investment by reforming same,” he said.

He said that the issue of turnaround maintenance of the refinery would be captured within the context of the PIB.

Monguno added that the issue of privatisation of the refineries was at present the decision of the executive as NASS had yet to take a decision on it.

Also speaking to newsmen, the Managing Director of Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Mr Ahmed Dikko, said that the turnaround maintenance of the company would begin in April, if Covid-19 pandemic could permit.

He said that all the approvals and support required from the government and NNPC had been given and a team had been dedicated for the project.

”We have done a lot of activities; we are very confident and are sure that we are going to bring back this facility’s optimum production capacity in a very short time.

”Our engagement has been very different; we try to carry everybody along, we try to open up and show a lot of transparency in what we do.

”The whole arrangement is concluded and approvals are almost got; so, by and large, by next month or April, at most, we mobilise to the site if Covid-19 permits.

”We hope to run this through to second quarter of 2023, when we begin to commission all the works we are doing in phases.

“We, then, drag these activities probably a little bit more than that so that we have a complete rehabilitation of the whole facilities,” he said.

News

198 UNIBEN Students Bag First Class

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

A total of 198 students of the University of Benin (UNIBEN ) Edo State, bagged a First Class degree out of 14,083 students to be awarded first degree at the institution’s 51st Convocation and Founder’s Day ceremony.

Vice Chancellor of UNIBEN, Prof. Edoba Omoregie, disclosed this on Monday in Benin at a pre-convocation press briefing.

He said 4,217 students bagged a Second Class Upper, 7, 928 got a Second Class Lower, while 578 bagged a Third Class degree.

He said 15 new approved programmes by the National Universities Commission (NUC) would commence in the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, “The wheel of progress is on course and moving steadily in the University of Benin. This administration is poised to deliver on its mandate of effective, practical teaching, sound learning, result-oriented research and impactful community service.

“We must applaud the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for establishing NELFUND, and by so doing significantly reducing the financial stress of students in the process of acquiring tertiary education. We enjoin students and their parents to take full advantage of the federal government’s benevolence in instituting the fund.”

Prof. Omoregie disclosed that Nigeria’s Minister of Regional Development, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, would deliver the Founders’ Day lecture with the topic, “Reforms for a Shared Prosperity”.

The UNIBEN VC said Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and Former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, would deliver the Convocation Lecture on the theme, “Making Our Universities Great”.

News

Bayelsa Education Fund, British Council trains tra 1,000 teachers

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The last batch of 400 public school teachers in Bayelsa State on Monday commenced training under the sponsorship of Bayelsa Education Development Trust Fund (EDTF) and the British Council.

This batch will bring to 1000 the number of public school teachers in the state who have benefited in the partnership arrangement.School supplies

The EDTF, British Council and Teachers Training, Registration and Certification Board collaborated in the capacity development programme.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the five day capacity building program, Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah reiterated the commitment of the Bayelsa government to training and capacity of teachers in the state.

He noted that the improved teaching methodology in the state was responsible for the state producing the best student in the 2025 West African School Certificate Examinations.

Prof Ebimiowei, Executive Secretary at EDTF, noted that the collaboration is aimed at improving learning outcomes for pupils and students of public primary and secondary schools in Bayelsa.

“You will agree with me that until the cutlass is sharpened, it will have no impact on the hands of the farmer and so it is with our teachers., you need to be sharpened very well to give good delivery in your various classes and schools.

“Let me at this juncture appreciate the British Council for accepting to train 1,000 teachers, 50 education managers and 60 trainers for Bayelsa,” he said.

On his part, Chairman of the EDTF board, High Chief Fidelis Agbiki expressed appreciation to the Commissioner for Education Dr Gentle Emelah for his supportive role to the fund.

Agbiki urged the beneficiaries to justify the enormous resources invested by the government of Bayelsa by being dedicated within the five days the exercise would last.

He said; “This board will not operate on business as usual but on business unusual as we will push the frontiers outside the box to ensure that we get value for money,” Agbiki said.

Chairman of Development Partners Committee of the EDTF applauded the commitment of the partners for the successful completion of the programme, urging them to sustain the tempo

Speaking on the programme, Mr Fwanshishak Daniel, Head, English and Schools, British Council noted that the Bayelsa government had shown exemplary commitment to educational development.

He explained that the commitment has enabled the British Council and Bayelsa government to achieve within one year greater milestones that took other states three years to achieve.

He explained that the resources of the British Council have been made available to Bayelsa with the training of 60 resource persons from the state who will in turn train other teachers to improve education.

According to Daniel, the training will lay emphasis on new teaching methods, use of digital tools for self development and access to school amongst others.

Dr Peremoboere Ogola, Acting Chairman of TTRC, which facilitated training, thanked the EDTF for supporting training of teachers in Bayelsa with world class resources of the British Council.

She noted that another batch of newly recruited teachers are currently undergoing training at State government owned University of Africa, Toru Orua, Sagbama LGA in Bayelsa

News

RSG INAUGURATES ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMITTEE

Published

3 days ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.

The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.

Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee

highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.

“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.

Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.

The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.