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Nigeria Loses $22.9bn To Gas Flaring In Nine Years, NOSDRA Claims
As the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) seeks robust partnership with NOSDRA, NUPRC on income generation
Amid disturbing lamentations about depleting revenue accruals, the Nigerian Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says Nigeria lost over $14.6 billion worth of revenue between 2012 and 2021 due to gas flaring.
Additionally, about 8.3 billion dollars was lost in penalties incurred for the wastages, bringing the total lost earnings to over $22.9 billion within the period under review.
NOSDRA’s Director of Information Communication and Technology (ICT), Mrs Margaret Adeshida, made the disclosure at an interactive session her Agency held recently in collaboration with the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Nigeria Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in Abuja.
Explaining that Nigeria flared more than 4.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas during this period, Mrs Adeshida described the development as unhealthy, noting that it further highlights the need to adequately monetise gas flaring in the country as a huge revenue-yielding venture.
She spoke against the backdrop of the three agencies’ decision to forge a partnership to boost the country’s revenue earnings through effective management of gas flaring activities in line with global best practices.
A statement by the Spokesperson of RMAFC, Mr Nwachukwu Christian quoted the NOSDRA Director as saying; “The country flared more than 4.2 billion standard cubic feet of gas leading to Nigeria’s loss of more than $14.6 billion worth of revenue between 2012 and 2021. This is in addition to $8.3 billion loss in the penalty for the wastage totaling $22.9 billion loss within the same period.”
The statement further amplified the collaborative efforts muted by the RMAFC, NUPRC, and NOSDRA to boost Nigeria’s revenue profile by exploiting its huge gas potential using global best practices as pledged by the RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu during the interactive forum.
According to the RMAFC boss, all necessary steps would be taken to address disturbing huge revenue losses while also enhancing revenue accruals into government coffers.
He said arising from the current administration’s resolve to shore up the nation’s revenue profile, the gas sector must enjoy priority attention with support for NUPRC and NOSDRA as regulatory bodies to focus on the quality and quantity of gas production, besides adherence to environmental standards within host Communities.
Consequently, the RMAFC Chairman urged all the relevant stakeholders in the country’s gas sector, including the Revenue Monitoring Committee (RMC) set up by the present administration to address the dwindling revenue challenge to synergize in working out effective strategies to convert gas flares into economic use that will enhanced income generation into the Federation Account.
In his intervention, NUPRC’s Director of Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, Mr Babajide Fashino said Nigeria is currently at the forefront of managing gas flaring in line with global best practices for economic growth and sustainability.
He disclosed that this is done with the introduction of a metering system and calibration of the meters for accurate documentation of gas management records.
For Fashino, adopting these technologies has gone a long way to reducing gas flaring in Nigeria from 40 percent to a mere seven (7) percent over the years.
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RSG Approves Full Rehabilitation of State Secretariat …Unveils Housing Scheme for Civil Servants, Honours Veterans
Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Eteh Ibas (Rtd), has approved the complete rehabilitation and modernization of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex to enhance efficiency and productivity in the civil service.
Ibas made the announcement at the 2025 Civil Service Week Gala and Awards Ceremony held at Banquet Hall, Government House, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday,.
He disclosed that “initiative is designed to transform the secretariat into a modern, efficient and conducive work environment, directly supporting the civil servants who form the backbone of the state’s governance.”
The Administrator also approved the provision of 106 housing units for civil servants in the State.
Ibas paid glowing tribute to retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries, describing them as the bedrock of the state’s administration.
He stated that the awards ceremony was a symbol of deep appreciation for decades of sacrifice, resilience, and commitment.
“These interventions are designed to not only recognize your service, but also to improve your welfare in tangible and lasting ways,” the Administrator stated.
“We must build an administration that is efficient, effective, and truly citizen-centric,” he added.
The Administrator urged serving officers to draw inspiration from their predecessors and strive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of citizens.
He emphasized the importance of embracing innovation, technology, and continuous training to build a civil service equipped for the future.
The Acting Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, in her welcome address, described the civil service as the “engine room of government” and expressed profound gratitude to the Administrator for his unwavering support and commitment to its modernization.“
“A society that does not honour its heroes is not worthy of emulation,” Dr. Brown remarked, lauding the retirees as torchbearers of discipline and loyalty.
She pledged to build on their legacy through reforms and innovation, projecting that the Rivers State Civil Service would become a model of efficiency and transparency by 2030.
Speaking on behalf of the retirees, President of the Association of Retired Permanent Secretaries, Sir Promise Njowhor,
expressed heartfelt appreciation for the historic recognition.
“For once, since the creation of the State, we are being honoured,” Njowhor said, adding, “Our morale has been lifted.”
He pledged the association’s continuous support for government programmes, describing the body of experienced retirees as a resource available to contribute to state development.
The rehabilitation of the State Secretariat and the new housing scheme represent a major investment in the infrastructure and dignity of public service in Rivers State, signaling a new era of support for the civil servants who drive the government’s policies and programmes.
The Tide reports that the Administrator also conferred awards of meritorious service on retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in the State
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has won 20 out of the 23 local government areas in the just concluded local government election in the State, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) clinched three local governments.
According to the results released by the Rivers State independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC), yesterday, the APC won the chairmanship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Opobo Nkoro, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana local government areas.
APC also won in Gokana, Tai, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche, Omuna, Akuku Toru, Asari Toru, Degema, Ikwerre and Emohua local government areas.
The Commission, however, said the PDP won in Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, and Ogba Egbema Ndoni local government areas.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr Michael Odey, who announced the results at the Commission headquarters in Port Harcourt, said Ofori Owolabi of the APC scored 28,755 votes to emerge winner of the election for Abua Odual while Solomon Ochomma, also of the APC, emerged chairman elect for Ahoada East after scoring 54,509 votes.
Odey said Eugene Epelle also of the APC scored 84,125 votes to emerge winner in Ahoada West, while Bob Fubara was elected the chairman-elect for Akuku Toru after scoring 63,593 votes.
Similarly APC chairmanship candidate Lucky Otuo Promise emerged chairman-elect for Andoni after scoring a total of 126,181 votes, APC’s George Onengiyeofori emerged winner in Asari Toru after scoring 56,383 votes, while Pepple Blessing Abinye garnered 13,543 votes to emerge winner in Bonny Local Government Area.
Other APC candidates elected include Michael John Williams who scored 16,536 votes to emerge chairman-elect for Degema Local Government; Obarlllormate Ollor (77,452) for Eleme; Dr Chidi Julius Lloyd (114,380) for Emohua; Njoku Boniface (100,649) for Etche; Confidence Deekor (96,478) for Gokana, while Wobodo Charles got 62,746 votes to emerge winner in Ikwerre Local Government Area.
Other APC winners from the APC include Akuro Tobins (32,285 votes) for Okrika; Hon Obasi Uchechukwu (38,530) for Omuma; James A James (38,822) for Opobo Nkoro; Vincent Nemieboka (36,374) for Ogu/Bolo; Hon Mbakpone Okpe (70,080) for Tai LGA, while in Oyigbo, Okechukwu Akara scored 101,495 votes to emerge winner.
Meanwhile, the RSIEC chairman announced Dr Gift Worlu of the PDP with 328,823 votes to emerge winner in Obio Akpor; Shedrack Ogbogu, also of the PDP, scored 51,051 votes for Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, while in Port Harcourt City, Sir Alwell Ihunda garnered 235,054 votes for PDP to emerge winner.
The APC also cleared the councillorship seats in Abua/Odual, Andoni, Ahoada East, Ahoada West, Okrika, Ogu/Bolo and Khana, Oyigbo, Bonny, Eleme, Etche,Tai, Khana Opobo/Nkoro and Degema local government areas.
Similarly APC councillorship candidates also emerged winners in Asari Toru, Degema, Akuku Toru, Gokana and Khana while PDP cleared the councillorship seats in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt city, and Ogba Egbema/ Ndoni Local Government Areas
Meanwhile, the Forum of State Independent Electoral Commissions has passed a vote of confidence on the just concluded local government election in the State.
National Chairman of the forum, Hon. Mamman Nda Eri, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt.
Eri said all the chairmen across the country were in Port Harcourt to monitor the election as well as gain experience in an election under emergency rule.
John Bibor & King Onunwor
