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FG Plans Review Of Petroleum Industry Act
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Gabriel Aduda, says the Ministry plans to review the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
This, he said, would be with stakeholders in the upstream and downstream sectors, after two years of its implementation.
Aduda disclosed this at the ongoing Oil Trading and Logistics (OTL) Africa Week 2023, in Lagos, yesterday.
The theme of the 2023 OTL is “Energy, Synergy, and New Beginnings.”
He called on operators in the Nigerian downstream sector to work together and pool resources to invest in refining petroleum products to address the country’s energy crises.
He stressed that the quality of technology possessed by the operators should not be a barrier to investment in refining.
According to him, the review will identify the pros and cons of the Act and all the areas that need to be addressed.
“The review is expected to be held before the second week of December 2023, when all oil and gas industry players would gather to discuss all the fundamental issues that need to be addressed in the Act.
“It is crucial for all players in the oil and gas industry to embrace the spirit of synergy, adding that the energy landscape is rapidly evolving,” he said.
He emphasized that the solution to Nigeria’s product refining lies in the willingness of the private sector to make a difference, collaborate, learn, and inspire one another.
He noted that it is the responsibility of the players in the downstream sector of the oil and gas industry to shape a future where energy is clean, accessible, and equitable for all.
“While much attention has been focused on the upstream sector (exploration and production) in discussions about energy transition.
“The downstream sector, which involves refining, distribution, and marketing of petroleum products, plays a crucial role in this transition.
“With the level of technology that is at their disposal no matter how crude they are.
“Why can’t we begin to think in the area of harnessing the limited potentials that we have and see how we can put things together to evolve a clear home-grown technology?
“That we can build on to be able to deliver the energy future of our dream,” the permanent secretary said.
Aduda also advocated the need for the petroleum industry regulators in Nigeria, including the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), to offer supportive regulation to the investors in the sector.
According to him, the beauty of the regulation is to help the industry in Nigeria to be globally competitive and acceptable, to attract more investors, and to put a check on their activities.
Aduda further hinted that infrastructure in the downstream sector was a major factor facing the sector.
“Today, we embark on an investment road show globally to attract investors to Nigeria, but one of the major concerns being raised is lack of investment in the sector”, he said.
He, therefore, noted that the downstream sector is no longer confined to traditional boundaries.
According to him, it is about collaboration, innovation, and adaptability.
“The challenges we face are not unique to any single entity but shared by all.
“Together, we can overcome them and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.
“The energy sector is witnessing a renaissance of sorts, heralding new beginnings.
“As we move towards a more sustainable, eco-friendly future, our industry must lead the charge.
“Nigeria, as a significant player in the global energy landscape, faces the challenge of balancing its hydrocarbon-based economy with the need to transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources,” Aduda added.
He emphasized the importance of ensuring the availability and guaranteeing the gas supply before the discussions around the conversion of buses to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) were put in place.
He said, “The downstream players must work with the government to expand trunk and distribution gas pipelines across the country, as well as supply and distribution of refining capacity expansion, supportive regulations, renewable energy integration, and workforce development.
“As laudable as the Presidential Initiative on CNG is for example, we must be careful not to put the cart before the horse, we need the buses, we need the converters but then where is the gas?”
Similarly, the Chairman Advisory Board, OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week, Mr Adetunji Oyebanji, said the event had a strong presence in the industry.
Oyebanji noted that the ongoing conflicts in Eastern Europe and the Middle East had continued to transmit volatility, while the energy transition had challenged markets and forced operators to innovate.
According to him, closer home, policy, and political changes remain a factor, with market players keen for clarity for their operations.
“These factors have combined to make OTL 2023 very important, as we look forward to robust engagements,” Oyebanji said.
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I’m Committed To Community Dev – Ajinwo
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RSG Tasks Rural Dwellers On RAAMP …As Sensitization Team Visits Akulga, Degema, Three Others

Rivers State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyingi Brown, has called on rural communities in the State to embrace the Rural Access and Agricultural marketing project (RAAMP) with a view to improving their living conditions.
This follows the ongoing sensitization campaign by the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) visits to Degema, Abonnema, Afam headquarters of Degema, Akuku Toru and Oyigbo Etche and Omuma local government areas respectively.
Dr Brown who was represented by the Deputy Director, Special Duties in her office, Mrs Dein Akpanah, said RAAMP was initiated by the Federal Government and World Bank to economically empower rural dwellers.s
She said the World Bank understands the plights of rural farmers and traders in the State, and therefore came up with the programme to address them.
According to her, RAAMP will improve the conditions of farmers, traders and fishermen, and therefore, behoves on every rural communities in the State to embrace the programme.
The Head of Service also said the programme would support the youths to be gainfully employed while bridges and roads will be built to link farms and fishing settlements.
Also speaking, the State project coordinator, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the programme has the potential of creating millionaires among farmers and fishermen in the State.
Kpakol who was represented by Engr. Sam Tombari, said RAAMP would help farmers and fishermen to preserve their produce.
According to him, the project will build cold rooms and Silos for preservation of crops and fishes while access roads will also be created to link farmers and fishermen to the market.
He, however, warned them against any act that will lead to the suspension of the projects by the World Bank.
Kpakol particularly warned against acts such as kidnapping, marching ground, gender based violence and child labour, adding that such acts if they occur may lead to the cancellation of the project by the World Bank.
During the visit to Oyigbo local government area, Mr Joshua Kpakol, said the team was there to let them know how they will benefit from the Raamp.
The coordinator who was personally at Oyigbo said the World Bank introduced the project to check food insecurity in the State.
He said already 19 states in Nigeria are already benefitting from the project and called on them to embrace the project.
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the three local government areas have commended the World Bank for including their areas in the project.
They, however, complained over the incessant attacks by pirates on their waterways.
At Degema, King Agolia of Ke kingdom said land was a major problem in the kingdom.
King Agolia represented by High Chief Alpheus Damiebi said many indigenes of the kingdom are willing to go into farming but are handicapped by lack of land.
Also at Degema, the representative of the Omu Onyam Ekeim of Usokun Degema kingdom, Osoabo Isaac, said Degema has embraced the programme but needed more information on the implementation of the programme.
Similarly, while High Chief Precious Abadi advised that the project should not be narrowed to only crop farming, a community women leader, Mrs Orikinge Eremabo Otto, called for the construction of cold rooms in all fishing settlements in the area.
At Abonnema, Mr Diamond Kio linked the problem of the area to incessant piracy along waterways.
He also expressed fears over the possibility of the project being hijacked by politicians.
Also at Abonnema, a stakeholder, Ikiriko Kelvin, called on the World Bank to design an agricultural project that will suit the riverine environment, while at Oyigbo, HRH Eze Boniface Akawo expressed satisfaction with the project.
John Bibor
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Senate Replaces Natasha As Committee Chairman

The political mudslinging between the Senate leadership and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan continued yesterday as the Senate named Senator Aniekan Bassey as the new Chairman of the Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, announced the appointment during yesterday’s plenary, confirming Bassey’s replacement of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who is currently on suspension.
Akpoti-Uduaghan was reassigned to the Diaspora and NGOs Committee in February after she was removed as Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Content during a minor reshuffle.
Bassey is the senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
Although no reason was given for her removal yesterday, the change is believed to be connected to her unresolved suspension.
In May, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court ordered her reinstatement and directed her to tender an apology to the Senate.
However, the Senate has insisted it has not received a certified true copy of the court judgment.
Akpoti-Uduaghan who represents Kogi Central, has yet to resume her legislative duties despite a recent court ruling that voided her suspension.
In a televised interview on Tuesday, Akpoti-Uduaghan said she was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment before officially returning to plenary, citing legal advice and respect for institutional process.
Although the Federal High Court described her suspension as “excessive and unconstitutional”, a legal opinion dated July 5 and attributed to the Senate’s counsel, Paul Daudu (SAN), argued that the ruling lacked any binding directive to enforce her reinstatement.
Akpoti-Uduaghan, one of only three female senators in the current assembly, said the continued delay in allowing her return was not only a denial of her mandate but also a blow to democratic representation.
“By keeping me out of the chambers, the Senate is not just silencing Kogi Central, it’s denying Nigerian women and children representation. We are only three female senators now, down from eight,” she said.
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