Business

Bayelsa Wants FG To Establish Gas Terminal

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2024

The Bayelsa State Government has called on the Federal Government to establish a liquified natural gas terminal in the state to optimize economic benefits accruing from the gas sub-sector of the country’s petroleum industry.
The state Deputy Governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, made the call recently when the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, paid a courtesy visit to Government House, Yenagoa.
A statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Doubara Atasi, quoted him also stressing the need for the Federal Government to resume and complete work on the abandoned Brass Fertilizer Company for the general good of the country.
Describing the state as the headquarters of gas in Nigeria, the state’s Number Two Man lamented that Bayelsa had nothing commensurate to show for its huge natural gas endowment and contribution to the economic development of the nation.
According to Senator Ewhrudjakpo, about 60 percent of the total gas feedstock or supply to the liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal at Bonny Island was transported from Bayelsa.
He stated that it would make a lot of economic sense for the Federal Government to establish another gas processing and export terminal in Bayelsa in its next phase of investment in the subsector to cut off the cost of transporting the raw material.
Speaking further on the Brass Fertilizer Plant, the Deputy Governor said the State Government was prepared to partner all relevant federal authorities to ensure that work on the project takes off the ground.
He also appealed to the visiting Minister to prevail on the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to ensure that companies handling fabrication components of contracts carried out such projects in the state to meaningfully engage youths in relevant areas.
“For us here in Bayelsa, we are sitting on oil and gas. We are not only the headquarters of gas, but also substantial or major producer of oil.
“However, we feel that Bayelsa is not treated fairly enough in the gas subsector. You will not believe that 60 or 70 percent of the feedstock at the LNG in Bonny, Rivers State is from Bayelsa here, and yet there is nothing to show for it.
“So, in the second phase of the Federal Government gasification drive, Bayelsa should have one plant. That will be the only way Bayelsa will feel a sense of belonging in the sector she is contributing so much to.
“I also want to remind you that we have this Brass fertilizer plant issue that has remained too long in the pipeline. We will really appreciate if your ministry can look into the Brass Fertilizer Plant, because it is a project that if we get it right, it would engage a lot of our youths”, he said.
He continued that “Since you are here also supervising the NCDMB, we feel you should also help us pass this message to the Board, that some of the contracts they award, some of the companies don’t want to be here to execute their jobs.
“For example, they award a contract to a company to do fabrication, but they want to do it outside and not employ our youths. We are appealing that once a project is for Bayelsa, the fabrication and everything should be done in Bayelsa”.
Earlier in his remarks, the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Honourable Ekperikpe Ekpo, said his team was in Bayelsa to meet with the management of the NCDMB to work out modalities for improvement in the gas subsector of the petroleum industry.
He said the current Federal Government takes the issue of developing the gas subsector seriously with a view to reducing the cost of transportation in the country.
The Minister commended the in the state.

State Governor, Douye Diri, for identifying with President Bola Tinubu, particularly his timely and mature handling of the “End Bad Governance” protest and thereby sustaining peace in the state.
“I am here in Bayelsa to meet with the NCDMB management team to deliberate and discuss the issue of gas; how we are going to progress in that sector. And of course, gas is the way to go today.
“The progress of Nigeria today depends on gas. With gas in total circulation, there would be reduction in transportation fare. The economy of this country do well with gas because we have in abundance. That is why I am here.
“Let me use this opportunity to equally thank you and the Governor of Bayelsa State, for what I have heard that you have appointed two members of the APC as commissioners into your state executive council. This is how politics should be played, and I believe if we take it in this route, peace will be sustained.
“Thank you for maintaining peace in Bayelsa State. I heard on the first day of the end bad governance protest, when the boys came out, the Governor addressed them and asked them to relax, assuring everything would be put in place.
“I wouldn’t be here if there was continued protest in Bayelsa. So, I salute your courage; I salute your government, and I salute the people of Bayelsa State for identifying with President Ahmed Bola Tinubu”, the Gas Minister said.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

15 hours ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

6 days ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.