Business

Ministers, Oil Industry Leaders, Others To Grace 13th NCDMB’s PNC In Bayelsa

Published

1 year ago

December 2, 2024

Nigerian Ministers, industry leaders, stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, and members of both chambers of the National Assembly have been confirmed to be in attendance at the 2024 edition of the annual Practical Nigerian Content (PNC) Conference and Exhibition slated for the first week of December at the Nigerian Content Tower, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.
The theme of the event is “Deepening the Next Frontier for Nigerian Content Implementation”.
A statement from the Directorate of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination of the Nigerian Content Development Management Board (NCDMB) made available to newsmen says that the annual conference and exhibition is a signature event hosted by the Board in partnership with DMG Events.
According to the statement, the 2024 edition of the event will commence today, with a golf tourney at the Henry Seriake Golf and Country Club, Yenagoa and a welcome reception in the evening to be hosted by Coleman Wires and Cables at the newly opened Best Western Hotel, Swali, Yenagoa.
The Tide was also informed that the formal opening ceremony will begin at 9am tomorow with speeches by the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe.
Goodwill messages, according to the Board’s statement, would be delivered by the Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, the Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream & Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, and the Group Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mr. Mele Kolo Kyari.
Other top officials slated to speak at the 2024 PNC opening ceremony are the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, and their counterpart from the Ministry of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan and the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring, Honourable Boma Goodhead, are also billed to speak at the opening day.
The first panel discussion will analyse “The Next Frontier for Nigerian Content: Divestments and Offshore Opportunities”, and the cast will include the Director, Project Certification and Authorisation, NCDMB, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele, alongside the Chairman, Chevron Nigeria, Mr. Jim Swartz, the Executive Director, TotalEnergies E&P Nigeria, Mr. Obi Imemba, the Group Chief Executive, Oando PLC, Mr. Wale Tinubu, and the Managing Director, Aradel Holdings, Engr. Adegbite Falade.
The second panel will discuss “Evaluating Financial Strategies for Increased Local Content Implementation”.
Some of the discussants will include l; the Secretary General, African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim; the Managing Director, Bank of Industry (BOI), Dr. Olasupo Olusi; and the Director, Finance & Personnel Management, NCDMB, Ifeanyi Ukoha.
While the second day of the conference will also feature panel discussions on topical industry issues as “Nigerian Content Beyond Borders”, “Nigerian Content from the Grass Roots: Community Capacity Development”, and “From Policy to Practice: Strengthening Domestication for Economic Development”.
Major highlights of the 2024 PNC will include the unveiling of new operational policies by the NCDMB and exhibition of projects and capacities by international and indigenous operating and service oil and gas companies.
Delegates attending this year’s event can also look forward to the gala dinners to be hosted by the Bayelsa State Government on Tuesday, and by the Nigeria LNG Ltd on Wednesday, in addition to the site visit on Thursday morning to the logistics base of First Marine and Engineering Services Ltd located at Swali, Yenagoa.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Transport

Automated Points Concession : FAAN Workers Gave 72hrs To Revise Decisions In PH

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The trapatriate Unions conprising the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), and the Air Transport Service Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (ATSSSAN), has given 72 hours Ultimatum to Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN, Omagwa Airport, Portharcourt to revise its recent decision on the concession of Tollgates and Parks to private hands.

The chairman of the Trapatriate Union, Comrade Felix Ohwoefe gave the Ultimatum yesterday immediately after the joint Unions meeting held at the Airport office of the union, Omagwa, Portharcourt.

Comrade Ohwoefe who double as the chairman of the National Union of NUATE said the two Unions have agreed to take drastic actions if the Authority of the Airport declined to step down it’s decision of concessioning the major revenue points to private hands.

According to the Union chairman, the two union was not aware of the concession plans, and that there were no due process to the procedures.

Comrade Ohwoefe said any attempt for the Airport Management to decline it’s demands towards the concession will result to barricading all entrance and access points of the Airport.

Expressing the the challenges associated to the concession, the Union Chairman said the gesture might resulted to massive sack of workers in the Airport.

The chairman also expressed foul play on the part of either individuals or government in the terms and conditions so given to the concessionaires, demanding the reasons of contracting the automated points to private hands for only 14 millions, when the FAAN is presently generating over 28 million naira monthly, even when the tariff was not reviewed upwards.

He describes the process to the procedures as fraud with intention to increase unemployment in the state.

“We are not against the concession of the Automated points, but due process must be followed. If government is concessioning the place, we are asking what will happen to our workers in the existing units.

“Secondly, if the concessionaires is taken over, they must pay higher than what the FAAN is generating presently, we are generating to the Management over 28 Millions monthly, but we had that the private company is required to pay only 14 Millions monthly, which is far below 5 percents of what we are generating presently, even when the tariff is increased, which means there is a foul play.

“The process is fraud either on the part of individual in the Government, or Government itself.

” The unions is saying no to the Concession until we come to a terms of understanding ourselves., we are afraid of loosing workers, we don’t want to loose any workers if due process is not followed in this hard of economy, we even demanding for employment of more workers in FAAN.” Comrade Ohwoefe said.

The Union used the opportunity to called on the minister of aviation, and the President of the Country, Bola Tinubu to intervene.

When contacting the Management of the Airport Authority through the head of Corporate Affairs, Dr Ngozi V. Onyeanwuna-Nwosu, she said the management has not given her the approval to say something.

Transport

FAAN Announces Pick-Up Points for Go-Cashless Cards

Published

3 days ago

March 2, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced designated pick-up points for individuals wishing to obtain their Go-Cashless cards ahead of the March 1, 2026 deadline.

This was announced in a statement signed by the Director Public Affairs and Consumer protection, Henry Agbebire and made available to the Tide last Friday in Portharcourt.

According to the statement, Go-Cashless cards is at all FAAN commercial offices and access gates of Airports in the country .

The release further stated that cards will also be available at designated branches of Fidelity Bank Plc from March 16, 2026.

FAAN in the statement said the cashless policy followed the Federal Government directive mandating all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to transition to a cashless system to enhance transparency and reduce revenue leakages as well improve transaction traceability in the Aviation sector.

FAAN reiterated its commitment to full compliance with the directive, appealing to the public for their understanding and cooperation during the transition period.

FAAN also inform that the Go-Cashless cards can still be obtained at the designated points after the March 1, deadline.

The Authority assures airport users that the initiative will promote faster, safer, and more convenient transactions across its airports nationwide.

By: Enoch Epelle

Business

Fidelity Bank To Empower Women With Sustainable Entrepreneurship Skills, HAP2.0

Published

6 days ago

February 27, 2026

The Tide

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship women-empowerment initiative, the HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 (HAP 2.0).

According to the report, the programme is designed to equip women with practical, income?generating skills and structured pathways to entrepreneurship.

Accordingly, the HAP 2.0 will build on the success of its inaugural edition held in 2023.

During media chat with journalists to herald the launch of HAP 2.0, the Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osita Ede, explained that the initiative has been enhanced to deliver greater impact.

He said HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 reflects their commitment to continuous improvement, having evaluated feedback from the first edition, they have returned with stronger partnerships and deeper mentorship programmes to ensure that women acquire not just skills, but sustainable economic opportunities.

Mr Ede, who said the programme is guided with real?world learning, also said that participants will undergo intensive apprenticeship training under reputable institutions and industry experts across selected fields such as hair styling, shoe making, auto mechatronics, and interior decoration.

Additionally, he said HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 goes beyond skills acquisition by offering participants a wide range of business advisory services.

These include business and financial literacy training, mentorship support throughout the apprenticeship journey, access to Fidelity Bank’s women?focused and SME financial solutions, as well as guidance on business formalisation and growth strategies.

Emphasizing the bank’s vision further, Ede said: “By integrating structured mentorship with entrepreneurial development, Fidelity Bank is positioning women not just as trainees, but as future employers, innovators, and economic contributors within their communities.

This aligns with our mandate to help individuals grow, businesses thrive, and economies prosper”.

It is noteworthy that interested participants are encouraged to indicate their interest by visiting https://bit.ly/Apprenticeshipbyherfidelity.

It is important to note that Fidelity Bank Plc is ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, with a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, with 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

It is reported that the Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.

By: Nkpemenyie mcdominic, Lagos