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Aging Workforce May Erode Oil Industry Gains – NAPE

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8 months ago

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The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has warned that the aging workforce in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry could erode the gains already recorded in the sector.
It said if not quickly addressed the erosion is imminent in the sector, especially as local industries have continued to make significant investments.
The Association, however, commended the Nigerian government for its recent energy policies, which have attracted investments into the oil and gas industry and boosted oil production.
The NAPE President, Johnbosco Uche, expressed his appreciation during a recent visit to the Special Adviser on Energy to the President, Olu Verheijen.
NAPE emphasised the crucial role of human capital development in ensuring the long-term sustainability of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry during their visit.
To address the looming skills gap, the Association underscored the importance of training Nigerian graduates to replace the aging workforce.
The NAPE proudly highlighted its contributions to this effort, including donations of workstations to Nigerian universities and training programmes for university lecturers and students.
These initiatives aim to equip the next generation of professionals with the skills and expertise needed to drive the industry forward.
Looking ahead, NAPE urged the government to implement incentives that encourage targeted gas exploration, while also tackling the barriers hindering development and production.
By doing so, Nigeria can unlock its full potential as Africa’s leading gas producer, driving economic growth and energy security for generations to come.
Uche vowed to harness NAPE’s vast network of over 12,000 members to showcase Nigeria’s energy sector progress while promising to share his expertise and insights to facilitate the discovery of additional oil and gas resources, further solidifying NAPE’s position as a leading voice in the industry.
In his response, Verheijen acknowledged NAPE’s significant contributions to the industry, by outlining the government’s initiatives aimed at attracting investments, developing upraised discoveries, and boosting production.
According to him, these initiatives have already shown significant success, with recent Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) totaling over $5 billion.
This substantial investment is a testament to the government’s efforts to create a more attractive environment for investors.
Furthermore, Verheijen emphasised the importance of human capital development, highlighting the government’s collaboration with relevant agencies to establish local training centres.
This move, he said, aims to enhance the skills and expertise of Nigerian professionals in the oil and gas sector, ensuring they can compete effectively in the global market
Verheijen concluded by inviting NAPE to continue its partnership with the government to advance the industry and drive sustainable growth.
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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.

Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.

The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.

Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.

“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.

“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”

Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.

In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.

Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.

Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

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2 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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