Business
NCDMB Council, Mgt Seek Improvements In Corporate Governance, Performance
Governing Council and top Management of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State held a two-day retreat to deepen understanding of statutory responsibilities, corporate governance principles and strategies for enhanced performance, among others.
The event, held recently, and attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Board, Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) and Co-Chairman of the Council, Ekperikpe Ekpo, and other members of the Governing Council, was in pursuant of the Board’s shared purpose to sustain momentum and achieve key milestones in local content development in the oil and gas industry,
Represented by the Board’s Director of Capacity Building, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele and a host of other Directors, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola-Ogbe said the event was the first retreat by the current Council since its inauguration in the first quarter of 2024.
In his opening address, Lokpobiri thanked Members of the Council and Management for the sense of duty demonstrated in their support and attendance of the Retreat.
He said the event was intended to introduce Members to the workings of the Board as chief implementer of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, 2010, and their own statutory roles as supervisors of the agency who have to ensure its effectiveness and success in the delivery of its mandate.
Drawing attention to different sections of the enabling law of the Board, the Minister reiterated the need for the Council and Management to act within statutory limits to foster understanding and trust, which he said were required for team spirit.
He said the NCDMB has become a business enabler to the oil and gas industry, creating optimum conditions for indigenous companies to thrive and thus deepen local content as envisioned by the NOGICD Act.
While noting that there was still room for improvement, he charged the Management to be more forthcoming with information on the activities of the Board as well as challenges whenever they arise.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Lokpobiri, thanked the Governor for the warm reception accorded them and for sustaining the standard of performance and service delivery attained by his predecessors.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Secretary of the Board, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Director, Capacity Building, Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, expressed profound appreciation to the Chairman and Co-Chairman of the Governing Council and other participants stating that the event represented a unique opportunity for mutual interaction, strategic bonding, and a deeper understanding of the operations, challenges, and aspirations of the Board.
He said the event was the first retreat for the current Council since its inauguration in the first quarter of 2024, noting that the functions of the Council, which revolve around providing policy direction, approving strategic operational plans, and ensuring effective implementation of the Nigerian Content Policy, are outlined in Section 75 of NOGICD Act, adding 5that the commitment of its members to the vision and mandate of the Board has been instrumental in sustaining momentum and achieving key milestones.
Ogbe noted that the Retreat would bring to light challenges faced by the NCDMB stating that the invaluable guidance of council members on how best to surmount such was required, whether through policy directives, regulatory interventions, or strategic partnership.
He hinted that heads of the Directorates of the Board were available to provide detailed insights into their operations, achievements and constraints, citing the establishment of the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCIF), the successful implementation of the 10-Year Strategic Road Map (2017-2027), and commitment to deepening local content which he said was currently at 56 per cent, up from five per cent in 2010, as contributory factors in its attainment of significant in-country value retention and attraction of investments to the oil and gas industry.
Responding, the Governor expressed appreciation to the NCDMB for not only choosing Akwa Ibom for the Retreat but for a number of interventions in capacity building in his State.
He drew attention to the State’s development of an Oxygen Production Plant and its plans for utilisation of compressed natural gas (CNG), expressing hope of collaboration with the Board in such areas.
On the NCDMB’S team at the Retreat were Engr. Bamidele Abayomi, Director, Capacity Building; Naboth Onyesoh, Director Legal Services, Mr. Silas Ajimijaye, General Manager, Monitoring and Evaluation – Midstream, Ms. Tassala Tersugh, General Manager, Midstream, Mr. Teddy Bai, Deputy Manager, Government Relations, Engr. John Barigha, Supervisor, Marine Vessel Categorisation, Ikenna Ezeguzo, Supervisor, Movable Assets, and Mr. Prince Foncha, Officer, Corporate Communications Division.
The Tide reports that a major highlight of the Retreat was the paper presentations by renowned experts and thought leaders drawn from different professions.
Highpoints of the event was a courtesy visit by the Governing Council and Management of the Board to the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Udo Eno, at Government House, Uyo..
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has thrown its weight behind efforts to reposition Bonny Island as a major tourism destination, urging journalists to move beyond crisis reporting and deliberately promote the state’s investment, tourism and development potentials.
The Chairman of the NUJ Rivers State Council, Comrade Paul Bazia, said this at a press briefing held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt, recently.
Bazia said Rivers State was endowed with enormous natural and economic resources, stressing the media must gradually shift its attention from conflict-oriented reporting to development communication capable of attracting investors, tourists and other economic opportunities to the state.
He said the tourism potential of Bonny Local Government Area was enormous and could compete favourably with attractions found in Caribbean countries, urging journalists to tell the story of Bonny in a way that would attract global attention.
“If we don’t blow our own trumpet, people won’t know that we have our trumpets. Most of the people that travel to the Caribbean, Bonny is more than that. Bonny is more than just the hydrocarbon headquarters. Bonny is beautiful. Bonny environment is therapeutic,” he stated.
The NUJ chairman stressed that tourism could provide a sustainable source of income without the environmental consequences associated with some extractive economic activities, adding that the media must help to market the tourism products available in Rivers State.
“Our role is to ensure that our stories market the product that we have,” Bazia said, urging journalists across the state to consciously promote its tourism and investment opportunities.
He warned that failure to develop and promote tourism destinations such as Bonny could contribute to economic stagnation and insecurity, stressing that businesses and communities would ultimately suffer where legitimate economic opportunities were neglected.
“It is better for us now to get into it and sell the product that we have so that it will be a win-win for everybody,” he added.
Also speaking, the President of the Bonny Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Discover Bonny Initiative, Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi, Ph.D., said the initiative was a three-year strategic programme designed to transform Bonny Island into a premier tourism destination.
Nwokejiobi disclosed that Bonny Island Tourism & Investment Summit 2026, scheduled for August 18 to 20, would feature a Tourism Concierge Platform, multi-tier partnership arrangements ranging from Platinum to Community Tourism levels, as well as a privately driven Tour
She stressed that sustainable tourism could not depend solely on government, but required entrepreneurship, private investment and strategic partnerships, noting that Bonny already contributes an estimated four per cent of Nigeria’s national GDP, largely through oil and gas, while efforts were underway to develop a second and more sustainable economy based on tourism, heritage and hospitality.
Nwokejiobi said the initiative enjoyed strong support from His Majesty King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, who, she noted, had consistently promoted the island’s rich heritage and hospitality potential alongside its energy and industrial strengths.
She called on Nigerians to embrace domestic tourism by visiting Bonny and also invited international visitors and investors to discover the island as an authentic West African destination.
By: King Onunwor
Business
Jonathan, Diri, Others Laud Firm’s Milestone in Bayelsa …Says Project Will Drive Industrialisation, Create Jobs
Nigeria’s ex-First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, have commended a Bayelsa-based firm, Azikel Group for its commitment towards industrialising the state and the Niger Delta region.
They spoke while inspecting the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and other facilities recently at the Azikel Refinery in Obunagha Community of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.
They pledged continued support for the successful completion of the multi-billion naira refinery project.
In his remarks, Governor Diri represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far by the company, describing the refinery project as a major step towards industrialising the state, creating employment and opening new economic opportunities for the people.
He congratulated the President of the Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani and his team on the successful procurement of the CDU, which is the most critical component of a refinery, describing the feat as a significant milestone towards completing the project.
He said industrialisation remains an integral part of his Prosperity Administration’s agenda, noting that government’s responsibility was to create an enabling environment for businesses and investments to thrive.
According to him, the state government’s ongoing road projects were designed to improve connectivity and provide easier access to industrial investments, including the refinery.
The governor urged Bayelsans to take advantage of the opportunities that would emerge from the project, particularly employment and skills development, and warned the people against commercialising opportunities meant for them.
“The Prosperity Government, which is the agenda that we propagate, has industry and industrialisation as one of the major things. As a government, our business is to provide or enhance ease of doing business.
“Our universities have got graduates that can fit into most of the levels that will be available”, he said.
The State Chief Executive urged the people of the local communities to develop the capacity to participate meaningfully in the investment.
Also speaking, former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, applauded the Bayelsa State Government for supporting the project, particularly through infrastructure development and improved road access to the refinery.
She said the investment was significant because Bayelsa had traditionally depended heavily on government, stressing that sustainable development depended more on investments that create wealth than totally relying on monthly salaries and allocations.
Dame Jonathan described the refinery as an investment that should receive the collective support of government, communities and other stakeholders, saying its benefits would extend beyond the company to the wider economy.
According to her, “It is not the amount of money you get at the moment, but the investment you put on ground that matters.
What we are doing is not for you alone; it is for all of us.”
In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stressed that the refinery would have a multiplier effect on Bayelsa’s economy, particularly through job creation and increased business activities.
Dr. Ogbuku maintained the project could also boost traffic at the Bayelsa International Airport by attracting investors, contractors and other business interests into the state.
The NDDC helmsman stressed the need for Bayelsans, particularly young people not to be spectators to the investment but rather prepare and position themselves to benefit from the opportunities it would create.
He also lauded the state government for improving road access to the refinery, saying the infrastructure had helped to make the investment more accessible and demonstrated that the state was preparing for the economic opportunities associated with the project.
On his part, the President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, described the project as a major industrial milestone for Bayelsa and Nigeria, saying the refinery had reached a critical stage with the arrival of the CDU.
He disclosed that the refinery, with a capacity of 25,000 barrels per day and an investment value of about one billion dollars, would produce petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, LPG, naphtha and heavy fuel oil.
Dr. Eruani said the arrival of the CDU represented the culmination of eight years of work and marked a significant step towards actualising the refinery project.
He explained that the CDU took more than three years to build in South Korea before being transported to Nigeria on a specially chartered vessel.
Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, former Chief Operating Officer, Refinery and Petrochemical of the NNPC, Mr. Mustapha Yakubu, among other dignitaries also delivered goodwill messages at the event.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced plans to expand the fleet of its state-owned airline, Ibom Air, with the acquisition of an Airbus A220-300 aircraft.
The Commissioner for Information, Dr Aniekan Umanah, disclosed this to newsmen recently in Uyo, saying the state government would travel to Montreal, Canada, to finalise documentation for the purchase.
Umanah said the aircraft is expected to arrive at the Victor Attah International Airport on August 30, 2026, bringing Ibom Air’s fleet to 10 aircraft.
He described the planned acquisition as a milestone for the state’s aviation sector, adding that it supports the government’s ambition of positioning Akwa Ibom as a major aviation hub for business, tourism and investment under its ARISE Agenda.
The commissioner also identified tourism as a major driver of the state’s economy outside crude oil revenues, saying the government remained committed to developing the sector.
He said the expansion of Ibom Air would improve connectivity and create opportunities for young people seeking careers in aviation, while strengthening links for businesses and families.
According to him, the arrival of the Airbus A220-300 would further demonstrate the state government’s commitment to improving connectivity and supporting economic growth.
Apapa Customs Command Regs N323 Bn Revenue In July
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Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has posted an unprecedented revenue collection of ?323 billion in July 2026, the highest monthly figure ever recorded by the Command.
The landmark performance further underscores the strong results achieved under the leadership of Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, who earlier guided the Command to another record haul of ?304 billion in October 2025.
Comptroller Oshoba disclosed this during the monthly meeting with Deputy Comptrollers of Terminals and Unit Heads held on Tuesday, 11 August 2026.
He attributed the record collection to the combined impact of policy support, operational reforms and improved compliance across the Command.
In a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Isah Sulaiman, the Customs Area Controller specially commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR PhD and the Service management team for their commitment to the ongoing modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“We recognise and acknowledge the CGC’s devotion and dedication to the modernisation project of the Nigerian Customs Service.
“The management team has introduced several innovations that have streamlined our activities and given us clear direction,” he said.
Comptroller Oshoba noted that the reforms are already delivering measurable results. He highlighted the improved performance of the B’Odogwu system, which had earlier faced challenges but has since been enhanced and is now producing strong outcomes.
He also commended the One-Stop Shop (OSS) initiative for accelerating cargo delivery time and creating a more predictable business environment that encourages legitimate importation.
“Another important development is the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) framework, which currently has more than 200 beneficiaries. This has positively impacted the revenue profile of the Command,” he added.
Intelligence-driven enforcement operations, he said, have further strengthened compliance where officers and men of the Command have intensified interventions that detect false declarations and ensuring compliance with the Service valuation principles to protect national revenue.
The CAC also specifically credited the enabling business environment created by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly the relative stability in the foreign exchange mmarket.
He explained that a more predictable forex regime has allowed business operators to plan better, make informed decisions and conduct trade with greater confidence while challenging officers to examine their individual contributions beyond routine revenue generation.
“In your Area of Responsibility, you must ask yourself, apart from the normal revenue generated by your Unit, what is your own contribution in terms of intervention? What have I added?” he asked.
The CAC stressed the continued importance of trade facilitation and ease of doing business describing the current operating environment as more predictable and conducive to growth.
He directed that disputes should be resolved promptly where consignments require further scrutiny, officers must follow proper documentation and the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) process.
On stakeholder relations, Oshoba issued a clear directive, “When you interact with stakeholders, let them leave your office with hope rather than despair. As a leader, do not allow anyone who comes to you to depart feeling hopeless or depressed. Give people hope.”
He acknowledged the valuable cooperation of stakeholders and sister agencies, noting that their support has improved compliance and restored greater sanity to the business environment. Officers, he said, must continue to build trust through professionalism, respect and collaboration.
Comptroller Oshoba further urged personnel to uphold transparency and discipline, work smart, remain up to date with evolving digital processes and consult more experienced colleagues when necessary.
He described effective leadership as a collective responsibility, calling on Staff Officers to support Deputy Controllers in reinforcing discipline and fostering a healthy work environment rooted in compassion, empathy, teamwork and genuine concern for the welfare of subordinates.
The CAC called for heightened security consciousness, proper supervision, continuous in-house training and full compliance with approved procedures.
He charged all Units to sustain the current momentum, deepen professional development and remain focused on productivity and service delivery.
By: Enoch Epelle
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