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Bayelsa Engages Citizens, Recommits To Accountability In Budget Preparation
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri has restated his administration’s commitment to open and accountable governance where the people of the state would participate in key decision making processes.
The governor stated this on Thursday at a Critical Stakeholders Public Interactive Session for the Preparation of the State’s 2027 annual budget at the Harold Dappa-Biriye Conference hall, Yenagoa, the State capital.
Represented by the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Peter Akpe, the Governor noted that the administration would continue to strengthen systems that would promote the tracking and reporting of budget implementation to ensure proper utilisation of public funds.
He added that his government had always partnered civil society organisations, the media and the citizenry to promote transparency, accountability and good governance.
The State Chief Executive said the interactive session was organised to enable people from all walks of life contribute to the budget-making process, using the bottom-top approach.
According to him, the citizens’ budget that will follow the interactive session will be made public for every Bayelsan to see how public funds are being utilised in the state.
“So let me set out what this administration hopes to hear from you today, so that the 2027 Budget would become a better instrument than the one before it.
First, we want to know what has worked and what has not, in your community, in your sector, and in your daily experience.
“If a project in the current budget has not been felt on the ground, tell us. If a road has been completed but the drainage was forgotten, tell us.
“Secondly, we want your help in setting priorities. Our needs are many and our resources, though improving, remain finite. Between the completion of ongoing projects and the commencement of new ones; between physical infrastructure and human capital; between the urban centres and the riverine communities; we must choose, and we would rather choose with you than for you.
“Thirdly, we want to hear from those whose voices are too often absent when budgets are made: women, young people, persons living with disabilities, and the communities that have carried the environmental cost of oil production for more than sixty years”, the governor said.
“Distinguished stakeholders, this administration has committed itself to open and accountable governance, and we intend to keep faith with that commitment. The Citizens’ Budget that will follow this exercise will be published in plain language so that every Bayelsan can see where public money is going.
“We will continue to strengthen the systems that track and report on implementation, and we welcome the partnership of civil society and the media in holding us to what we have written”, he added.
In his presentation, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Maxwell Ebibai represented by the Technical Adviser on Treasury, Accounts and Revenues, Timipre Seipulo gave an account of the 2025 budget performance which he puts at 86%.
He said the state received total actual revenues of N1.13 trillion, which represented three hundred and twenty percent increase from the N926 billion received the previous year.
“However, when we prepared the budget for 2025, what we budgeted for revenue was 1.294 billion. So what it means is that we were able to achieve 86% of our budgeted revenue for 2025.
“Recurrent expenditures for 2025 was N274.78 billion against N329 billion in the previous year, which represent 17% reduction, while our budget for 2025 recorded expenditure was N309 billion, which also means that we were able to achieve 89% of our budgeted recurrent expenditure for 2025.
“While our capital expenditures for 2025 came to N838 billion against the previous year figure of N596 billion, representing 41 percent or 85 percent of our budgeted figures”, the Finance Commissioner said.
In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Burutolu Samuel, explained that the interactive session was organised to enable government interface with the people to identify priorities in terms of needs and collectively determine the development direction for the state in the next fiscal year.
He therefore encouraged citizens to participate actively in the budget making process to enable government come up with a people-centred budget which implementation will lead to the delivery of tangible improvements in the lives of the people.
During the question and answer session, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Estate Surv. Moses Teibowei, said the Governor Douye Diri-led administration had made significant progress in the areas of infrastructural development, especially in the construction of roads linking the hinterland.
He disclosed that the state government has given approval for the rehabilitation of internal roads in Yenagoa, the state capital, particularly that of old Okaka Road, adding that the current administration has a good working relationship with federal agencies, particularly the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“I can tell you that all the roads l have mentioned including the PDP Road, have been visited. Just yesterday (Wednesday), the governor approved for the central procurement board to award contracts for the rehabilitation of the old Okaka Road.
“So, I want our people to be rest assured that His Excellency will still give approval for the other roads to be rehabilitated. But l strongly believe that at the end of this month, the Okaka road will be properly fixed”, the Permanent Secretary said.
Among the highlights of the programme was the question and answer session by the representative of the different groups, among whom are; Dr Mary John and Mrs Leah Amara representing women groups, Mr Johnson Theophilus and Amuso Henry (CDC Chairmen), Mr Charles Peletiri (youths) and Chief Grant Ekisa, representing traditional rulers, among others.
By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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The Federal Government has begun payment of additional exit benefits to retirees of Treasury-funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) disclosed in a statement that about N1.1 billion had been paid to 175 retirees who exited the Federal Public Service between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31.
It said the payments were being made under the Federal Government Exit Benefit Scheme (EBS), approved by the Federal Executive Council and effective from Jan. 1.
According to PenCom, the scheme provides additional financial benefits to federal employees at retirement, alongside pension benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
It said federal civil servants who had served for at least 10 years were entitled to an exit benefit equivalent to 100 per cent of their total annual emolument.
PenCom said the commencement of the payment marked a significant development in efforts to provide retirees with additional benefits beyond their Retirement Savings Account (RSA) balances.
It said the 2026 Appropriation provided N32.90 billion for the smooth implementation of the scheme.
“So far, the Federal Government has released N12.3 billion into the dedicated Exit Benefit Scheme Account maintained with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).”
The commission said it was supporting the implementation of the scheme in collaboration with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF), Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and other stakeholders.
It said the collaboration was aimed at ensuring proper processing, verification and prompt payment of the benefits.
PenCom explained that retirees were required to submit relevant documents, including clearance letters and recent payslips, to their PFAs.
It said the PFAs would verify the records and forward the information to PenCom for further validation and approval.
PenCom said the maiden payment demonstrated that the scheme had officially begun for retirees of Treasury-funded MDAs.
It noted that subsequent retirees who met the eligibility requirements would be entitled to an additional exit benefit equivalent to 100 per cent of their total annual emolument at retirement.
Business
Navy Recovers 87,000 Litres Of Crude In Rivers ——Deactivates Four Illegal Refining Sites In Ogu-Bolo
The Nigerian Navy Forward Operating Base (FOB) Bonny has sustained its offensive against crude oil theft and illegal refining activities in Rivers State, with its latest operation resulting in the discovery and deactivation of four illegal refining sites in Awokiri Community, Ogu-Bolo Local Government Area.
The operation, conducted over the week, uncovered 19 dugout pits containing an estimated 84,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while an additional 3,000 litres was discovered in a general-purpose tank, bringing the total quantity of suspected stolen crude oil to approximately 87,000 litres.
According to a situation report from FOB Bonny, the operation followed credible intelligence indicating that new illegal refining sites had been activated in the Awokiri area, prompting the deployment of an anti-crude oil theft team to the location.
The 12-man armed team departed the Shell SLOT Jetty at about 12:20 p.m. aboard RHIB 2 and Suncraft BO103 and proceeded to the area of interest, where a DJI drone was deployed to conduct aerial surveillance.
The aerial surveillance reportedly revealed several suspected illegal refining locations comprising dugout pits, storage tanks and connecting hoses, following which the naval personnel carried out a tactical landing for detailed ground assessment and exploitation.
The operation subsequently led to the discovery of four newly activated illegal refining sites comprising 19 dugout pits. Ten of the pits contained an estimated 84,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while six contained water and three others were freshly excavated and apparently prepared for future use.
Two general-purpose tanks were also discovered at the sites. While one of the tanks contained approximately 3,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, the second tank was found empty.
Further examination of the locations revealed several four-inch hoses connecting the dugout pits to the riverbank, an indication that the facilities had been configured to facilitate the movement of suspected stolen crude oil between the waterways and the illegal refining sites.
The recovered suspected stolen crude oil, pits, hoses and other facilities were documented and handled in line with established operational procedures before the naval team withdrew from the area and returned to the Shell SLOT Jetty at about 4:39 p.m.
The latest operation is part of sustained efforts by FOB Bonny to disrupt crude oil theft, illegal bunkering and other maritime crimes capable of undermining legitimate oil and gas operations and commercial activities within its area of responsibility.
In July, the Base uncovered nine illegal refining sites comprising 23 dugout pits in Bonny, with 18 pits containing an estimated 104,000 litres of suspected stolen crude oil, while five freshly excavated pits were reportedly neutralised before becoming operational.
Earlier in the same month, the Base discovered an illegal crude oil storage facility in the Bethel Community axis of Bonny, where approximately 20,500 litres of suspected stolen crude oil were recovered from concealed dugout pits.
The Nigerian Navy has also continued to target the infrastructure and logistics used by criminal networks to establish illegal refining facilities, with FOB Bonny intercepting materials allegedly meant for the construction of such facilities around the Cawthorne Channel in 2024 and arresting three suspects.
The latest development underscores the continuing challenge posed by crude oil theft and illegal refining to Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, while highlighting the importance of intelligence-led operations, aerial surveillance and sustained maritime patrols in protecting critical infrastructure and keeping the waterways around Bonny and adjoining areas safe for legitimate economic activities.
By: King Onunwor
The Executive Secretary of Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe has stated the need for African countries to move beyond resource ownership and focus on building sustainable industrial capacity, creating greater value from their natural resources and positioning African businesses to compete globally.
Engr. Ogbe said this while delivering his opening remarks at the Africa Oil Week (AOW) 2026 in Accra, Ghana recently.
NCDMB Secretary represented by the Director, Corporate Services, NCDMB, Dr. Abdulmalik Halilu, who spoke on the theme, “from Resource Ownership to Industrial Power”, noted the need to harness and utilise our resources.
“Local content frameworks must promote the development and utilisation of African cross border capacities for the industrialisation of Africa.
“Local content value proposition include research and technology development, local employment, strategic partnerships, ownership and control of assets, supply chain optimisation and sustainable operations, increase production and utilisation of locally made good and contributions to gross domestic product (GDP)”, he said.
NCDMB participated in the Africa Local Content Programme, an event The Tide learnt is a leading international conference, networking, and exhibition programme focused on Africa’s oil, gas, and upstream energy sector.
AOW brings together industry leaders, governments, regulators, investors, and service providers to develop policy, share discoveries, secure investment, and shape the continent’s energy future.
Themed, ‘Building African Capacity, Competitiveness and Collaboration Across the Upstream Value Chain’, the Africa Local Content Programme was organised in partnership with the NCDMB, the African Union (AU), and the Petroleum Commission Ghana.
The event featured high-level discussions aimed at advancing African capacity, competitiveness and collaboration across the upstream value chain.
A Statement from the Corporate Communications Division of the NCDM Omomehin, participated in discussions on “Harmonising and Standardising Technology and Policy: Driving Change through the Brazzaville Accord,” which focused on the importance of policy and technology alignment in driving regional energy development.
The Statement also added that the General Manager, Corporate Communications Division, Dr Obinna Ezeobi moderated the session on “Market Entry Insights: Unlocking Africa’s Most Compelling Upstream Opportunities,” while Dr. Hailu joined other industry stakeholders as a panelist to discuss the strategies and enablers that will accelerate investment in Africa’s upstream oil and gas sector.
The discussants according to the Board agreed that local content can be used to attract investments and lower the cost of operations, while Africa oil producers must ensure stability of regulations in their jurisdictions.
The Tide gathered that officials of the NCDMB also featured in several strategic sessions, contributing the Board’s experience and perspectives on critical issues shaping the future of Africla’s energy industry as Mr. Erefagha Turner, Assistant Manager Planning, Research and Statistics contributed to discussions on “Unlocking Capital for African Content Growth,” with emphasis on creating financing pathways to support the growth of indigenous businesses across the continent.
Turner described the Nigerian Content Intervention Fund (NCI Fund) as a successful financing model that has helped service companies to grow capacities, while Engr. Dokubo Obongo.
The Manager Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building contributed to the session on “Investing in Talent: Building Africa’s Energy Workforce,” which highlighted the importance of skills development and investment in human capital as essential requirements for building a globally competitive African energy workforce.
Another contributor from the NCDMB was Mr. Ajimijaye Omomehin who made inputs into the discussions on “Building Regional Oil & Gas Industrial Hubs.
The various sessions highlighted the importance of access to capital, policy harmonisation, technology, talent development and regional collaboration in transforming Africa’s abundant natural resources into sustainable industrial and economic opportunities.
Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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