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NUPENG Urges Oil Firm To Evacuate Staff …As Militants Threaten Kachikwu
Oil companies operating in Nigeria should evacuate their staff from the southern Niger Delta after several attacks on oil facilities, a Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) official said, yesterday.
Chairman of the Warri branch of the NUPENG, Comrade Cogent Ojobor, told newsmen yesterday that, “Best thing for any reasonable company to do is evacuate its workforce”.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Rivers State, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, said Chevron had evacuated some staff from the region, after a similar move by Shell.
“There is high alert around various installations around the Niger Delta due to recent attacks,” Onuegbu said.
“Those evacuated are where their platforms have been attacked but others are working,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, yesterday, revealed that he had been receiving threats through messages and phone calls from a militant.
In his speech at the Federal Government town hall meeting held in Kaduna State, the minister lamented the outcome of attacks on oil installations, mostly carried out in the Niger Delta region.
He noted that the incessant attacks and destruction of pipelines was draining the country’s resources, but added that the government was on top of the situation.
In his words, “Last week, my phone number was published in Sahara Reporters, and then, I began to get millions of phone calls.
“One of the first phone calls I took not knowing who was calling me was from a militant somewhere, and when I picked up the phone, he said, ‘Are you the minister of petroleum’, I said ‘yes’.
“He said, ‘I dey go blow pipeline tomorrow’, and I said, ‘why would you do that my brother if you love Nigerians?’ He said, ‘are you sure you are the minister’, I said ‘yes’.
“Then he said for being so humble, I will drop the plan. That’s the kind of environment under which we operate.”
Kachikwu further pleaded with Nigerians to be patient over the current economic challenges facing the country, stressing that the Buhari-led administration has the ability to bring the situation under control.
He added, “The reality of our situation is that wherever I turn when I was appointed, I had problems. If I turned to the refineries when I joined in October, they were not working. If I turned to the pipelines, they were non-existent.
“But I wasn’t discouraged, because if I had problems, what will I say of a man who at his age took over the mantle of this country? His Excellency, Mr President, so, that gave me a lot of encouragement,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, gunmen suspected to be militants, yesterday, killed three soldiers at Foropa, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.
As at the time of filing this report, no official confirmation has been made, and no group has claimed responsibility.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
