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NUPENG Resumes Products Supply In Rivers …As RSG Moves To Reconstruct Two Federal Roads
The National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers of Nigeria (NUPENG), has assured that there will be no scarcity of petroleum products in Rivers State as the union will continue to discharge its responsibilities of supplying products.
This is as the Rivers State Government in conjunction with Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Plc have agreed to reconstruct the damaged portion of the East-West Road, stretching from Eleme Junction to Refinery Junction.
The Rivers State Government has also resolved to reconstruct the bad portions of the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway, along the Oyigbo axis.
Addressing journalists, last Friday, after meeting with the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike at the Government House, Port Harcourt, National Industrial Relations Officer of NUPENG, Comrade Bassey Harry, said that having met with the governor, the union will cooperate with the administration to ensure the two federal roads are fixed as soon as possible.
He said that following the agreement reached with the governor, NUPENG will use her platforms to supply products to all local government areas of the state.
The NUPENG official commended Wike for the initial reconstruction of the East-West Road, which was a death trap at the time he assumed duty as the governor of the state.
He said: “We understand the effort of the governor. We took into consideration that when he came into office, the area we are mentioning today was like a death trap. But within six months in office, 80 per cent of the road was fixed by him.
“With him, that road as promised will be fixed as soon as possible. We are prepared to cooperate with him to see how that road will be fixed. There will be no fuel scarcity. We will manage the situation. The trucks will ply the roads as we know how to go about it.”
Harry added: “We have given him our word that we will manage the situation to ensure that there will be no fuel scarcity. So, people should not do panic buying of products. People should not store fuel in their houses”.
It would be recalled that Wike had earlier fixed roads neglected by the Federal Government.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, said that the government’s desire to fix the roads was aimed at ensuring uninterrupted economic activities to bolster investors’ confidence, and encourage increased foreign direct investments into the state.
Wike also advised labour unions to use strike as the last option in trade disputes to stem the tide of development challenges witnessed as a result of the frequency of strikes in the country.
He assured that the government would collaborate with National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to develop a Tankers’ Village in Eleme with a view to taking tankers off the highways while generating revenue.
Addressing the National Administrative Council of NUPENG, led by its President, Igwe Achese at the Government House, Port Harcourt, Wike said that he believed that workers should be allowed to unionise so that companies and organisations will be encouraged to always consider their welfare.
He said: “I believe that strikes should serve as a last option for unions during trade disputes. The strikes in Nigeria are getting too many and efforts should be targeted at reducing them.”
He appreciated the leaders of NUPENG for calling off their strike following his intervention, noting that the state government has already called on oil companies to reciprocate by recalling the sacked workers.
The governor urged unions to always work towards the development of money spinning ventures, to reduce their dependence on check off dues for survival.
Expressing happiness that NUPENG was developing a Tankers’ Village/Tank Farm in Rivers State, he directed the state Ministries of Energy and Lands to work with the union to bring the project to fruition and ensure the release of certificate of occupancy for the project site.
Wike, however, said that the state will work out amnesty for criminals and cultists who lay down their arms and embrace peace.
Earlier, President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, commended the governor for his development strides in the areas of infrastructure and welfare of workers.
It would be recalled that Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, when he assumed office, went into collaboration with some companies operating in the area to raise about N3billion to fix that portion of the road.
The companies that reportedly went into the memorandum of understanding with the state government were Integrated Logistics Limited, Indorama Petrochemicals, West African Container Terminals, Port Harcourt Refining Company, Nigerian Ports Authority, and Onne Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.