Rivers
Experts Want Investors To Adhere To Regulations On Oil, Gas
Experts in the oil and gas sector of the country have called on investors in the sector to adhere to laid down principles and laws governing the sector.
They said this was necessary in order to avoid unnecessary risks associated with the sector, which sometimes lead to loss of lives and property.
They said this at a stakeholders’ engagement on gas utilisation in Nigeria organized by the Nigerian Midstream And Downstream petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Port Harcourt.
The forum also urged for increased gas utilisation in order to promote a friendly and healthy Enviroment.
According to the forum, the law provides that the storage of petroleum products below and above 500 litre need to be regulated.
Speaking with newsmen, the Executive Director, Distribution systems, storage and Retailing infrastructures, Ogbugo kalu Ukoha, said the event was basically to impress on the need for operators in the industry to adhere to all laid down regulations guiding the sector.
He said the event also seeks to create more awareness on the need for utilisation of gas by the society, to guarantee a friendlier Enviroment.
He said, “this engagement sets the objective to enlighten the end users category on the need to urgently obtain the requisite petroleum storage license and to engender the transition from white products to gas at the last mile”.
Ukoha said the Authority’s twelve gazetted regulations define the licensing regime’s procedures and standard for handling petroleum products, which when breached, poses increased risk.
“In addition, gas as the transition fuel represents a cleaner and More cost effective energy source”, he said.
Ukoha stressed the need for operators and businesses to take advantage of the evolving opportunities in the gas value chain for sustainable business growth by their energy needs to embrace gas derivatives such as NL G,LPG CNG Autogas and others inorder to hedge against future global uncertainties to diesel supply.
Declaring the event open, the Authority’s Chief Executive, Faruk A. Ahmed, said the Federal Government has put in place various initiatives and policy framework, including the National Gas Expansion programm and the Decade of Gas programme.
Faruk whose address was read by the South-South Coordinator, George Ene, said the petroleum industry Act (2021) has also established within the Authority, the midstream and Down stream Gas infrastructures fund to catalyze gas investments.
“These efforts are yielding significant results, yet more collaborations and interventions are needed to improve domestic gas utilisation”, he said.
Speaking on gas transition fuel as the last mile, the Manager, Gas Operations, Duruje Elvis, said gas is environmentally friendly, less corrosive and free from adulteration.
He listed other values of gas as limiting possibility of pilfering and stealing, limited flammability range, reduction in noise pollution, less chances of contamination, and ground water pollution.
Elvis further said gas is lighter than air and as such reduces harmful emissions as well as guarantees sustainable development for a long time.
By: John Bibor
The Rivers State Primary Healthcare Management Board (RSPHCMB) says it will commence Supplemental Immunization activities on Saturday, May 3, 2025, to vaccinate children from 0-5 years across the State.
The State Health Educator, Dr. Diana Babbo, who stated this during a sensitisation meeting with Media Advocate for Health, Rivers State, on the update of immunization exercise in Rivers State, said the National Immunization Plus Days (NIPDs) is a re-enforcement of the routine immunization at the health facilities.
According to her, it is aimed at boosting polio immunisation against the circulating variance of polio virus currently threatening the total eradication of polio in the country.
She further stated that there are four pillars of polio eradication, namely routine immunization (administered on babies in the health centre), supplemental immunization activity (supplements to boost the babies), surveillance (searching for children that have weakness in their legs or some oart of their bodies), and outbreak response.
The Health Educator noted that the Novel Oral Polio Vaccination Type 2 (NOPV 2) will be administered to children under the age of 0-5 years, which targets a specific polio still in existence in communities and capable of causing paralysis among the stated categories of children, despite the country being certified a polio-free nation.
Dr. Babbo further stated that this year’s NIPDs will address the high number of unresolved non-compliance cases in the State.
She debunked what she tagged a false rumour by mischief makers which claimed that the vaccines are responsible for the development of autism in children.
She said, “vaccines are not known to be responsible for the development of autism. We’re just hearing that. The truth is that one cannot know everything.
“That aspect that has been found, have we looked into other aspects, such as genetically modified foods, drinks, and milks that our children are taking?
“Have we also looked at genetic compatibility between couples before we now say vaccines are causing x, y, z things?
“Are we looking at the environment where these things are happening, what they are peculiar to?
“It must not be peculiar to all the families, there could be something also that’s happening around that we have not known. Research is evolving, let us not accuse our precious vaccines that have succeeded so far in my knowledge, to keep as many sicknesses at bay.
“The reason we do not have small pox in our world today, apart from the lab (a bio-lab) is because we vaccinated to the point where we were able to move small pox totally out of existence from human beings. We can succeed with that same pattern with all kinds of viruses”.
She stated that the connection between autism and vaccination could merely be coincidence.
Babbo, therefore, urged all parents, churches, and school owners to avail their children/wards the opportunity to be vaccinated against polio the stated exercise.
Sogbeba Dokubo
Engr Obi Fortune, a renowned philanthropist, has donated 80 desks to four secondary schools in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The donation is part of his commitment to advancing education in the area.
The schools that benefited from the gesture includes- Community Secondary School Umuoye.
Community Secondary School Akwa- Government Secondary School Ozuzu and Community Primary School Okehi 2 and all the schools got 20 units each of the desks.
Speaking during the brief handing-over ceremony held recently in okehi recently, Engr Obi stated that the donation fulfills his promise to use proceeds from his book sales to procure desks for schools in the LGA.
He disclosed that more desks will arrive soon and expressed his continued commitment to supporting education in the area.
Obi urged the schools to make good use of the desks and called on other individuals to contribute to the educational needs in the area.
This gesture demonstrates Engr Obi’s dedication to improving education in Etche LGA.
A professor of social and political philosophy at Rivers State University (RSU ) Nkpolu Oroworukwu port Harcourt, Prof Agha Eresia _Eke has emphasized that citizenship participation is crucial for achieving true democratic government. He stressed that citizens’ involvement in exercising their basic rights, such as freedom of speech, assembly, and religion, is essential for a democratic institution to thrive.
Eresia _Eke stated this while presenting his inaugural lecture at the 111 university’s inaugural lecture series with the topic “Nigeria Democratic practices:a contextual paradox”held at the university senate auditorium in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to him, core democratic values which include:,- Respect for individual rights and freedoms, Protection of human rights and fundamental freedom, Equality before the law, Freedom of speech, assembly, and association, Protection of privacy and personal autonomy.
“Through out history, the problem that has agitated social and political philosophers has been to work _out a model for the realization of the common good of man.
Man has always sought and developed methods and systems of organising himself according to his true nature as a rational being.”he stated.
Eresia-Eke notes that Nigeria is not practicing a true federalism and highlights the importance of a pragmatic approach to democracy, where ideas and solutions are tested and refined in real-world environments.
He emphasized that citizens must hold their leaders accountable and demand respect for human rights, stressing that by doing so, citizens can undertake their civic obligations and responsibilities, strengthening society as a whole.
Earlier in his address, the Vice chancellor of the university, Prof Zeb _Obipi commended the lecturer for his brilliant performance, adding that he has justified and proven that he is a professor in his area of specialization.
The VC averred that the university has been consistent in the inaugural lecture monthly and assured that his administration will continue to continue to keep the trend.