Why Nigerians should explore Compressed Natural Gas

By Ismail Abdulaziz, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

At the inception of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the vexatious issue of fuel subsidy regime was ended to address the huge infrastructure development gap created by the use of funds to power the subsidy.

Nigeria’s infrastructure deficit, amounting to 30 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, falls short of the international benchmark of 70 per cent set by the World Bank.

Nigeria spent more than N400 billion monthly to subsidise petroleum imports before the inauguration of President Tinubu, according to Mele Kyari, head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPCL).

These are funds that would, otherwise be used to check infrastructure decay and shortfall in the country.

“The fuel subsidy is gone. The subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.

“We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.

“This is one decision we must bear to save our country from going under and take our resources away from the stranglehold of a few unpatriotic elements,” Tinubu said in his inaugural speech on May 29, 2023.

Nigerian were left with a choice of finding alternatives to subsidy funding that has been recognised by leading Presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party and the Labour Party in the 2023 general election.

The choice offered by the Tinubu administration was the use of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in vehicles, especially the commercial vehicles that constitute over 80 per cent of petrol users in the country.

At the inauguration of 30 hybrid CNG-powered buses with the capacity to transport 3,000 passengers recently, Tinubu said the use of natural gas to power the nation’s transportation industry would reduce transportation costs.

He said it would also enhance productivity, and save the nation trillions of Naira spent on the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).

”If we can enhance our energy competitiveness and bring about transformative changes like this, we will definitely be able to achieve the prosperity that we are working hard to accomplish for our people.

“These CNG buses are promising and will enhance our transportation system before the inauguration of President Tinubu.

“Countries like India have mandated CNG for all commercial vehicles since 2004. In Nigeria, commercial vehicles make up about 80 percent of our petroleum demand, costing us trillions of naira every month.

”The solution is here. We have it. We will work on it. We promise you, definitely, things will get better. Prosperity will be achieved”, Tinubu said.

Energy experts say Nigerians need to take advantage of the CNG-powered vehicles to ameliorate the huge financial implications occasioned by high cost of petrol and it attendant increase in prices of goods and services.

“CNG is an important and feasible gaseous fuel that is relatively very cheap, environmentally friendly, safe to handle, and has abundant available energy resources.

“By considering the availability and infrastructure facility, CNG seems to be a prominent alternative fuel for diesel engine applications’’, says  Ashok Nanthagopal in a study on Eco Friendly Biofuels for CI Engine Applications published in Natural Gas (Second Edition).

According to him, earlier reports showed that CNG fuel could stand well below conventional fuel for the consideration of performance aspects.

Olalere Odusote, former commissioner for energy to the Lagos state government said the CNG powere-vehicles are worth embracing.

“By embracing CNG, we can enhance energy security, create jobs, and propel Nigeria towards a brighter future for all its citizens”, the media recently quoted him as saying.

Experts say that CNG use is gaining acceptance worldwide because of its environmental and economic benefits; it is a clean-burning fuel that produces lower emissions than traditional gasoline or diesel, and it can also be less expensive to use.

Some of the known advantages of CNG use include lower emission, energy savings, energy security, and longer engine life.

The disadvantages include limited range, limited fueling infrastructure, high upfront costs and safety concerns.

The concern of Nigerians centres on the disadvantages of the CNG use and the availability of conversation service.

The government, has responded to this concern through the Presidential CNG Initiative, established as a component of the palliative intervention of the administration to cushion the hardships of the fuel subsidy removal can allay the fears of users.

Another energy expert, Mr Taiwo Adewole said that the introduction of CNG)vehicles into Nigveria’’s transport industry would help fight pollution.

“CNG powered vehicles and generators will help fight pollution from fossil fuel that an average Nigeria uses on a daily basis. The government also needs to work on adequate power supply’’, he told a local energy medium.

Retired Air Vice Marshal Akugbe Iyamu, former Acting Director-General, National Emergency Mangement Agency.

“There is simply no way to turn back on delivering CNG for all Nigerians. It is the right thing to do’’ Iyamu said.

Mele Kyari the Group Chief Executive Office of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has also thrown his weight behind the CNG initiative.

“Is it late? Yes,, but we will make progress, we will cover the gap in order to ensure that the volatility we see with Premium Motor Spirit does not apply to gas’’, said Kyari.

This is possible through making accessible and assessable the process of conversion and continuing encouragement of its use among both the commercial and private car owners in the country.

Those in the transport industry, however, say the decision to use CNG for vehicles depends on individual needs and preferences, as well as the availability of refueling infrastructure in the country. (NANFeature)

**If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The Africans Rising: Challenges and desire for borderless Africa

By Emmanuel Mogbede, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Approximately 1,500 activists from across African continent and the Diaspora, will converge on Accra, both in person and virtually, for the 2nd All-African Movements Assembly (AAMA) scheduled to hold from Aug. 29 to Aug. 31.

They are billed to discuss issues affecting the continent.

Samia Nkrumah, President of Kwame Nkrumah Pan-African Centre (KNAC) and daughter of Ghana’s founding president, Kumi Naidoo, Africans Rising Ambassador and Human Rights Advocate, Pierre-Christophe Gam, Polymath Artist are expected to headline speakers at the event organised by Africans Arising.

Convening under the theme “Towards Pan-African Solidarity: United We Stand, Divided We Fall”, the meeting is coming up amidst youths-led mass protests in Nigeria, Senegal, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Uganda.

“The All-African Movement Assembly stands as the platform where Africa’s movements envision and construct the desired just and borderless future in unity’’, says Africans Rising Co-ordinator, Hardi Yakubu,

Launched in 2017, Africans Rising is a global Pan-African movement of movements, people and organisations working for unity, justice, peace, and dignity.

The movement provides space for progressive African civil society leaders and groups engaged in various civic struggles to convene, connect, collaborate, share knowledge, and build solidarity among Africans.

It is expected that through Pan-African mobilisation, campaigns, and movement building, oppressive system will be defeated while alternative is created in its stead.

“Africa shall unite and in unity, we will regain our strength and push forward to taking destiny into our own hands”. The Africans Arising co-ordinator had said.

He explained that building on the success of the first edition, AAMA 2024 will expand its scope to tackle emerging challenges while capitalising on new opportunities for cross-border solidarity.

He said the assembly will feature a series of dynamic discussions and workshops on critical topics including climate and ecological justice, ethical governance, economic justice, reparations.gender justice, and the expansion of civic space.

“Additionally, the event will discuss the vision of African unity, including the concepts of a borderless Africa and a single African currency, and will address the ongoing struggles against racism and modern-day slaver,” he said.

Yakubu at the end of its Borderless Africa Convention in Lusaka in June 2024, had stressed the need for African Governments to ratify the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons on the continent to boost trade,development and understanding.

He said the Africans Arising Movement was committed to ensuring a borderless Africa as the best possible way to build economic, social, and geopolitical power.

He also said the group is committed to creating inclusive local organising platforms across African countries to ensure every corner of the continent was touched by the vision of a free, just, united and prosperous Africa.

To realise its dream, Yakubu said the movement will collaborate with all Africans in movements, civil society, governments, political parties and private sector.

He denounced the colonial mental and physical borders and all relics of colonial exploitation, which according to him, has continued to cause division and rancour among Africans.

“We assert our oneness as a people, we no longer want to be identified by or to live in the confines of these divisions, which were created purposefully to divide and conquer us.

“True to their purpose, these borders and the divisions have hampered trade among ourselves as Africans, both home and in the Diaspora.

“Curtailed cultural harmony, arrested our development, limited educational opportunities, job creation and overall prosperity while leading to great losses of our young, energetic and creative people.

“We desire to live in an Africa where we are not Zambians, Kenyans, Nigerians or Sudanese, but just Africans with one passport, one currency and freedom to move within our continent.

“All logic and rationality since the independence struggles by our forefathers six decades ago to date, confirmed that this is the only sure path to our mutual prosperity,” Yakubu said.

He said there must be no delay in its realisation as scientific studies had further confirmed this, stressing that the United States of Africa was the legitimate desire of the African peoples on the continent and in the Diaspora.

He added that the form and structure of the envisioned United Africa was open to rigorous discussions guided by the timeless and enshrined African principles.

This, he said, included the values of ethical governance, economic-social justice, ecological justice, respect for human rights, fellow-feeling, anti-racism and discrimination.

Yakubu expressed happiness that the Government of Zambia had showed solidarity and support for Africans Rising’s call for the removal of colonial borders.

He, however, called on the government to take the next logical step and ratify the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, while proceeding to remove VISA requirements for all Africans traveling from all parts of the continent.

“Through the leadership provided by the government of Zambia, we call on all African governments to operationalise and universalise free movement.

“For intra-African travel and trade by ratifying and implementing the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons,” he said.

Recall that the Protocol on Free Movement of Persons initially contained in the 1991 Abuja Treaty, aims to facilitate and increase the movement of Africans within Africa, while enhancing their rights to entry, residence, and establishment in AU member states.

To Charles Kojo Vandyck, a former member of the Africans Rising Coordinating Collective, AAMA is more than a gathering; it is a rallying cry for African movements to forge a future beyond oppression, grounded in justice and collective power.

Ms Ann Lorna, Communications and Media Lead, Africans Rising, expressed optimism that the All-African Movement Assembly will beyond discussing challenges confronting the continent, proffer possible solutions.

She added that there is a need for African leaders to dialogue on ways of addressing issues facing the continent to make it a better place for all.

According to her, the 2024 AAMA has become expedient considering the recent protests in Senegal, Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda, calling for better living conditions and dignity for Africans, particularly the youths.

Lorna said the theme of this year’s edition of AAMA was apt because it sought to achieve unity among nations.

She said it would also provide a platform for assessing our collective mandate as Africans, especially in our quest for unity, justice, peace, and dignity.

“As Africa faces a rapidly shrinking civic space with increasing crackdowns on dissent, harassment, abductions, and even killings of activists, there is the need for a dialogue.

“And a unified action has never been more urgent. AAMA 2024 will address these pressing issues.

“This will be a great opportunity and platform to look holistically and collectively at the crisis moment that we are in and formulate a systems framework for dealing with these matters together in solidarity,”  Lorna said. (NANFeatures)

**If used please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

By Philip Yatai, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Shortly after assuming office as FCT minister on Aug. 21, 2023, Mr Nyesom Wike announced short, medium, and long-term plans to restore the Abuja Master Plan.

Wike, along with FCT minister of state Mariya Mahmoud, explained that overhauling the FCT would reposition it to be among the best cities in the world in line with President Bola Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda”.

He added that emphasis would be placed on infrastructural development, taking one project at a time, to restore the city to its glory.

The minister said that development would also be extended to the six Area Councils as part of strategies to decongest the city and open rural economy.

Sadly, Wike was confronted with the sight of abandoned projects that characterised the capital city.

The minister noted that FCT had, over the years, witnessed foundation laying ceremonies of several structures worth billions, only to be abandoned midway or at advanced stages of the construction.

While assessing them, he pointed out that some of the contracts were awarded in 2007, some in 2011, while others were awarded between 2015 and 2017, with all abandoned.

Confronting the challenge, Wike said that revenue leakages would be blocked so as to mobilise the needed resources for infrastructural development in the FCT.

“I will ensure that Abuja gets the best. You will see projects upon projects, and projects that will be completed and not abandoned.

“I am not a party to abandoned projects. I start a project when there is money as such we will look into our finances before we begin any project,” the minister had said.

Innovatively, Wike got most of the contractors back to site after agreeing on a payment plan with money from the FCT Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and 2023 Supplementary Budget.

To improve IGR, the minister inaugurated a Task Force on the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy for mass housing developments and the recovery of land use contravention fees in the FCT.

He equally introduced innovations and enforced the payment of outstanding ground rents and other taxes in the FCT, a decision that increased the territory’s revenue generation significantly.

This is evident with the recent declaration of N126.54 billion collected and remitted between January and June by the FCT Internal Revenue Service.

The then acting Executive Chairman of the service, Mr Haruna Abdullahi, said that the figure was 53.5 per cent higher than the N82.46 billion collected in the first half of 2023.

The minister also secured the approval of Tinubu to withdraw FCTA from Treasury Single Account, to enable the administration to access funds from financial institutions to fund projects.

These initiatives paid off, as nine months later, the Wike-led FCTA announced the completion of numerous projects which were inaugurated in May to celebrate Tinubu’s one year in office.

Some of the projects included the official residence of the Vice President, the Abuja Rail Mass Transit system, Inner Southern Expressway from the Outer Southern Expressway to the Southern Parkway.

Others are full scope development of about 6.7km of 10 lanes Outer Southern Expressway from Villa Roundabout to Ring Road 1 Junction, and construction of Southern Parkway from the Christian Centre to Ring Road 1, named after President Bola Tinubu.

Equally inaugurated were the completed B6 (Constitution Avenue)/B12 (Independence Avenue) roads in Central Area, and Wuye interchange bridge.

The full scope development of the Arterial Road, N-20, from Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Expressway to Murtala Mohammed Expressway, was also partly completed and named after noble laurel Wole Soyinka.

Another milestone of the Wike-led FCTA was the completion of engineering infrastructure in Guzape District Lot II, and the resurfacing of 189 roads covering 57 km within Abuja city centre among others.

He assured that other ongoing projects would be completed by December 2024, including the rehabilitation and resurfacing of 366 roads in Wuse, Garki, Asokoro and Maitama Districts, covering 117 km.

Also ongoing are the rehabilitation of District Hospital Gwarimpa, Cottage Hospital Gwagwalada and District Hospital Utako, Greater Abuja Water Supply Project and rehabilitation of 19 public primary and secondary schools across the territory.

The minister also recently inaugurated the construction of three bus terminals in the FCT to ensure a secure and convenient travel experience for commuters in the FCT.

He also inaugurated the construction of the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal Complex to strengthen the administration of justice.

Road users and residents described the feat as unprecedented, saying that Wike was the best thing that had happened to FCT.

“I have been living in Abuja for 16 years but never witnessed a speedy delivery of road projects until Wike happened.

“Look at the road to Asokoro from Apo, which was under construction for several years, but Wike delivered it in just eight months,” said a resident, Mr Andrew Moses.

Similarly, Mr Shuabu Yunusa, a taxi driver said, “It is now seamless going to Asokoro from Apo. The Tinubu-led administration is really working and deserved our commendation.”

In keeping to his promise not to leave rural communities behind in the development agenda, the minister has inaugurated the construction of rural roads of more than 42.2km across the six Area Councils and promised to complete them by December.

Similarly, the minister has also handed over Staff of Office to four newly coronated Chiefs of Karu, Kwali, Pai, and Yaba, as part of measures to strengthen traditional institutions and improve governance in communities.

According to him, the traditional rulers are expected to draw the attention of the government to any development, security and other issues that require government attention and response.

Beyond infrastructural development, stakeholders said that Wike has carved his name in gold by ensuring the implementation of the FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC), 2018, against all odds.

The minister, on Oct. 13, 2023, announced President Tinubu’s approval for the establishment of CSC for the FCTA, in line with the provisions of the law.

This, he said, was to allow career progression for civil servants in the Administration, from director to permanent secretary and, hopefully, Head of Civil Service.

On March 12, Wike announced Tinubu’s approval for the appointment of Mr Udo Atang, as pioneer Head of Civil Service of the FCTA.

Mr Emeka Ezeh was also appointed Chairman of the Commission’s Board, along with six others as commissioners, representing the six geopolitical zones.

Similarly, 10 other directors in the FCTA were appointed as pioneer Permanent Secretaries for various Secretariats of the Administration.

The excited pioneer head of FCT civil service, described the development as a demonstration of the reality of the renewed hope agenda of the Tinubu-led government.

Commending Tinubu and Wike for renewing the hope of FCT workers, Atang said: “the staff of the Administration have never had it this good.

“In the new FCTA system, every member of staff is a potential permanent secretary and head of service.”

To ensure gender equality, as well as women and youth participation in governance, Wike, within one year in office, has created Women Affairs Secretariat and Youth Development Secretariat.

This has increased the number of secretariats in the FCTA from eight to 10 with a view to ensure inclusive governance.

On security, the Wike-led FCTA has supported security agencies, including vigilante groups, with motorcycles and operational vehicles, fitted with modern communication gadgets.

This, according to him, is to enable security agencies to navigate hard-to-reach communities in rural areas and improve security operations within the city.

Wike equally inaugurated a Joint Task Force, consisting of all security agencies in the FCT, to curb the menace of “one chance” and another to curtail the activities of arm rubbers, kidnappers and all forms of crimes within the FCT and its environment.

While assessing the performance of the Wike-led FCTA on security, Mr Adamu Gwary, Director, Security Services Department, FCTA, argued that the impact was impressive, considering the reduced incidents of security breaches.

Sharing Gwary’s view, Prof. Kailani Muhammed, Director-General of the Confederation of All Progressives Congress said that FCT had become a safe haven where residents could afford to sleep with their two eyes closed.

Despite the laudable feats within one year in office, stakeholders have stressed the need to invest more on people-oriented projects such as provision of clean water, quality health services and transportation system.

This, according to them, will impact significantly on the lives of the common residents of the FCT. (NANFeatures)

** If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

By Emmanuella Anokam, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

When the construction of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery Limited began in 2016, Nigerians were upbeat that it will crash the high price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as fuel and also stop its importation.

The refinery, in size of nearly 4,000 football fields and located at the Lekki Free Zone, outside of Lagos, was inaugurated in May 2023.

It has the capacity to produce 650,000 barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), making it the largest single-train refinery in the world.

Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest oil producers, with its oil reserve at 37.50 billion barrels; yet lacks capability to refine its oil; forcing it to rely on imported fuel for so long.

Industry watchers were hopeful that the opening of the refinery will trigger the processing of enough oil; not only to make Nigeria self-sufficient, but to supply petrol, diesel and jet fuel to other countries.

However, perceptive observers are worried that the recent faceoff between Alhaji Aliko Dangote, the owner of the refinery, and the managers of the country’s oil and gas industry, appears to be dashing the expectations of Nigerians.

They regret that the 19 billion dollars refinery is now operational, but has not refined PMS due to numerous challenges outlined by the owner himself, Dangote.

Worthy of note, Dangote has accused certain `mafias’ of attempting to sabotage his refinery project.

He lamented that the International Oil Companies (IOCs) were hampering the refinery production by either refusing to sell crude oil or charging him up to four dollars extra, above the standard price.

Dangote complained that efforts to hit the ground were being frustrated as the refinery was unable to secure its full crude oil requirement from domestic production for its operation.

He acknowledged that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) supplied about 60 per cent of the 50 million barrels it lifted.

Piqued by aforementioned, Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote Refinery, urged the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to fully enforce the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

“Our concern has always been NUPRC’s reluctance to enforce the DCSO and ensure that we receive our full crude oil requirement from the NNPC and the IOCs producing in Nigeria, which always redirect us to their international trading arms.

“Consequently, we often purchase the same Nigerian crude oil from international traders at an additional three to four dollars premium per barrel which translates to three to four million, per cargo,’’ he said.

At the other end, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Dangote were also at loggerheads over indiscriminate issuing of licences to individuals who allegedly imported contaminated fuel.

Dangote’s accusations against some high-placed individuals of the importation of contaminated fuel was, however, refuted by the NMDPRA which was of the opinion that no dirty fuel was imported into the country.

NMDPRA added that it took seriously its statutory mandate to ensure that only quality petroleum products are supplied and consumed in Nigeria.

NMDPRA said that the Dangote refinery was at its pre-commissioning stage, while its diesel was below international standard, adding that the country would not stop fuel importation to avoid monopoly by the refinery.

Dangote, however, refuted the NMDPRA position on the issue and also declared that NNPC Ltd. no longer owned a 20 per cent stake in its Refinery, after it failed to pay the balance of its shares, which was due in June.

The company maintained that the Nigerian oil company owned only 7.2 per cent of the refinery.

For NNPC Ltd., Dangote’s decision amounted to a breach in their agreement, as the decision to cap its equity participation at the paid-up sum was made and communicated to Dangote refinery several months ago.

Dangote subsequently alleged that the NNPC Ltd. opened a blending plant somewhere off Malta, where they brought in poor quality products with fake certificates.

The NNPC Ltd. swiftly refuted the allegation and urged Dangote to disclose the identity of workers of the company whom he claimed owned a blending plant in Malta or make them known to relevant security agencies for necessary actions.

The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, had also convened a high-level meeting with key oil managers which marked a significant step in resolving the challenges and issues surrounding the Dangote Refinery.

The meeting had in attendance Dangote, Mr Farouk Ahmed, Authority Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC and Malam Mele Kyari, Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd.

Weighing in on the imbroglio, President Bola Tinubu recently directed the NNPC Ltd. to commence crude oil sale to the refinery and other local refineries in naira denomination, to promote crude oil trade, using the local currency.

Policy analysts are of the view that the president’s directive– Naira Crude Sales Initiative– marks a significant milestone in Nigeria’s journey towards economic prosperity and all eyes are on the promising future and development.

Nonetheless, the refinery is yet to buy crude in naira; hence the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Mr Wale Edun, is initiating a meeting of relevant stakeholders to ensure the realisation of the policy objective.

Reacting to the current crisis in the industry, former President, Olusegun Obasanjo said that cabals in Nigeria’s oil sector would continue to frustrate the Dangote Refinery because they were benefiting from the refined petrol import.

Obasanjo expressed worry that those profiting from the lucrative fuel importation business will do everything within their powers to sabotage the Dangote Refinery.

Sharing a similar stance, Dr Akinwunmi Adesina, President, African Development Bank (AfDB), warned that the whole issue on Dangote Refinery was shocking and creating bad waves for Nigeria globally.

According to Adesina, Nigeria cannot and must not undermine, disparage or kill local industries.

“It is more than simply delivering the cheapest product to the market; it is about domestic supply security, driving (and yes, protecting) globally competitive industries, maximising forward and backward linkages in the local economy, job creation, reducing forex expenses and shoring up the naira,’’ he said.

Reflecting on the impasse, an Economic Expert, Dr Chijioke Ekechukwu, said the situation would impede the economic and beneficial projections for 2024 and 2025.

“There are a myriad of by-products from the refining of crude oil which will also add to the export products of Nigeria through Dangote Refinery.

“When more of these products are exported, there will be more foreign currency inflows and attendant increase in their liquidity while the exchange rate is expected to drop accordingly.

“The production of the refinery will obviously reduce the amount of foreign currencies hitherto deployed to import the same; our foreign reserve can be used as a buffer for other obligations.

“These are all the beneficial projections which are made for 2024 and 2025 but with the current impasse between the refinery and their regulators therefore, these projections are not likely to materialise,’’ he said.

More so, an Oil and Gas Consultant, Mr Henry Adigun, described the refinery as one of the best in the world and called for a proper engagement between the Dangote group and the regulators rather than imbibing wild accusations, threats, misinformation and media war.

Adigun advised that issues of crude supply, petrol pricing and subsidy among others in the country should be worked out.

He explained that the call for IOCs to give out crude at less than market prices as expected by Dangote was against the provision of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) which dwelled on willing buyer- willing seller, and not because Dangote was involved.

According to Adigun, the PIA, which is the law governing the oil and gas industry, should be obeyed and respected while the national assets must be protected.

“Even if Nigeria gives all her crude oil, it will not be enough hence Dangote will still need crude oil from outside the country to blend.

“We do not have enough crude oil to offer; we are producing 1.6 million barrels per day; if all the refineries start working, that might not even go round,’’ he argued.

Meanwhile, Speaker, House of Representative, Tajudeen Abbas, has constituted a new seven-member panel that will be part of the joint committee to probe alleged economic sabotage in the petroleum industry.

The development followed the recent dissolution of the ad hoc committee earlier set up by the House to probe alleged infractions in the oil and gas sector.

All in all, it is stakeholders’ opinion that the squabble in Nigeria’s most strategic sector will be counter-productive as the nation drudge through economic recovery.

They urge all parties entangled in the melee to put national interest above private interests and resolve the complications amicably.(NANFeatures)

 **If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.

By Funmilayo Adeyemi, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The event played out like a rowdy parliamentary session, though, without a gavel to punctuate ruling or proclamation on a contentious educational issue.

The occasion was a policy meeting, organised by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board (JAMB) recently in Abuja, which had in attendance the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman and stakeholders in the education sector

The Minister reiterated the government’s position that only applicants who were 18 years and above were eligible for admission into tertiary institutions in the 2024 admission process, and going forward.

The minister’s pronouncement, however, ignited a lot of concerns among the stakeholders who could not hide their resentment to the decision.

Since the pronouncement in April during a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) monitoring exercise in Bwari, Abuja, the minister has received both commendation and condemnations.

However, to calm frayed nerves and bring the meeting to normalcy, Mamman, like a presiding officer in a parliamentary plenary, had asked, “Are we together?”, while the participants chorused in unison, “No no no”

After the meeting was called to order, the minister took time to explain to the participants that the position of government on the 18 years admission benchmark was not novel.

He said, by the provisions of the educational policy of the nation, a child is required to be at 18 years before securing admission to tertiary institution, having attended six years in primary school, three years in Junior Secondary School and three years in senior secondary school.

Mamman explained that the policy aimed at addressing key issues within tertiary institutions, particularly universities.

However, in response to the intense protest, the Minister conceded to set the 2024 admission age at 16, while the law would apply from 2025.

Many have commended the minister for shifting ground and conceding to allowing students who participated in the 2024 UTME but were under 18 to gain admission.

However, the question many observers and stakeholders in the sector are further asking is, whether the one year respite by the federal government is adequate or is the policy in any way, in the interest of the education sector?.

The Federal Government introduced the 6-3-3-4 system of education in 1983 with the primary focus of meeting the educational needs of its citizenry and equipping the youths with sellable skills that would make them to be self-reliant.

More than two decades later, a modified system, Universal Basic Education (UBE) also known as the 9-3-4 was introduced, with curriculum expected to meet the global best practices.

Experts have, however, observed that the implementation of the education policies had led to the menace of admitting underage children into secondary schools.

The trend of parents pushing their children to finish their education at a very tender age has become alarming.

It has been observed that parents propel their children into skipping primary five and six and “jumping” into the Junior Secondary School.

This is also applicable to Senior Secondary schools as some parents push their children into taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) while in SS 2.

This development has led to many students graduating from secondary schools at ages 14, 15 and 16 years, and getting admissions into tertiary institutions in the country.

The consequence is a younger, immatured candidates who ought to be in controlled space of their parents, finding themselves unrestrained, in a vibrant tertiary school environment

The minister had said that the development was  responsible for some challenges in the higher institutions and vowed to enforce the law mandating the admission age for entry into tertiary institutions as 18 years.

Mamman had also directed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to admit only students who have attained the age of 18 years into tertiary institutions.

“This pronouncement is a reminder and if you look at all the policy documents on the schooling system in Nigeria; the UBE Act for instance, you’ll find that the entry age into primary school is six.

Age three to five years are all pre-primary school stages. Early childhood education is what they are meant for.

“When you add up the rest of the period, you find that a child is supposed to be finishing about 17 and a half years. So that’s just about the period we’re talking about.

“We’re just reminding people. It’s not a new policy we are coming up with.

“We also remind parents that jumping your children through their period of education is not very helpful. There’s no need to put a child of four years in primary school,’’ he said.

The minister explained that once a child had not attained a particular age for schooling, such a child must not be allowed to skip.

When asked if there will be any sanction for failure to obey the policy, the minister said there would be no sanction, but the child would simply not be admitted.

He noted that other examination bodies like NECO and WAEC would, henceforth, implement the age at which a student could take their examinations.

However, many Nigerians have continued to oppose the government’s decision on the 18 years entry age into tertiary institutions.

They are of the opinion that the decision was harsh, as many students in this current generation don’t graduate from secondary school at the required age to enable them to proceed for higher education.

Mrs Victoria Chimezie, a parent and civil servant, called on the government to consider the implications on children who graduated at 15 and 16 years and be made to stay at home for another two years before admission.

Chimezie said that this would only encourage the children to get into different social vices, capable of destroying their lives, adding that ‘ an idle mind is the devil’s workshop’.

She urged the government to retrace its steps by finding solutions from the bottom before implementing the admission age.

Dr Lovelyn Anabogwu, Facilitator at the National Teachers Institute(NTI) said 16 years is an ideal age for students to gain admission to tertiary institutions because they were already mentally, physically, psychologically and emotionally suitable, at the age

She equally submitted that exceptionally brilliant students, who left secondary school at 15 years old, could also be considered for admission.

A parent, Mrs Alice Etuka said that in an age of advanced technology, savvy and vibrant youths Nigeria is endowed with,  it is retrogressive for a minister to propagate 18 years benchmark for entry into higher institutions

Etuka noted that technology had helped greatly in  making children grasp faster because they had many resources to help them understand their studies better.

She, therefore, called on the government to reconsider the age limit and allow entry age into tertiary institutions to be pegged at 16 years.

“Times have changed and curriculum has been improved upon. Nowadays, both parents are working and as such enrol their children in school at a very young age.

“Topics like addition and subtraction which were learnt in Primary schools in those days, are now being taught in Nursery  and the children are coping.

“Also, children in private schools can read as early as five years, so why do you want to delay their education because of a retrogressive policy?

“I call on the Minister to rethink this pronouncement so that we will not drive our education system and  vibrant youth population backward,” she said.

To the contrary, the Proprietor, ChiedField School, Mr Joshua Oluwole, emphasised the importance of the 9-3-4 policy in getting things done right in the sector.

Oluwole advised parents to get their children engaged in skills that would impact positively on them by the time they get into higher institutions.

He advised private school owners to avoid accepting age falsification, rather be strict in admitting students with the right birth certificate.

According to him, this will go a long way in checking the excesses of some parents who might want to enrol their underage children in the various classes.

Similarly, Sylvester Onoja, Former Commissioner for Education, Kogi State, blamed the government for rot in the educational system, for failure to implement the policy all the while.

Onoja also emphasised the need for a complete character formation of students before getting into tertiary institutions.

He explained that character building was necessary to shape the personality of the students for the country, hence, the need to get the student matured before their higher education.

“Judging by the 9-3-4 system of education, 18 years is the year of maturity. A child is admitted into primary school at age six; spend six years in primary school and transit into secondary school.

“Such a child spends another six years in secondary school and you can see that by the time such a child is graduating from secondary school, he/she would have turned 18.

“Nobody goes to the university to form any character and as a result you cannot really bring character to closure, until you are 18-years-old,’’ he said.

Also, Hajia Mariam Magaji, National Deputy President, Association of Private Schools Owners of Nigeria (APSON), pledged the readiness of the association to enforce the age policies in schools.

“On our part, we are supporting the government in providing quality education to Nigerian children.

“We are also supporting that decision of admission age, and this starts from the basic and secondary schools.

“We believe in doing that and supporting the government, we will be giving the best to the children and they can then move to tertiary institutions at that age,’’ Magaji said.

Mohammed Musa, National President, All Nigeria Association of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), commended the federal government for taking the bull by the horn in its decision.

Musa encouraged parents to begin to think outside the box for their underage children, stressing that, any child not up to 18 years should not be allowed into tertiary institutions.

“The issue of age when it comes to education is very important, and the 6-3-3-4 system of education is very nice, and can help our sector.

“ The 6-3-3-4 system comprises skills acquisition. If a child is not capable of proceeding to senior secondary school, at least such a child would have learnt a skill.

“Because it has not been properly followed, that is why you have children coming to school skipping a grade, and this is very bad for the system.

“The child that is not psychologically and mentally prepared,, getting into the tertiary institution will be a dangerous game because he/she will  be opened to manipulation,’’ Musa said.

No doubt, the intention of the framers of the 9-3-4 policy is to ensure a child attains maturity age of 18, form good character, before leaving the controlled space of their parents.

This will go a long way in curtailing vices of cultism, drug addiction, prostitution and many more which is believed that many were lured into, on getting to unrestrained and vibrant tertiary school environments.

However, the policy has been left unimplemented for decades, to the extent that the adopted age for admission had been 16 years and even below.

The concern is, will tertiary institutions get the required number of students in the next two to three academic sessions if this policy is implemented?  (NANFeatures)

***If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

An analysis by Salif Atojoko, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

The three-day visit of President Bola Tinubu to Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, has come and gone, but the visit has left in its wake salient points for conversations on the benefits or otherwise.

As some are want to believe, Nigeria has probably little to gain from Equatorial Guinea, which is a small country compared to Nigeria in terms of landmass and population.

However, key officials of the Tinubu government insist that the official visit of the President to Equatorial Guinea, on the invitation of President Teodoro Mbasogo, is beneficial to Nigeria in many ways.

For instance, Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), said the gas deal signed with Equatorial Guinea was good for Nigeria because it would bring about economic gains and strengthen the ties between the two countries.

The minister stated that the deal would lead to an increase in upstream gas utilisation in Nigeria, as the stranded gas would be utilised for economic gains for the two countries.

He explained that the deal would further develop the gas value chain, and that the construction of the gas pipeline would employ several people from both countries.

“In terms of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), I have been informed that they will need about four million  tonnes of gas per year, and the methanol plant will need about one billion cubic feet per day.

“So, it is a good one, and you know our President is really enthusiastic about gas. Anything gas, he will go into it,” said Ekpo.

Similarly, Amb. Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, said Nigeria and Equatorial Guinea as neighbours, have a lot of opportunities that had not been actualised, but through President Tinubu’s visit, some of those opportunities would soon come to reality.

He stated that it is on record that Equatorial Guinea has an LNG plant, which has since run out of gas.

“So, the country is in need of Nigerian gas to keep its LNG plant going. And of course, we have untapped gas resources just nearby – off the coast of Calabar in Akwa Ibom,” he said.

According to him, one remarkable achievement Nigeria needs to record is to construct a 150-kilometre pipeline to the LNG plant.

He explained that Equatorial Guinea also has very fertile land where plantain and banana grow even in the wild.

He said these and many other opportunities could be harnessed in terms of trade, and fittingly, as the two presidents have agreed to increase the volume of trade between the two countries.

He added that there is a Joint National Commission of the two countries that had been inactive, which President Tinubu and his Equatorial Guinea counterpart have resuscitated.

According to him, the first meeting of the commission will hold in Novermber, where the framework for cooperation in terms of safety and security of the Gulf of Guinea will be established.

“These two countries are gatekeepers of the Gulf of Guinea, and that security collaboration is necessary.

“If you remember, in 2002 there was a vessel involved in illicit activities in Nigeria, and ran to Equatorial Guinea.

“The authorities in Equatorial Guinea then arrested that vessel and handed over the crude oil in it to Nigeria.

“So, that has set a precedence. It’s part of the reasons why since 2022 Nigeria has not recorded any piracy incident within its territorial waters.

“This is because the pirates know that if they do anything and run to a place like Equatorial Guinea, they’re going to be sent back to Nigeria for trial,” he said.

He said that sort of collaboration was needed in the Gulf of Guinea, and that the agreements to be signed during the Joint National Commission meeting in November included different facets of the achievements of President Tinubu’s visit.

Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, agreed with Tuggar that the visit of President Tinubu to Equatorial Guinea was beneficial to Nigeria in many ways.

Tunji-Ojo said the discussion between the two presidents centred on economic development, migration, visa policies, trade, among others.

He described President Tinubu as a rallying point, a fulcrum who held a pivotal position in resolving Visa issues for easier movement between African countries and economic interactions.

“And the President is already working on that. As the Minister of Interior, he has given me the matching orders to look at that in line with the act of reciprocity,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar, Minister of Defence, said even though a defence agreement had not yet been signed by the two countries, there was a joint committee for patrol, policing and security on the borders of the two countries and the Gulf of Guinea.

Abubakar said discussion was ongoing toward setting up a robust patrol on the sea to prevent all illegalities around the Gulf of Guinea.

He said the security patrol would also check illegal movement of crude oil from both countries and that it would help reduce oil bunkering.

On her part, Dr Jamila Ibrahim, Minister of Youth Development, said the visit gave the two countries the opportunity to explore areas of cooperation in terms of youth development.

“And of course, we’re in the process of arriving at a treaty, an agreement on youth development with my counterpart, which we will be finalising through the Joint National Commission.

“From Mr President’s speeches at several of our bilateral engagements, he has clearly stated his commitment to collaborating with other African leaders to ensure that we harness the youth demography towards transformational economic development of the continent.

“The President believes that only when we’re strong as a continent, and all the leaders come together, that we can harness the potential of our young people across the continent,” said Ibrahim.

She added that the two countries agreed to collaborate in several areas, including the National Youth Service Corps, skills development, furniture value chain, fashion/garment and cash crop sectors.

For President Tinubu has said that the deal with his Equatorial Guinea counterpart covers legislative and regulatory measures for the gas pipeline, establishment and operation, transit of natural gas, ownership of the gas pipeline and general principles guiding it.

The President is convinced that the agreement will open up new vista of opportunities for gas exploration and employment in the sector.

However, he is worried that developments in parts of the continent and the Sahel are not pleasant for the economic development and the future of the continent

“Without peace, we cannot have development.

“We had better roll up our sleeves, put on our knickers, and move strongly for the peace and stability of our continent,” the President stated. (NAN)

…………… If used, credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

By Gabriel Agbeja, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

Over the years, Nigeria’s aviation sector has shown resilience in the face of daunting challenges such as perennial scarcity of aviation fuel known in the industry as Jet A1 and high exchange rates and its multiplier effects on aircraft maintenance and ticket costs.

Others are, repatriation of funds owed to foreign airlines, safety compliance, infrastructure, human capacity development, inability to keep to flight schedules.

Among these challenges is what airline operators see as multiple taxation, which according to them, is frustrating the expansion and growth of the sector.

Aviation sector stakeholders, including workers and customers insist that the authorities must fix these challenges for the sector to hit its potential.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), from the international scene alone, the air transport industry, including airlines and its supply chain, are estimated to contribute 600 million  dollars to Nigeria’s GDP in Nigeria.

AITA says spending by foreign tourists supports a further 1.1 billion  dollars for the country’s GDP, totalling to 1.7 billion dollars.

However, observers of developments in the sector say being Africa’s largest market for passenger flows with about 70 per cent, Nigeria’s Aviation sector has the potential to contribute more.

With what is considered low ticket rates (when the charges are converted to U.S. dollars), some private sector operators say the government should save the sector from more harm by moderating the multiple taxation they are subjected to.

The Chairman of United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, says for Nigerians to enjoy lower air travel tickets therefore the Federal Government must step in to save the aviation sector by moderating the over 20 taxes paid on every ticket purchased by travellers.

Okonkwo said at a public event recently that the government should also address what he described as the astronomical rise in the foreign exchange regime.

“Operators are forced to buy spares and fix their aircraft in dollars even without increases in the cost of such spares abroad; the cost of doing so continues to rise due to the high exchange rate.

“Government must act fast to salvage the industry as the forex regime threatens to push up ticket prices further. Let there be a review of taxes on each air ticket as some of them are repetitions.

“Government should create an enabling environment for the aviation sector to survive, like access to single digit capital, reduction in all charges and taxes that impact negatively on air travel business,” he said.

Okonkwo, urged the government to show more interest in supporting the growth of the aviation sector, adding that the government was in a position to recoup its investment in the sector.

Similarly, General Manager of Azman Air, Mr Lawan Suleman, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) pleaded with the Federal Government to reduce the taxes for the airlines to grow.

“The authorities are really unconcerned about the high cost of ticket prices because they charge higher taxes, which is why they don’t care about how airlines are changing the customers.

“To be sincere that the airlines cannot do anything about the continued rise of the airfare. The cause of the problems is the exchange. Airlines will need to purchase spare parts in foreign currency.

“If the government can help the airlines with proper control of foreign currency, the cost of tickets can be reduced to enable customers to enjoy better prices,” he said.

Meanwhile, retired Group Capt. John Ojikutu, a former Military Commander, Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos said that as long as the Naira kept rising against the dollar and the nation  kept importing fuel, there would be no respite for air travellers.

According to him, some of the airlines have poor business plans for sustaining their operations believing that ground and air support services were free.

He said such airlines did not have adequate knowledge of the routes and passenger availability on the routes to facilitate profit margins.

“The increase of airfares did not start today. It started way back in the mid 90s, first with the increase of the naira against the dollar to N40/$.

“ Not many people would remember that the air fare to Abuja in the mid 90s was between N3,800 and N4,000 for about an hour flight.

“Remember too that fuel was being refined in Nigeria and not imported with irrational subsidies as we are doing today“ he said.

Ojikutu frowned at the move by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) to increase its navigational charges on the domestic Airlines.

“ It should rather challenge the NCAA for the shortfalls in its 23 per cent shares of the 5 per cent charges on Ticket Sales Charges (TSC), Cargo Sales Charges (CSC) and Chartered Flights.

“What NAMA is doing is what many would call double charges. I have written to the NASS (National Assembly) before the review of the Civil Aviation Act of 2022 that the shares of the NCAA be reduced from 53 per cent to 40 per cent and NAMA shares be increased from 23 per cent to 35 per cent.

Mr Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, says issues within the sector including financial instability, regulatory challenges, and operational inefficiencies are being addressed by the Federal Government.

Speaking at a conference recently hosted by the League of Airport and Aviation Correspondents in Lagos, Kayomo said some airlines even obtained Air Operating Certificates (AOCs) but never launched their services.

The minister inferred that the inability of these airlines to remain viable underscored the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of Nigeria’s aviation industry.

The minister also listed lack of flag carriers, inadequate infrastructure, aircraft shortage, limited international connectivity and insurance challenges as parts of a setback militating against the sector.

Keyamo said the Federal Government would intensify efforts to enhance the local airlines` capacities to be efficient, effective in their operations.

He said the nation ought to have flag carriers within aviation who will make the country proud in the absence of national carriers.

He stated that such flag carriers would service the nation`s reciprocal rights under all the different Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreements (BASAs) the nation had.

“ In fact, of course, we need to enhance capacity in the industry, capacity for development. Train and retrain our technical people within the industry.

“Also ensuring that we raise their standards to global standards; and of course, to boost their revenue optimisation.

“Without imposing extra taxes on people, let us just optimise revenue. That is why I took a memo to the council, “ he said.

The minister said the government was also working toward ensuring that the issue of insurance was based in the local market.

On the establishment of Maintenance, Repair Overhauls (MROs), the minister said the government was taking steps through Public -Private Partnership (PPP) to achieve that.

“We need to bring in the MROs. People are already talking with us. I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag. Very soon, we are going to call for partnership.

“That is the only way to go. And I think we need to call in people with money. So, for our local businessmen, our banks, financial institutions, financiers, don’t say that foreigners are coming to take your business away.

If the right environment is provided for local airlines the cost of operations would reduce resulting in drop in airfares; there would be more passenger satisfaction.

It would also mean that more people can afford air transportation in a country where it is seen as a luxury. It would have a spill-over effect on infrastructure development and make the nation’s aviation sector to become globally competitive. (NANFeatures)

** If used please credit the writer and News Agency of Nigeria.