Day: April 18, 2023

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Energy transition: NMDPRA committed to sustainable gas utilisation – official

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), says it is committed to ensuring the sustainable growth of natural gas exploitation and utilisation in Nigeria.

Its Chief Executive, Mr Farouk Ahmed, said on Tuesday in Lagos that it became important that companies and homes key into gas utilisation as alternative fossil fuel.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ahmed gave the advice at a one-day stakeholders engagement on “Gas Utilisation in Nigeria”.

Ahmed, who was represented by Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director, Distribution, System, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure of NMDPRA, enjoined Nigerians to massively adopt the usage of gas as against diesel and petrol for their daily energy needs.

He said that this would reduce the nation’s carbon footprint, tackle global warming as well as climate change.

He added: “It will also help to reposition the economy for sustainable growth and accelerate job creation since gas is believed to be the future of the nation’s economy.”

Ahmed said that the essence of the engagement was to encourage large consumers of petroleum products to become aware of the comparative advantages between the different fuels, particularly gas, which he added had been designated as Nigeria’s transition fuel.

He explained that to promote gas usage and investment, the Federal Government had various initiatives and policy frameworks which included National Gas Expansion Programme and the Decade of Gas Programme.

He observed that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA)2021 had also enabled investments in the industry.

Ahmed expressed gladness that the government effort was yielding significant results, but added that more collaborations were needed to improve domestic gas utilisation.

The NMDPRA boss reiterated that Nigeria was blessed with abundant gas reserve, enough to last the nation for the next 90 years.

According to him, effective gas utilisation will make the nation become richer and the environment safer because it is much cleaner than other petroleum derivatives.

He said another great benefit of gas utilisation was the tendency to reduce the cost of doing business by 40 per cent.

Ahmed called on heavy consumers of energy to convert their diesel generators to gas engines, saying that it was cost effective”.

He also advised consumers on the need to be properly licensed because of numerous benefits attached.

These, he noted, include ensuring safety of facilities and regular supplies of the product from the authority.

Delivering a keynote address, Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director, Distribution, System, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure of NMDPRA, said that many institutions were ‘heaviest consumers’ of diesel and been identified as operating outside the regulatory oversight, which is not in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Ukoha, who was represented by Mr Ayo Cardoso,

Coordinator, South West of NMDPRA, said the engagement was an enlightenment on the need to urgently obtain the requisite petroleum storage.

Ukoha said the exercise was to take advantage of the evolving opportunities in the gas value chain for sustainable business growth.

He said the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was designed to enable Nigeria to derive more value from its natural gas.

According to him, Nigeria is embarking on different initiatives, projects and policies to enhance the performance of the oil and gas sector.

He listed some of the gas initiatives Nigeria is currently embarking upon to include the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP).

He said NGEP was designed to provide framework and policy support to extend gas supply and utilisation in power generation, gas-based industries and in emerging niche gas sectors.

“Such sectors are gas in transportation, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for cooking and remote virtual gas supply using trucks to convey LNG and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to industries,”he said.

He noted that natural gas was projected to be the leading fossil fuel and well-positioned as a sustainable fuel for an effective energy transition.

NAN also reports that some of the participants called on the authorities to assist in making the process of licensing seamless for them.

They called on the government to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks that hinder the process or reduce the cost of registration.

Mr Oladipo Olatunbosun, National President, Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers (NALPGAM), said that unaffordability of LPG posed serous challenge to the common man.

Olatunbosun urged the authority review the pricing of cooking gas to attract more utilisation and penetration.

He appealed to NMDPRA to sanction all illegal LPG skid operators within their operational cycle to create opportunities for legitimate marketers.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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IWS reiterates commitment to empowering women

The International Women’s Society (IWS) has pledged to continue to empower the disadvantaged in the country, particularly women and children.

The President of IWS, Mrs Izabella Abia-Okon,

said this during the association’s April meeting and cultural exchange programme in collaboration with the Nigerian-Hungarian Chamber of Commerce, on Tuesday in Lagos.

According to Abia-Okon, IWS in 1999 established a skills acquisition centre in Lagos State, to elevate the socio-economic status of women in the state and country at large.

She said an average of 100 students graduate annually from the centre which offers vocational training in catering and events management, sewing and fashion designing; makeup; adult literacy; and computer related courses, among others.

Abia-Okon said that the exercise had helped to promote the springing up of more micro enterprises, thereby addressing the scourge of unemployment in the country, especially among the womenfolk.

She noted that the skills centre was NABTEB certified, which enables graduates to work anywhere in the world.

She, however, called on well-meaning Nigerians to support the association so as to continue its mission of empowering the underprivileged in the society.

“As an NGO project, we face significant financial challenges in sustaining our operations and providing quality hands on training, scholarships, and start-up support for our graduates.

“We rely on the support of generous donors, and together we can make a difference in lives of the less privileged in our society,” she said.

IWS was founded in 1957 in Lagos by a group of public-spirited women set out to champion women’s courses using its cut clear programmes that generally focus on providing for the less privileged; supporting widowed women financially; and providing avenues for acquisition of productive skills toward financial independence and development of their respective communities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that highlight of the meeting was networking and understanding the opportunities of a Nigerian and Hungarian collaboration. (NAN) (nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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RTEAN chairmen reaffirms commitment, support to Maitakobi

Chairmen of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in 36 states and FCT have reaffirmed their support and commitment to the President of the association, Dr Musa Maitakobi.

The Chairman, Kwara State Chapter of the association and its National Principal Organising Secretary, Alhaji Abdurrahman Olanikijipa made this known in a statement on behalf of the 36 states chairmen, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Olanikijipa also said that the RTEAN Chairmen pledge their total loyalty to Maitakobi’s leadership in his effort to carryout positive reform in the transport sector and tackle all forms of thuggery and touting in the motor parks,

Olanikijipa congratulated Maitakobi on his re-election at the 10th RTEAN National Delegate Conference held in Abuja and assured him of their total commitment.

He recalled that RTEAN delegates from 36 states and FCT converged on Abuja recently and unanimously passed vote of confidence and re-elected Maitakobi and 45 others members of the association’s National Executive Council (NEC).

” We are satisfied with the leadership style of Maitakobi which he embrace all and sundry irrespective of religion, tribes, gender and recorded a lots of success in the organisation like providing Headquarters of RTEAN within two years of assumption to office.

” Maitakobi also launched Traveller’s Insurance Scheme and Traveller’s cashless Application knows as Karrygo to enable passengers pay Transport fares inline with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) policy.

” Under leadership of Maitakobi RTEAN has successfully launched RTEAN Marshall that contributed immensely to sanity and good conduct in all its Motor parks across the nation, in addition to tackled transportation of illegal and harmful items in the motor parks.”

He recalled that on Aug. 18, 2022 RTEAN Marshall intercepted eight guns billed to delivery to Kano at Zuba Motor Park and immediately reported the matter to Zuba police station.

” These are the achievements of RTEAN under Maitakobi from October, 2022 which Industrial Court of Nigeria ruled that he was the authentic National President of RTEAN.” (NAN)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

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Cuanza Corridor, Semba music raised to historical and cultural heritage

The Cuanza Corridor and Semba music style were recently elevated to national historic and cultural heritage.

This was confirmed by minister of Culture and Tourism Filipe Zau on Tuesday in Luanda.

Filipe Zau was addressing an opening session of the round table, with topic: protection of cultural, material and immaterial heritage of Angola, ahead of International Day for Monuments and Sites, celebrated on April 18.

The minister also quoted the Dikanza (musical instrument) and Bessangana (traditional costume in Luanda province), as being also elevated to historical and cultural heritage.

According to him, such an heritage makes Angola pride of preserving a variety of cultural assets that represent one of the greatest cultural and human riches of any society.

In 1982, UNESCO’s General Conference established 18 April as the International Day for Monuments and Sites.

Angola has more than 278 classified monuments and sites.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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Ruling party leader stresses reconciliation role

The leader of the ruling MPLA party João Lourenço has called for the promotion of a sincere and genuine spirit of reconciliation in behavior and attitudes of every citizen and every political party.

The call was made at the opening ceremony of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the party’s Central Committee, held Tuesday at Luanda’s Belas Conference Center.

Delivering his speech, the leader reiterated MPLA´s commitment to continue fighting for the consolidation of achievements based on independence, peace and national reconciliation.

Also head of the Angolan State, João Lourenço pointed to the implementation of public policies based on the party’s pledge made during the last election, which ensures the sustainable economic development and the well-being of the Angolan people.

He slammed some opposition parties, which never voted in the favour of the State Budget, the instrument aimed to implement the development programmes, such as the construction of the roads, ports, airports, railways, schools, universities, hospitals, water and energy production and distribution plants, as well as social housing.

João Lourenço added that the State Budget allows the employment of the new staff, the payment of salaries and subsidies and also other workers´ rights.

The ruling party leader also accused some parties that try simulating being strong advocate of public interests, while in practice, they do the contrary, they fail to vote in favour of State Budget during 31 years, not even accept election results.

“However, he said, it is fair to recognise that in Parliament there are political parties that over the years have taken a serious, responsible, and patriotic stance”.

The Government has been working on increase the jobs, housing, educational facilities of all levels, hospital units, sports infrastructure, professional training for young people, encouraging them to become entrepreneurs.

“The public tender, underway since 2019, to hire the professionals for health and education sectors are designed for the Angolans in general, but especially our young people”, concluded João Lourenço.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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Angolan State recovers around USD 6 bln

Angolan State has recovered around USD6 billion as part of the ongoing asset recovery process, both at home and abroad, the Deputy Attorney General Inocência Pinto said on Tuesday.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office magistrate also confirmed the seizure of around USD 21 billion from overseas.

The magistrate said that the Angolan State adopted a set of measures to combat cross-border economic and financial organised crime.

The measures, she said, include gathering evidence, breaking professional secrecy and confiscating assets in favour of the State.

Speaking at Workshop on Seizure and Management of Confiscated Assets, Inocência Pinto hailed the results, adding that the move encourages Angola to carry on the actions aimed at preventing and repressing bad practices in the management of the public purse.

The magistrate said it was a challenge to discuss the model adopted by Angola, known as the traditional or diffuse model, which gives priority to the creation of a trustee.

According to the magistrate, the National Asset Recovery Service has been working with several competent institutions for managing recovered assets, such as the General Treasury of Justice, the National Institute for State Assets and Holdings (IGAPE).

In turn, the representative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Manuela Carneiro, hailed the cooperation of the European Union (EU) in Angola in terms of support and fund the project and the continued effort to fight money laundering and organised crime in the country.

She stressed the commitment of the Italian Embassy and Government to agreed to support and strengthen bilateral cooperation, at the request of the OPG, as well as the facilitation and organisation of this event, which will allow the sharing of knowledge and experience between experts from both countries.

Whereas, Paulo Barroso Simões, representative of the EU, stressed that international institutions were increasingly aware of the situation in each country and efforts are being made to effectively combat organised crime.

He said that Angola and the EU had made strategic international political commitments, with a view to promoting sustainable policies, “and it is up to us, to implement them concretely.

The official noted that with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), “we intend to bring to the beneficiary services expertise of the highest level, in order to share the most recent and effective capacities available”.

Gabriel Magnini, representative of the Italian Embassy in Angola, noted that the event testifies, once again, the commitment of the Angolan authorities in the fight against corruption and illicit financial flows.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

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