Bayelsa APC Primaries: Party chieftain urges winners to unite with losers

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Bayelsa, Reuben Wilson on Tuesday advised candidates who emerge winners at the party's primary elections for the State and National Assembly to embrace those who lost

Wilson, who is the founder of Pastor Reuben Initiative for Good Leadership and Accountability, an APC support group, gave the advice and congratulations to winners in a statement issued in Yenagoa.

He urged all candidates of the party to shun enmity and segregation, but embrace all those who contested with them of they want to win at the general elections in 2023.

The APC chieftain called on those who participated in the party's primaries but lost not to see themselves as losers or failures, but rather take it as a stepping stone to their political victories for tomorrow.

"In the process of selection, it is only one person that will always emerge as the party's flag bearer. That doesn't mean that the person was better than the rest, but time and chance happeneth to them all."

"So, there was no victor, no vanquished. Everyone should stay calm and remain faithful in the interest of the party.

"The party's flag bearers should also work hard to break the cleavages of political sentiments and factions that have eaten the fabrics of the strength of our dear party, APC in Bayelsa." Wilson said.

According to him, the only way the party can win all seats, ranging from the Statr House of Assembly, House of Reps and Senate at the general elections in 2023, is for them to bring everyone together.

"We are facing an opposition in the state, so, there is the need for the candidates to go the extra mile to settle with the aggrieved persons in their respective constituencies and woo a massive support from within and outside our party to win at the general elections.

"The Pastor Reuben Initiative is primarily formed for this purpose, that is to sue for unity which it has been doing and galvanizing members within and outside the APC from all nooks and crannies in the state to enable the APC in Bayelsa State win all the seats at the general elections." He stated.

He added that the Initiative is open to all candidates of the party for synergy. 

NOSDRA reports Gas leakage fire from borehole drilling at Emene, Enugu

The National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) says it has received reports of gas leak which has engulfed into a fire in Emene, Enugu State.

Mr Idris Musa, Director-General of NOSDRA, said on Thursday that the gas leakage was caused by water drilling activities which hit a gas reservoir at Emene in Enugu. 

Musa, who described the flammable gas discharged as natural gas, said that emergency response efforts were underway to avert disaster from the incident.

“There is a natural gas problem at a borehole drilling point at Caritas University, Emene, Enugu.

“In the course of drilling very deep to reach the aquifer, the drilling hit the gas level. 

“The Chief Executive of Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commision  (NUPRC) has been notified.

“The Zonal Head of National Emergency Management Agency has secured the assistance of both Federal and State Fire Services   

“Efforts are ongoing to secure more  technical assistance to bring the situation under control,” Musa said. 

Marginal Oilfields Licencing: Court restrains FG from issuing licences, fixes hearing for June 8

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa has restrained the Federal Government from issuing licences for marginal oilfields in the Niger Delta pending determination of a pending suit.

Some Ijaw leaders had in 2020 approached the court seeking to halt licensing of marginal oilfields located in their domains, but following setbacks and delays suffered by the suit, the bid winners were announced on June 1, 2021.

According to the court order, sighted on Thursday in Yenagoa, presiding Justice Isa Dashen granted the injunction order in favour of the plaintiffs.

Plaintiff in the suit marked No. PHC/YEN/CS/81/2020 are Chief Brown Agu (Opu Agu VIII), Mrs Rosemary John-Oduone, President Ijaw Women Connect and Mr Femowei Friend on behalf of themselves and the Ijaw Ethnic Nationality. 

On the other hand, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources are defendants in the suit.

The reliefs sought and granted by the court are: "That the respondents be restrained from further advertising and receiving bids in respect of the marginal fields.

"The defendants are also restrained from approving licences in respect of the marginal fields,"

 

It will be recalled that Dashen inherited the case from Justice Abimbola Awogboro following her transfer to the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court

 

The case has been fixed for June 8 for continuation of hearing and ruling on pending motions before the court. 

Meanwhile, a coalition of Ijaw groups in a reaction to the development in a statement issued on Thursday, urged the parties in the shit to obey and comply with the order of court.

"It has come to the attention of this coalition of Ijaw interest groups that following a suit filed by some patriotic Ijaw sons and daughter, the Federal High Court has granted an injunction restraining the Minister of Petroleum/Federal Government from proceeding any further with the award of marginal oil field licences pending the conclusion of the lawsuit.

"It is our expectation that all citizens and corporate organizations abide by this ruling," the coalition said.

The statement was signed by Efiye Bribena, Secretary, Ijaw Elders Forum (IEF), Lagos, Ben Okoro, Moderator, Ijaw Nation Forum (INF), Chief Amagbe D. Kentebe, BOT Chairman, Embasara Foundation, Hon. Iniruo Wills, President, Homeland Chapter Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA)

Others are, Tari Ekpebu President, Ijaw Professionals Association (IPA), Lagos, Ms. Annkio Briggs , BOT Chairperson, Ijaw Women Connect (IWC)

 

NCDMB applauds indegenous firm's partnership with Hyundai to build LPG Vessel

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) on Thursday applauded moves by indigenous shipping company, Temile Development Company to build a Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) vessel.

Temile on Wednesday signed a contract with Hyundai Mipo Dockyard (HMD) for the construction of a new 23,000 cubic meters LPG Carrier Vesse to boost domestic gas utilisation.

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The indigenous company also signed a separate agreement with NSML - an integrated maritime services subsidiary of Nigeria LNG Limited for the construction supervision of the vessel.

The LPG carrier vessel is the second that is being constructed by Temile sequel to the first vessel which was constructed in 2018 and is currently chartered to Nigeria LNG Limited for domestic LPG supply.

A statement by Mr Dan Ki!ile, Manager ,Corporate Communications at NCDMB said NCDMB commended the development  in a video message he delivered to the agreement signing ceremony held at the sidelines of the 2022 World Gas Conference in Daegu, South Korea.

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote saluted Temile Development Company for its bullish initiative in investing in an area that is regarded as off-limits for local players.

He described the accomplishment as evidence of significant growth in capacity and confidence of local companies to play in the international arena and in complex areas of the oil and gas industry.

The new 23,000 cubic LPG/NH3/VCM Carrier to be constructed is a high-end specification vessel that has been designed by NSML in accordance with bespoke requirements using HMD’s highly efficient eco-design.

The new LPG carrier is expected for delivery on 26th July 2023 at HMD in Ulsan, Korea.

Wabote stated that the agreement signing event and subsequent construction and supervision of the contract aligns with the Board’s strategic plan of maximising the potentials in the Midstream and Downstream Sectors of theoil and gas sector.

According to him, the oil and gas industry strives to actualize the Decade of Gas policy of the Federal Government.  

“This project clearly supports our LPG penetration initiative in Nigeria and will further close the gap in LPG penetration in Nigeria.” the statement quoted Wabote as saying.

He stated further that the project will bring invaluable local content opportunities in technology and innovation, human capital development and research and development.

Wabote commended Hyundai for the work it was doing at the Brass Shipyard and other investment projects in Nigeria that will support the repair of vessels. 

He also applauded NLNG for the strategic initiative of deploying 100 percent LPG to the local market to close the gap in respect of LPG penetration in the country.

He said that the efforts by the NLNG has helped in reducing cost of cooking gas as well as creating a cleaner source of energy for Nigerians.

The statement quoted Temile’s Chief Executive, Mr. Alfred Temile as saying: ‘’We are delighted to execute the construction of our new LPG carrier with HMD.

"It is bringing onboard NSML to supervise the construction, as an indigenous company this demonstrates our commitment and support to the Nigeria Local Content Act.

"It will as well establish our confidence in local capacity to deliver international acceptable standards.

"Haven taken delivery of our first LPG carrier vessel which is currently chartered to Nigeria LNG Limited for domestic LPG supply, we look forward to taking delivery of this new carrier in July 2023 to make an addition to the global gas supply industry.”

“Working with HMD again makes us feel in very safe hands as we are confident that this eco-design / cleaner fuel vessel shall be constructed in line with International best practices.

"It will comply and industrial regulations thereby creating a space for the vessel in the international gas supply value chain.” Temile stated.