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Jonathan, Daukoru laud NCDMB as ERASKON launches factory in Bayelsa
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the former Minister of State for Energy and current chairman of Nigeria LNG Board, King Edmund Daukoru have applauded the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for the effective implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and the huge impact it had made on the economy.
They spoke on Thursday in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State during the groundbreaking ceremony of a 64,000 litres per day lubricants blending plant being developed at Gbarain, Bayelsa State by ERASKON Nigerian Limited in partnership with the NCDMB.
Former President Jonathan had signed the NOGICD Bill into law in April 2010 when he was in office and he extolled NCDMB under the leadership of Engr. SimbiKesiyeWabotefor the outstanding successes it had accomplished, notably for catalysing the industrialization of Bayelsa State through the deliberate domiciliation of strategic oil and gas projects and capacities. Some of these include the 12,000barrelsper day (BPD)Azikelmodular refinery and the 2,000bpd Atlantic modular refinery, Rungascomposite LPG cylinder manufacturing facility at Polaku, the oil and gas industrial park at Emeyal-1 and the Board’s 17-story headquarters building.
2nd Left, former Minister of State for Energy and Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State, King Edmund Daukoru; Executive Vice Chairman of ERASKORP Nigeria Limited, Mr. Maxwell Oko; former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan commending the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote for the outstanding successes it had accomplished with the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
Others are the partnership with a core investor and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd for the development of 10,000metric tonnes per day methanol production plantin Brass,the development of the Brass Island Shipyard to domicile the repair and maintenance of vessels and LNG carriers and the partnership with NNPC and a core investor for the development of a coastal petroleum products terminal in Brass, Bayelsa State as well as the construction of the Oloibiri Oil and Gas Museum and Research Centre in Ogbia LGA of the state in collaboration with PTDF, Shell, and the Bayelsa State Government.
In his comments, King Daukoru,Amayanabo of Nembe Kingdom in Bayelsa State, who had previously served as the Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Group Managing Director of NNPC, expressed delight thatNCDMB’s interventions were transforming Bayelsa state into a haven for value addition in the oil and gas industry and changing its reputation of just being a base for commodity export, with no industrial base. He hinted that the number of derivatives and linkages from the oil industry was limitless, and they create opportunities for employment and economic advancement in the polity. He charged stakeholders of the state and host communities to support investors and companies in their domain and refrain from burdening them with onerous demands, so they can thrive sustainably.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan assisted by Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote performing the groundbreaking ceremony of a 64,000 litres per day lubricants blending plant being developed by ERASKON Nigeria Ltd in partnership with NCDMB, at Gbarain, Bayelsa State
In his address, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. SimbiKesiyeWaboteexplained that the partnership with ERASKON was in line with the Board’s mandate of developing local manufacturing capacity, providing employment opportunities, and increasing local content in the Nigerian oil and gas industry and linkage sectors.
He hinted that Section 70(h) of the NOGICD Act of 2010 mandates the Board to assist local contractors and Nigerian companies to develop their capabilities and capacities to further the development of Nigerian Content in the oil and gas industry.
He remarked that Nigeria’s in-country manufacturing capacity for lubricating oil falls far below the consumption, hence the shortfall is met through importation, resulting in loss of revenue and job opportunities.The ERASKON facility will produce approximately 64,000 litres of lubricants per day and more than 20million liters of products a year, becoming one of the largest lube plants in the country, with the capacity to serve the Niger Delta region and beyond.
According to the Executive Secretary, no lubricant blending plant exists currently in Bayelsa State and ERASKON decided to domicile and domesticate the production and thereafter submitted proposals to the Board, which was approved after a diligent review of the technical and commercial viability.
He confirmed that the blending plant would be beneficial to the host community, state, and the neighbouring states through meeting their needs for lubricant products as well as providing direct, indirect, and induced job opportunities.
The Executive Vice Chairman of ERASKORP Nigeria Limited – the holding company of ERASKON lubricants, Mr MaxwellOko confirmed that the plant would on completion produce high-quality engine oils, transmission fluids, hydraulic fluids specialized four-wheel-drive products, engine coolants, and speciality products such as waxes.
In the second phase of development, the company would go into the manufacturing of industrial chemicals such as drilling and production chemicals as well as transformer and turbine oil,in addition to household products such as detergents and aerosols, he added.
On why the project was sited in Bayelsa State, Okosaid the lubricants facility is making a huge impact in the lives of the communities, promoting development, creating employment and empowering Nigerians. It would also develop local manufacturing capacity and increase local content participation in the industry, he said.
He stated that the blending plant is co-located with the Shell Gas processing facility, Azikel Refinery, the 550MW NationalIntegratedPowerPlant (NIPP) and the transmission station as well as the NCDMB Gas Park. He hinted that “an industrial hub is quietly emerging along the River Nun corridor in the Niger Delta, and we are very excited to be part of the new, bold and innovative story being written. This project will be an important factor in changing the narrative about the Niger Delta.”
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
Nigerians are facing yet another economic blow as petrol prices surge again. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N1,175 per litre, marking the third increase in just one week.
The latest adjustment, announced to marketers on Monday, follows a temporary suspension of petrol sales at the refinery on Sunday. Diesel, also known as Automotive Gas Oil, has also been revised upwards to N1,620 per litre.
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A senior refinery official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the hike, noting that it reflects “prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”
Industry checks show that depot pricing systems have already updated the new rates, signaling an inevitable rise at retail stations.
In some cities, petrol is now being sold at over N1,200 per litre, adding pressure on Nigerian motorists and businesses alike.
This repeated surge comes after earlier increases that pushed gantry prices from N774 to N995 per litre earlier this week.
Experts warn that the hikes are likely to drive up transportation, logistics, and production costs, potentially impacting the prices of goods and services nationwide.
While the Federal Government, through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is working to secure crude supplies for the refinery via international traders, officials cautioned that this may not immediately reduce prices for consumers.
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