NEWS
Miyetti Allah Launches Vigilante Unit To Tackle Insecurity In Nasarawa
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Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, a Fulani socio-cultural association, has introduced a Nomad Vigilante Group comprising 1,144 individuals to aid in addressing the rising security concerns in Nasarawa State.
The president of the group, Abdullahi Bello Bodejo, officially revealed the vigilante outfit in Lafia, the state capital, emphasizing its collaboration with security agencies to combat banditry, kidnapping, and cattle rustling throughout the state.
This development follows a meeting between Governor Abdullahi Sule and the association’s leadership in November 2023, during which the governor sought their support in tackling criminal activities.
Bodejo highlighted that the quasi-security outfit aims to identify criminal elements among cattle herders in the community, addressing allegations against those who face unjust treatment for crimes they did not commit due to the actions of a few bad actors.
He explained “The nomad vigilante group is not merely an initiative; it is a manifestation of our shared commitment to economic, job creation, inclusivity, and the relentless fight against banditry, cattle rustling, hunger and poverty.
“The group will serve as a proactive stance against these threats by facilitating our farmers and herders and other communities in Nasarawa and the country as a whole from the shadows of insecurity,”
Bodejo emphasized that members of the new security team underwent a thorough selection process, including careful screening and profiling.
He instructed the team to avoid actions that could tarnish the image of the association and the Fulani community as a whole.
Bodejo further issued a clarion call for unity and purpose among all nomad vigilante groups, urging them to form alliances with relevant security agencies to identify criminal elements within communities.
The national president expressed appreciation to Governor Sule for his endeavors in ensuring the safety of all residents.
In addition, the commandant of the 177 Guard Battalion, Keffi, Lt. Col. Inuwa Bala, advised the new outfit to adhere to the given rules of engagement.
The state commissioner of police, Umar Shehu Nadada, represented by the assistant commissioner of police (Operations), Abdulaziz Aliyu, encouraged the new outfit to collaborate with security agencies to eliminate criminals from the state.
NEWS
NNPC Ltd Declares State Of Emergency On Crude Oil Production
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NEWS
NCDMB Unveils Procedures For Implementation Of Presidential Directive on Local Content, Highlights Recent Accomplishments
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The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, on Monday in Abuja hailed the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements as crucial for enhanced competitiveness and mitigation of risks in regard to unqualified contractors, just as he unveiled five focal areas for implementation of the policy initiative.
The Executive Secretary spoke at the Nigerian Content Seminar, the opening day of the Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Conference, in Abuja.
The NCDMB boss listed the areas as ‘Promoting the Utilisation/Growth of In-country Capacities,’ ‘Enhancing the Cost Competitiveness of Oil and Gas Projects,’ ‘Non-inclusion of Intermediary Entities Lacking the Essential Capacity to Perform from the Nigerian Content Plan (NCP),’ ‘Approval of Nigerian Content Plan (which consists of contractors that meet the legal definition of Nigerian companies and demonstrate capacity to execute projects within Nigeria),’ and ensuring that ‘Entities acting solely as intermediaries, with no demonstrable capacity to execute the project or activity, shall not be approved.’
Engr. Ogbe assured that under the first focal area, ‘Promoting the Utilisation/Growth of In-country Capacities,’ the Board would continue to leverage its existing processes “to assess and verify the capacity of companies, facilitating and carrying out in-country capacity audits in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.”
On enhancement of cost competitiveness of oil and gas projects, he said, among other activities operators in the oil and gas industry would only be permitted to source capacities out-of-country “only after in-country capacity gaps have been identified.”
In regard to the third focal area, namely, ‘Non-inclusion of Intermediaries Lacking the Essential Capacity,’ Engr. Ogbe stated that the “Tender opportunity’s pre-qualification and technical evaluation phases” would be used to eliminate entities so identified as incapable of performing.
Explaining the Board’s procedure in respect of ‘Approval of Nigerian Content Plan (NCP),’ he noted that international players’ participation would be deemed appropriate only “when the necessary Nigerian Content level is unavailable locally or inefficient.”
While assuring that entities acting solely as intermediaries with no demonstrable capacity to execute a project would not be approved, he reiterated that the Board remains “steadfast in its dedication to guaranteeing that any services provided will generate value in the country,” and that it would “evaluate current policies and guidelines to encourage the development of indigenous capabilities and guarantee that these policies and guidelines are not misused, misapplied, or misinterpreted.”
In all, he observed with satisfaction that the Presidential Directive and the Board’s modalities are in sync with the objectives of its 10-Year Strategic Roadmap, which aims to increase Nigerian Content to 70 per cent by 2027.
Among recent landmark accomplishments of the Board, as identified by the NCDMB boss, were the inauguration of Amal Technologies Gas Leak Detection Device and Printed Circuit Board Manufacturing facility in December 2023 in Abuja, the commissioning of the Kwale Gas Gathering (KGG) Hub and NEDOGAS Plant in June in Delta State, and the Final Investment Decision (FID) on the Ubeta Field Development Project by TotalEnergies Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and its Joint Venture partner, Nigerian National Petroleum Company
Limited.
Engr. Ogbe seized the occasion to congratulate winners and participants in the Golf Tournament organized as part of the NOG Energy Week. The golf tourney is sponsored by the NCDMB and the Executive Secretary emphasized that the event is an excellent platform to provide clarity, expositions, tips and guidance to industry players on the provisions of the NOGICD Act.
Speaking during one of the breakout sessions, the Director of Projects Certification and Authorization Certificate (PCAD) at the NCDMB, Engr. Abayomi Bamidele explained that NCDMB had enabled oil and gas through its policies, collaboration and investments.
He indicated that about 1000 Nigerian service companies were registered on the NOGIC JQS in 2011, but the number had increased to 13,000, while the number of operating companies had equally increased to 120 firms.
He charged service companies to only accept jobs they have the technical capacity to execute, and to eschew the practice of bidding for every job in the oil and gas industry.
He also emphasized that Nigerian Content is not a major cost driver in Nigeria, noting that other elements like security and managing community stakeholders are big cost drivers.
In his contribution, the General Manager, Planning Research and Statistics, Mr. Silas Omomehin Ajimijaye affirmed that subsequent legislations enacted in the oil and gas industry after the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act had reinforced the NOGICD Act.
Also contributing in the session, the chairman of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN), Engr. Wole Ogunsanya noted that Nigerian Content development built the capacity of local companies who now execute jobs across Africa and beyond. He added that local content implementation had lowered the entry barrier into oil and gas industry and created
local operating companies that are acquiring the assets being divested by international oil companies.
NEWS
Bill For Creation Of Etiti State In South East Scales 1st Reading In House Of Reps
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A bill to alter the 1999 Constitution as amended to create an additional state in the South-East geo-political zone called to be called Etiti, has passed through first reading in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Amobi Ogah (LP-Abia) and four others sponsored the bill which was read by the clerk of the House of Representatives, Dr Yahaya Dan’Zaria during plenary in Abuja on Tuesday, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
The co-sponsors of the bill included Rep. Miriam Onuoha (APC-Imo), Rep. Kama Nkemkama, Rep. Chinwe Nnabuife and Rep. Anayo Onwuegbu.
It was gathered that the proposed state would include communities in the existing five states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Upon creation, the new state will have 11 Local Government Areas, drawn from the five states with headquarters at Lokpanta.
The bill seeks to alter three sections of the 1999 constitution, to delete the word 36 and replace it with the word 37.
This is to accommodate the new state and to insert the word Etiti, immediately after Enugu in the list of states contained in the Constitution.
The bill also sought to alter the listing of local governments according to states and transfer the 11 local government areas from their current states to the new state.
The local governments to be affected are Isuikwuato and Umu-Nneochi (Abia), Orumba North and Orumba South (Anambra).
Others are Ivo and Ohaozara (Ebonyi), Aninri, Agwu and Oji River (Enugu) as well as Okigwe and Onuimo (Imo).