Content Development Board Body Rolls Up Sleeves To Industrialize Nigeria, Through Parks

May 11, 2023

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) is setting the pace for true industrialization of the country with the near completion of the Nigerian Oil & Gas Park Scheme (NOGAPS) in Odukpani in Cross River State.
Speaking to media men and women today , May 11, before a tour of the expansive park, the General Manager of Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination Division at the NCDMB, Dr. Ginah O. Ginah said that the work on the Park are at various levels of completion.
He said that already, interested oil and gas related companies have started applying for spaces at the Park.
The director said that Odupkani Park is being developed along with the one in Bayelsa, in conjunction with key International Oil Companies (IOC) towards full industrialisation of the country.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote

According to him, the parks would incubate the manufacturing of equipment components utilized in the oil and gas industry.
Dr. Ginah said that already, federal government had approved a $50 million fund for the Scheme, especially the production of manufacturing line.
The General Manager said that arrangements have been made to ensure seamless operations by provding adequate security, made up of combined team of mobile policemen and local security men.
Dr. Ginah hinted that NCDMB is also working to develop oil and gas Parks at Oguta in Imo, at Onne in Akwa Ibom, Ilaje in Ondo State and in Delta.
The General Manager assured the people in the host community that their interests would be adequately addressed.
According to him, provisions have been made to ensure that indigenes are carried along properly in line with the Community Guideline Content developed by the NCDMB.
He said that the Odukpani Park is already supplying the host community with clean water, and other facilities such as employment opportunities, training for unskilled and semi-skilled indigenes, capacity building as well as scholarship programs.

The site Engineer, Engr. Sunday who spoke on the facilities at the Park, said that the administrative block housing a banking hall, restaurant and sick bay has been completed.
He said that the capacity building block is also fully ready and that it has an auditorium that can accommodate 200 people with six classrooms for training purposes.
Oher facilities include state-of-the-art Information Technology Centre (ICT), hostels, water treatment building, recreation area, Helipad, maintenance building, fire service, security gate house and Mini Parks.

Online Publishers at the facility tour: from left: Yusuf Ozi Usman, Olumide Iyanda, Nmodu Danlami mni and Hassan Gimba.

Nigeria’s First Oil And Gas Park To Soon Begin Operating In Cross River

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2023

Nigeria’s first oil and gas park will soon begin to operate in Odupkani in Cross River State, even as more of it kind are similarly rising up in different parts of the Niger Delta part of the country.
The Parks are being put together by the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to save the country from cash flight through foreign oil and gas companies.
The Director of Corporate Communications of NCDMB, Engineer Ginah O. Ginah, who spoke today, May 11, during a media tour of the park located in Odukpani, Cross River State, said: “this park is ready for habitation.

“We have already advertised for interested manufacturers and are presently going through applications to see those who are qualified.”
Engr Ginah said that all needed facilities have been provided to make the place conducive for the manufacturers.
The facilities include manufacturing hall, security, roads, 24-hour power supply, banking hall, restaurant, and state-of-the-art ICT facilities. Others include fire service, water treatment plant, mini parks for accommodation and free land for those who wish to build their own structures.
“All these are things that increase cost of production. So, this park is going to crash the cost of production.”
Engr. Ginah said that the facility, located on 25 hectares of land will go a long way to save the country some foreign exchange in billion of dollars.
He said that the Federal Government has encouraged the rapid take off of the project with a pledge of $50m to attract companies to the parks.
Engr Ginah said that several other such parks are under construction across the Niger Delta as part of NCDMB’s efforts to significantly increase local content in the oil and gas industry and generally drive Nigeria’s industrialisation.
“We have taken Nigeria’s local content level from 5% to 55%. The industry spends about $20 billion a year, so you are talking of about $10 billion saved annually.”
Engr Ginah stressed that NCDMB’s goal is to take the local content in the industry up to 70 percent by 2027.
“The only way to achieve that is to ensure local manufacturing of components, which is why we are building these parks.”

BVN Doesn’t Expire, CBN Reacts To Scammers’ Antics

Greenbarge Reporters

May 11, 2023

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has made it clear that the Bank Verification Number (BVN) issued by the Bank in collaboration with the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) has no expiring date, contrary to the scammed news going round that it would expire after a ten-year period.
“Contrary to these claims, we wish to clarify that the BVN issued in Nigeria has no expiry date.”
In a statement, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department of the apex Bank, Dr. Isa Abdulmumin said that once a customer’s biometrics have been captured and enrolled in the database of NIBSS,
the BVN remains for life. “However, the Regulatory Framework for BVN issued by the CBN in
2021 stipulates that customers can only change their records due to certain conditions spelt out in the document and after being cleared by relevant authorities.
“Therefore, we urge bank customers in the country, especially those whose biometrics have
been captured by the system, to continue using their unique identifiers as they last their entire lifetime.
“Be guided accordingly.”

Court Affirms NCDMB’s Power To Collect 1 Percent Content Fund From Oil Contracts

Greenbarge Reporters

May 10, 2023

The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote

The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State has ruled that the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has the power and authority to collect the one percent Nigerian Content Development Fund (NCDF) levy from every contract awarded in the Nigerian oil and gas upstream transaction as mandated under section 104 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act.
The judgment was delivered yesterday), May 9, in the case instituted by a group of Nigerian Drilling Companies known as Incorporated Trustees of the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) against the NCDMB, seeking to stop the collection of one percent NCDF levy.
The IADC members had filed the lawsuit – Suit No.FHC/YNG/CS/178/2022 challenging the powers of NCDMB to demand the one percent NCDF levy from their members and contractors, contrary to the clear provisions of section 104 (2) of the NOGICD Act which states that “the sum of one percent of every contract awarded to any operator, contractor, subcontractor, alliance partner or any other entity involved in any project, operation, activity, or transaction in the upstream sector of the Nigeria oil and gas industry shall be deducted at source and paid into the Fund.”
The group also obtained an ex parte injunction against the Board prohibiting the demand, collection or anything whatsoever either by itself or through its agents, representatives, or privies in relation to NCDF payment or remittance from their members and contractors pending the final determination of the lawsuit.
The Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote confirmed that the Board vigorously contested the issues in court and effectively countered the arguments of the plaintiffs.
“Hence, on Tuesday 9th May 2023, the Federal High Court finally gave judgment in favour of the Board, dismissing the suit and prayers of the plaintiffs as wholly incompetent, baseless and that the suit did not disclose any reasonable cause of action. The interim injunction earlier granted ex parte on the 19th of July 2022 was also vacated.”
Wabote said that the decision would strengthen the Board’s resolve and commitment to Nigerian content implementation regardless of any headwind or distraction.
The NCDF is NCDMB’s only source of funding sequel to the exit of the Board from federal allocation in 2017/2018. The NCDF is applied towards funding the implementation of Nigerian content development in the Nigerian oil and gas industry, notably projects, programmes and activities directed at increasing Nigerian content in the oil and gas industry.

Tinubu Goes To Europe To Perfect Plans On How To Handle Nigeria’s Challenges

Editorial staff

May 10, 2023

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has left Nigeria for Europe on a working visit.

A statement today from his media handlers said that the President-elect, who departed today, May 10, will use the opportunity of the trip to finetune the transition plans and programmes, and his policy options with some of his key aides without unnecessary pressures and distractions.

The statement said that during the visit, the President-elect will engage with investors and other key allies with the goal of marketing investment opportunities in the country and his administration’s readiness to enable a business-friendly climate through policies and regulations.

“Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up.

“Asíwájú Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.

“Reviving the country’s economy forms a major plank of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda and the meeting is part of his efforts to re-establish Nigeria’s importance in the global economic chain and create empowering opportunities for the country’s huge youth population.

“The President-elect has hitherto promised to hit the ground running and the visit is reflective of his commitment to the promise as he has already begun talks with global actors in the important areas of the economy and security.

“Before he left the country, Asíwájú Tinubu met with the House of Representatives candidates for Speaker and Deputy Speaker endorsed by his party, the All Progressives Congress, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas and Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who were presented to him by Joint Task Team of the House.”

The statement said that Tinubu is scheduled to return shortly for preparations towards his official swearing-in as the 16th President of the country on May 29, 2023.

President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu has left Nigeria for Europe on a working visit.

“Already, meetings with multi-sectoral actors in Europe’s business community including manufacturing, agriculture, tech and energy have been lined up.

“Asíwájú Tinubu hopes to convince them of Nigeria’s readiness to do business under his leadership through mutually-beneficial partnerships premised on jobs creation and skills acquisition.

The statement said that Tinubu is scheduled to return shortly for preparations towards his official swearing-in as the 16th President of the country on May 29, 2023.

APP Withdraws Petition Against Tinubu At Presidential Election Tribunal

Editorial staff

May 10, 2023

The Action Peoples Party (APP) has applied to withdraw the suit against President-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
The Counsel to APP, Obed Agu, also asked the court to strike out and dismiss the suit challenging Tinubu’s victory at the February 25 election presidential election.
Counsel to Tinubu, Wole Olanipekun, (SAN) did not oppose the withdrawal.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Haruna Tsammani, subsequently dismissed the petition.
The tribunal commenced sitting in Abuja on Monday.

I’m Too Old To Serve As FCT Minister Again, Too Old To Start Demolition – El-Rufai

Greenbarge Reporters

May 10, 2023

“Even if I’m offered (the position of the minister of the Federal Capital Territory by Tinubu), I’m not coming to Abuja. As I said, I never repeat the class. There are many young people I know that I can recommend that would do an even better job than I did as minister of FCT.
“I’m too old for this. I’m too old for demolition.”
This was the position of the current Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, when he spoke yesterday at a policy conversation and book launch in Abuja, made it clear that he will accept to serve as FCT if offered by the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
There have been speculations that the outgoing governor will either serve as Chief of Staff or FCT Minister in the incoming government.
But El-Rufai, whom ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed FCT minister, said: “I have done my job. I’m done. I don’t look back.
“In fact, when I left FCT, the only time I visited FCT was in 2016. This was when my secondary school classmate was appointed minister and he said he wanted to see me, so I went there.
“Once I leave a job, I don’t look back. If I leave Kaduna in 19 days, I will only visit if necessary. “So, I don’t think about the FCT. I’ve done my bit. “I won’t comment on the performance of those after me.
“Even if offered, I’m not coming to Abuja. As I said, I never repeat the class. There are many young people I know that I can recommend that would do an even better job than I did as minister of FCT.
“I’m too old for this. I’m too old for demolition. Get a young man with blood in his veins or a young woman.”
The event was jointly organised by the Africa Programme of the US-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and the Abuja-based Agora Policy.
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, established in 1910, is one of the oldest and most respected think tanks in the world. It was ranked as the number one think tank in the 2020 Global Go-To Think Tank Index published by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Programme of the University of Pennsylvania, US.

Buhari On Supreme Court Verdict: Says People Want Good Governance, Whoever Is There

Editorial staff

May 9, 2023

President Muhammadu Buhari expressed satisfaction on the Supreme Court’s verdict on the July 16, 2022 governorship election in Osun State.

He said that the verdict is another milestone to show the important role of the judiciary in deepening the rule of law and democracy.

A statement today, May 9, by the special adviser to the President on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, quoted the President as reminding the political class and their supporters that the main task at hand is to make the people feel the impact of good governance, “where a prosperous, peaceful and stable Osun is guaranteed.”

Buhari called on all citizens and residents of the State, particularly its notable sons and daughters, to give the government of Senator Ademola Adeleke all the support it needs to ensure that programmes, policies, plans and aspirations fashioned to make individuals and businesses flourish succeed.

“Elections should be seen as the path to an end, which is the progress of the people in a peaceful environment, rather than unending bickering. This is the time for inclusion and harmony in the State at the end of litigation.”

President Buhari expressed gratitude to the people of Osun for contributing immensely to the development of the nation, particularly through the State’s rich cultural heritage, the several historic sites and tourist attractions, including the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The President said that the government will continue to develop the boundless resources in the State of the Living Spring, complementing the roles of the government at the Centre on national development and prosperity.

Future Belongs To those That Have Positive Attitude To Life, Youth Minister Swears

Editorial staff

May 9, 2023

Against the backdrop of the saying that the future belongs to the youth or that youths are the leaders of tomorrow, the Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, has insisted that tomorrow belongs to those who have positive attitude to life itself.

This was even as he called on the governments in Africa to increase the budget for youth development to about 30 per cent, and sustain funding of youth-centric policies and programmes.

Speaking today, May 9, at

the Commonwealth Youth and Students Summit in Abuja, the minister emphasized that the future belongs not only to those that decide to have a positive attitude to life, but also to those with understanding that rigour must precede pleasure as well as those who embrace facts in a world of information.

‘‘To those who turn their skills into entrepreneurship: these are the youth that will navigate opportunities better and with an ocean, rather than drops, Africa will be truly unbeatable. “The time for African criticality in our approach to youth development has come.

‘‘We must be Africancentric in the programmes and initiatives we design and implement.

Sunday Dare said however that African Youth have come of age and can no longer be ignored, even as he recalled that this year has been designated the Commonwealth Year of Youth by leaders at the last CHOGM in Kigali, Rwanda.

He highlighted the exploits of the African youth in various spheres of endeavour – from technology, science, AI, robotics, E-commerce, digital marketing, creative arts to entertainment, saying:

‘‘From country to country, from continent to continent, the youth of Africa, wherever they find themselves, are making great impacts and standing up to be counted.’’

Declaring the Summit open, President Muhammadu Buhari said that young people around the world have proven that they have the capability to drive the change process, contributing positively to the socio-economic development of their communities.

Represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the President said that his administration has heavily invested on youth development, createf formidable platforms through which youths can hone their leadership skills.

President Buhari pledged that Nigeria as a member of the Commonwealth would continuously create an enabling environment for young people to blossom and reach their potential.

‘‘I am very optimistic that with the breed of young people gathered here, actionable policy-decisions that will further enhance development and productivity of the youth will be reached for the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth to implement to further better the lots of young people of the Commonwealth.”

On initiatives to support the empowerment of young people, as the theme of the Summit is “Co-creating our common future leadership in the digital age in Africa,” the President said:

‘‘The digital Revolution is clearly upon us with the young ones leading the way in ICT, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, E-Commerce and the likes. Investments building a digital economy must proceed along with investment in the ideas, skills and enterprise of Our Youth.

‘‘In line with the key values of the Commonwealth, Nigeria over the years has invested heavily on youth development, created formidable and reliable platforms such as the Youth Parliament, National Youth Council of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Students, Nigeria Youth Congress, amongst others, through which our young people and students can hone their leadership skills and make relevant contribution to the decision-making process especially on issues that border on their development and welfare.

‘‘Nigeria is committed to the actualization of the core values of the Commonwealth and firmly believes in the power of the youth as the driving force, in making a difference in the socio-economic development of their societies.

‘‘It is therefore a welcome development that this Summit has brought together young people from various socio-cultural and political backgrounds to further strengthen youth engagement and their full involvement in decision-making on issues that concern them, particularly in the areas of education, job creation, entrepreneurship, and digital economy.”

Nigeria is currently the headquarters of the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) and 21 countries of the Commonwealth in the African Region are attending the four-day summit in Abuja.

President-elect, Tinubu , Rejoices With. Osun Gov, Adeleke, Over Supreme Court Verdict

Editorial staff

May 9, 2023

President-elect for Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has congratulated Osun State Gov, Adeleke, over the Supreme Court verdict affirming him election as Governor of Osun State.

Tinubu advised the governor to now move quickly to unite the state.

In a statement today, May 9 by his spokesperson, Tunde Rahman,, the President-elect

said that with the final court in the land giving its verdict on the Osun governorship tussle, all must respect the judgement.

Asíwájú Tinubu also commended the immediate-past governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for discharging himself creditably during his first term and for deepening democracy by pursuing his democratic rights peacefully to the end.

“I congratulate Mr. Ademola Adeleke over his declaration by the Supreme Court as the winner of Osun Governorship election.

“The apex court in the land has spoken and all of us must obey its verdict. It is the right thing to do for democracy and rule of law to continue to thrive in the land.

“I must also commend the immediate-past governor of the state, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for exercising his democratic rights as the constitution allows him to do.

Governor Oyetola discharged himself creditably in office. He lost the office but did not lose his integrity and reputation as the governor who brought efficiency, transparency and accountability to the business of governance.

“Now that the matter of the July 16, 2022 Osun State Governorship Election has been brought to a close, I urge Governor Adeleke to immediately settle down to work and continue from where the former governor left it. He should now move to unite the state. I also urge all the people of Osun to work for peace and progress in the state.”

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