Governor Hope Uzodimma has commended the officers and men of the Nigerian Military, as well as other collaborative security agencies, for their efforts in stemming the tide of insecurity in Imo State in particular, the entire South East region, and Nigeria in general.

Uzodimma made the commendation when he received the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 82 Division Enugu, Major Gen. Oluyemi Thomas Olatoye, and his team Commanders under Sector 4 in the audience at the New Exco Chambers, Government House Owerri.

The governor attributed part of his administration’s success to the security agencies’ invaluable efforts, sacrifices, and determination, which guaranteed an environment that would enable state development.

“No government can thrive in an atmosphere of violence. We need an enabling environment to secure our people better,”

He stressed and urged the military to remain steadfast and always count on his government’s support.

Uzodimma further noted that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration in Nigeria has invested so much to confront the spate of insecurity in the country, and maintained that security of lives and property of the citizenry and residents is paramount to his administration.

He encouraged the GOC, as the Commander of Operation “UDOKA” in the South East, to collaborate with the Governors of the South East to guarantee greater peace in the region with consequential development in the interest of all.

Major Gen. Olatoye said he was on an official/familiarisation tour of commands under Sector 4 “to ascertain their operational readiness, appraise their challenges and proffer necessary advice to enhance their operations.”

The GOC expressed appreciation to Governor Uzodimma for his support in all capacities as the State’s Chief Security Officer and, by extension, a key leader in the area and encouraged him not to relent.

He promised that the Army under his watch would upscale its efforts in fighting insurgencies within Imo State and the entire South East region, deploying kinetic and non-kinetic measures to achieve the set goals.

Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, receives a plaque from the General Officer Commanding 82 Division of the Nigerian Army/Commander, Joint Task Force East Operation Udoka, Maj. Gen. Oluyemi T Olatoye paid the Governor a working visit at the New Exco Chamber, Government House, Owerri.

 

 

Rivers State governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has donated a campus of the State University at Kira in Tai local government area of the state to the federal government for the takeoff of the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology, Ogoni.

President Bola Tinubu recently signed into law a bill establishing the university as part of confidence-building measures ahead of the planned resumption of oil exploration in Ogoniland.

Fubara spoke yesterday while inspecting the Kira campus of the RSU, which was built by the administration of former Governor Chibuike Amaechi as a model secondary school.

The governor stated that the facility handover followed a request by President Bola Tinubu, through the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, appealing for the release of the campus for the takeoff of the new university.

He said: “We came in for an inspection of this facility. This is one of the campuses of Rivers State University. We received a request from the National Security Adviser, appealing to the state government to release this facility for the takeoff of the newly approved Federal University of Environment and Technology for our people, the Rivers people, especially the Ogoni people because it is sited in Kira, Ogoniland.

“We are here to assess the place, as it is government property belonging to Rivers State University. We are also here for the University to update us on the status of the property. They have already provided us with written information, but I felt it was proper for us to conduct a physical assessment, and that is what we have just done.

“From what we have seen, it is a well-planned facility, and I strongly believe it is suitable for the takeoff of this University.

“Let me make this very clear: this property belongs to Rivers State University, and the University belongs to the Rivers State government.
Only the Rivers State Government has the right, through the University, to release it.

“We can assure the interested parties, especially the President, who, out of his goodwill, approved this University and the National Security Adviser, who requested that we release the facility, that after this visit, we shall officially transmit the letter of release for the takeoff of the University.

“We are doing this because, at the end of the day, the University will serve three major purposes. It will bring development, enhance the educational attainment of the Ogoni people, especially in the area of environmental impact and provide a study platform for addressing environmental challenges in this region.

“You know we have many environmental issues along this corridor, and this University will serve as a centre for study and research. Finally, it is an honour that this noble initiative is being established during our time, and we thank all the parties who initiated and made it a reality.

“We are also grateful to the University for maintaining this facility. From our assessment, it is evident that most of the structures were recently renovated in preparation for use. However, since I have the final authority, we will build another facility for Rivers State University, while this campus will be released for the new Federal University.”

The Kogi State Government has restated its commitment towards providing the right environment for businesses to grow and blossom, which it described as a confluence of opportunities.

The Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who stated this at the impact tour of Kogi by Convergence of Africa, noted that the government of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is working very hard on the security of the entire state, saying no business can thrive in an unsecured environment.
The Commissioner for Information acknowledged that the convergence of African transgenerational connections is building alliances and leveraging for a sustainable business future in Kogi state.

He said that the business remodelling with the target audience in fashion, food, and fitness would help participants champion a course promoting intra-regional trade and harmonising investment policies for the state and Africa.

While describing the event as very impactful, he noted that the government feels it will help many business owners in the state, adding that the programme will take them to the next level in their businesses.

“We encourage them to leverage networking and Collaboration with other business owners to grow their businesses. They are also encouraged to network and have a handshake across the board. No one can do it alone.

According to the Commissioner, the 32-year development plan of the government was deliberate, saying that the maximum that any administration can spend is 8 years. “But the development plan is designed for 32 years, which means it is very ambitious and will ultimately take the state to an enviable height.

“We are very religious about the implementation of the plan. Kogi will be where we want it to be regarding development.

The Convener, convergence of Africa, Barr Patient Olusiyi said that the initiative became imperative for a sustainable business future, saying that the aim is to capture 150 participants for a sustainable business future in the state.

She disclosed that Kogi State was the first among ten states to be visited in the country. Convergence of Africa will train participants in fashion, food, and fitness businesses to improve their objectives and set a pace for Generations yet unborn to achieve Excellence without dependence, where companies can outlive their owners.

 

The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited (WAPCo), owner and operator of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP), said safety measures have been taken to ensure its pipeline repairs won’t cause any damage to environment in Nigeria and other host West African countries.

During the exercise, WAPCo anticipated only a minimal disruption to the activities of host communities within the vicinity of its facilities in Badagry, Lagos State, Nigeria and Aboadze, Ghana, as most of the activities will be offshore and confined within the premises of its facilities.

 

Giving further details while speaking in Lagos on Friday, General Manager (GM) Corporate Affairs, WAPCo, Dr Isaac Adjei Doku, said that as part of the maintenance process, WAPCo has engaged the Environmental Protection Agencies in the respective countries and has implemented a world class effluent management system at its facility in Takoradi, Ghana, where the company expects to receive some liquids and debris from the cleaning of the offshore pipeline.

 

Doku, further commended the governments of Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Togo for their ongoing support, while also appreciating the maritime and regulatory authorities across these four countries, as well as its customers, shippers, gas off-takers, host communities, shareholders, and all other relevant stakeholders for their continued collaboration and contribution to the success of this exercise.

 

Meanwhile, he said Governments of Ghana, Togo and Benin Republic have taken critical steps to protect key power plants by ensuring their operations following alteration in gas supply from Nigeria.

 

WAPCo, which supplies gas to those countries, has commenced a scheduled major pipeline maintenance activities.

 

These activities include the pigging and the in-line inspection of the 569 km offshore pipeline infrastructure, from Ajido, Lagos State, Nigeria to Takoradi, Western Region, Ghana and replacement of critical subsea valves at Tema and Cotonou to enhance operational safety.

 

This maintenance project taking place between February 5 and March 2, 2025will necessitate the temporary suspension of specific services, including the reverse flow transportation of natural gas from Ghana’s Western Region to Tema in the east, as well as gas transportation services from Nigeria to Cotonou (Benin), Lomé (Togo), and Tema (Ghana). However, some gas transportation services from Nigeria to Takoradi in Ghana will continue during this period to ensure the successful execution of the pipeline cleaning and inspection activities.

 

Doku said, for instance in Togo, two plants, Konto Globa and Kekeli, may be affected during the maintenance period.

 

In Benin, the government was making preparations for the use of liquid especially in Thema, where Ghana has two key hubs.

 

Thema is about 1,000 megawatts but needed at least 650 megawatts for the stability of power in the country and for the whole grid in Ghana to be stabilized.

 

He said except that 650MW generation is maintained during the period the grid in Ghana can collapse.

 

“So at least the power plants that can use liquid fuels in Thema, the idea was for the government to get enough liquid fuel so that those plants can actually generate.” he added.

 

Doku, also spoke about contractual agreement for gas, as he sought regular payment from countries to sustain the company’s operations.

 

He raised concerns about gas price fluctuations but maintained that stakeholders should make sure they pay up so that at least the company can maintain the pipeline and keep flowing the gas for them.

 

The comprehensive cleaning and inspection exercise is a key regulatory requirement and aligns with industry best practices to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the West African Gas Pipeline (WAGP).

 

The cleaning and inspection, which encompasses the entire pipeline stretch from Itoki, Ogun State, Nigeria to Takoradi, Western Region Ghana is in two phases. The first phase, which was completed in December 2024, involved cleaning and inspecting the onshore section of the pipeline within Nigeria. The second phase which is scheduled to start on February 5, 2025, will focus on the offshore section of the WAGP.

 

WAPCo is mandated to conduct these inspections every five years (or on a risk-based schedule) as part of its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the WAGP and ensuring its safe and reliable operation across the West African region. WAPCo has actively engaged with key stakeholders to ensure the necessary alignment for the successful implementation of this project. WAPCo is grateful to the governments of Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Togo for their ongoing support.

 

“WAPCo is committed to maintaining the proactive stakeholder engagement processes established during the project’s preparation phase, during execution.

 

The company will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders on all matters to ensure the project’s safe execution and success,” said Auwal Ibrahim, WAPCo’s General Manager Operations & Maintenance.

Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has expressed great delight over his recognition by LEADERSHIP Media Group, publishers of LEADERSHIP Newspapers, as the Environmental Impact Person of the Year 2023. He said it was great joy that such an award came from one of Nigeria’s leading news organisations.

The minister is recognised for redefining environmental governance in Nigeria with commendable innovation to combat climate change-induced challenges and revitalise the Nigerian environment.

“This is a great honour for me. And I‘m thrilled that LEADERSHIP is doing this for me for the first time because I believe that LEADERSHIP is like my own. It’s important to me. I consider it a great privilege. I am just doing what I need to do to fix the damage to our environment. We want to write the wrongs and give Nigerians a better living environment. That’s why we keep telling everyone to keep their environment clean to be safe,” the minister said on Wednesday when the management of LEADERSHIP Group, led by its Vice Chairman Mike Okpere, presented the nomination award to him in his Abuja office.

He expressed concern over the alarming environmental pollution, land degradation and deforestation that have caused many disasters, including deadly flooding across the country.

Mr Lawal revealed  grave environmental concerns in Nigeria, “particularly our forests.” He added, “Nigeria has the worst forest cover in the world now. The worst, we‘re the worst, we‘re the last.”

The minimum required for forest cover is 25 per cent for all nations. “In Nigeria now, as I‘m talking to you, you have 3.7%. Because of illegal logging, because the Chinese have their wood, but they come and take our wood and go home,” he stated.

Lawal said he is driven by a passion for restoring the nation’s environment with the proper regulatory framework in partnership with various stakeholders.

The minister said the President Bola Tinubu-led government is trying to build as many trees as possible to prevent the desert from coming in. Particularly from the northern part of the country; one could see that significant threat to humanity, he said, a reason he is inviting relevant stakeholders in the environment industry and the media to come in strongly and support the government.

“We are providing a lot in our budget this year and next year. In addition, as I explained to the team that came here, we will try to work with these people who are our leaders. I don‘t think this day is bigger than you,” he stated.

Ogoni Cleanup, a long-stalled project in Nigeria’s Delta region, gained unprecedented momentum under Lawal’s stewardship. He earned widespread community support by engaging local stakeholders and launching tangible projects such as potable water schemes and the Centre for Excellence for Environmental Remediation in Wiiyaakara.

Speaking at the presentation of the award nomination letter to the minister, the director of the LEADERSHIP Conference, Mr Abraham Nda-Isaiah, said that the initiative is a testament to the minister’s commitment to restoring degraded environments and improving the lives of those most affected.

Earlier, Mr Okpere told the minister that his nomination by the board and management of LEADERSHIP Group was purely based on the merit of his contribution to the nation‘s well-being. He said Lawal is among the few Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in various fields. “It comforts us that others also recognise those we have chosen in the industry. We then believe we are doing the right thing through our selection process,” he said.