Day: September 7, 2023

Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), says he will ensure the completion of ongoing construction of the N68.5 billion Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) `BARREL’ building without hitches.

The Minister made this known on Thursday while meeting with the management and staff of the NUPRC at its temporary headquarters in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting preceded Lokpobiri’s visit to the proposed NUPRC’s Headquarters complex site, called “THE BARREL”, located in the Central Business District, Abuja.

Lokpobiri said he would intervene to resolve challenges hampering the building construction, adding that he had already discussed with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on how to address its forex challenges, hence there should be a follow up.

“The commission is so important that you need to work in the best condition. To be able to optimise productivity; you need to be in the best environment.

“I am very sad that you are still in the temporary site. The survival of the oil industry depends on what you do; That is why I am interested in ensuring that we complete the building.

“The challenges you have will be mine. Yesterday, I was with the CBN Acting Governor, you need to follow up so that your income that you earn in dollars will be in the domiciliary account for you to expend, instead of converting to Naira,” he said.

He expressed satisfaction with the success being recorded by the commission by surpassing its financial projection, the steady progress and completion level recorded at the construction of its permanent site.

“I have been briefed by the contractor handling the project and they raised few concerns. We are going to work towards addressing those concerns,” he added.

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive (CCE) who received the Minister, said its regulatory focus was to increase the oil and gas reserve in the nation which stood at 37 billion barrel of oil and 208 TCF of gas.

“We are focused on increasing that through our regulatory approach and of course stepping up the transparency of hydrocarbon account which is very dear to our hearts. So we are pursuing that through strategies and regulations we are putting in place.

“There is a provision in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that ensures the bye-in of the host community for inclusiveness in a manner that will encourage peaceful operation of the oil companies

“This is because without peace in the host community we cannot attain the set production target and revenue target for the nation. The commission is doing everything possible to step up effective implementation of that provision of PIA,” he said.

Komolafe said in view of this, it had ensured setting up of 82 host community development trust to serve as platform for implementation of that provision in the PIA to ensure peace.

He said it had made concerted effort to ensure reduction in the unit cost per barrel of oil targeted at ensuring that Nigerian upstream industry remained attractive to investors.

“We are equally in alignment with the global footprint in energy transition, ensuring decarbonisation in alignment with the nation’s net zero carbon emission commitment,” he added.

According to him, the commission, with a dedicated workforce of 933 staff nationwide, is being operated from five regional offices and four field offices.

In terms of revenue generation, he stated that as at July, it has already surpassed 50 per cent of its revenue generation, adding that since the last three years, it had remained so due to the hard work of the entire workforce.

Speaking on the ‘BARREL’ project, the CCE said the project (11th floor completion level) which was executed in 2021 and to be completed on Aug. 29, 2024, had its mode of payment through 65 per cent forex and 35 per cent local component.

Dr Taofik Popoola, Manager, Principal Artec Limited and the building’s design consultant, while speaking on the work status, said its installation and mobilisation recorded 100 per

cent, planning and design, 95 per cent, construction 96 per cent and procurement 48 per cent.

He listed challenges facing the construction to include inflation, COVID 19 pandemic effect, increase in prices of material, Naira devaluation (per dollar/N978 currently) and the Russian-Ukraine crisis.

“Naira to dollar was N385 at the time the contract was signed, it increased to N750 and now at N978.

“All these are unfortunately having negative effects on the procurement process, cost of project and time scheduling.” he said.

Mr Luis Sousa, Project manager, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, further explained that due to COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine Crises, supply chain of some materials was affected especially in the area of steel supply because Ukraine is the major producer of steel components. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Mrs Lilian Madueke, Chief Operating Officer, Kaizen Academy (Nigeria) Ltd., says the role of company secretaries in the corporate governance framework is becoming increasingly important in driving compliance across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Madueke made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

NAN reports that Kaizen Academy is a governance and strategy focused consulting firm that offers services capable of revolutionising the operational and governance structures of organisations.

The chief executive officer said that the role of company secretaries were responsible for ensuring compliance, facilitating communication, and coordinating various aspects within the organisation.

According to her, their influence in terms of regulatory adherence and the smooth functioning of enterprises cannot be overstated.

Describing company secretaries as linchpins, Madueke highlighted their responsibility in connecting the board of directors, executive management, shareholders, and regulatory authorities.

Madueke stressed that as the corporate landscape continually evolved, the expertise of a proficient and well-versed company secretary remained essential.

She explained that such expertise ensured that enterprises operated with transparency, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to principled business conduct.

“Their presence is indispensable in ensuring the enterprise conducts its activities in accordance with the legal framework and upholds principles of ethical conduct.

“Company secretaries drive regulatory compliance, ensure transparency and accountability, effective board administration, improve shareholders relations, among other roles.

“They are tasked with safeguarding a company’s adherence to best practices in corporate governance, ensuring alignment of board decisions with the company’s mission and values.

“Company secretaries proactively monitor shifts in the legal and commercial landscape and offer guidance to the board and executive management on strategies to mitigate potential risks.

“Their adeptness in maneuvering the intricate confluence of legal requisites, stakeholder expectations, and business imperatives is pivotal for the triumph and longevity of the corporation,” she said.

Mrs Favour Udommesien, Managing Director, Kaizen Academy, underscored the growing criticality of company secretaries in board effectiveness and efficiency.

She said that their responsibilities extended beyond administrative tasks and encompassed facilitating good governance, compliance and strategic support.

According to Udommesien, the role of company secretaries has evolved into being the backbone of the board, directly impacting its efficiency.

She said that the changing dynamics of board mandates and legal commitments have elevated their significance to unprecedented heights.

“Far from the days when the company secretary was considered as a scribe and one to be seen and not heard, these days, their role is becoming more crucial and a massive determinant of a board’s effectiveness and efficiency.

“In contemporary times, an efficient company secretary aids the board’s effectiveness in governance expertise, processes and procedures, board orientation and training, risk management, and corporate compliance.

“Their roles also encompass stakeholders’ engagement, succession planning, information management, conflict of interests, board evaluations, ethical oversight, strategic support, and crisis management.

“In a rapidly evolving corporate landscape, the role of company secretaries in Nigeria has unquestionably become indispensable.

“They also contribute significantly to the overall health and compliance of organisations across various sectors.

“By adeptly embracing these responsibilities, the company secretary wields the power to propel the board’s efficacy, seamlessly harmonising the company’s governance, adherence to regulations, and strategic pursuits,” she said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The government of Japan has signed a funding agreement of approximately FCFA 2 billion, with the World Food Programme, WFP, to provide integrated food and nutrition assistance to crisis-affected populations in Cameroon and the Central African Republic (CAR).

The signing ceremony took place on Thursday, September 7, 2023, in the conference room of the WFP in Yaounde.

The Japanese Ambassador to Cameroon Takaoka Nozomu stated that Japan attaches great importance to rendering food assistance to affected African countries especially Cameroon and CAR because of the number of refugees and Internally displaced persons, IDPs from neighboring countries.

“ This food assistance will not only reach refugees and IDPs but also school children to improve their school attendance and their well-being,” the Ambassador said.

According to the representative and Country Director of WFP Cameroon, Wanja Kaaria, Cameroon received 840 Million FCFA to support 44,000 refugees, Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, and vulnerable populations in crisis-affected regions with 50 % being women and girls.

“This is a very much welcomed donation which will go a long way to support the people in the crisis hit regions, not only to provide nutrition support to pregnant women, malnourish children but also it will go to school feeding programs,” she stated.

She went further to note that; “The support of partners like Japan remains crucial in our saving lives and changing lives operations in Cameroon. It allows WFP to assist smallholder farmers in places like Boulembe and Timangolo in the East, or Biskavia in Mokolo, Far North region engage in nutrition-sensitive agriculture while promoting the use of fortified seeds. This improves communities’ resilience and brings us one step closer to our goal of zero hunger,”.

The Country Director added that the two-year project to be implemented up to September 2025 will help in assisting the affected populations across six regions in Cameroon.

The grants aim to support 42,665 vulnerable persons, including children aged 6-59 months, as well as school-aged children, to provide food assistance to support the self-reliance and recovery needs of affected populations and enhance access to education for children through school feeding, CNA learned.

Receiving the sum of 1.1 Billion FCFA from the Japanese government, the WFP Representative and Country Director to CAR, Housainou Taal, said the donation is a stitch in time. “This donation is timely because in CAR now, we have a funding crisis. We are trying to mobilize resources to assist the vulnerable persons, those who have been affected by the crisis. We want to say a big thank you to the Japanese government for this donation. Through this generosity and timely contribution, Japan is allowing about 54,000 children to return to and stay in school. Sometimes, the children lose 10-15 percent of their intellectual capacity if they cannot eat in school. This constitutes a safe place, prevents the recruitment of children by armed groups, and helps avoid early marriages and child exploitation,”.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Judith, popularly known as “Ma Ju” was the lone civilian victim in an explosion orchestrated by separatist fighters in Cameroon’s South West region.

On Tuesday, September 5, 2023, Ambazonian fighters detonated an improvised explosive device, IED, targeting a military patrol truck.

The truck was overturned but casualties were not immediately known. Hours later, news began to filter out that Judith, the lone civilian died in the attack.

CNA gathered that the lady was on her way to the West region, Dschang, neighboring Alou in Lebialem, where the incident took place.

The military personnel in the truck decided to give her a lift, before being attacked on their way.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

At least three people have died, all drivers who were plying the roads in Buea subdivision. Separatist fighters who were enforcing a two-week lockdown to thwart school resumption also burned down two cars on the Muea axis.

Gunshost engulfed Buea from Small Soppo to Sandpit, Molyko, and Muea. Witnesses said they saw heavily armed separatists on the highway asking them to go back to their houses while targeting drivers.

“I was about to drop my kids at their school when I saw cars coming from Muea with double trafficators, signaling that there was danger coming. I also saw people running back toward our direction in Mile 17, I also ran back home with my children, only for someone to send me pictures of what was happening,” a witness told CNA.

Security forces who went to Muea for a counter-attack arrived when the damages had been done, the separatists had gone!

Several civilians were arrested and asked to sit on the floor as investigations were opened.

Corpses of the deceased could be seen on the street, while their cars were consumed by fire.

Schools have not effectively resumed in the Anglophone regions following the two-week lockdown.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Former Gabonese president Ali Bongo Ondimba has been released from house arrest on Wednesday September 6, 2023.

According to the statement made in the evening on Gabon’s national television by Gabon’s military spokesperson, Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi, Ali Bongo is free to move about and even travel abroad if he wishes.

“Given his state of health, the former president of the Republic Ali Bongo Ondimba is free to move about. He may, if he wishes, travel abroad for medical checkups,” the military spokesperson said.

On August 30, 2023, a video circulated showing deposed president Ali Bongo calling on ‘his friends around the world to make noise’ for his release from house arrest.

Many heads of states and organizations had condemn the military takeover calling on the military to respect human integrity of the former president.

Bongo’s release signed by the new president General Brice Oligui Nguema, came days after the new president was sworn into power on Monday September 4, 2023.

A UNOCA representative visited Bongo to know if he was in good health.

Oligui has served as a body guard to Bongo’s late father and also headed the country’s republican guard.

The 64-year-old Bongo had ruled Gabon, since succeeding his father Omar Bongo, who died in 2009, after 42 years in power.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

The close to seven years old anglophone conflict has dealt a severe blow on education in the North West and South West regions of Cameroon.

Thousands of children whose parents have no means to escape and settle in safer cities witnessed their education ending abruptly. These are mostly children in remote localities where the armed conflict is more intense.

Some of these youths have become parents. But this is not the case with Achang Winifred, a 16-year-old girl from Kom-Boyo Division of the North West region who has bounced back to school after her father succeeded to send her to Douala.

At 16, she was supposed to be in lower sixth but due to the conflict , she could not go to secondary after finishing primary school. However, she expressed great joy to be part of the back to school train in Douala, as she entered Form 1 at the Atalanta Bilingual Comprehensive High School in Bonaberi.

“I have not been in school for five good years because of the struggle going on. It was very difficult for us. Some of my mates are now mothers. Some girls cannot even speak good English. They don’t know anything.” Winifred said.

Winifred revealed that the constant attacks on schools, teachers, students and pupils shattered and delayed their dreams.

“I had big dreams like to go to school, travel out of the country, work and take care of my parents. But I could not do so because of the crisis that paralyzed schools. I had to stay at home.” Winifred added.

Another internally displaced learner, 17 years old now in Form 2 instead of being in Uppersixth said he ran away from gunshots in Wei village in Boyo Division to pursue his studies in Douala.

“Because of the conflict I have not been going to school for three years. For the past three years I decided to go to a garage a spent my time there, hoping one day I will have this opportunity to continue my education. While in the village, each time we go to school they will be shooting, forcing us to run out of the school compound. Even the quarters they will be shooting, pushing us to run to safer places. ” He said.

As most schools remain shutdown in the North West and South West regions , particularly in remote localities getting to seven years now, these IDPs have joined their voices to those of many Cameroonians to implore authorities to take frank and appropriate actions to end the crisis once and for all so that their mates still out of school or stranded in frustration in Anglophone Cameroon continue with the fundament right to education.

Source: Cameroon News Agency