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Pomp, as NCDMB, NLNG commission galvanising plant for Train 7 Project
Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), on Friday, commissioned the 10,000 Tons per annum galvanising plant constructed by Daewoo Engineering Nigeria Limited, one of the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contractors of the Nigeria LNG Limited (NLNG) Train 7 Project.
Ogbe, Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers ((FNSE), commissioned the plant, at Abam-ama, Okrika, Rivers State, alongside, Philip Mshelbila, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD-CEO) of NLNG, who was represented by Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations, and Sustainable Development.
The galvanising plant is one of the capacity development interventions for the Train 7 project and the establishment is a sequel to NCDMB’s requirement that the execution of major EPC projects in the country must include the development of a legacy investment that will close a critical capacity gap in the oil and gas industry.
Lauding the NLNG and Daewoo Engineering for responding positively to the Nigerian Content legacy requirement, Ogbe, added that the commissioning of the hot deep galvanising plant had increased Nigeria’s galvanising capacity to over 180,000 tons per annum, with similar facilities established by Dorman-long Engineering, Sparkwest Steel Industries and African Industries Group.
The facility, he explained, would serve the Nigerian oil and gas industry and linkage sectors, including telecommunications, power and transport sectors that require galvanised materials, adding that the importance of galvanising, included corrosion protection, the extended service life of steel materials, cost-effectiveness and safety assurances.
The NLNG boss, who indicated that the plants and other strategic Nigerian Content investments could enjoy patronage from sister African countries, courtesy of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement protocols, especially if the firms carry out intensive marketing and remain committed to quality standards and competitiveness, also confirmed that the domiciliation of key industry capacities was contributing towards the attainment of the 70 per cent Nigerian Content target by 2027 and the realisation of job creation and other economic aspirations of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration.
Mshelbila, on his part, reiterated the company’s unwavering commitment to achieving its Nigerian Content objectives in its Train 7 Project on Bonny Island, adding that the protection of steel for durability was a significant application in the energy sector, bolstering the resilience of equipment against depletion and enhancing operational efficiency, reducing wastage from replacement costs, and prolonging the lifespan of relevant equipment.
“The visit to the Daewoo Galvanising Plant is a further ‘show and tell’ of our compliance with the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act and, our sincere vision of being a globally competitive LNG company helping build a better Nigeria. As we commission this facility, we are not only celebrating the expansion of our industrial capabilities but also reaffirming our unwavering commitment to contributing to the local economy and creating sustainable job opportunities for the local business environment,” he said.
While reporting significant progress in the Train 7 Project reflecting the Company’s commitment to excellence, he added: “We are proud to share the development of the Train 7 project, a groundbreaking initiative that sets new standards in the Nigerian oil and gas sector. Train 7 has achieved several notable milestones including the successful completion of key construction phases and the integration of advanced technologies that enhance our operational capabilities. These accomplishments reflect our commitment to delivering substantial economic and social benefits to Nigeria.
“Our dedication to Nigerian Content is evident in every facet of our operations. From enhancing local capabilities and fostering technological innovation to creating sustainable opportunities for Nigerians, NLNG remains at the forefront of these efforts. We at NLNG are determined to “Go Beyond Compliance” in line with our vision of helping to build a better Nigeria.”
Peter Obi, candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has given assignment to Nigerians to put all those aspiring to take up political positions in the country through the grill to ascertain their level of integrity, saying it was required as a sine qua non for the job they seek.
Obi, who has been a subject of discussion in the polity since the allegation of corruption was levied against him by Kenneth Okonkwo, spokesman of his campaign in 2023, over the conduct of the party’s primaries to choose candidates for the 2027 general elections, said the grilling must start with his own person.
A guest in an interview on a podcast with Rufai Oseni, a popular television anchor, the former Governor of Anambra State, stated that it was actually for this reason that he had now sworn to see the litigation he instituted against Okonkwo through.
His take is that the Nollywood actor should use the courtrooms to give all the details of bad behaviour, following his threat to expose him fully, after alleging that he was collecting money from aspirants in the said election for electoral favours.
Hear him: “The issue of taking Kenneth Okonkwo to court wouldn’t have arisen if he had stopped at those allegations. But he claimed he still has more he would expose about me in the future. So, I am very happy to take him to court so that he can expose me publicly, alongside other Nigerians. If any of them has any criminal allegations against me, they should bring them to court.
“Not just Kenneth, everybody should now say those things they know that is bad about me or I did that is wrong because it’s good for the system, it’s good for the society,” Obi said.
“So, if you know that when we were in primary school, this man was cheating or didn’t go to the primary school, didn’t go to secondary school, didn’t do, if you know this man has done something criminal somewhere, this is time to bring it up.”
For the umpteenth time, Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has warned about the dangerous implication of using state institutions, particularly the judiciary to destroy Nigeria’s democracy, saying it is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good.
Atiku, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), speaking on the heels of Tuesday’s verdict of the Court of Appeal, halting the de-registration order by the Federal High Court, insisted that judicial officers must not lend themselves to any act capable of undermining the nation’s democratic process.
The appellate court had ordered a stay of execution on the order made on Monday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court Abuja, for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC alongside four other political parties).
A totally scandalised Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, had taken umbrage, sparing no hard words in upbraiding the lower court judge, stating that his likes were unfit to sit on the bench.
In a unanimous ruling by a three-man panel, the court held that Lifu’s action was “the highest form of judicial impertinence”, stressing that the Supreme Court previously held that a judge who acted in such a manner.
Describing his conduct as the height of judicial rascality, the upper court, stated: “Courts are enjoined to protect their integrity. This Court has supervisory authority over the trial court.
“The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution.
This court has the duty to invoke its powers in ensuring that its orders are obeyed. The application for a stay of execution is here yet granted. The enforcement of the judgment is stayed.”
Atiku, who hailed the position of the higher court, which restored his hope to be on the ballot as presidential candidate in the 2027 election, also noted the role of INEC as “significant.”
He said: “I welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to stay the execution of the Federal High Court judgement seeking the deregistration of our great party, the ADC, and four other political parties. It is particularly significant that INEC itself initiated the application for the stay.
“The development reflects growing public concern over judicial contradictions and politically charged rulings within the judiciary. “Any attempt to undermine Nigeria’s hard-won democracy through judicial manipulation is a grave danger to the Republic. If our democracy suffers further injury, history will demand accountability from those entrusted with dispensing justice.
Outside ADC, Lifu’s order, also included: Action Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), similarly slammed for allegedly failing to meet the constitutional requirements for continued registration and participation in elections.
“He is running in contempt of the court. Justice Lifu should be arrested because he is acting in contempt of the court which is a criminal act,” were the exact words with which the African Democratic Congress (ADC), demonstrated its angst over the court ruling on Monday, ordering its de-registration as a political party in Nigeria.
A furious Bolaji Abdullahi, spokesman of the party, told his host while appearing as a guest on Monday’s edition of Politics Today, a public affairs programme on Channels Television that the judge of the Abuja Federal High Court who gave the order was actually playing with fire because of the consequences.
Directly accusing him of playing the script of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure that President Bola Tinubu emerged the sole candidate for the 2027 presidential election, the party spokesman, was emphatic that the plan would not work, as head or tail, ADC must be on the ballot in all the elections.
Hear him: “There is a Court of Appeal order saying don’t hear this case until October 27. So, on what basis? You can’t place something on nothing. The Court of Appeal said don’t act on this until I hear it on October 27. So, on what basis did he deliver the judgement
“So, for us in the African Democratic Congress, what we’re convinced and they know is what they have done has no leg to stand on legally. What they want to do is to create doubts in the minds of the people that this ADC has too many legal cases, can we actually run on this? And to distract us. But we’re not distracted.
“We’re very clear. It was in spite of all they have done since ADC came on board that we ran one of the best and one of the most comprehensive direct primaries in the history of democracy in Nigeria. So, we are strong enough to withstand this. And that’s why I’m saying that we are going to contest in 2027. We’re ADC. We don’t buckle before dictatorship.”
Stressing on the implication of the judgement, which also affected Accord Party (AP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) for allegedly failing to meet constitutional and electoral performance requirements, following a suit by the National Forum of Former Legislators, he said it portended grave danger.
He added: “We are not surprised. We know that the Nigerian people believe that there is a problem with the judiciary, but what we did not expect is the level of judicial rascality that was demonstrated today.
“What we are saying is that we reject it in its totality, and we are saying that the people behind this are playing with fire. Hundreds, if not thousands, have obtained nomination forms and contested elections and emerged as candidates on the platform of the ADC.”
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