AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Seplat Energy Concludes Third Phase of Media Training, Empowers Additional 50 Journalists in Abuja Abuja, 5th November 2024: Seplat Energy Plc, foremost Nigerian indigenous energy company, has trained additional 50 journalists and media practitioners in Nigeria’s federal capital territory, Abuja as it concludes the third edition of its media training in line with the Company’s sustainability commitments.

The media training programme was organized in partnership with Channels Academy, and had in attendance journalists/media practitioners in the energy, finance, capital market, judiciary, and general business beats.

The two-day media training, which was themed, ‘Retooling the Media for Better Reporting’ dwelt on areas like: Local and International Energy Market Overview; the Intersection of the Judiciary and Energy Sector and the Fundamentals of Energy Journalism.

Insights were also shared on Reporting Nigeria’s Local Energy Giants, Legal Compliance and Best Practice, Data Analysis and Interpretation as well as Leveraging Technology in Journalism.

The event, which culminated in the presentation of Certificates also featured group discussions on ethical scenarios and presentations.

The training programme was facilitated by industry experts including Martin Ayankola, veteran Energy editor; Dr. PaulOgbole, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Simon Ejembi, Editor/Senior Manager, Channels Digital; Taiwo Adesina, Video production Specialist/Drone Pilot, and Emonye Adekwu, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN).Speaking during the engagement, Stanley Opara, Manager Corporate Communications at Seplat Energy Plc, who represented Chioma Afe, Director External Affairs & Social Performance, Seplat Energy, reiterated Seplat Energy’s commitment to the continuous empowerment of journalists and the media as a whole, as partners in progress.He identified the media as critical stakeholders of Seplat Energy, saying the development of the media industry in terms of skills and capacity advancement, remains dear to the Company and its leadership.

In his address, Mr. Kingsley Uranta, General Manager at Channels Academy, emphasized the role of the media in national development, stressing that the need to build more capacity in the media space cannot be overemphasized.

Responding, the journalists and media practitioners in attendance under the aegis of Energy Correspondents Association of Nigeria (ECAN) and the National Association of Judicial Correspondents, Abuja (NAJUC), lauded Seplat Energy for its support and commitment to the Nigerian media, whilst calling on other corporate organizations to emulate the gesture, as all hands must be on deck to better the fortunes of the country’s media industry.Recall that Seplat Energy had earlier conducted such media trainings, twice, for Energy and Judiciary, as well as Capital Market and Business Correspondents/Editors in Lagos.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

The Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) Branch of NUPENG has asked the President and General Secretary of the parent body to concentrate their energies on redeeming their battered image and putting an end to the lingering crisis in the union instead of making capital out of the misfortunes of oil and gas workers who were involved in the helicopter crash last week.

A 79 years old elder, Comrade Joseph Dagogo-Jack in the Port Harcourt Zone of PTD gave the charge in a statement issued Sunday evening in Abuja.

It was widely published that the unfortunate incident occurred at 11:22 a.m along the waterways in Port Harcourt on Thursday, October 24, 2024 when the helicopter, a Sikorsky SK76 with registration 5NBQG and operated by East Wind Aviation, took off from Port Harcourt Military Base (DNPM) to the FPSO – NUIMS ANTAN oil rig. A total of eight persons were on board, but were all feared dead. 

Dagogo-Jack statement reads; “I was in far away Spain to see my dentist when my personal assistant sent me a press release from NUPENG wherein the leadership of the Union commiserate with the families of oil and gas workers who lost their lives in an helicopter crash on Thursday in Port Harcourt. 

There is nothing wrong in that and as an individual who believes in the sanctity of life, I solemnly say may the souls of the departed continue to rest in perfect peace.

“However what is expected of NUPENG’S General Secretary, Olawale Afolabi and the President, Williams Akporeha is to jointly concentrate on how to unite the union, especially PTD which is the only viable and surviving Branch; they should fix the cracks within it and drop all cases in court and allow a fresh breathe by bestoring leadership legitimacy on Comrade Lucky Osesua, Comrade Dayyabu Garga, Comrade (Chief) Peter Moudebelu (Onwa), Comrade Dr Humble Obinna Power and others.

This will ultimately restore sanity in the Union and bring about progress and prosperity and that is the popular opinion of all the members and the elders in the Union. If NUPENG’s leadership can swallow their pride and do this, their lost integrity, honour and dignity would be fully restored.

“Issuing press releases and statements and attempting to make capital out of every event and situation in the country which has no bearing with the union’s philosophy or interest would do them no good, it is purely a misplaced priority.

For example the victims of the helicopter crash were all PENGASSAN members; and that well organized union, has responded appropriately. NUPENG has done nothing to uphold and defend the rights of its members who have been subjected to humiliation, casualization and servitude in the oil and gas industry, but NUPENG is always quick to make public appearances on TV and making paid adverts on newspapers, on inconsequential matters and abandoning serious issues that have direct bearing on the lives and livelihoods of their members who are paying check-off-dues.

“Within NUPENG, many staff members have been sacked through trump up charges, some were set up, many branches are completely destroyed, no cohesion, no policy direction, no standard no principles, all the legacies of the union’s founding fathers are totally ruined by one man. It is also on record that the General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale is always changing the Collective Bargaining Agreement of the staff, as well as the bye laws and the constitution of the union to suit his selfish and unholy narratives. What happened to integrity? What happened to moral rectitude? Running a Union as big as NUPENG as private estate is very ridiculous to say the least.

“It is, however, on record that Afolabi has no regard for the basic norms of human conduct. He lacks any self-awareness or self-scrutiny. He seems beyond embarrassment.

The only moral and social compass he follows is his own false and fraudulent ideas about what is appropriate and inappropriate, shameful or deceitful.
 “I have said it before and will repeat it again that Afolabi has shown himself to be the brightest bulb in the box, criticising others but lacking the capacity to stomach criticism so as to put him on the right track, that is not leadership.

So those who are associating themselves with him should have a re-think such that they would not soil their integrity and credibility in the eyes of the public, judiciary, law enforcement agencies and other industry stakeholders who are watching with keen attention and interest. May God restore stability and progress in PTD.”

Dangote backs Tinubu’s CNG drive, invests over $280m in trucks, infrastructure

… becomes the largest operator of CNG trucks in Nigeria

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

In a demonstration of its support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s CNG Initiative, which aims to provide cheaper and cleaner fuelling alternatives for all Nigerians, Dangote Cement Plc has made significant investments exceeding $280 million in compressed natural gas (CNG) technology and infrastructure.  

President Tinubu, whose commitment to CNG deployment and clean energy is unmatched in Africa, has maintained his administration’s drive to create a conducive environment for private sector investments and expand Nigeria’s CNG infrastructure to enhance energy efficiency and drive economic growth. As part of this initiative, he ordered the distribution of 1 million free CNG conversion kits for commercial vehicles involved in transporting people, food, and goods. 

At a recent event, the President emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to utilise its vast natural gas resources in the transportation sector. He stated that CNG transportation is an economic necessity for Nigeria, signalling a significant shift in the country’s approach to public transportation and energy use.

“Utilising natural gas to power Nigeria’s transportation industry is the next way to go,” he stated. 

On its part, the Dangote Cement said the over $280m investment not only solidifies its leadership in the CNG sector but also reflects its dedication to mitigating climate change and supporting a transition to a low-carbon economy.

Arvind Pathak, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement Plc, said the investment aims to acquire 100% CNG trucks as part of a long-term plan to transition its entire fleet to CNG.  

This move marks a significant milestone in Dangote’s clean energy transition, with the objective of operating most of its fleet on CNG by mid-2026. As at October, the company has received its first batch of 1,500 mono-fuel CNG trucks while expecting additional 1,600 CNG trucks; totalling 3,100 before the end of the year. 

Pathak stated, “By mid- 2026, Dangote Cement aims to operate a fleet predominantly powered by CNG. To facilitate this transformation, we are investing in expanding our CNG fuelling infrastructure, ensuring that our growing fleet has reliable access to CNG as our fuel.” He said plans are afoot to aggressively pursue this timeline of deployment, beginning from the first quarter of 2025. “We are keeping our eyes on the ball to ensure that we do not miss our target dates of full compliance”, he added. 

Pathak said that the company’s CNG infrastructure investments have positively influenced Nigeria’s transition to cleaner fuels. He added that the CNG station at Obajana, capable of refuelling over 3,000 trucks, exemplifies this commitment, with a second station currently under development in Ibese to further support fleet operations. 

President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote said the company’s investments in CNG are also in line with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, which aims for net-zero emissions by 2060.  

“In this pursuit of transition to clean energy, we are optimistic of a remarkable accomplishment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as he has taken the lead in the nation’s drive towards energy efficiency. This presupposes private sector intervention to support this noble idea initiated by the President,” Dangote added. 

He noted that the company’s early adoption of CNG has made it the largest operator of CNG trucks in Nigeria, emphasising that the initiative is a boost to President Tinubu’s quest towards enhancing the nation’s energy independence and contributing to a more secure energy future.

  According to him: “We are now using CNG vehicles, especially with the new policy of the Federal Government, launched under the Renewed Hope Agenda by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We are committed to a cleaner and greener future.”