General
Ekpo Meets Stakeholders in Push to Boost Domestic LPG Availability
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Gas), Mr Ekperikpe Ekpo, has pushed for increased efforts from stakeholders to boost domestic liquified petroleum gas (LPG) in the country.
According to a statement, the minister on Tuesday held separate meetings with the management of the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Limited, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, WAGL Energy Limited and Nexaspring Gas Limited as part of efforts to increase the availability of LGP in the domestic market.
The meetings were attended by key stakeholders, including the EVP for Gas and New Energy at NNPC, Mr Lekan Ogunleye; the Managing Director of NLNG, Mr Philip Mshelbila; his deputy, Mr Olakunle Osobu; the Managing Director of WAGL, Mr Mohammed Sani Bello; and the Managing Director of Nexaspring Gas, Mr Bowale Jolaso, among others.
The two indigenous firms, WAGL Energy Limited and Nexaspring Gas, have plans to invest in LPG storage and supply facilities near the NLNG plant in Bonny, Rivers State.
This strategic location will enable them to receive gas deliveries directly from NLNG and easily move them into the domestic market via the soon to be completed Bonny-Bodo Road, being constructed by the NLNG.
Nigeria holds around 209–209.3 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of proven natural gas reserves making it Africa’s largest and 9th globally with targets to reach 210 TCF by the end of 2025 and 220 TCF by 2030 .
As of 2024, Nigeria’s total gas production in 2024 reached approximately 2.5 billion mmscf (million standard cubic feet), up slightly from 2023, split between associated (1.44 billion) and non-associated (1.07 billion) gas.
Around 92 per cent of that gas was utilized (including exports), while flaring accounted for 8 per cent, showing progress from historically very high flare rates.
Based on availabile data, Nigeria earned roughly N8.6 trillion from gas in 2024, using a dprice of $2.42/MMBTU and achieving 2.31 TCF of utilized gas.
This is far below potentials as the government is targeting daily production of 12 BCF by 2030 under its Decade of Gas initiative.
Mr Ekpo urged the management of NNPC and NLNG to collaborate with Nigerian firms to ensure the success of their projects, so that LPG is made more readily available to Nigerians at affordable prices, to further drive President Bola Tinubu’s From Gas to Prosperity: Renewed Hope Agenda.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Banks operating in Nigeria have been charged to further deepen and prioritise financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth.
This call was made by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB).
They want financial institutions to deploy strategic mandates and frameworks aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering small and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
At a courtesy visit to congratulate Mr Dele Alabi on his investiture as the 24th head of CIBN on May 16, 2026, the president of ACAMB, Mr Jide Sipe, said his group was ready to work closely with CIBN to achieve these goals.
According to him, closing the imbalances in financial access helps economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Mr Sipe also used the occasion to announce ACAMB’s 30th anniversary, marking three decades of excellence, industry collaboration, professional development, and impactful contributions to the Nigerian banking and financial services sector.
“The association is pleased to announce the celebration of its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of excellence, industry collaboration, professional development, and impactful contributions to the Nigerian banking and financial services sector,” he said.
The ACAMB leader also formally invited the CIBN president to chair the anniversary Gala Night slated for Wednesday, September 30, 2026.
“We are inviting industry leaders to this anniversary and recognising many people who have stood by ACAMB over the years,” he stated, soliciting the institute’s support through attendance and the invitation of bank managing directors.
In his remarks, Mr Alabi thanked ACAMB for the visit, promising that the institute will prioritise financial inclusion and women’s empowerment.
He said access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
At his investiture over two months ago, Mr Alabi unveiled his IMPACT Vision, themed Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Mr Alabi added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms, saying, “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do.”
“To this end, we intend to contribute our quota in supporting banks and financial institutions in driving gender-focused financial inclusion to close the 9 per cent gender gap in access to formal financial services,” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched the pilot phase of its Management Information System (MIS) and Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) at the PTML Area Command, Lagos, as it pushes its modernisation drive aimed at enhancing trade facilitation, operational efficiency and service delivery.
The pilot launch was led by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of ICT/Modernisation, Mrs Oluyomi Adebakin, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr Adewale Adeniyi.
She commended the PTML Area Command for its exceptional level of preparedness, describing its readiness as a testament to the collaborative efforts and commitment of officers towards the successful implementation of the initiative.
“Modernisation and digitalisation are no longer optional. As the lead agency in border management, the Nigeria Customs Service cannot afford to lag. If we don’t move with the cloud, we will be left behind. This pilot phase reflects our commitment to building a modern Customs Service that meets global standards,” she said.
In his welcome address, the Acting Customs Area Controller, PTML Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Nura Miko, said the command continues to prioritise trade facilitation while maintaining a balance with revenue generation and national security.
He disclosed that PTML, which currently achieves cargo clearance within two hours, is working towards reducing the clearance time to one hour through digital innovation and improved operational processes.
“At PTML, trade facilitation remains our priority. Having achieved a two-hour cargo clearance time, we are now working towards reducing it to one hour through the deployment of these digital platforms and continuous process improvements,” Mr Miko said.
The event featured a live demonstration of the MIS and ECTS by the Service’s ICT Unit, which explained that the in-house developed applications are highly scalable and designed to support indigenous technology development.
The team showcased key modules, including the Duty Roster, Internal Roster, File Tracker and Posting Management, while disclosing that officer onboarding, user training and deployment of the Electronic Cargo Tracking System are already underway as part of the pilot phase.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) has sealed six iron and steel manufacturing companies in Ikorodu over alleged environmental violations.
The agency said the operation was carried out at the Odogunyan Industrial Layout on the directive of the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab.
It said the exercise was part of the Lagos State government’s efforts to protect public health and ensure compliance with environmental regulations.
The affected companies are Germini Steel Nigeria Ltd., Top Steel Nigeria Ltd., Pulkit Alloy Nigeria Ltd., Landcraft Steel Nigeria Ltd., Sunflag Steel Nigeria Ltd., and African Steel Nigeria Ltd.
According to LASEPA, inspections revealed emissions of brown dust, black dust, mill scale, shredded dust, dead dust and other non-metallic particulate matter, noting that the emissions posed significant risks to air quality, public health and the environment.
The General Manager of LASEPA, Mr Babatunde Ajayi, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing environmental laws across the state, urging industrial operators to adopt sustainable production processes and install effective pollution control measures to prevent harmful emissions.
“The Lagos State government remains resolute in its determination to protect residents from the adverse effects of industrial pollution. We will continue to take decisive action against facilities that fail to comply with established environmental standards,” he said.
Mr Ajayi urged industries operating in the state to comply with environmental regulations, saying environmental responsibility was essential for sustainable industrial growth and the well-being of Lagos residents.
