General
Closure of PH Refinery Petrol Producing Unit Worries Stakeholders
By Adedapo Adesanya
Stakeholders have expressed worries as the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) has commenced the shutdown of its Area 5 (60,000 barrels per day capacity old refinery plant) for routine turnaround maintenance.
Over the weekend, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said the move was aimed at boosting efficiency and operational performance.
In a statement signed by Mr Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited said the shutdown will allow for scheduled maintenance and a sustainability assessment of the facility.
“This scheduled maintenance and sustainability assessment will commence on May 24, 2025,” the company stated, adding that it is working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, to ensure transparency and efficiency,” it said.
The closure of the facility has sparked criticism from many quarters, with Business Post gathering that workers have been told in clear terms not to speak to external stakeholders, particularly the press.
In an internal memo titled Area 5 Plant Shutdown for Routine Turnaround Maintenance and signed by Mr Leo Njoku, Human Capital Management Lead, Operations and Maintenance, PHRC Project, the management said all operations and maintenance personnel were explicitly instructed to avoid interaction with visitors, particularly the press.
Mr Njoku in the memo also cautioned the workers against speaking to NNPC Limited top executives, government officials, and members of the press, expected on-site during the maintenance window.
“Mind your business. No interaction with external people or giving information to press people,” the memo warned.
The directive goes further to threaten disciplinary action for any employee caught speaking to the media.
“As Government workers, it is against the Labour Law to engage pressmen in interviews. It attracts its sanctions. HCM will be monitoring staff activities during this period. There will be severe disciplinary consequences for defaulters,” the memo reads.
The strong language and tone of the memo come amid heightened public scrutiny of NNPCL operations, especially as the 30-day shutdown has sparked concern among stakeholders, as the NNPCL just six months ago on November 26th 2024 had with pomp and pageantry announced the commencement of production after seven missed deadlines.
The Area 5 plant shutdown is part of PHRC’s ongoing efforts to fully restore refining capacity after years of dormancy and partial rehabilitation.
This development comes after the Host Community Petroleum Bulk Retailers accused the refinery coordinator, Mr Bayo Aderenle, of orchestrating a plot to cripple the plant in favor of private refinery interests.
Market analysts sat this development is raising questions around transparency over the operations of the refinery.
On its part, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, has warned that any delay beyond the scheduled 30-day maintenance period could trigger fuel supply disruptions and deepen economic hardship across the country.
In a statement signed by the National PRO, Mr Joseph Obele, PETROAN acknowledged that the maintenance was necessary but insisted that the state oil firm must stick to the one month timeline to avoid supply shocks and market instability.
Quoting its National President, Mr Billy Gillis-Harry, the association is particularly worried about systemic bottlenecks that have historically plagued turnaround maintenance efforts, which may once again derail the timeline.
“The repair process must include the Premium Motor Spirit blending unit, as the crude oil cracking process is of no value without it.”
To ensure transparency and accountability, PETROAN is demanding the creation of a special task force, comprising members of the Petroleum Industry Stakeholders Forum, to oversee the repairs and provide weekly progress updates to Nigerians.
Among other key demands by PETROAN include, “Timely completion of repairs before stock depletion, to prevent product scarcity and market monopolization.”
Others are, “Prompt payments to contractors to avoid project delays. Inclusion of critical infrastructure like the PMS blending unit to ensure full operational value upon restart.”
PETROAN cautioned that failure to deliver on schedule could worsen economic pressure on Nigerians already grappling with inflation, energy costs, and foreign exchange instability.
The group urged NNPC to not only meet expectations but also to prove that years of rehabilitation efforts will finally yield tangible results for the country’s ailing downstream sector.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In order to aid alternative and sustainable means of livelihood amid rising food prices and growing concerns over food security in Nigeria, the Ibese Plant of Dangote Cement Plc has handed over a state-of-the-art garri and fufu processing plant to the Kajola host community in Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The facility is expected to support cassava farmers and processors by improving efficiency and expanding income-generating opportunities.
According to the organisation, the project, delivered under the Community Development Agreement (CDA) with its host communities signed in 2022, is a strategic intervention aimed at boosting agricultural value addition, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening livelihoods for rural farmers and women.
The Ibese Plant Director, Mr Ayyagari Subbaraidu, at the commissioning, said, “This project is aimed at improving cassava processing, reducing losses and creating sustainable employment for women and farmers in the community.”
He disclosed that the facility features separate garri and fufu processing units equipped with modern machinery, including a five-tonne-per-day peeling machine, hydraulic presses, frying systems, fermentation basins, solar-powered boreholes and sanitation infrastructure, adding that it will serve as a catalyst for local economic growth by enhancing productivity and supporting small-scale agribusinesses across Kajola and neighbouring communities.
The Plant Director also urged the community and the Project Governance Committee to maintain transparency in the management of the facility to ensure long-term sustainability.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Bolu Owotomo, who was at the unveiling of the project, said it aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s vision of making agriculture a key driver of economic growth through value addition and enterprise development.
The Commissioner disclosed that “over 166,000 farmers, including more than 90,000 cassava farmers, have been registered under the Ogun State Farmers Information Management System (OGFIMS) to benefit from government interventions.”
He urged the community to safeguard the facility and assured residents of the continued support of the state government towards agricultural development and food security.
“This processing plant will strengthen the cassava value chain, improve product quality, create jobs and enhance food security while boosting farmers’ incomes,” the Commissioner stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has hailed the recent sanctioning of three Nigerian bureau de change (BDC) operators by the United States’ Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged terrorism financing.
“The Nigeria Sanctions Committee welcomes the recent inclusion of Mukthar Muhammad Adamu, Nine to Nine BDC, and Generation BDC Limited by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
“These designations follow the inclusion of Adamu and his companies as part of a broader update to the Nigeria Sanctions List approved and published on 18th June 2026,” it disclosed in a statement.
It said that the naming of the three companies and six people followed extensive intelligence gathering, financial investigations, and inter-agency assessments, which established reasonable grounds to believe that the affected individuals and entities facilitated, financed, supported, or otherwise contributed to the activities of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and associated terrorist networks.
“The individuals and entities added to the Nigeria Sanctions List on 18th June 2026 are Ibrahim Yakubu Ogirima (NLISWi.19), Muktar Muhammad Adamu (NLISWi.20), Adamu Chiroma (NLISWi.21), Ibrahim Abubakar (NLISWi.22), Abdullahi Umar Usman (NLISWi.23), Babangida Muhammed Adamu Hammajam (NLISWi.24), Abbal Bako & Sons Bureau De Change Limited (NLISWe.25), Generation Currency BDC Limited (NLISWe.26), Nine to Nine BDC Limited (NLISWe.27),” the statement read in part.
The federal government reiterated its directive to all financial institutions and designated non-financial businesses and professions to continue to comply with all sanctions obligations, including asset-freezing requirements, the filing of suspicious transaction reports, and the reporting of all relevant matches to the appropriate authorities.
The sanctions committee commended the work of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Department of State Services, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit for their actions to ensure that terrorist groups are denied the resources that sustain their activities.
It stated that Nigeria remains resolute in its commitment to ensuring that terrorists and their financiers find no safe haven within the country’s financial system.
The committee also said that the Federal Government would continue to work closely with domestic stakeholders and international partners to protect national security, strengthen financial integrity, and contribute to global efforts to combat terrorism and its financing.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A radio station, Wise FM, has been sealed by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The premises of the broadcast media platform, located on Ogabi Street, Meiran, Ile-Iwe Bus Stop, were shut by the state government on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, alongside other establishments across different parts of Lagos State for alleged persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and opportunities provided for compliance.
In a statement by LASEPA, it was disclosed that the enforcement exercise was carried out in response to various environmental infractions, including noise pollution, air pollution, obstruction of official duties, and failure to comply with its directives.
As regards Wise FM, it was said that it was sealed for noise and air pollution as well as non-compliance with the Agency’s directives.
Another organisation affected, Star-View Terrace, located in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, was shut down for noise pollution and non-compliance with the agency’s directives, while Premiership Suites, located at Akin Osiyemi Street, Off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, was sealed for non-compliance with the agency’s directives.
Speaking on the enforcement operation, the General Manager of LASEPA, Mr Babatunde Ajayi, reiterated the organisation’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding public health and ensuring a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable environment across Lagos State.
He stressed that both individuals and corporate organisations have a responsibility to comply with environmental laws and regulations, stressing that environmental protection remains a collective duty that requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
The LASEPA boss warned that the agency would continue to intensify enforcement actions against violators in order to curb environmental nuisances and protect residents from the harmful effects of pollution.
Mr Ajayi urged residents, business owners, and operators of commercial establishments to adopt environmentally responsible practices and cooperate with regulatory authorities in promoting a healthier, cleaner, and more livable Lagos.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn