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NCDMB, Others Sign Deals for Gas, Methanol Plants

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Methanol Plant

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Limited (BFPCL) and DSV Engineering have signed two key agreements for the construction of a 10,000 tonnes per day methanol plant and another 500 million standard cubic feet per day gas processing plant in Odeama, Brass, Bayelsa State.

The signing was done on Tuesday by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr Simbi Kesiye Wabote, who signed for the board, while the Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, NNPC, Mr Usman Yusuf and the Managing Director of BFPCL, Mr Ben Okoye signed for their companies respectively at the ceremony held at the NCDMB’s liaison office in Abuja.

The first deal was the Accession Agreement between BFPCL, DSV Engineering, NNPC and the NCDMB Capacity Development Intervention Company Limited by Guarantee. It confirms that NCDMB has subscribed to the terms and conditions contained in the company’s Share Subscription Agreement.

The second agreement was the Share Subscription Agreement between BFPCL, DSV Engineering and the NCDMB Capacity Development Intervention Company Limited by Guarantee. This agreement confirmed the allotment of 18 per cent of the authorised share capital of the Brass Fertilizer and Petrochemical Company Limited to NCDMB.

In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB highlighted the need for indigenous institutions and companies to initiate projects that would create in-country value and employment opportunities for young Nigerians. He insisted that the Nigerian oil and gas industry cannot continue to wait for only international operating oil and gas companies to introduce projects.

He maintained that creating job opportunities for young Nigerians was the best strategy to curtail restiveness and insecurity in the polity.

He hinted that the methanol project provides opportunities to add value in-country and further diversify the utilization of the nation’s gas resources.

He said the 10,000 tonnes/day methanol plant will upon completion bring Nigeria onto the world map as one of the top-10 producers of methanol.

“The opportunities provided by this project in jobs creation, gas utilization, and local availability of methanol for primary and secondary users, are massive and we are excited to serve as a catalyst for the realization of the project,” he added.

Mr Wabote also said that the project would create 15,000 jobs during the construction stage and additional 5,000 jobs during the operations phase.

He indicated that Methanol can be used for different purpose and can also serve as a key chemical agent in pharmaceutical and agro-chemical industries.

The Executive Secretary commended the NNPC for its role in getting the project to the current stage, expressing hope that the partnership would help to drive the methanol plant to completion.

The Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power, NNPC, Mr Yusuf expressed delight that the project was in sync with President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent declaration of a Decade of Gas and would help to correct the current anomaly whereby 100 per cent of the nation’s methanol needs are currently imported.

He maintained that that gas was becoming increasingly important to Nigeria’s sustainability and would also play a key role in the energy transition.

Mr Yusuf added that gas is key to food processing and can lead the nation to food sufficiency, industrialization, increase in Gross Domestic Product and power sufficiency.

He added that the two Methanol projects would help Nigeria save foreign exchange and significantly enhancing local production.

The NNPC chieftain congratulated the NCDMB for supporting the methanol projects, which would create a gas hub, petrochemical industry fertilizer plants and condensate refinery.

He also expressed delight that the funding for the critical project was being sourced in-country.

The Managing Director of BFPCL, Mr Ben Okoye stated that methanol can be used to produce 67 items that are used in households every day. He stated that the company had acquired 600 hectares of land and aspires to attract other entities to the Brass Free Zone, adding that the project would become the biggest methanol plant in sub-Saharan Africa.

Business Post had reported that NCDMB, NNPC and DSV Engineering had in January signed the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the construction of 10,000 tonnes/day methanol production plant by the Brass Fertiliser and Petrochemical Company Ltd (BFPCL), committing equity investment of $670 million.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Entries Open for 19th The SERAS Africa Sustainability Awards

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19th The SERAS Africa Sustainability Awards

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The organisers of the prestigious The SERAS Africa Sustainability Awards have called for applications for this year’s edition.

A statement disclosed that entries opened on May 20, 2025, and will close on August 15, 2025, with all submissions expected to be made via www.theseras.com.

Currently in its 19th edition, the 2025 The SERAS, created to amplify sustainability and corporate social responsibility, is scheduled to take place on November 29, 2025.

The award ceremony has spotlighted the boldest changemakers, the most innovative ideas, and the most committed organizations shaping Africa’s sustainable future.

This year’s programme will not be different, as the theme, Sustainability 2.0: Innovating for Impact and Inclusive Growth, is a call for organizations to evolve from reactive interventions to embedding sustainability into the very DNA of their operations.

It also serves as a response to growing concerns around greenwashing, encouraging companies to lead with substance, not just storytelling.

“As The SERAS celebrates its 19th anniversary, we’re not just marking time—we’re marking impact. Over 18 editions, we have catalyzed a new way of thinking about corporate responsibility, inspired companies to act boldly, and helped align Africa’s private and public sectors with global ESG imperatives. This is the award that sets the bar,” the Executive Director at TruCSR and Chairperson of The SERAS Local Organizing Committee, Mrs Mary Ephraim-Egbas, stated.

With over 5,367 organizations from 27 African countries having participated since inception, The SERAS continues to recognize excellence across a broad range of categories that reflect today’s most pressing development issues.

These include areas such as circular economy, climate action, environmental stewardship, water and sanitation, stakeholder engagement, gender equality and women empowerment, food security, financial inclusion, education intervention, health and wellbeing, workplace practices, poverty reduction, innovation, rural population integration, and supply chain management.

Additionally, the awards will honour excellence in partnership building, infrastructure development, transparency and reporting, and recognize standout performance by not-for-profits, social enterprises, and through media excellence in sustainability reporting across electronic, print, and online platforms.

The highest distinction remains the Most Responsible Organization in Africa—a title earned in 2024 by Zenith Bank, which led a competitive field including NNPC Foundation, AbInBev, and Naspers & Prosus who placed 2nd, 3rd and 4th, respectively, among 267 entries.

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Nigeria First Policy: BPP, SON Partner on Industrial Standard Integration

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By Adedapo Adesanya

The Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have deepened their collaboration to integrate Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS) into the procurement process for goods, works, and services as part of efforts to align public procurement with national economic priorities

This step is part of the federal government’s Nigeria First policy under the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The initiative draws its authority from Paragraph 13 of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Circular Ref No. 59780/S.2/B/532 dated May 27, 2025, which mandates prioritisation of Made-in-Nigeria goods and the requirement for all procurement activities to conform to established Nigerian standards.

According to a joint statement, the partnership was strengthened at a high-level strategy meeting held on July 10, 2025, at the BPP Headquarters in Abuja. Both agencies affirmed their commitment to integrating NIS into the federal procurement framework,  to improve the quality of government projects, protect public investments, and bolster local production and services.

Among the major resolutions from the meeting is a new requirement that companies bidding for government contracts must present a valid certificate of subscription to SON’s Digital Standards Platform (DSP). This certificate, which will serve as a prequalification document, confirms access to applicable standards for their products and services.

Additionally, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will now be required to utilise the DSP during procurement planning and specification writing. This ensures that procurement specifications are based on prescribed standards, allowing for early verification of compliance and guaranteeing quality from the outset.

In preparation for full implementation, MDAs have been directed to begin updating their procurement procedures, ensuring access to the DSP and integrating standard requirements into all bidding documents.

Meanwhile, companies and stakeholders in the procurement value chain are encouraged to begin subscribing to the DSP to access relevant standards and secure their subscription certificates in anticipation of enforcement.

The federal government stated that by mandating Nigerian standards in procurement, the initiative will help reduce substandard imports, stimulate local production, and reinforce Nigeria’s industrial capabilities.

The statement added that officials from SON and BPP expressed confidence that the integration of standards into procurement will improve the credibility of government projects, promote industrial self-reliance, and build public trust in procurement outcomes.

“All stakeholders are enjoined to embrace these changes,” the statement read, “as the resulting procurement system will not only champion ‘Nigeria First’ but also uphold a ‘Quality First’ ethos that benefits all.”

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FG Declares Tuesday July 15 as Public Holiday for Buhari

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buhari broadcast

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has declared tomorrow, Tuesday, July 15, 2025, as a public holiday in honour of the late former President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, this is furtherance with the seven days of national mourning declared by President Bola Tinubu on Sunday.

The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who declared the public holiday on behalf of the federal government, following the approval of President Tinubu, said the work-free day was a mark of respect for the late President’s service to the nation, his contributions to Nigeria’s democratic journey, and his enduring legacy in governance and national development.

“President Muhammadu Buhari served Nigeria with dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the unity and progress of our great nation. This public holiday provides an opportunity for all Nigerians to reflect on his life, leadership, and the values he upheld,” the Minister said.

He urged citizens to use the day to honour the memory of the deceased by promoting peace, patriotism, and national cohesion, in line with his vision for a prosperous and united Nigeria.

The national flags are to fly at half mast for the seven days of mourning period from Sunday,  July 13, 2025.

Earlier, the Governor of Katsina State, Mr Dikko Radda, announced the burial arrangements for the late Nigerian leader who died on Sunday, July 13, 2025, in a hospital in London at the age of 82.

At a press briefing on Monday, the Katsina Governor said following consultations with the late president’s family and close associates in London, it has been agreed that the remains of Mr Buhari would arrive in Katsina on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, by noon.

He disclosed that the burial would take place in Daura, the hometown of the late president, by 2 pm on the same day.

Mr Radda expressed deep condolences on behalf of himself, the state government, and the people of Katsina State, to the family of the late President and all Nigerians mourning the loss of a national icon.

The remains of the late Nigerian former president would be released once the documentations were perfected and will his remains will be brought to Nigeria.

Vice President Kashim Shettima and the Chief of Staff to the President, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, earlier on Monday arrived in London, the United Kingdom, to receive the body of the late former president.

The late Buhari, who hailed from Daura, Katsina State, in Nigeria’s North-West zone previously served as the country’s military head of state between January 1984 and August 1985. He was elected in 2015 and was re-elected in 2019 and he was succeeded by President Bola Tinubu.

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