News

Oil Sector Records 98% Spillage From Sabotage –Report

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2022

Oil theft through pipeline sabotage caused 98 per cent of oil spill in the oil and gas sector across the country since June this year till date, the Federal Government has said.

It also stated that the sector recorded 60 fatalities (deaths) and 62 injuries from 34 incidents between September 2021 and September this year.

The government disclosed this in a report by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, titled, “HSEC Practices in the Midstream and Downstream Sector: Past, Present, PIA Regulations, Guidelines and other Policies.”

The report, which was obtained by our correspondent from the authority in Abuja on Friday, stated that 82 oil spills in Nigeria occurred in Rivers State, while 75 were recorded in Bayelsa State.

Oil spill occurrences in Delta, Akwa Ibom and Imo states were 12, two and two, respectively, according to the NMDPRA report.

Speaking on the key mandates of HSEC (Health, Safety, Environment and Community) directorate of the NMDPRA, The Executive Director, HSEC, Mustapha Lamorde, said, “It is to regulate midstream and downstream petroleum operations including technical, operational and commercial.

“To promote healthy, safe, efficient and effective conduct of activities in the midstream and downstream petroleum operations.

“And to ensure that the midstream and downstream operations are carried out in an environmentally accepted and sustainable manner, as well as foster host communities’ development.”

The agency observed that the statutory provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 on HSEC administration clearly indicated that the Federal Government understood the importance of a healthy and environmentally conscious workforce.

It said the effective implementation of the HSEC would ensure a safe workplace for businesses to thrive in the oil and gas industry.

This, according to the NMDPRA, led to the creation of a directorate to manage the Health, Safety, Environment and Community matters in the mid and downstream value chain.

The Chief Executive of the authority, Farouk Ahmed, said the petroleum industry had been at the forefront of HSE innovations in the last few decades, often in response to the peculiar challenges that the industry faces.

He said the directorate, dedicated to HSE in the oil and gas industry, had over the years played a huge role in driving HSE innovation and awareness.

“I am aware that the erstwhile regulator of the oil and gas industry has over the decades collaborated with the industry in the institutionalisation of some programmes, especially HSE related,” Ahmed stated.

He added, “This is with the aim of progressing the cause of the industry and ensuring hitch-free implementation of such programmes, operations and processes.”

He noted that in the recent past, the regulator and the industry through the Quarterly HSE Managers Forum, exchanged ideas, thoughts and deliberated extensively on topical day-to-day operational and process-related HSE issues.

Ahmed said the deliberations yielded positive results as well as fostered the relationship between the industry and the regulator, specifically on HSE issues.

“It is therefore in this regard that the authority has decided to revive this forum to enable us to build on its past achievements,” he stated.

News

DSS Issues Warning, Arrests Man For Circulating Fake Recruitment Materials

Published

56 minutes ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services (DSS) has disclosed the arrest of one Mr. Eze Ezenwa Benard, who was recently apprehended for circulating fake DSS recruitment past questions and answers on Facebook.

The agency, while warning the public in a statement on Saturday, said the suspect operated through a page known as “Jobs and Education”, where he advertised the fraudulent materials and charged unsuspecting members of the public one thousand naira (N1,000) for access.

“The public is hereby cautioned to disregard any materials, as the DSS does not sell or distribute recruitment questions, answers, or examination guides through private individuals or social media pages. Recruitment into the Service, when necessary, follows specialised procedure in accordance with extant laws and due process,” the statement reads.

News

‘Na Only People You Gave Work Love You,’ Singer Speed Darlington Tells Tinubu

Published

1 hour ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Singer Speed Darlington has told President Bola Tinubu that public admiration cannot be bought, warning that only those who received appointments or jobs from the government truly support him.

In a video posted on Saturday, August 23, the singer said, “Everything isn’t about the economy! There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you.”

Darlington, an Igbo man, urged Tinubu to focus on police reform and respect for human rights. “The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate. Please, before you leave office, please speak to your Yoruba brother IGP man,” he added.

News

Before You Leave Office, Reform The Police — Speed Darlington Urges Tinubu

Published

1 hour ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Popular controversial singer Speed Darlington has called on President Bola Tinubu to reform the Nigerian Police Force, urging the government to prioritise citizens’ rights alongside economic growth.

In a video posted on Saturday, the entertainer criticised what he described as the police’s systemic human rights violations and oppressive practices.

“Mr President, before you leave office, whether you secure a second term or not, try your best to improve Nigeria. Everything isn’t about the economy!

“There is more to leadership than the economy. See as everybody dey call your name, dey complain. Nobody loves you. Na only the ones you gave work, na them love you. Even your own tribe dey complain about you,” he said.

The singer, who identifies as Igbo, urged Tinubu to engage with the Inspector-General of Police and implement reforms.

“As an Igbo man, the advice I can give you so people will know your name and remember you for something good is to reform the police. Reform the police.

“The Nigerian police is an oppressive agency rooted in human rights violation. As a matter of fact, if they do not violate you, it’s as if they are not even doing their job.

“The idea of arrest before investigation is a pure human rights violation. You arrest and hold a person before you dey investigate,” he added.

Darlington also recounted his personal ordeal with law enforcement, highlighting the system’s abuse of power.

“I was held for two months after the judge had ordered my release. FID held me for two months. According to my lawyer, the Nigerian law gives only 28 days for investigation.

“They held me for two months. What is the extra month for? Because they can. If you give them money, they oppress your enemy. I have experienced it,” he said.