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Engineers Call for Sustainable Solutions to Tackle Food Security and Climate Change at NSE Abuja 2024 Conference

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Engineers Call for Sustainable Solutions to Tackle Food Security and Climate Change at NSE Abuja 2024 Conference

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) under the leadership of Engr Margaret Oguntala has concluded its 57th International Engineering Conference, Exhibition, and Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Abuja, issuing a strong call for sustainable engineering solutions to address the critical challenges of food security and climate change.

The five-day event, held from November 18th to 22nd at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, brought together over 4,500 engineers, researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders from across Nigeria and beyond.

Under the theme “Sustainable Engineering Solutions to Food Security and Climate Change,” the conference featured robust discussions, technical presentations, and collaborative sessions.

Participants emphasized the interconnectedness of climate change and food security, highlighting the urgent need for innovative engineering approaches. They addressed the impacts of rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather events on agricultural productivity.

The conference underscored the complex relationship between climate change and food security, particularly in developing nations like Nigeria. Inadequate irrigation systems and water scarcity were identified as major constraints to sustainable agriculture, with only a fraction of arable land currently irrigated.

Significant post-harvest losses, reaching approximately 40% of produced food, pose a severe challenge to food security. The critical role of renewable energy in climate-resilient food production systems, especially in rural areas, was emphasized, alongside the need for cross-sector collaboration and supportive policy frameworks to drive sustainable agricultural practices.

The conference also noted the impact of oil and gas companies on carbon emissions and the importance of mitigation, as well as the impact of poor rural road networks that hinder the transportation of agricultural produce, leading to spoilage and increased costs. Commendation was given to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the establishment of the National Engineering and Innovation Fund.

Nigerian Engineers were urged to deploy their expertise in collaboration with relevant organizations to utilize data analytics, GIS, AI, and IoT-enabled systems for precision agriculture.

The government and stakeholders were called upon to promote innovations that enhance agricultural productivity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture was urged to support the development of sustainable irrigation systems, and support for research and commercialization of sustainable storage and processing technologies was recommended.

The government was encouraged to promote affordable renewable energy solutions for rural farming communities. Stakeholders were urged to synergize efforts in mitigating climate change, implementing recommendations from IPCC reports, and to prioritize funding for research, capacity building, and incentives for sustainable practices.

“The conference has provided a platform for engineers to share their expertise and contribute to addressing some of Nigeria’s most pressing challenges,” said Engr. Margaret Aina Oguntala, FNSE, President of the NSE. “We are committed to working with the government and other stakeholders to implement these recommendations and ensure a sustainable future for Nigeria.”

The event featured plenary sessions, panel discussions, technical presentations, and an exhibition showcasing cutting-edge engineering solutions. Attendees included representatives from Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Canada, India, and South Africa, fostering international collaboration. The conference concluded with a closing ceremony and dinner, celebrating the achievements and contributions of Nigerian engineers

Industrialization or Collapse, Dr. Kayode Oluwagbuyi Urgent Wake-Up Call to Engineers, Government

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Industrialization or Collapse, Dr. Kayode Oluwagbuyi Urgent Wake-Up Call to Engineers, Government

Dr. Kayode Adejare Babajide Oluwagbuyi has warned that Nigeria’s dream of economic stability is dead on arrival unless the nation aggressively pursues a “mechanized manufacturing” revolution.

Speaking at the 2024 Ralph Alabi Memorial Lecture the MD/CEO of Sustainability Limited argued that Nigeria remains trapped in the structure of an “underdeveloped country,” where the industrial sector contributes a measly 6% to economic activity.

Dr. Oluwagbuyi traced the global history of prosperity—from the Steam Revolution in Britain to the rise of the “Asian Tigers”—to highlight Nigeria’s stagnation. He noted that while countries like China transitioned from subsistence farming to global powerhouses through deliberate policy, Nigeria’s manufacturing sector has shrunk to just 4% of GDP.

“Industrialization is the process of moving from agriculture to a reliance on manufacturing,” Dr. Kayode stated. “It is not just about building factories; it is about the ‘Industrial Imperative’—investing in the backbone of transportation, energy, and telecommunications to facilitate the movement of goods.”

He pointed to the textile industry as a tragic example of “sunset industries” in Nigeria. Once the second-largest employer after the government with 700,000 workers, the sector has collapsed from 175 mills to just 10, leaving hundreds of thousands jobless.

Dr. Kayode  lamented that the current 6,000MW generation is a mere 5% of national demand. “Electricity outages and voltage fluctuations are not just inconveniences; they are economic saboteurs that erode our competitiveness,” he said.

He criticized the “turnkey transplantation” of technology, where Nigeria imports foreign machines but lacks the “techno-managerial capabilities” to maintain them. He called for a radical focus on STEM education and skill-intensive clusters.

He warned that the upsurge in internal conflicts and insurgency acts as a primary “risk factor” that scares away the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) needed to fuel industrial growth.

“Economy does not consist in saving the coal, but in using the time while it burns.” He urged the government to move from “Import-Substitution” to “Export-Led Growth,” warning that without a shift toward domestic production of even basic goods and national security assets, Nigeria’s industrial potential will remain a “promise unfulfilled.” he said.

Echoing Dr. Kayode’s concerns, the General Manager of the Lagos State Electricity Board, Kamaldeen Balogun, revealed the state’s massive financial roadmap. Balogun stated that Lagos requires between $14 billion and $33 billion to fund an energy value chain that can support industrial development through 2030.

Balogun announced plans for seven new power plants and a goal to produce 3,000 megawatts within three years—with 1,000 MW coming from renewable sources. “We are adopting tried-and-tested technologies from Europe and Asia to ensure we comply with global best practices,” Balogun added, urging engineers to brace for the opportunities under the Lagos Electricity Policy.

The event, which saw the induction of new corporate members into the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), featured additional calls for reform from top leadership.

NSE President, Margaret Oguntala, hailed Ikeja for sustaining the annual event in honour of Alabi, showcasing his legacy and professionalism in engineering.

Oguntala, represented by Vice President of Corporate Services, Dr Felicia Agubata, said the power sector was vital to economic stability and industrialisation.

Ikeja Chair, Nimot Muili, said Lagos power policy was opportunity to remove past constraints and forge ahead.

According to her, the initiative would empower the state to control its energy destiny, enabling generation, transmission, and others.

She noted there was need to note challenges as regulatory hurdles, financial constraints, and technical hitches as it “tests the resolve to overcome obstacles and achieve goals”.

ADVOCACY & ACTIVISM IN OUR ENGINEERING DNA : NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (6)

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ADVOCACY & ACTIVISM IN OUR ENGINEERING DNA : NATIONAL BUILDING CODE (6)

Being a text of Presentation titled ADVOCACY & ACTIVISM IN OUR ENGINEERING DNA Being a Presentation by HR Engr. Otis Anyaeji KtSGG FAEng, Obi Onowu II n’Okija (Traditional Head of Ubahu-Okija), 30th President, The Nigerian Society of Engineers at 2022 October Lecture. Made as Part of the Collection Themed “WISDOM OF THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS On the Occasion of NSE OCTOBER LECTURE On October 7th, 2022

Continued from Part 1   part 2  and Part 3 Part 4    Part 5

7.0 MEMORANDUM ON NATIONAL BUILDING CODE

In August 1989 when the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing indicated it was fashioning out a Federal Building Code for exclusive and concurrent legislative application, we registered our satisfaction with that move.

While congratulating them, we quickly added that the draft “Federal Building Code” pamphlet which they made available to the Society at most contained the essence of a comprehensive “Federal Building Code”. It was stated that we believed that elaboration of regulations for the control of all matters pertaining to construction, alteration, addition, repair, removal, demolition, use location, occupancy and maintenance of buildings shall be taken up shortly.

Relying on the work started under the Presidency of Engr. Ife Akintunde FAEng, FMW&H was informed that NSE had during the past two years (1987 – 88) conceptualized the framework of a Building Code for Nigeria, for control of all matters relating to existing and proposed buildings and structures.

We reasoned that the document to be produced would be one that provides regulations for Administration and Enforcement, Use Group Classifications, Types of Construction Classification, Special Use and Occupancy Requirements, Ventilation, Lighting, Sound Transmission Control, Means of Egress & Ingress, Structured Loads and Stresses, Foundation Systems and Geotechnical Considerations, Materials, Fire Sensitive Requirements, Mechanical Equipment and Systems, Electric Wiring Equipment etc.

Our agreement with the new definition of Approval Authority was registered, especially on the aspect that now recognizes the multidisciplinarity the statutory control function in building.

Because of the geological and earthquake problems observed in the country about that time (particularly the tremor in Ogun State, and earth cracks/soil erosions in many states) we recommended strongly the inclusion of geological and earthquake engineering reports in the list of documents to be submitted by prospective developers.

7.1 AMENDMENTS SUGGESTED TO PROPOSED FEDERAL BUILDING CODE

We recommended that submission of Documents should be done in three stages to wit, (i) Site Data/Design Basis, (ii) Preliminary Drawings/Outline Specifications, and (iii) Working Drawings/Final Specifications.

The contents of these stage reports were spelt out in sufficient details.

For example, on Site data/Design Basis stage, we recommended the report shall contain information on preliminary surveys, geologic/earthquake engineering information, climatic condition, wind pattern, ambient conditions to be used for design, facing directions of windows (relative to sun), public utilities, tie-in points etc.

The preliminary drawings of the proposed building are to come with data on any existing building on the site, and the relationships of various structures or services existing and proposed.

These documents are to be submitted to both the plan approval department, and also to the State Fire Service, who shall give guidance relative to Fire Code requirements. We made the point that outline specifications while providing a general description of the construction including finishes, must also describe the type of mechanical and electrical systems.

The design program wherein brief explanations of the functions and services of the proposed facility are provided including occupancy (no. of persons, or quantity of goods to be accommodated).

The working drawings/final specifications we recommended should be submitted for reviews for structural safety, architectural, mechanical, electrical details, and fire safety.

Recommended information for this final stage ought to include geotechnic report, architectural drawings, structural drawings, mechanical drawings, electrical drawings, specifications/regulations/standards, title block, reference point, period of limitation, signatures required.

Some of these recommendations were factored into the National Building Code, some are yet to be adopted and incorporated.

8.0 LETTER TO HON. ATTORNEY GENERAL OF THE FEDERATION ON NSE’S POSITION ON THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS DECREE 1990

After the Society presented the ‘Minority Report on the DELIBERATIONS OF THE CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY ON THE REFORM OF COMPANIES LAW’ to the Hon. AGF, we were expectant that some of our prayers would be accepted into the amendments to be made to the Companies & Allied Matters Decree No. 1 1990.

Lo and behold the amendments came out late 1990, and none of the Society’s prayers was included. I sought for, and was granted an audience with the AGF on 10th August, 1990. The amendments to the Decree No. 1 1990 were brought up again for the action of AGF. He told me that he remembered the Society’s petition for the simple fact that our reaction justified the reasons he had for insisting that technical organisations like ours should be invited to the Consultative Assembly. Secondly, he said he admired my tenacity and reliance on verifiable authorities to prove my sources. He then said I reminded him of a saying in his village about a man whom a stronger one had taken his wife, and the weaker man would sit by the corner of a major street shouting that those who are stronger than him have taken his wife. That he is shouting not for them to voluntarily return his wife, but for one who is stronger than the strong one, to take pity and recover his wife and return same to him.

The AGF then told me that he would soon be leaving for the World Court, The Hague, but that he would grant all the Society’s prayers that had merit.

He finally said I should reduce our discussion that afternoon to writing. I promptly did. Excerpts from that letter dated 10th August 1990 repay reading.

“… 4 We discussed earlier today.

We also discussed in April 1989 when the Society formally presented to your goodself the Minority Report on the Deliberations of the Consultative Assembly on the Reform of Companies Law, and on that occasion the Hon. Attorney General gave his word that the matters canvassed before him in that minority report would be redressed before promulgation of the new Companies Decree.

The unintentional failure to incorporate the amendments requested by the Society has inevitably constrained her to the suppliant position she was in while presenting the petition on original basis eighteen months ago.

4.1 AMENDMENTS SOUGHT BY THE NIGERIAN SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS

4.1.1Engineer to be Recognised as Valuer

Sec. 137 of Decree No.1 1990 defines ‘Valuer’ for the purposes of determining the true value of the consideration other than cash for payments for shares as “an Auditor, a valuer, a surveyor, or an accountant …”

For the same purpose Sec. 554 of the same decree recognizes experts for the preparations of prospectus inviting person to subscribe for securities in a company as

“Every Engineer, legal practitioner, accountant and any other person whose profession gives authority to a statement made by him.”

The statements expected of an Engineer by virtue of Sec. 554 are those of valuation/appraisal of property.

The Hon. Attorney General is to note that the Companies Act of 1968 did not have an equivalent of Sec. 137 of the Companies & Allied Matters Decree of 1990.

The practice of valuation for investment and balance sheet purposes was based on Sec. 41 of the 1968 law which to a very great extent is identical with Sec. 554 of the 1990 law.

For consistency with Sec. 554 and fairness, the Nigerian Society of Engineers urges that ‘Engineer’ be included in the definition of ‘valuer’ in Section 137 (6) of Decree No. 1 1990.

The Hon. Attorney General is to further note the facts on engineering valuation and the valuation Engineer as stated by the following authorities/sources:

(i) Marston, A. et.al in “Engineering Valuation and Depreciation” hereby attached as “EXHIBIT 1” vide page 2

(ii) Hughes B.V. in “Oil Property Valuation” hereby attached as “EXHIBIT 2” vide pg. 1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 11.

4.1.2 Section 56 Foreign Engineering Companies to Incorporate in Nigeria

The Nigerian Society of Engineers requests the expurgation of sub-section 56(a) which encourages foreign firms to apply to the National Council of Ministers to be granted the freedom to carry out engineering and technical consultancy and specialist business in Nigeria without being registered locally while Section 54 precludes such freedom in all other businesses.

The Society had earlier stated that it would be impossible for Nigeria to achieve self-reliant economic development if all her engineered works are by her own laws to be carried out to the exclusion of the Nigerian Engineers or Technologists.

Anybody who read the Daily Times of Monday July 9, 1990 page 24, the advertisement on the “National Committee on Engineering Infrastructure”, would have gleaned therefrom that the Federal Government has finally decided that Nigerians should participate in the Nigerian Engineering Industries Sectors.

To quote from the terms of reference of the Committee –

“… To draw up the Blue-Print for the provision of a national engineering infrastructure by identifying the essential engineering materials, scientific equipment, energy equipment, engineering accessories, workshop tools etc which must be made readily available in the Nigerian market in order to provide the required inputs for equipment and machine design, fabrication and copy engineering and to present the discrete industries which must be established for the mass-production of these capital goods, based on the utilization of local raw materials …”

It is clear that the noble intentions of these terms of reference for self-reliance in Engineering will be frustrated by the provision in the Companies Decree which encourages offshore engineering consultancy.

4.1.3 Section 2 – Technical Operators of Companies to be Represented in the Corporate Affairs Commission

It is the reasoned position of the Society that the membership of the Corporate affairs Commission should be expanded to include:

“One representative of the Engineering profession appointed after consultation with the Nigerian Society of Engineers.”

As Nigeria is moving from a mercantilist economy, companies’ regulation (legislation and administration) becomes too complicated to be left entirely to lawyers, accountants and secretaries who are by training and function service oriented. The contributions of science and technology experts who on the other hand are operations oriented, in the law making, policy formulation, and administration on Companies Law Matters are indispensable and unquantifiable.

The implication of this denial of technical representation is that in administration and monitoring of enforcement of the provisions of the Companies Decree, accountants, lawyers, secretaries, investors etc would sit in judgement over the performance of technical operators, and proceed to propose amendments or subsidiary legislations without so much as listening to the opinions, and considering from a position of knowledge, the interests of the technical operators of the majority of companies in Nigeria.

5.0 Hon. Attorney General Sir, we commend these sensitive matters of injustice to your equitable hands for redress. And redress needs to be swift in coming for the following reasons:

5.1 Any companies’ law incorporates a section that defines who is competent to make statements to be included in prospectuses detailing information on the securities in a company for reasons of fraud prevention. A situation were a person trained to estimate land and buildings exploits the omission of Engineer, and the tautological inclusion of surveyor/valuer, and auditor/accountant, in Sec. 137 to attempt to value plant, machinery, factories, industrial plants, engineering constructions of all kinds, public utilities etc. opens and sustains a season of mass deception and defrauding which equity cannot afford to just fold its arms and watch with unconcern. The guidelines for valuation issued by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) of UK clearly forbid surveyors from including process machinery and equipment in valuation of premises. Copy of relevant pages of RICS guidelines is attached as EXHIBIT 3. The Workshop on Companies and Allied Matters Decree No.1 1990 organised by the Department of Commercial Law of the University of Lagos in June 1990 did recommend in their communique that Engineers be recognised as valuer.

5.2 Nigeria is a developing country and is only at this time 1990 attempting to switch from a wealth sharing national ethic to a wealth creation economy. Wealth creation is intensively engineering, and fostering of the wealth creation process is the function of the Companies legal instruments of which Decree No. 1 1990 is avante-garde. To foster an engineering process properly, those administering the fostering function e.g. the Corporate Affairs Commission should include Engineers. To do otherwise now would only lead to the false start recorded after eighteen years with the 1968 experiment.

The Engineer, scientists, and technologists must be integrated with the legal environment if your well known dream on socio-economic reform through law is to find fulfillment.

The corollary of course is that even the Law Reform Commission at the threshold of our second attempt at national development should include at all levels scientists (not only social) and Engineers …

We rest our case.

But here we are humble petitioners at the feet of equity himself, with our arms outstretched confident of receiving justice at the fair and firm hands of the CHIEF LAW OFFICER OF THE FEDERATION.

Three days later, on 13th August, 1990, I forwarded the minority report to all the engineer ministers, and requested them to urge their cabinet colleague to quickly carry out the amendments to CAMA Decree No.1 1990 sought by the Society. The Engineer ministers took action. For example, the Minister of Industries, Engr. AVM M. Yahaya FNSE wrote to me as Secretary General NSE on 19th September, 1990 Ref. n0 IDDC/01/S.77/75 informing that his Ministry supports our views on the Companies and Allied Matters Decree, 1990, and that the Ministry had communicated its support to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice for consideration.

His counterpart in the Ministry of Science & Technology, Engr. Prof. Gordian Ezekwe FAS FNSE put me in copy of his letter Ref. FMST/NSS/726/III/416 dated 14th September 1990 to the Hon. AGF indicating the Ministry’s support on the amendments sought by NSE in the decree.

All these moves combined to get the AGF to amend the Decree vide Decree No. 46, 1991, to grant Engineering professions a seat on the Corporate Affairs Commission, Sec. 2; and include Engineer in the definition of ‘Valuer’ in Sec. 137 of the Decree.

to be continued HERE

Why we’ll continue to encourage establishment of more universities – NUC chief

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Why we’ll continue to encourage establishment of more universities – NUC chief

By Usman Aliyu

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has said it will continue to encourage the establishment of more universities despite complaints by some Nigerians that the country has had more than enough of such tertiary institutions.

Mr Chris Maiyaki, Acting Executive Secretary said this on Friday in his lecture at the 22nd convocation ceremony of the Igbinedion University, Okada in Edo State.

According to Maiyaki, establishment of more universities in Nigeria was necessary considering the size of the country’s population and its low literacy level.

He, however, said that what the commission would not do was to compromise the quality of university education in the country.

According to him, available statistics and studies shows that Nigeria needs more universities to harness and unlock its potential.

“The commission, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, as a matter of deliberate policy, will encourage expansion of our universities and approve more,” he said.

Maiyaki, therefore, called on Nigerian universities to prioritise and improve on the capacity building of staff, as recent reports indicated a fallout in this aspect.

He also decried the state of facilities in Nigerian universities, calling for good governance and management culture in the administration of university’s resources.

To reposition the Nigeria’s university system, the NUC chief advocated restoration of normalcy to academic calendar by jettisoning unwarranted incessant industrial actions.

“There is also a need for the review of our curriculum, application of ICT and massive expansion of facilities.

“Partnership and Internationalisation are necessary too to join the global landscape of university,” he said.

Earlier, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, Vice-Chancelleor of the university, said 55 out of the 855 graduates, bagged first class honours in their various disciplines.

Ezemonye, who recounted the success of the university in the last one year, said all the courses by the institution were fully accredited by the NUC and the relevant regulatory councils.

The vice-chancellor noted that the institution was digitalised to enhance academic and administrative functions.

In the last one year, Ezemonye said the school had secured increase in admission quota for various professional courses such as Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Sciences as well as Nursing Sciences. (NAN)

Port Harcourt refinery yet to begin bulk sales, pricing under review – NNPC

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Port Harcourt refinery yet to begin bulk sales, pricing under review – NNPC

The Port Harcourt Refining  has not started bulk sales of petroleum products or opened its purchase portal as critical processes are still being finalized, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) clarified on Friday.

In a statement, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer at NNPC Ltd., emphasized that official announcements regarding product pricing adjustments would be communicated when necessary.

“Currently, the products we are selling originate from the Dangote Refinery, and include all applicable Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) fees,” Soneye stated.

The PHRC, which has a refining capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, began distributing petroleum products via truck-out earlier this week following its rehabilitation. However, the products remain limited to NNPC’s retail outlets at this stage.

This development has raised operational concerns among petroleum marketers and Nigerians, particularly regarding the refinery’s pricing structure. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) confirmed that no new pricing template has been released by the refinery.

“We are still purchasing premium motor spirit (PMS) under the old pricing template while awaiting updated prices,” PETROAN said.

NNPC assured the public that pricing reviews are periodically adjusted to reflect operational realities. “We advise the public to disregard any misleading information regarding pricing,” Soneye added.

Uganda to Fund $4-Billion Oil Refinery after Ditching Efforts to Tap Markets

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Uganda to Fund $4-Billion Oil Refinery after Ditching Efforts to Tap Markets

By Charles Kennedy

The government of African country Uganda plans to wholly finance a $4-billion oil refinery through equity, The EastAfrican news outlet reports.

The government and its partner in the project, Alpha MBM Investments, an investment firm from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), have decided not to continue searching for finance on the international financial markets, according to Uganda’s Energy Minister Ruth Nankabirwa.

The Uganda Refinery Project is a plan of the East African country to have a 60,000 barrels of oil per day refinery built at Kabaale in the Hoima District in western Uganda.

The project has been many years in the works amid several roadblocks, including financing.

At the end of 2023, the government of Uganda signed a memorandum of understand (MoU) with the UAE’s Alpha MBM Investments LLC, outlining cooperation and negotiation terms for the refinery project.

An investment amount of at least $4 billion is earmarked for the project, one of three crucial oil and gas initiatives alongside the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP) and the upstream projects Tilenga in Nwoya and Buliisa, and Kingfisher in Kikuube.

The refinery project’s funding will consist of debt and equity at a ratio of 60:40, implying that 60% of the funding will be debt, while 40% will be equity, Uganda has previously estimated.

Now the government says that the entire project would be financed by the government through equity.

Another key oil project in the region, the East Africa Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP), has also seen delays and setbacks.

But earlier this year, Africa’s top lender, Standard Bank, said it expects to help fund part of the planned $5-billion controversial project that has had environmental campaigners call on banks to abandon financing for the pipeline.

The EACOP project is for a 1,443 kilometer-long (897 miles) pipeline to be built from landlocked Uganda to the Tanga port in Tanzania. The oil pipeline is expected to bring crude from the Lake Albert project in Uganda to the international oil market. It is designed to transport 216,000 barrels of crude oil per day, with a ramp-up of up to 246,000 bpd, Uganda says.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

UK University to close chemistry department

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UK University to close chemistry department

BY Stuart Harratt

The University of Hull is to close its chemistry department.

It said student numbers were “so low that these courses are no longer financially or educationally sustainable”.

The university added that chemistry would continue to be taught where it was part of another subject, such as medicine.

The number of schools is also to be reduced from 17 to 11, with the faculty of arts, cultures and education and the faculty of business, law and politics merging.

In a statement, the university said that the measures would “contribute to maintaining our financial sustainability, and enable us to grow and develop”.

“In common with most universities, we are not exempt from the significant challenges faced by the higher education sector,” the university said.

“We need to ensure we have the right programmes, the right course design and the right teaching methods in place in line with student demand.”

The chemistry department was rated the fourth best in the UK in The Guardian’s University Guide 2024.

In an online petition objecting to the closure, opponents said “the department has long been a cornerstone of Hull’s educational and research heritage”.

It added: “The move threatens the livelihood of our staff, compromises the education of our students, and sends an unnerving signal to local employers, as one of the largest chemical sectors in the United Kingdom, and our alumni.”

More than 4,800 people signed the petition.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

(BBC News)

How we brought Port Harcourt Refinery back to life — NNPCL spokesperson

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How we brought Port Harcourt Refinery back to life — NNPCL spokesperson

In this interview, Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), clears the air on issues around blending and the production of petrol. He also speaks on the operational module of the Port Harcourt Refinery (PHR) with sustainability as a key component. Excerpts:

There’s been controversy about the refining and blending going on at the Port Harcourt Refinery regarding petrol production. What’s the truth?

Refining and blending are interconnected processes crucial for crude oil processing and optimizing refinery yields, especially when producing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

PMS is not a single product but a carefully crafted blend of various refinery outputs, including naphtha, reformate, pentane-plus hydrocarbons, and other middle distillates, designed to enhance value and meet consumer needs.

Blending operations are standard in refineries worldwide, with the process and ratios varying based on factors like crude oil type, refinery configuration, and specific fuel requirements (such as octane rating or sulfur content).

Don’t be swayed by individuals misusing technical terms they don’t fully understand to spread misinformation or hinder progress. Blending and refining remain essential and sophisticated components of modern fuel production.

Can you clarify the issue of purchase of reformate?

We did not purchase any reformate. Someone referred to an email that was dated August before the current start-up of the refinery in November. We didn’t purchase reformate.

The purchase did not go through at all. We were going to purchase reformate for blending. Reformate is a high-octane product derived from the catalytic reforming process in oil refineries. It is a critical component in blending high-quality gasoline. It was too expensive to purchase this reformate and it was going to impact our margin which will make our products to be sold at a loss. That’s why we didn’t follow through with it.

Let’s go back to the issue of blending. Is it normal and best practice for refineries to blend Naphta with high RON gasoline?

We are not blending SRG with Napthat. SRG is blended with Crack C5. Yes, it is normal practice to blend SRG with Crack C5. Straight-run gasoline blended with cracked C5 refers to a mix of two distinct gasoline components, typically aimed at optimizing fuel quality and meeting market specifications.

SRG is often blended with higher-octane components such as crack C5 to create commercially viable gasoline. C5 is derived from fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes, specifically from the lighter fractions of the cracked products. Our FCC is in the New PH refinery, and it is undergoing construction. Blending takes place in the FCC which is normal operation practice. Cracked C5 compensates for the low octane rating of straight-run gasoline, making the blend suitable for modern engines.

What caused the delay in getting the refinery going?

Execution of a revamp project in a brown field environment has a greater technical difficulty which is multiple times higher than in a green field. Unknown and unforeseen technical challenges impeded the commissioning and startup multiple times and took us back several weeks hence schedule delays.

How were the challenges surmounted?

We partnered with and drew on the wealth of experience from an external party who had carried out commissioning and startup, currently operating and maintaining several refineries. The injection of these additional, highly skilled and competent resources was the game changer. We also identified and mobilised retired NNPC staff who had worked in the refineries; their experience and expertise were useful. We carried out a detailed technical review to understand and identify areas of vulnerabilities; we put a system in place to eliminate and address the bad actors systematically.

NNPCL went mute for some time regarding the commencement date.

You would recall we had made several attempts to start up the PHR about six to seven times with dates. We felt there would be added pressure on the entire team once we announced a date, hence the reason why we made sure, based on lessons of the past, we went mute on commencement date to allow us sufficient time to ensure operations were stable.

Why the secrecy and suddenness of the launch?

There was no secrecy and suddenness of the launch. We had to ensure the OPHR 60kbblpd was stable after the commencement of operation and we had built up sufficient volumes of the products.

To what extent will this positive development impact the PMS space, going forward – in terms of pricing?

Port Harcourt Refinery – and any operating refinery in Nigeria – will contribute to supply security for Nigeria and reduce the dependency on importation and the related USD needed for those imports. Refineries also contribute to technology developments and employment.

Pricing will always be determined by market forces both inside and outside Nigeria, however, one could expect that using locally produced crude and reduction of imports reduce overall logistics costs.

What supply mechanisms are in place to ensure a smooth operation and avoid a repeat of the type of Dangote issue with IPMAN and MOMAN?

We have well-established ways of working with all market parties including IPMAN and MOMAN which will continue to apply also to any loadings from PH. That is, there is no need to establish new ways of working, just an extension for these to our PH location.

Warri and Kaduna should be the next focus. What’s at play?

The quick fix project of WRPC Area 1 (125kbopd) is in progress and expected to start operations first and subsequently the full plant. Construction work on KRPC (110kbopd) is progressing and is expected to come on stream as well.

What’s the operating model for the refinery?

Crude oil supply will be purchased from our NNPC Trading Company under sales and purchase agreement. Crude oil transportation will be via pipelines under the tariffing framework. Operations and maintenance (O and M), that is planned turnarounds and reliability engineering, will be outsourced to the external contractor based on a five-year contract. Planning and scheduling, Commercial, Supply Chain and Finance will be under Port Harcourt Refinery Company (PHRC). Product evacuation/offtake will be via NNPC Retail under the purchase agreement.

What guarantees can Nigerians get that the issue of failed maintenance that plagued the refinery in the past will remain in the past?

To ensure the sustainability of the historical operations of the OPHR 60kbblpd plant and the NPHR 150KBBLPD, NNPCL has put in place an interim Operations and Maintenance Contract to guarantee uninterrupted operations of Area 5. As you are aware we are about to finalise the five years O&M tendering process, this will finally put us on the right path to ensure we have the best contractor in the world working with NNPCL to ensure reliability and utilisation 210kbblpd refinery – this would ensure energy security to the country.

Interview originally published by Tribune

JUST IN: WTO reappoints Okonjo-Iweala as Director General

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JUST IN: WTO reappoints Okonjo-Iweala as Director General

By Rachael Omidiji
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the first woman and first African to lead the World Trade Organization (WTO), has been officially reappointed for a second term as Director-General.

The WTO shared the announcement on Friday, November 29, via its verified X (formerly Twitter) account, stating:

“Breaking: The General Council has appointed Director-General @NOIweala for a second term, effective 1 September 2025. More details to follow.”

The WTO confirmed that its 166 member states unanimously agreed to extend her leadership, a decision finalized in a closed-door session of the WTO’s General Council.

Okonjo-Iweala, 70, will continue her role beyond the end of her current term in August 2025. This reappointment reflects a significant consensus among WTO members.

Initially, the process to determine the next term was expected to take several months. However, Okonjo-Iweala’s candidacy as the sole nominee, coupled with strong backing from African nations, accelerated the decision.

The swift move aims to ensure adequate preparation for the WTO’s upcoming ministerial conference in Cameroon, scheduled for 2026.

Keith Rockwell, senior research fellow at the Hinrich Foundation, pointed to an unstated reason behind the expedited decision: a desire to avoid potential political interference from the United States.

This recall is linked to former President Donald Trump’s 2020 veto, which had delayed Okonjo-Iweala’s initial appointment. Her leadership officially began after President Joe Biden assumed office in early 2021.

Ambassador Petter Ølberg of Norway, Chair of the General Council, confirmed that no other nominations were submitted by the 8 November deadline.

Meanwhile, her first term began in March 2021, and her second term is set to start on 1 September 2025.

Okonjo-Iweala’s tenure has been marked by a focused drive for reform within the WTO, a mission she has ardently pursued since her first appointment.

Despite early obstacles, she successfully navigated the consensus-based appointment process involving all 166 member countries. Her reappointment is a testament to the global confidence in her leadership and her vision to address the challenges confronting international trade.

Vacancy: Project Manager at AL-Treuhand Better Design Limited

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AL- Truehand Better Design Limited is an architectural and multidisciplinary design company focused on providing premium design and achievable solutions. With a strong belief that everyone deserves better design. We focus on all kinds of designs and renovation, turnkey delivery, interiors, finishing and furnishing,g and general construction.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Project Manager

Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time

Key Responsibilities

  1. Develop detailed project plans, including scope, timelines, budgets, and resource allocation.
  2. Monitor project progress, make adjustments as necessary, and ensure timely completion.
  3. Planning, coordinating and managing all phases of all design and construction projects, including project initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and closeout.
  4. Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies.
  5. Coordinate with the design team, operations and other contractors to ensure all project timelines and deliverables are met.
  6. Collaborate with clients to understand project requirements and expectations.
  7. Select and manage subcontractors, ensuring they meet project specifications.
  8. Conduct regular site visits to monitor progress, quality, and safety.
  9. Resolve any issues or challenges that may arise during construction.
  10. Lead cross-functional project teams, including architects, engineers, and contractors.
  11. Foster collaboration and communication among stakeholders.
  12. Manage conflicts and resolve disputes.
  13. Liaise with clients to understand requirements and expectations.
  14. Providing project updates and progress reports and ensure client satisfaction
  15. Ensure adherence to regulatory requirements, building codes, and company policies.
  16. Manage project documentation, records, and reporting.
  17. Ensure compliance with building codes, regulations, and safety standards.
  18. Assist in implementing best practices and standardized procedures to streamline project workflow.
  19. Stay updated on industry trends and best practices in project management.
  20. Train and supervise team members ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures.
  21. Provide regular status reports to Management and clients.
  22. Send monthly project reports to Management.
  23. Carry out any other duty as assigned.

Requirements

  1. A minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering,Quality control, or other relevant fields.
  2. A minimum of 3 years proven experience in a similar role in architectural or construction industry is an added advantage.
  3. Professional certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional), COREN, H.S E Certification or equivalent are preferred.
  4. Master Degree is an added advantage
  5. Strong project management skills (scheduling, budgeting, risk management).
  6. Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
  7. Proficient in project management software (MS Project, Primavera, Asana, Trello).
  8. Familiarity with construction management systems (CMS).
  9. Knowledge of building codes, regulations, and safety standards.
  10. Strong attention to details and organizational skills.
  11. Excellent communication and problem-solving skills.
  12. Ability to supervise and train team members.
  13. Experience working with cross-functional teams is an advantage.
  14. Ability to multitask and manage time effectively.

Prefferd Candidate:

  1. Excellent time management, organization, and multitasking skills, with an ability to manage competing priorities in a fast paced environment.
  2. Exceptional accuracy and attention to detail.
  3. Strong analytical mindset with the ability to leverage data to inform strategic decisions and drive operational improvements.
  4. A proactive problem solver who can anticipate and address challenges before they escalate.
  5. Exceptional capacity for making sound judgments in high-pressure environments.
  6. Clear, unambiguous communicator who is effectively responsive across multiple communication channels.
  7. Budget management and financial literacy a plus Proven experience in client service or account management roles.
  8. Excellent interpersonal skills for interacting with internal teams and external stakeholders.
  9. Have an understanding of architectural design and experience in construction industry is a plus.

Salary
N150,000 – N250,000 per month.

Application Closing Date
30th December, 2024.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and cover letter to: [email protected] using “Project Manager” as the subject of the mail.

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