Business

IMEMPA urges swift action on ALSCON revival as steel minister awaits presidential directive

IMEMPA urges swift action on ALSCON revival as steel minister awaits presidential directive

June 29, 2026 Markup 0

The Ibom Minerals, Energy and Maritime Professionals Association (IMEMPA) has intensified its advocacy for the revival of the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON), Ikot Abasi, following a high-level courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of Steel Development in Abuja.

The meeting, held on June 18, 2026, formed part of the association’s sustained efforts to mobilise government attention towards the resuscitation of ALSCON, one of Nigeria’s most strategic but dormant industrial assets.

Group unveils roadmap for ocean jobs, urges Tinubu to establish coast guard

Group unveils roadmap for ocean jobs, urges Tinubu to establish coast guard

June 29, 2026 Markup 0

The Provisional Committee for the Proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has unveiled a roadmap aimed at creating five million ocean-based jobs by 2035, while urging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish a Nigerian Coast Guard as a critical institution for achieving the country’s blue economy ambitions.

The committee conveyed its proposals in an open letter to the President following Nigeria’s commitments at the 11th Our Ocean Conference (OOC11) held in Mombasa, Kenya.

EMR trains journalists on energy, maritime reporting

EMRN trains journalists on energy, maritime reporting

June 26, 2026 Markup 0

The Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR), Akwa Ibom State Branch, has called for stronger maritime security, sustained capacity building for journalists and increased investment in marine infrastructure to support the growth of Nigeria’s energy and maritime sectors.

The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the association’s one-day training workshop held on Thursday, June 26, 2026, at Plot 51 G-Line, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo.

ABER honours 30 Africa Blue Economy Heroines

ABER honours 30 Africa Blue Economy Heroines

June 26, 2026 Markup 0

The Africa Blue Economy Roundtable (ABER) has honoured 30 outstanding women from across the continent, declaring that women are playing a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s maritime future.

Speaking during the 2026 World Seafarers Day celebration in Douala, Cameroon on Friday, 2026, the Chief Executive Officer and Convener of ABER, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, said women have become key drivers of Africa’s blue economy through their contributions to fisheries, maritime governance, conservation, education and coastal development.

Why we invested in Eket – Kaybi Beverage

Why we invested in Eket – Kaybi Beverage

June 10, 2026 Markup 0

Kaybi Beverage Industries Limited has attributed its decision to establish a multi-million-naira water production facility in Eket to the area’s peaceful environment, investor-friendly climate, and the development policies of the Akwa Ibom State Government.

The Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the company, producers of Kayora Premium Water, Dr Ebi Awosika, said Eket offered the ideal conditions for business growth and industrial development, making it the preferred location for the company’s manufacturing operations.

EMR urges Eno to create blue economy ministry

EMR urges Eno to create blue economy ministry

June 7, 2026 Markup 0

Environmental and Maritime Rights (EMR) has urged Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State to establish a Ministry of Blue Economy to harness the state’s maritime resources for economic growth, job creation and increased revenue generation.

According to the group, Akwa Ibom possesses vast maritime assets capable of transforming its economy if managed through a dedicated institutional framework.

Eno courts investors for Ibom Deep Seaport

Eno courts investors for Ibom Deep Seaport

June 6, 2026 Markup 0

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has intensified efforts to attract investors to the Ibom Deep Seaport project, holding strategic meetings in Paris, France, aimed at accelerating implementation and positioning the state as a major trade and logistics hub in the Gulf of Guinea.

The governor, on June 5, 2026, met with executives of Africa Global Logistics (AGL) Group and members of the Ibom Deep Seaport Technical Committee to review the Technical Feasibility Report prepared by Worley Parsons, as part of moves to transition the project from planning to execution.

Mr Sylvester Bighoro, NUPRC Manager and Head of Bayelsa Field Office, speaking during the training programme.

Anatolia trains Nembe trust leaders for development

June 2, 2026 Markup 0

Anatolia Energy and Services Limited, operator of Petroleum Mining Lease (PML) 104/Okiori Oilfield, has organised a three-day leadership development programme for members of the Nembe Okiori Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) as part of efforts to strengthen the Trust’s capacity to drive sustainable development across its host communities in Nembe Kingdom, Bayelsa State, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

The capacity-building programme covers key areas of HCDT management, including strategic leadership, management skills, teamwork, legal and regulatory frameworks guiding Host Community Development Trust operations, stakeholder management, and communication.

Symposium seeks marine ministry, mining reforms

Symposium seeks marine ministry, mining reforms

June 1, 2026 Markup 0

Media professionals and stakeholders have called for the creation of a Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in Akwa Ibom State, the decentralisation of solid minerals exploitation, and stronger media involvement in driving investment and development narratives around the state’s natural resources.

The resolutions were reached at a one-day symposium organised by the Association of Eket Senatorial District Media Professionals in collaboration with the Solid Minerals Development Fund (SMDF), Abuja, and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), held at Eden Hotels Limited, Eket, on May 20, 2026.

Coast Guard bill backers fault opposition claims

Coast Guard bill backers fault opposition claims

May 25, 2026 Markup 0

The Provisional Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG) has alleged that vested interests are deliberately seeking to retain control of Nigeria’s maritime sector at the expense of transparency and national interest.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Dr Piriye Kiyaramo, quoted the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of PC-NCG, Capt. Noah Ichaba, as saying that arguments against the creation of the Nigerian Coast Guard contradict verifiable operational realities.

EMR urges Eno to create blue economy ministry

Harnessing Akwa Ibom’s blue economy for growth

May 19, 2026 Markup 0

Akwa Ibom State is widely recognised for its abundant crude oil deposits, but beyond petroleum lies another enormous economic asset capable of transforming the state’s future — the blue economy.

Blessed with extensive coastal resources, rivers, creeks, estuaries, and marine ecosystems, the state possesses significant aquatic wealth that remains largely untapped despite its immense economic potential. Stakeholders believe that, if properly developed, the blue economy could become a major driver of industrialisation, job creation, tourism, and sustainable economic growth in the state.

ICLM forum pushes tourism beyond oil

ICLM forum pushes tourism beyond oil

May 18, 2026 Markup 0

The Institute of Corporate Leadership and Mentorship (ICLM) successfully hosted its 2026 Policy Evaluation and Advocacy Forum (PEAF) on Thursday, May 14, 2026, at Vision Hall, ICLM Headquarters, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, under the theme, “Beyond Oil: Redefining the Future of Nigeria’s Tourism Industry.”

The forum critically appraised tourism development in Akwa Ibom State in line with the ARISE Agenda of the current administration

EMR urges Eno to create blue economy ministry

Regulatory vacuum threatens A’Ibom’s maritime economy

May 17, 2026 Markup 0

More than 6,208 maritime service companies operating along Akwa Ibom’s coastline are reportedly functioning without a centralised state regulatory framework, raising fresh concerns over the absence of a dedicated Ministry of Blue Economy.
Stakeholders in the maritime and energy sectors said the lack of such a ministry is undermining effective governance of one of the state’s most strategic economic assets, despite Akwa Ibom’s vast coastal advantage and expanding maritime investments.

ICLM forum pushes tourism beyond oil

EMR Akwa Ibom set for inauguration

May 16, 2026 Markup 0

The Energy and Maritime Reporters of Nigeria (EMR), Akwa Ibom State Branch, had its maiden meeting, pledging to promote transparency, sustainable development, and stronger stakeholder engagement in Nigeria’s energy and maritime sectors.

At the meeting on Saturday morning, 16 May 2026, moderated by the National Chairman, Comrade Martins Giadom, members reaffirmed their commitment to professional, investigative, and solution-driven journalism aimed at deepening public understanding of issues in the oil, gas, energy, and maritime industries.

Niger Delta groups demand cleanup before divestment

May 12, 2026 Markup 0

Environmental and civil society groups have accused oil companies of abandoning decades of pollution in the Niger Delta as multinational firms divest from onshore operations without adequately addressing environmental damage.
Ahead of the fifth Niger Delta Alternatives Convergence (NDAC) scheduled for 14 May in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) said nearly 70 years of oil and gas extraction had left the region with devastated ecosystems, polluted rivers, destroyed farmlands and contaminated drinking water.

Tegbe outlines five-point power reform plan

May 12, 2026 Markup 0

Power Minister-designate Joseph Tegbe told the Senate that fixing Nigeria’s electricity crisis will require coordinated reforms across gas supply, grid stability, distribution, metering and financial discipline, not an unrealistic three-month promise to end grid collapses.
Appearing before the Senate on 6 May following his nomination by President Bola Tinubu as Minister of Power, Tegbe said there was no quick fix to the country’s deep-rooted electricity challenges, but assured Nigerians that visible improvements could begin within the shortest possible time.

Fresh OML 29 spill sparks outrage in Nembe

May 8, 2026 Markup 0

Communities in Okpoama and Ikensi in Brass and Nembe Local Government Areas of Bayelsa State have raised fresh concerns over an underwater crude oil pipeline leak at Oil Mining Lease (OML) 29, warning of worsening environmental pollution and threats to livelihoods.
Residents reportedly discovered the leak near Ikensi community at about 6:45am on Thursday after crude oil was seen discharging into surrounding waterways.

N'Delta stakeholders decry gas flaring, oil spills

N’Delta stakeholders decry gas flaring, oil spills

April 23, 2026 Markup 0

The concerns were raised during a summit in Ntak Inyang, Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, as Nigeria joined the global community to mark the 2026 World Earth Day.

Participants lamented that decades of oil exploration activities by indigenous and international oil companies have led to widespread environmental degradation, severely affecting livelihoods and public health. They linked persistent gas pollution and oil spills to rising cases of cancer, blindness and other airborne diseases in host communities.

Bayelsa power plant not yet ready, Diri admits

Bayelsa power plant not yet ready, Diri admits

April 17, 2026 Markup 0

Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has said the 60-megawatt independent power project inaugurated on 10 April by President Bola Tinubu is not yet complete and still requires “finishing touches.”

The governor’s clarification follows disappointment among residents of Yenagoa and its environs, who had expected immediate improvement in electricity supply after the plant’s inauguration.

Attah: Renewables to complement, not displace oil

Attah: Renewables to complement, not displace oil

April 11, 2026 Markup 0

The Managing Director of Renaissance Africa Energy Limited, Mr Tony Attah (an engineer) has said renewable energy does not threaten the oil and gas sector but will instead complement it by offering consumers more options.

Speaking on Friday at the second Nigerian Content Academy virtual forum on the oil and gas sector, Attah maintained that while renewable energy would remain part of the global energy mix, it could not replace fossil fuels.

Akeddei residents anticipate power relief as solar grid nears completion

Akeddei residents anticipate power relief as solar grid nears completion

April 8, 2026 Markup 0

Residents of Akeddei community in Bayelsa State have expressed excitement as the “All On” solar hybrid mini-grid project nears completion.

The project, funded by a $532,828 grant from impact investing firm All On and implemented by renewable energy company Darway Coast Limited, is expected to improve livelihoods, boost economic activity and enhance essential services in the riverine community.

Lagos launches grassroots engagement for World Bank HOPE-GOV programme

Lagos launches grassroots engagement for World Bank HOPE-GOV programme

April 1, 2026 Markup 0

The Lagos State Government is to launch a strategic grassroots and stakeholder engagement campaign ahead of the full-scale implementation of the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity-Governance (HOPE-GOV) Programme.

The initiative is supported by World Bank and is aimed at strengthening governance systems that drive service delivery in basic education and primary healthcare.

NLC: Revive refineries to shield Nigerians from crisis

NLC: Revive refineries to shield Nigerians from crisis

March 15, 2026 Markup 0

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) expresses the collective distress of millions of Nigerian workers who are enduring the severe consequences of a global capitalist crisis they did not create.

The military escalation involving the United States, Israel and Iran has sent shockwaves through global oil markets. As a result, fuel prices in Nigeria have surged to between N1,170 and N1,300 per litre.

This development is a direct affront to the Nigerian people. While imperial rivalries play out with weapons abroad, the Nigerian working class is being battered by poverty and hunger because the country has failed to ensure that its public refineries function effectively.

76 oil wells: A’Ibom, C’River resolve dispute

February 27, 2026 Markup 0

The lingering controversy surrounding the disputed 76 oil wells between Akwa Ibom and Cross River States has been resolved, following high-level engagements involving key political actors at the national level.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on Wednesday in Abuja, hosted Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State and his Cross River State counterpart, Bassey Otu, in what insiders described as a decisive meeting to put an end to the protracted dispute.

Eno defamation case: Court admits petition as exhibit against Facebook user

Akwa Ibom dismisses reports of 76 oil wells cession

February 16, 2026 Markup 0

The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed media reports suggesting that its 76 oil wells have been ceded to Cross River State.

The government maintained that the draft report by a Federal Government Inter-Agency Committee to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) does not amount to a reallocation of oil wells.

The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Uko Udom (SAN), alongside Paul Usoro (SAN), the Commissioner for Information, Mr Aniekan Umanah, and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Ekerete Udoh, stated during a joint media briefing on Monday in Uyo that the two Supreme Court rulings of June 24, 2005, and July 10, 2012, which decided decisively in favour of Akwa Ibom and affirmed the 76 oil wells to the state, remain valid.

NSE appoints Eradiri, others to 2026 Professional Development Board

NSE appoints Eradiri, others to 2026 Professional Development Board

February 16, 2026 Markup 0

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has appointed a former President of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, to its 2026 Professional Development Board (PDB).

Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youth and later Environment in Bayelsa State, was reportedly considered for the appointment in recognition of his outstanding contributions to engineering development and the professional advancement of NSE.

Lack of investors delaying Ibom Deep Seaport – Eno

Lack of investors delaying Ibom Deep Seaport – Eno

February 10, 2026 Markup 0

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has attributed the apparent stagnation of the Ibom Deep Seaport project to the absence of investors, assuring that the state government has fulfilled all regulatory requirements for the project.

Governor Eno disclosed this during the three-day Niger Delta Blue Economy Summit held on Tuesday at Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Ikot Ekpene. He explained that the delay in commencing the project was largely due to challenges in attracting the required foreign investment.

The governor’s comments come amid growing concerns among residents, who have questioned why the project appears stalled, especially as the completion of the seaport was widely cited as one of the reasons for Governor Eno’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).