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To boost the integration of science courses among students at the basic school level, the Federal Government has taken steps to print one million science textbooks.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Heineken Lokpobiri disclosed the plan on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting.
He explained that the project would be executed through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, PTDF.
According to Lokpobiri, there is a discovery that students are lagging in science courses, a development that is creating gaps in technology advancement.
The minister said: “Today, we brought a memo on behalf of the PTDF, which is the Petroleum Technology Development Fund, which had initiated a programme called the PTDF Stem Fund.
“STEM is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Some time ago, the PTDF, which is the creation of law with the mandate to build the capacity of Nigerians in oil and gas industry, came up with a programme called PTDF, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Programme.
“They sought to obtain presidential approval. Today, we brought a memo to Council to be able to print one million science textbooks. The science courses that were identified in which Nigerians have deficiencies are physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and computer science.
“It is believed that for us to match up with the rest of the world, we needed to build capacity at the secondary school level. This programme is meant to print one million science textbooks that will be distributed to all the local government, 774 local government areas in the country, and to support the 104 unity schools that we have in the country, and then 122 special schools that we have in the country.
“This memo was brought before Council. It was approved by Council. Essentially, what is important is that this is a support and dual capacity at the secondary school level to match up with the rest of the world in terms of technological and engineering development. We need to lay a very solid foundation.”
The All Progressives Congress, APC, has suspended the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, along with its 2019 Bayelsa governorship candidate, David Lyon, due to alleged anti-party activities.
Alongside Lokpobiri and Lyon, several prominent figures were also suspended, including Commissioner for Power Kharim Kumoko, Commissioner for Lands and Survey Peres Biewari, former APC state chairman Jothan Amos, NEC ex-officio member Godbless Diriwari, and Southern Ijaw APC Youth Leader Sabi Morgan.
These suspensions came after a disciplinary review by the party’s leadership in Bayelsa State.
During the announcement in Yenagoa, Mitin Eniekenemi Senator, the APC Chairman for Ekeremor Local Government Area, accused Lokpobiri of leading factions and collaborating with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following his unsuccessful bid for the APC governorship ticket in 2019.
He claimed that Lokpobiri and his supporters actively backed Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the PDP in the 2023 election, receiving appointments and contracts as rewards.
“In the 2023 gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, he led a group of disgruntled party members to openly support and work for Gov. Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party and was compensated by the PDP-led government of Bayelsa State”, he said.
He continued, “His personal aide, Kharim Kumoko, was nominated by the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri and appointed as the current Commissioner for Power in Bayelsa State.
“It is on record that since the day he was appointed as minister, he has been fighting the party in Bayelsa State and has refused to make peace despite all entreaties.”
Similarly, the APC Southern Ijaw LGA leadership, led by Ebikazi Gbefa, announced the suspension of David Lyon and seven others for undermining APC’s National Assembly candidates and conspiring with the PDP in the 2023 governorship race.
Gbefa said “The same set of stakeholders and their supporters openly worked against our National Assembly candidates” pointing out that they also worked for Diri and the PDP in the 2023 governorship election in Bayelsa State.
“Some of them were compensated with contracts and appointments. For example, Perepuighe Biewari who was Chief David Lyon’s Personal Assistant, was nominated by Chief David Lyon and appointed as the current Commissioner for Lands and Survey in the Gov. Douye Diri administration in Bayelsa State.”
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, convened a crucial meeting with key stakeholders, including Aliko Dangote and NMDPRA leadership, to address ongoing disputes affecting the Dangote Refinery.
The closed-door meeting, held in Abuja yesterday, aimed at fostering collaboration and resolving issues hindering the refinery’s operations, which many hoped would alleviate Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.
Present at the meeting were: president of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed; chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe; and group chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Mele Kyari, a statement signed by the minister’s special adviser, Media and Communication, Nneamaka Okafor.
The meeting focused on finding a sustainable and lasting solution to the current impasse affecting the Dangote Refinery, with all parties demonstrating a commitment to collaborative and proactive problem-solving.
The minister emphasised the importance of cooperation and synergy among all stakeholders to ensure the success and optimal performance of the Oil and Gas sector, which is pivotal for Nigeria’s economic growth and energy security.
This dialogue comes amid rising tensions and calls for investigations into the refinery’s operational challenges and allegations of sabotage from regulatory authorities.
This meeting marks a significant step towards resolving the challenges and underscores the minister’s dedication to fostering a conducive environment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The stakeholders expressed their gratitude to the minister for his exemplary leadership and timely intervention in facilitating this crucial dialogue.
The dispute between Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA centres around allegations of substandard fuel production by Dangote Refinery.
NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed claimed that Dangote’s diesel has a higher sulphur content (650-1,200 ppm) compared to imported diesel, making it inferior. However, Dangote refuted these claims, stating that their lab analysis showed the diesel has only 87.6 ppm sulphur.
Dangote also said the NMDPRA approved their refinery lab in March 2024. The NMDPRA has embedded 15 engineers in the refinery to monitor operations.
The House of Representatives has called on both parties to resolve their differences amicably to avoid discouraging investors. The NMDPRA is awaiting a fresh report from Dangote to confirm the sulphur levels.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has emphasised Nigeria’s sovereign rights over the contentious OML 245 oil block.
Lokpobiri’s remarks followed a letter by the family of late former Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, demanding that Lokpobiri should retract his claims of resolving the OML 245 dispute, stating that the matter is still before the courts.
The minister however responded, stating that “every oil block belongs to the federal government of Nigeria” and government will “do everything that is legal to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the availability of these oil blocks in this country.”
Lokpobiri, who stated this at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, explained that he would not grant any oil licence to his family members even if he was in the position of authority.
“If I were a member of the Abacha family, I wouldn’t even raise my head. As Heineken Lokpobiri, if I have the authority, I can’t give any Lokpobiri oil licence. That in itself is criminal,” he said.
He emphasised that Nigeria has laws, just like any other country, and that the federal government will resolve the long-standing OML 245 dispute in the nation’s “overriding national strategic interest.”
Lokpobiri further restated that “the federal government will do everything that is legal to ensure that Nigerians benefit from the availability of these oil blocks in this country.”
He added that the long-standing issues surrounding OML 245 will be resolved, noting that the matter has lingered for over 30 years.
“I can assure you that we are resolving all the issues about OML 245. And we’ll resolve them in our overriding national strategic interest. This matter has lingered on for the past 30 years,” Lokpobiri said.
The minister’s position underscores the federal government’s determination to protect the country’s oil assets and ensure they are utilised for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“I don’t want to join issues with the Abacha family, you know, for OML 245. But as far as I know, every oil block belongs to the federal government of Nigeria. We’ll give licences to different people to operate.
“And so at will, the federal government can invoke whatever relevant laws, and do whatever that the law allows it to do.
“I have no issues to join with anybody tweeting that they are not in support or whatever,” Lokpobiri said.
Recall that Mohammed, the son of a former head of state, Gen Sani Abacha had said issues regarding OPL 245 are yet to be resolved.
The minister had in February said President Bola Tinubu directed that all disputes surrounding OPL 245 deal should be amicably resolved.
However, while speaking at the annual NOG Energy Week in Abuja on July 3, the minister said all issues had been settled.
In response to the statement, in a letter dated July 4 and addressed to Lokpobiri, Mohammed Abacha, through his lawyer, Reuben Atabo, said contrary to the minister’s claim, no resolution has been reached.
The younger Abacha is laying claim to the ownership of Malabu Oil & Gas Ltd, the company originally awarded the oil prospecting licence (OPL) in 1998 by his father, late Sani Abacha.
In 2011, Shell and Eni paid $1.1 billion to acquire OPL 245 after Malabu relinquished its entire interest in the oil block.
This followed a settlement brokered by the Nigerian government to end a 10-year legal dispute on the acreage, which is considered to be one of the richest in Africa.
The oil companies also paid a signature bonus of $210 million to the Nigerian government.
However, activists launched an international campaign, alleging that the OPL 245 deal was fraudulent and that the proceeds were used to bribe government officials.
Abacha also claims that Malabu was not represented in the 2011 resolution agreements between the federal government, Shell Nigeria Ultra-Deep and Nigerian Agip Exploration.