Nigeria must key into global financial inclusion and the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) must lead in the awareness that may help Nigeria achieve this.
Delegates at the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) Conference in Lokoja, Kogi State
The charge was handed down to GOCOP by Yusuf Mamman, Nigeria’s former ambassador to Spain, chairman of the 2024 Annual General Conference of GOCOP that held from October 2 to 3, at Reverton Hotel in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
This is as Maureen Chigbo, GOCOP President, has charged new members to join in the task of ridding the online media space of fake news.
The 8th annual conference has the theme, “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy.” The keynote speaker was Liyel Imoke, former governor of Cross River State, while Gov Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State was chief host.
In his opening remarks, the former ambassador said Nigeria cards rarely get recognised abroad, regretting that this has led to many hardships.
Mamman said the global financial system has gone cashless and Nigeria must be integrated, saying failure to get integrated could lead to what he called cyber balkanisation.
He admitted that Nigerian youths spend huge sums on data but wondered if this huge spending ever goes to seeking knowledge. “There is knowledge out there on the internet where people can learn most things to improve themselves, but we must be sure that is where the huge data being poured into the internet by Nigerian youths is going to.
“There is what I regard as the biggest university in the world; ‘University of Youtube’. This has caused huge transition in every aspect of life.”
He noted that many technologies including the Post and Telecommunication (P&T) system and photography have since transited to new techs.
The former ambassador noted that IT has caused quantum leaps which he said has also brought threats in the form of misinformation. His worry thus is how Nigeria can safeguard morality and reduce sensationalism.
To GOCOP, the former Ambassador pointed to availability of multiple platforms. He urged GOCOP to find a way to embrace them to be relevant in the industry. He said GOCOP must find how to transit from online journalism to a kind of media convergence system where Youtube, he said, is king.
He urged Nigerians not to wish online space away, saying: “If you don’t want to get wet, don’t get into the water.”
He said the digital media world is now about “like, comment, and share”.
He commended the GOCOP members for sustaining the journey for eight years now and recalled the early days of GOCOP. He said the new media is opening new frontiers and this is opening new opportunities and challenges. He said IT is an evolutionary process but as deep and wide as an ocean.
In her welcome remarks, the GOCOP President who commended the host government, past presidents of the Guild, said the fight against fake news has persuaded GOCOP to enthrone strict membership screening as well as the ombudsman system. GOCOP, she added, has also joined national media industry ombudsman system to escalate cases that may be beyond the GOCOP.
Some GOCOP partners delivered goodwill messages. The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) was represented by the Corporate Communications Division through Teleola Oyeleke, who commended GOCOP for sustaining the Guild, saying it was evidence of seriousness of the members.
He said: “We regard you as one of NCDMB’s critical stakeholders. That is why the board has been partnering this organisation. We are glad to partner you people both as a group and as individual publishers.”
He called on GOCOP to continue to support local content development, saying Nigeria is leading the drive in Africa.
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) was represented by Dr Omoniyi Ibietan, Head of Media Relations, who said the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Commission, Dr Aminu Maida, held GOCOP in high esteem.
He said the digital space and role of online publishing were critical and now a reality. “You are important, not just for popularising the NCC but for opening the democratic space. We are improving investment and productivity of the nation. That is why constructive ideas are always welcome to the NCC.”
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai, has sought support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu to deliver the reforms in the power sector as well as his other reform programmes for the benefit of Nigerians.
Former Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Tukur Buratai
In a message delivered at the 8th Annual Conference of Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, Buratai said that providing effective solutions to the myriads of problems in the power sector would encourage investors to Nigeria.
Buratai, who was represented by Dr Mohammed Sam Abubakar, his Special Adviser on Research and Development, said he was optimistic that the President would get his new cabinet to transform the power sector.
Commenting on the theme of the conference titled “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit and Transitioning to Digital Economy”, he said it was relevant to Nigeria as it confronts insecurity that undermines social security.
He, therefore, suggested commitment to innovations essential to drive the collective course of the Nigerian nation. “We must use technology as catalysts to generate meaningful progress,’’ he said, adding, ‘Nigerians should support President Tinubu to deliver’’.
He said unless the present administration tackles the problem of miscreants destroying power holding infrastructures in certain parts of the country, such unwholesome practices could spread to the other parts of the country.
Meanwhile, Prof Rotimi Ajayi of the Department of Political Science, Federal University Lokoja, one of the panelists at the conference, said insecurity, power deficit and transitioning to digital economy are all related in terms of causative factors as well as the solutions to them.
But he said one thing that has been missing in the analysis of Nigeria’s problems is the question of leadership. While explaining that the governance process is faulty, he noted that this is also not about corruption alone but a combination of many factors.
“When I look at the configuration of the Nigerian population, the least thing that bothers them is digital education, they just want to eat and have access to their farms, so tackling the issue of insecurity is key and this rests solely on leadership,’’ he said.
“Nigeria no longer has followers; the citizens have become slaves. Unfortunately, people think access to government is an opportunity to bring home government resources,’’ he said.
He therefore urged online publishers to interrogate the governing process and ensure that the society does not only punish corruption but kicks against anything that glorifies it.
“This will lay the foundation for insecurity not to thrive,’’ he explained.
A former minister of power, who later served as governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in Lokoja, Kogi State, stated that alleged “expenditure” of a phantom $16 billion on the power sector by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration never happened.
Liyel Imoke
Imoke, who was also Chairman of the Power Sector Technical Board under the Obasanjo administration, stated this as a matter of fact in his keynote at the 8th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), themed: “Nigeria: Tackling insecurity, power deficit, and transitioning to digital economy.”
Admitting that the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), as it then was, was a monopoly, he said that electricity distribution was also a monopoly even as the execution of so many programmes faced various challenges.
He referred to the undue delay in implementation of the power sector reforms, which resulted from the probe of the claim of a phantom expenditure of $16 billion on the sector under the administration.
According to him: “The power sector probe took about two years. The delay led to huge cost overruns; doubling costs of various contracts awarded during my tenure. Several of these projects were delayed in completion. As we speak, we still have several IPP projects that are ongoing.”
He said that, at the end of the probe, they found out that there was no missing $16 billion but lamented that the alleged expenditure of the phantom $1 6 billion had been used as a political tool to criticise “those of us in government.”
Imoke fingered inadequate information as the trigger for the allegation, pointing out that, for instance, on his watch as Minister of Power, the actual spending was between $2 billion and $3 billion, much of which went to the original electric manufacturer.
The former power minister said that insecurity, power deficit, and the slowness in Nigeria’s transition to a full digital economy were challenges impeding national growth and development.
According to him: “These are challenges that impede our growth as a nation. They make us less globally competitive. If you look at electricity insecurity and digital economy and if we tackle these, we will be on our way to economic growth.”
He said to unlock Nigeria’s potential, the administration must tackle insecurity, noting that there had been insurgency and the emergence of Boko Haram, which split into ISWAP.
“We have experienced banditry, kidnapping, armed killings, mass kidnapping, and illegal mining. These days, we can’t go to a gathering of this magnitude without seeing someone who had been kidnapped before. This is one of our new realities,” he stated.
He implicated ethnic tension as a contributory cause of communal violence, adding that grievances in the Niger Delta caused a lot of insecurity in the region in the 2000s.
Imoke spoke about organised private crimes in the Gulf of Guinea, which created insecurity in the area and the separatist marginalisation in the southeast region, leading to agitation.
He stated that, for instance, between 2009 and 2020, insurgency by Boko Haram alone resulted in over 40,000 deaths.
Imoke listed poverty, high unemployment rate, which was in 1999 put at six per cent, in 2022 put at 22 per cent but which as of today is approaching 40 per cent, weak governance and corruption as well as climate change, as some of the factors that contributed or fuelled insecurity in the country.
He also listed proliferation of small arms and violent crimes across the country as a sore thumb, lamenting that there were more arms with some non-state actors put in their hands by desperate politicians and which at the end of elections, were not retrieved from them and on which they now depended to survive.
Saying that hope was not lost, Imoke declared that successive administrations had succeeded in degrading Boko Haram and recovering territories in the Northeast hitherto seized by the group.
According to him, “The military was able to degrade the group and reclaim the areas in the Northeast around Maiduguri.”
He listed other successes as the decrease in Boko Haram insurgency and deaths by 23 per cent according to the global terrorism index, adding that “there is also reduction of militancy in the Niger Delta as there is no more MEND in the region.”
He continued: “Oil production has significantly rebounded until recently because during the era of MEND, oil production dropped below 1.5 m barrels per day.
“There is anti-piracy measure launched through NIMASA and international collaborators to reduce the piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. Piracy decreased by 58 per cent between 2020 and 2021 in the Gulf of Guinea.
“In the Southeast, the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu is an achievement in the region…Nigerian government has increased its surveillance measures; its counter insurgency operation has been used in combating terrorism. We now have drone technology and others to attack security issues across the board. The persistent Boko Haram issue has been watered down, but there is a humanitarian issue. About 2.7m people have been affected. The UN said that 350,000 people have died as a result of insurgency.”
He, however, noted that Herder-farmers’ conflict was still ongoing, pointing out that over 2,600 people were reportedly killed in 2021 alone.
The former Cross River State governor said that continued separatist agitation had led to the death of police officers as well as IPoB members, adding that there had been extra judicial killings and arbitrary arrests, among others.
He said a multifaceted approach was required to effectively tackle security issues in Nigeria, recommending among others community policing, which should be legally regulated, deployment of vigilance groups in securing the communities, and giving consideration to decentralisation of security rather than centralisation that has not worked.
He also established a nexus between security and economy, arguing that “until we can address the state of our economy, we will not be able to address security issues effectively.”
He stated that education, skill acquisition, entrepreneurship training, and access to SMES funding were key, adding that a strong and comprehensive rural development programme was necessary to address banditry and farmer-herder conflicts.
“I am a strong believer in peace and mediation. If the government can establish dialogue platforms between farmers and herders, it would reduce competition over land,” he said.
He also said that the procurement process must be transparent, and resources should be deployed in the welfare and training of security personnel, adding that the nation’s judicial system must be able to tackle impunity.
While dwelling on power deficit, Imoke said that there was a lack of continuation of policies and programmes, pointing out that “your predecessor is your most valuable material. We always assume that our predecessor did not know anything, and there is a tendency to want to start afresh. It is important for me to always go back to my predecessor to ask for guidance.”
Admitting that electricity problem in Nigeria is the most humongous problem ever, Imoke said that with over 200 million Nigerians, the country’s installed capacity was like 13,000 megawatts. He said: “It sounds like good news, but we only manage to distribute an average of 4,000 megawatts whereas there are potential distributable 20,000 megawatts.”
He reeled out some sobering comparative statistics about per capita electricity consumption by Nigeria and some countries on the African continent based on recent data.
According to the data referred to by Imoke, “Nigeria per capita electricity consumption is between 150 and 200 kilowatts hours per year (kilowatts hour is the amount of electricity delivered to each household in the country in a year); Ghana is between 800 and 1000 kilowatts hour per year; South Africa is between 4000 and 5000 kilowatts hours per year while Ivory coast is between 500 and 600 kilowatts hour per year.”
Imoke lamented the Nigerian situation, adding that “these tell you the strengths of industrial bases of these countries.”
He, however, noted that despite numerous reforms in Nigeria, the power sector had continued to struggle.
Imoke asked if there was a solution in the face of growing demand? He resolved the question somewhat in the negative, pointing out that with the exponential growth in Nigerian’s population, there was a concomitant rising demand on the electricity supply.
On the transitioning to digital economy, Imoke said the growth in e-commerce platforms like Jumia and others was allowing for competition and efficiency.
According to him: “We are in the fourth industrial revolution, and it is a digital revolution. We missed out on the first, second, and third industrial revolutions. It is for us now as a nation, with a deliberateness of government policy, not to lose out on the fourth industrial revolution.
“All the three sectors-security, power and digital economy – are critical to our growth. The three are intertwined challenges that Nigerian must address to unlock her potential.
“With the collective effort of all, Nigerian can truly emerge as a global leader. Let us seize this moment to build a secure, electrified, and digitalized Nigerian that offers prosperity, growth, and development to all.”
As Nigeria continues to grapple with several security challenges that directly impact on its economy and lives of citizens, government at all levels have been called to provide profound security for students especially the females.
Ms Debrah Ogazuma
Edutainment Communicator and Veteran Broadcaster, Ms Debrah Ogazuma, made the call on Thursday, October 3, 2024, in Lokoja, Kogi State, at the 8th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) with the theme: “Nigeria: Tackling Insecurity, Power Deficit, and Transitioning to Digital Economy.”
According to her it has become obvious that, since the capture of Chibok girls, the girl child education has been seriously threatened.
Ogazuma, who regretted the impact of the abduction of the Chibok girls and more similar cases to the girl child, lamented that the most attacks on the educational institutions were targeted at the females.
She called on the authorities to work towards putting an end to the menance, even as she urged them to put in place measures for healing when such girls regain freedom from their adoptors.
To the media, she urged not to remain silent rather work assiduously towards changing the narrative through their reportage.
Speaking on digital economy, Ogazuma, who insisted that Nigeria must follow the trend of digitalisation for economic growth, regretted that power deficiency has been a major issue.
She noted that the future is driven with innovation and full of opportunities for expanding digitally, adding that Nigeria must engage the younger generations in order not to be left out.
“Is Nigeria going to allow insecurity, power deficiency to constitute huge block for the emerging land scape of its economy?” she queried.
Proffering solution, Ogazuma stated that traditional method of involving traditional rulers reporting and fishing out possible dangerous elements seeking entrance into their community must be reactivated.
Communities, she said, should do more to ensure that they are not totally helpless.
On power, she called for replication of setting up of small power plants by communities which she said has been done in some communities within states in the country.
The Petroleum & Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on stakeholders in the industry to work together to strengthen the regulatory frameworks and enforcement to tackle all forms of challenges confronting the oil and gas industry.
PENGASSAN officials at the event
This is contained in a communique issued at end of the third edition of PENGASSAN Energy And Labour Summit (PEALS 2024).
Comrade Festus Osifo, PENGASSAN President, who signed the communique, stated:
“There is need for concerted drive of all stakeholders through the development of innovative solutions, sharing of information and supporting the enforcement of laws designed to protect our resources.”
The communique reads in part: “The Summit highlighted areas of optimisation in the industry cutting across exploration, drilling, production, refining, transportation and distribution. To achieve greater benefits for the Nation’s hydrocarbon resources and harness its potential, the Summit examined this broad topic as it affects energy security, affordability and accessibility. The Summit examined Nigeria’s Energy Mix amidst clamour for sustainable and greener energy such as solar, wind, biomass, electricity/batteries, and hydrogen. The Summit looked deeply into the impact of Artificial Intelligence in the future of the oil and gas industry and how to leverage AI advancements that could lead to significant economic benefits, increase investor confidence, enhance operational efficiency, increase productivity and safeguard the country’s resources and revenue.
“Therefore, to be prepared for this transformation, there must be upskilling and reskilling of the workforce, through innovative research, focused on sustainability and strengthening of industry collaboration that will promote a culture of continuous learning.”
Speaking further, Osifo stated: “Energy security is cardinal for the survival of any nation and Nigeria is not an exception; hence the citizens of Nigeria constantly demand energy affordability, accessibility and availability. Despite various macroeconomic challenges bedevilling Nigeria’s capacity to tap its enormous energy resources, PEALS 2024 examined the few strides that have been made and proffered some solutions to the identified challenges.”
According to him, “the Federal Government needs to re-engineer its security architecture, beef up security and take over the responsibility of securing oil and gas installations from investors by providing naval security vessels to man oil and gas infrastructures. This will greatly reduce the high cost of production.
“Those caught for crude oil theft should be prosecuted by a court of competent jurisdiction and punished severely to serve as a deterrent(s) to others. The Government must quickly see to the implementation of the provision for the host community in the Petroleum Industry Act. This will create a sense of ownership for the host communities thereby triggering the need to protect the pipelines or at worst, act as whistleblowers.”
With the 4th edition of the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit scheduled for the 20th to the 22nd of August 2025, the Comrade Festus Osifo led executive however promised that the summit would be another opening of new frontiers in awareness, policy-shaping, education, problem-solving and collaboration.
“We will go all out to play our roles as key players in the industry. We expect that all stakeholders will roll up their sleeves and put into quick use the practical recommendations rolled out above as we all collaborate to ensure sustainability in our industry- indeed the soul of Nigeria’s economy,” he concluded.
The NNPC Ltd/ Seplat Energy Joint Venture (JV) partnership has conducted a medical outreach, providing free eye health services to individuals with visual impairments in Ohaji/Egbema community of Imo State.
Host community members await further medical attention during the NNPC Ltd/Seplat Joint (JV) “Eye Can See” medical outreach held in Ohaji/Egbema Community of Imo State, recently
Through its “Eye Can See” programme, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the JV dispensed more than 10,000 reading glasses and successfully performed 639 eye surgeries, including cataract removals, for host community members who otherwise had limited access to such vital medical services.
The “Eye Can See” programme, which commenced in 2017, has been a beacon of hope in the eastern asset of the NNPC upstream investments, positively impacting over 20,000 people to date.
In his remarks during the event, Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC’s Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), Bala Wunti, represented by Dr. Obinna Otuu, Manager, JV Asset B emphasized the significance of the initiative to NNPC Ltd’s corporate mission of enriching the lives of Nigerians.
Elaborating further on the broader vision behind the programme, Wunti stated that the NNPC Ltd takes pride in being more than just an energy provider. “We are a partner in progress, dedicated to making sustainable contributions to the communities that support us,” he added.
According to him, the “Eye Can See” initiative reflects “our belief that corporate structures can and should play a vital role in societal development.”
He noted that the programme goes beyond immediate medical care by educating individuals on lifestyle choices to prevent conditions like hypertension and diabetes, which can lead to permanent vision loss.
Expressing his appreciation for the support of the local government, beneficiaries, and NNPC Ltd’s partners, Wunti observed that together with Seplat, the National Oil Company is paving the way for a brighter future where access to essential health services is possible for all.
“This project is not just about restoring vision; it is about giving people hope and the opportunity to lead fulfilling lives. This year’s outreach in Ohaji/Egbema is a testament to the ongoing commitment of NNPC and Seplat to improve the quality of life in their host communities,” he affirmed.
The “Eye Can See” initiative has had a profound impact on the communities it serves. By providing free eye screenings, surgeries, reading glasses, and health education, the programme has transformed lives and restored hope to many who had been suffering from visual impairments.
NNPC/Seplat JV remains dedicated to contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s development through initiatives like the “Eye Can See” programme. The partnership is committed to expanding the reach of its CSR programmes, ensuring that even more people across Nigeria can benefit from the life-changing services.
One year after its adoption in Bonn, the Global Framework on Chemicals on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, launched its first call for projects targeting the safe and sustainable management of chemicals and waste. The selected projects are expected to work on green and sustainable solutions and to channel actions to prevent and minimise harm from chemicals and waste in some of the world’s most disadvantaged countries.
Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Industry and Economy Division
“Pollution and waste constitute a daily crisis for people’s health, undermine economic activity, and leave nature permanently scarred,” said Sheila Aggarwal-Khan, Director of the UNEP Industry and Economy Division. “Today the historic Framework is turning from text into practice and providing concrete benefits for those at the frontlines of this crisis.”
At the Fifth International Conference on Chemicals Management, held in September 2023 in Bonn, delegates from around the world representing governments, private sector, civil society, academia and youth adopted the Framework. During the conference, this dedicated trust fund was set up to support low-and middle-income countries, including small island developing states, in addressing chemicals, including products and waste in line with international standards.
Selected projects will receive $300,000 to $800,000 for up to three years to support transformative change to prevent and minimise harm from chemicals and waste and to protect the environment and human health, including vulnerable groups and workers. Such projects will need to have co-financing and in-kind contributions of at least 25 per cent.
According to UNEP, governments can apply for funding as well as civil society networks, subject to an agreement with the respective government.
The fund is aiming for medium-scale projects that strengthen national and regional capacities on chemicals and waste management, support the national policies and regulations, advance solutions along the value chain, and work with ministries, regional centres, health networks, major industry sectors, investment and development banks, small businesses, as well as civil society.
Priority, it was gathered, will be given to projects that ensure their long-term sustainability beyond the Fund’s three-year funding.
The Framework outlines a set of 28 targets to address chemicals, including the prevention of illegal trade and trafficking of chemicals and waste, the implementation of national legal frameworks, the alignment of financial flows, the phase out of highly hazardous pesticides in agriculture by 2035, the transition to safer and more sustainable chemical alternatives and greater transparency and access to information regarding chemicals and their associated risks.
The fund – which complements existing financial mechanisms, including those designed to tackle the two other planetary threats of climate change and biodiversity loss – has received initial support of around $27 million, primarily from Germany, as well as the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the International Council of Chemical Associations.
Applicants will be able to learn more in a series of webinars on the Fund, its priorities, and on how to apply.
A new report from the UN Climate Change secretariat reveals that 85 percent of Parties referenced gender in their latest reports and communications submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), including in their national climate plans, known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), their National Adaptation Plans (NAPs), and their Long-Term Low Emission Strategies (LT-LEDS).
Women in Tanzania planting trees
Since the adoption of the first UNFCCC Lima Work Programme on gender (LWPG) in 2014, and of the enhanced LWPG in 2019, gender integration in all reports and communications, including NDCs, has been increasing in quantity and quality.
“Combining bold climate action with progress in gender equality is one of the most effective strategies to break away from business-as-usual scenarios and drive transformative change,” said Simon Stiell, the Executive Secretary of UN Climate Change.
However, further efforts are required to strengthen gender integration in Parties’ climate action and adaptation plans. The new report notes that current gender references primarily focus on women, especially in the context of vulnerability, with very few references considering men who may be in vulnerable situations, nor a comprehensive view of gender that considers how different factors like race, class, or ability intersect with gender in exacerbating vulnerability.
Furthermore, while developing countries and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) have been consistently integrating gender into their regular reporting under the UNFCCC, developed countries often provide limited or no references to gender, particularly in National Communications and LT-LEDS.
The report indicates that gender-responsive approaches are viewed by many as a way to boost the ambition and effectiveness of climate action. Most Parties reaffirmed their commitment to advancing gender equality as a critical component of this work.
This was reflected in the outcomes of the first Global Stocktake agreed at COP28, which encouraged Parties to implement climate policy and action that is gender-responsive. The next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs 3.0), which Parties are currently preparing and submitting in 2025, will serve as a critical opportunity to strengthen interconnected action to achieve gender equality and effective climate outcomes.
COP29: deciding the future of the work on gender and climate change
The review of the enhanced Lima work programme on gender and its gender action plan (GAP) is an opportunity for Parties to shape how the outcomes of the Global Stocktake, mentioned above, are implemented. The review was initiated at the 2024 UN June Meetings and are expected to conclude during COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan.
“Parties have a significant opportunity to shape a more just and ambitious future as they develop the next work programme and action plan,” said Nabeel Munir, Chair of the UN Climate Change Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).
At the UN June Meetings (SB60), Parties and observers discussed progress, challenges, gaps, and priorities in implementing the enhanced Lima Work Programme on Gender and its gender action plan.
A 2.5-day workshop provided a dynamic platform for regional and global discussions on enhancing the implementation of gender-responsive climate policies and actions. Discussions also explored linkages with processes both within and outside the UNFCCC, key stakeholders, and future priorities for gender and climate change work.
Managing Director of TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc, Dr Samba Seye, on Friday, October 4, 2024, said that the company regularly trained its staff to ensure they delivered optimal performance to customers.
TotalEnergies workers
Seye disclosed this while celebrating Africa Customer Week Forum tagged “Happy Hour Session” at the TotalEnergies Service Station on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
He noted that the session would take place over a week at all the 514 TotalEnergies stations across Nigeria.
“We focus on training our team to meet service expectations and deliver quality, which is a key component of our appraisal process.
“We’ve received feedback that our services and products are among the best in terms of quality. So, Nigerians can look forward to exciting developments ahead,” he said.
The TotalEnergies boss highlighted that TotalEnergies had been operating in Nigeria for approximately 67 years and annually hosts Africa Customer Week to express appreciation to its esteemed customers.
“During this celebration, we offer free services like cleaning car windscreens, checking engines and providing professional advice.
“These services are available at our fuel stations, and for some of our larger customers, we even go to their offices.” he added.
Seye emphasised that the initiative is fundamentally about appreciating customers for their loyalty and contribution to the company’s growth and success.
“We hold this annual event to convey our gratitude, as there is significant value in simply saying thank you,” he said.
Seye also expressed optimism regarding the recent fuel scarcity in the country.
“We are hopeful that with the commissioning of the Dangote refinery and the upcoming Port Harcourt Refinery, there will be sufficient fuel supply across our stations.
“While changes may not be immediate, we anticipate positive developments in the near future,” Seye added.
A cross-section of Nigerian workers on Friday, October 4, 2024, expressed growing frustration over the increasing cost of transportation, attributing it to the persistent rise in fuel prices.
Nigerians
In separate interviews, the workers decried the impact of high transportation costs on their finances and overall well-being.
Mr Anosike Godson, a dentist, noted that his regular route to work now costs N500 up from N200 a year ago.
“The difference is staggering, and it has drastically affected my daily expenses.”
Godson added that salaries have remained stagnant in spite of the steep increase in transportation costs.
“I haven’t had any salary increment, and it’s tough.”
Mr Ubokabasi Ekam, an engineer, called for fuel price control to reduce transportation fares.
“Transportation prices have tripled, making it unmanageable.”
Mr Ubong Udoekpo, a lawyer, said transportation now consumes more than half his salary. “Most workers consider resigning due to unsustainable salaries.”
Ms Joy Light, a civil servant, stated that transportation expenses equal her entire salary.
“I’ve had to reduce my workdays. How can one survive if all the money earned goes to transport?”
The workers emphasised that the fuel hike has triggered a ripple effect across the economy, driving up prices of essential goods and services.
