By Owei David

The Movement of Intellectuals for National Development (MIND), a prominent Civil Society group in Nigeria, has publicly condemned the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for its recent response to complaints regarding the treatment of Nigerian employees at TotalEnergies.

MIND asserts that PENGASSAN’s attempt to distance itself from the petition, which was submitted to the President of the Nigerian Senate, is disappointing and evasive.

According to Ebi Warekromo, MIND’s Western coordinator, the organization’s petition is founded on verified facts and the experiences of affected workers.

He emphasized that it draws on documented correspondence by the local branch of PENGASSAN, which has previously expressed concerns over unfair labour practices and managerial misconduct at TotalEnergies.

According to him, key issues highlighted include allegations of bullying and intimidation perpetuated by expatriate staff members.

Other concerns raised are serious security breaches and violations of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act, especially the illegal extension of expatriate staff positions beyond their approved tenures.

MIND criticized PENGASSAN’s dismissal of their documentation as “internal correspondence,” calling such a characterization weak and disingenuous.

“Workers’ rights violations and systemic oppression are not internal issues once they begin to harm Nigerian workers,” Warekromo stated.

The organization argues that confidentiality cannot be misused to shield injustices, insisting that internal resolutions must produce tangible results; otherwise, public oversight is warranted.

The group’s concerns extend to the credibility and independence of PENGASSAN in representing its members, questioning its willingness to confront corporate powers on behalf of the workforce. They urged the union to welcome a Senate hearing, seeing it as a chance to clarify its position and renew trust with its workers.

“We are not attacking PENGASSAN; rather, we are responding to the lack of effective representation that has allowed these oppressive practices to go unchecked.”

MIND emphasized. The organization reiterated its stance that where unions hesitate to act, civil society must intervene to ensure justice and fair treatment in labour relations.

MIND advocates for a collaborative approach among all stakeholders, including workers, unions, and regulatory bodies, to promote a healthier working environment within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

It asserts that an inquiry could become a pivotal platform for addressing critical issues surrounding labour rights and corporate accountability.

MIND assured that it remains steadfast in advocating for the rights of Nigerian workers, urging PENGASSAN to take substantial action to uphold its responsibilities as a labour union.

By Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The Niger State Commissioner For Mineral Resource, Mohammed Qasim, has embarked on regulatory oversight in the solid minerals sector with a strategic inspection and compliance enforcement visit to identified mining operations in Katcha Local Government Area.

The field exercise, undertaken alongside Directors and senior technical officers of the Ministry, was aimed at strengthening on the ground supervision, ensuring strict adherence to mining laws, and reinforcing the State Government’s commitment to responsible and sustainable mineral resource development.

The inspection covered major mining sites located in Gada Eregi Village, including Avti Commodities Limited Mining Site and Alhaji Baba Ndaman & Families Mining Site, both of which are currently engaged in mineral extraction activities within the area. The visit forms part of the Ministry’s continuous drive to sanitize the sector, curb illegal operations, and promote best practices in line with national and state regulatory frameworks.

During interactive sessions with management representatives of the two mining companies, the Honourable Commissioner observed and documented serious regulatory infractions, operational lapses, and instances of non compliance with established mining and environmental guidelines. In response to these findings, Hon. Danjuma ordered the immediate suspension of all mining activities at the affected sites in Gada Eregi Village, pending a thorough review and the attainment of full regulatory clearance from the Ministry.

Addressing stakeholders at the sites, the Commissioner reiterated the unwavering position of the Niger State Government that no mining operation will be allowed to function outside the ambit of the law. He stressed the need for strict compliance with licensing requirements, environmental protection standards, safety of host communities, and alignment with the developmental objectives of the State.

According to him, the Ministry will continue to take decisive actions against illegal and non compliant operators, noting that such activities not only undermine government revenue but also pose serious environmental and security risks to local communities.

He further emphasized that the ongoing enforcement drive is designed to reposition the solid minerals sector as a viable contributor to economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development, while safeguarding the interests of host communities and future generations.

The inspection and enforcement action are in line with the vision of His Excellency, Farmer Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago, and the New Niger Agenda, which prioritizes responsible resource governance, environmental sustainability, institutional accountability, and inclusive economic development across the State.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Chief Executive and Accounting Officer of the Provisionary Committee of the proposed Nigerian Coast Guard (PC-NCG), Capt. Noah Ichaba has praised the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Adegboyega Oyetola, over the recent launch and unveiling of the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) Application Portal to be accessed by Nigerian ship-owners

In a statement issued by the Director of Communications & Public Affairs, Dr. Piriye Kiyaramo on Monday in Abuja, Capt. Ichaba, who described the official launch and unveiling as a historic step, urged the federal government to exercise maximum political will to expedite the establishment of the Nigerian Coast Guard, which according to him, remains the longest-hope of Nigeria’s maritime business community.

“Coast Guard is the longest and singularly recognized agency by its organizational and occupational name, because, it will be primarily and wholly responsible for Nigeria’s Maritime Law Enforcement, Security and Safety Operations that have been neglected by past administrations despite its duties, functions and role, being crucial and critical to the Nigerian Maritime Business, particularly that, it will protect the flow of over 80-90% of global trade, prevent costly disruptions from piracy, terrorism, theft and safeguard billions in assets and human lives.

“The creation of Coast Guard is the next impending history that this current administration can not afford to allow it to slip off her performance scorecard. The establishment of Coast Guard is actually a primary and binding contract that the government owes her citizens and the maritime community due to its identity, purpose, and destiny.

“The need to create Coast Guard predates the Nigerian Maritime Business itself, but previous governments disappointed themselves by failing to do the needful. This obvious constraint limited and prevented fast, steady, and sustained progress for the Nigerian Maritime Domain.

“Glad that NIMASA came on-board and she is holding a pattern for Coast Guard as a Regulatory Agency, because, the Cabotage Vessel Financing Fund (CVFF) is directly linked to Coast Guard function which the Agency is performing in the absence of Coast Guard like responsibilities in maritime safety, security and statutory enforcement.

“The appreciative relationship between the CVFF and the Coast Guard function that NIMASA is saddled with is reflected in areas such as: Fund Administration and Regulatory Oversight (Coast Guard Function): Acting
regulatory and Coast Guard capacity, NIMASA administers the CVFF in accordance with the 2006 CVFF Guidelines under Section 44 of the Coastal and Inland Shipping (Cabotage) Act, 2003.

“This aims to build indigenous ship acquisition capacity and provide financial support to local operators for acquiring, constructing, and repairing vessels and including vetting applicants, approving eligible ship-owners, and ensuring that funds are used strictly for acquiring vessels intended for Cabotage trade, thereby strengthening national maritime capacity.

“NIMASA, in its Coast Guard-related enforcement role, collects the statutory 2% surcharge on contract sums performed by vessels engaged in coastal and inland shipping. This collection is enforced as part of its broader mandate to regulate and control maritime commercial activities within Nigerian waters.

“Vessels financed under the CVFF must comply with Cabotage requirements and NIMASA regulations, including Nigerian ownership, registration, manning, and technical specifications. As part of its Coast Guard role, NIMASA ensures that these vessels meet national safety, security, and seaworthiness standards before being allowed to operate.

“In its Coast Guard capacity, NIMASA conducts maritime surveillance, port state control and safety inspections to ensure that CVFF-funded vessels comply with international and national maritime safety and security conventions both before and after fund disbursement.

“Through its Cabotage Services and Maritime Safety departments, NIMASA enforces compliance with the Cabotage Act and other maritime laws, ensuring that only eligible, compliant, and properly secured vessels particularly those benefiting from the CVFF-operate within Nigerian coastal and inland waters.

“In essence, NIMASA, acting as Nigeria’s de facto Coast Guard and maritime regulatory authority, utilizes the CVFF not only as a financing mechanism but also as a policy and enforcement tool to strengthen indigenous shipping capacity, safeguard maritime security, and ensure strict compliance with national safety, security, and Cabotage regulations.

“On this commendable note, PC-NCG is inclined to crave the benevolence of relevant authorities to be deliberately committed to strategic steps for the immediate
establishment of Coast Guard, so as to solidify all efforts made and to concretely sustain envisaged outcome of repositioning of Nigeria’s maritime sector as a central pillar of national development, achieving the objective of diversifying national economy, unlocking the vast potential of Nigeria’s maritime domain, opening of opportunities for increased coastal resources and to draw huge benefits from inland waterways activities.

“Birthing the proposed Agency be considered an obligation to the Creator, the maritime environment, the lives involved, the vibrant entrepreneurial base, the global maritime commerce and the various platforms, equipment, installations, employments, tourism and Nigeria’s strategic geographic location and many more.

“The passionate appeal here is that, it is verily hoped that all levels of decision-making bodies choose to account their stewardship to the Ultimate Authority and Supreme Creator by setting aside repetitive, ridiculous and encumbering deductions, which are energy drainers, goal terminators, obstinate impediments and inducers of sickening breath,” Captain Ichaba maintained.