By Ichaburu Ochefa

Image credit: The Hoot

“Our refinery not 90% completed – BUA

The management of BUA Refinery and Petrochemicals has denied reports its refinery is 90 percent completed.” (Daily Trust)

“CBN Dismisses Forced Exit Claims, Says 1,000 Staff Exited Voluntary with Full Benefits” (Arise  News)

“FCCPC denies claims of halting investigations into Air Peace, other sectors”  (The Nation)

” Port Harcourt Refinery begins operation, says NNPC (Premium Times)

“NNPC Ltd Delivers on Refinery Revamp Promise: Warri Plant Resumes Operation with 125,000bpd Capacity in Warri, Delta State.” (Dec 30, Reuters)

Looking at the above headlines clips, what do they have in common?

Managements discredited news reports that emanated from the organizations. Either from the corporate affairs departments duly signed by the company’s image maker or a member of the board of directors of the company. 

Also, the information may have been gotten by the reporter or Editor, through an insider ( the CEO himself,  a director,  driver, cleaner, PRO, etc) in the company.

He hurries to write the story and breaks it as an  “exclusive or a scoop”,  on his media platform.

However,  to promote or project an organization’s image in a positive light to the government, the shareholders, and other stakeholders,  some company’s media departments have employed what we call “agitprop” or propaganda journalism, which is coloring falsehood, lies, and misinformation, to look like truth.

It is a powerful tool or weapon to move the crowd to believe what is fake is real and things like that.

Just to sway or pull the crowd to accept that viewpoint.

Advertisers use it often in the marketing of products and services.

Maybe you are familiar with clichés such as these:

“Use this cream and you will look glamorous.”

“Use this toothpaste and…”

“Everybody is drinking this water…” Propaganda journalism or messages are destructive.

It is like you lied to me before, how can I trust you again?

Again,  some news sources or makers even employ what is called synecdoche, a figure of speech in English -Literature.

Synecdoche means when you use a part to represent a whole, or a whole for the part.

Therefore, organizations and their image makers had better ensure that the information they are sending out for public consumption is crafted in such a manner that what is written is what is understood, and what is understood is what is meant

That’s what may have played out in the reportage of the  NNPCL refineries in Port Harcourt and the Warri Refinery and Petrochemicals. 

The NNPCL, in its press releases, made the public believe that they had started working, whereas it was a section of the refineries.

Media reports had it that in November and December 2024, respectively, the NNPCL announced the revamping of the refineries, even if partially, with Port Harcourt at 70 percent level functionality, while the Warri refinery is currently operating at 60 percent.

The announcements led to the government rejoicing, a well-done and for the good works to the NNPCL management,  and an encouragement by Mr President to the Corporation’s head to finish the Kaduna refinery and the New Port Harcourt Refinery,  too.

However,  the praises were soon cut shut, following the outpourings of doubts about the Workability of the refineries.

The doubters include oil, some people in the oil and gas industry, petroleum engineers, as well as Nigeria’s elder statesman, former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

SweetcrudeReports,  recently reported: ” Experts, stakeholders and inside sources at the Port Harcourt Refinery are faulting the recent Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC, claims on the return of the 60,000 barrels per day old Port Harcourt refinery to operations.

They described the claims as amounting to national deceit. Investigations at the refinery showed that the plant currently refines only 6,500 barrels of crude oil some days (not even daily), which can only load 10 trucks. Industry experts say this is insignificant when compared to the refinery’s 60,000 barrels per day refining capacity and its loading capacity of 180 to 200 trucks daily.

According to the experts, a refinery of 60,000 per day capacity that is processing only 6,500 barrels cannot be described as working. “As it stands now, it is only the CDU (Crude Distillation Unit) that refines just 6,500 barrels per day and produces nothing more than 10 trucks maximum per day that is working, ”Alex Ogedegbe, a chemical engineer, expert refiner and former Managing Director of the Port Harcourt Refinery and the Warri Refinery, told SweetcrudeReports.

He added: “It is not the full refinery that is functioning. No refiner can claim that with only one unit running, and for that, the Port Harcourt refinery has begun operations and thus issues fake figures to Nigerians.

President Olusegun Obasanjo also expressed reservations over the workability of the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

Obasanjo who spoke recently on a national television, likened the declaration by the NNPC that the crude oil refining facilities are now working to a farmer who lied about the volume of his crops during the planting season, insisting that the truth will always be revealed during the harvest season.

“So if anybody tells you now that they (the refineries ) are working, why are they not with Aliko (in the market)? And Aliko will make his refinery work. Not only make it work, he will make it deliver.

“Whether we announce our government refineries are working or not working, look, it is like they say in Yoruba adage, ‘the man who plants 100 heaps of yams and says he has planted 200 heaps, they say after he has harvested 100 heaps of yam, he will also harvest 100 heaps of lies,” he said in response to a question on the oil assets.

What is the point?

Therefore, organizations and their image makers had better ensure that the information they are sending out for public consumption is crafted in such a manner that what is written is what is understood, and what is understood is what is meant; otherwise,  the receivers will read different meaning or give a different interpretation to the information. 

In the words of Anuk Kumar, any news that does not contain facts and shades of opinion that allow readers to draw their own meaning is inadvertent propaganda.

▪︎Ichaburu Ochefa, a media professional and communicator, wrote this piece in Lagos.

CNG powered buses. Source : X

Ichaburu Ochefa, writes that Nigeria is racing towards running its transport system on varied energy sources given the government’s push for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) – powered vehicles.

I had a dream. 

Let me share it with you.

In the dream, I saw my country, our country Nigeria, became a developed country from developing country.

In the dream,  Nigeria has a well- developed transport system- the likes I had seen in China, Tokyo, New York and London .

The potholes on our  roads are gone., so are the fuel queues. I saw vehicles running on petrol,  Compressed Natural Gas, diesel,  and even electric cars.

The railways criss-crossing the country’s cities are superb like the Lagos blue and red lines; also the rickety wooden boats on the waterways nationwide have been replaced with sophiscated boats which are safer and secure to navigate the oceans.

How We Will Get There?

The government of my country, our country, is already working on getting my dream fulfilled! Here’s how:

In 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu unveiled a plan to make vehicles in Nigeria run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) alongside petrol powered vehicles.

The Initiative is aimed at reducing the burden of increase in pump price on the masses, and to deliver cheaper, safer and more climate friendly energy.

President Bola Tinubu,  had in a nationwide broadcast, said that the deployment of CNG buses and tricycles and the vision to get at least one million natural gas propelled vehicles on Nigeria’s roads by 2027.

This will mark a major energy transition in the country’s transportation industry.

Following the policy pronouncements,  the government sets the machinery in motion towards the successful implementation of the initiative.

First, it established the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI), headed by  Michael Oluwagbemi, an oil/gas expert.

Next, the government earmarked N100 billion for the procurement of 5500 CNG vehicles (buses and tricycles), and over 20,000 CNG conversion kits, alongside spurring the development of CNG refilling stations and electric vehicles charging stations.

President Bola Tinubu,  had in a nationwide broadcast, said that the deployment of CNG buses and tricycles and the vision to get at least one million natural gas propelled vehicles on Nigeria’s roads by 2027.

Through the NNPCL, CNG fueling stations and conversion centres are being built at strategic locations across the country.

Recently,  as part of efforts to accelerate the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a cleaner and more affordable fuel alternative in Nigeria, NNPC Retail Limited (NRL), a subsidiary of the NNPC Ltd, sensitized over 1,000 auto mechanics through a comprehensive awareness initiative.

The sensitization exercise which took place at the National Artisans and Technicians Conference held in Lagos, brought together a large audience drawn from auto mechanics and technicians from across the country.

The engagement aimed to demystify the process of converting gasoline-powered vehicles to CNG and encourage the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.

Ekperikpe Ekpo, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), had during the distributions of CNG-powered buses to three key transport unions: the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), said that these buses are not just vehicles—they represent a significant investment in modern, eco-friendly transportation and demonstrate the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government to easing the burden on Nigerian commuters and transport operators.

” As we all know, the transportation sector is essential to Nigeria’s economy, providing vital services to millions. Unfortunately, rising fuel costs have made mobility increasingly expensive.

To address this, the Federal Government has prioritized CNG, which is a cleaner and more cost-effective fuel source.

This is a key part of our Decade of Gas initiative, which leverages Nigeria’s abundant natural gas reserves to support sustainable development, energy security, and economic growth.

With our proven gas reserves of over 209 trillion cubic feet, Nigeria is well-positioned to take a leadership role in the global energy transition, utilizing gas as both a transition fuel and a destination energy source.”

By Christian ABURIME

As long as society remains imperfect and imperfect humans inhabit society, crime will never cease to exist, but it can be reduced.

Thus, threats to the security of lives and property are a recurring global phenomenon, no matter how advanced societies are.

The recent incidents of crime, particularly kidnapping, in Anambra State have understandably raised concerns among citizens and sparked heated discussions about public safety.

While these concerns merit attention, it is crucial to approach the security discourse with objectivity and a balanced perspective that acknowledges both challenges and progress.

It would be recalled that there was a time that fiendish criminals notoriously tagged Unknown Gun Men held sway in Anambra State.

They unleashed their malevolence at will, robbing, killing, and terrorising Ndi Anambra with brazen impunity across precincts of the state.

Then, it was the first, most urgent challenge that Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo’s new government had to confront, and it did so decisively with the cooperation of our gallant security agencies.

The so-called Unknown Gun Men beat a retreat, violent crimes were drastically reduced, and Ndi Anambra breathed a sigh of relief. With the rising costs of living, many people were and are still under pressure of survival.

Hence, some may have taken to crimes like kidnapping as the fastest routes to making money.

But contrary to some alarmist narratives, recent Crime Experience and Security Perception Survey (CESPS) data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) presents a more nuanced picture.

According to the NBS report, the Southeast region, which includes Anambra State, actually recorded the lowest crime rates among all regions in Nigeria in 2024.

This statistical evidence suggests that while security challenges exist, they are neither unique to Anambra nor as severe as sometimes portrayed by critics in public discourse.

Meanwhile, the state government has demonstrated commitment to addressing security concerns through consistent support to law enforcement agencies.

From providing logistics to ensuring adequate funding, these efforts reflect an understanding that security infrastructure requires sustained investment.

It will also be recalled few weeks ago that Governor Soludo made profound pronouncements on the readiness of the State government to deal decisively with criminals with the new security apparatus in place.

This is also inspite of the two months amnesty given to the criminals to surrender themselves to the state government for proper rehabilitation or face devastating consequences

However, the government’s role, while crucial, represents only one piece of a complex puzzle. Security, by its nature, universally demands a collaborative approach.

The most effective security systems worldwide rely on active citizen participation, intelligence sharing, and community engagement.

When citizens withhold information or choose political criticism over constructive dialogue, they inadvertently weaken the security architecture they seek to strengthen.

Indeed, critics of the current security situation raise valid points that deserve attention. However, sometimes, the tendency to politicise security challenges or exaggerate incidents for ulterior motives serves no one’s interests.

Such approaches only create unnecessary panic and potentially hamper ongoing security operations. What Anambra needs now is a unified approach where government efforts are complemented by citizens cooperation.

This means regular intelligence sharing between communities and security agencies, constructive dialogue between critics and government officials, community-level security awareness and vigilance, and reduced politicisation of security issues.

The path forward thus requires acknowledging that security threats exist while avoiding overamplification of these challenges. 

It demands recognition of government efforts  while pushing for continued improvement.

Most importantly, it calls for understanding that security is a shared responsibility that transcends political affiliations.

It requires the active participation of all stakeholders, working together with a shared commitment to public safety.

While the government maintains its leadership role in security matters, citizens must step up to play their part in this crucial endeavour.

This is wishing Ndi Anambra a safer New Year.