I WAS privileged to be in the entourage of Chief Leemon Ikpea, Chairman Lee Group of companies, a man who is very passionate about indigenous engineering technology and his amiable wife, Mrs. Justina Ikpea, Managing Director, Trebet A1 Nigeria Limited, producers of Trebet table water. The trip to China was in respect of a new production line for Trebet water. The business part of the trip was a huge success; it was a great experience and eye opener, especially in the areas of international business negotiation and diplomacy; but that is not the focus of this piece.

THE global maritime commons have remained a veritable medium for driving growth, development and prosperity amongst both littoral and land-linked nations in the 21st Century. African seaborne trade has equally benefited from this growth, albeit with attendant maritime security challenges, particularly within the Gulf of Guinea, GoG. This is the case for Nigeria with a coastline of about 420 nautical miles.

A LITTLE over three years ago when Dr Dakuku Adol Peterside was appointed Director-General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, there was a sharp division of what his coming portends. While some believed that he would make a difference, significant and far-reaching, there were also those who expressed some level of reservation and indeed pessimism, based on the consideration that not being an industry person would clearly limit his ability to achieve the desired growth index.

In light of these values, the statement that BP had agreed to pay Timiș the sum of USD$10 billion as royalties for his former minority stake in two non-producing natural gas licenses in Senegal is not only outlandish, it is irresponsible, and reveals a thorough ignorance of how the oil and gas industry functions.

CSO and NGOs from Ogoniland gathered in Abuja to watch a documentary focused on the staggering environmental pollution in Nigeria’s Niger Delta. The 45-minute-long film, Environmental Refugees, was premiered by Oak TV to enlighten stakeholders about the consequences of oil spills and create a sense of urgency around the ongoing cleanup project.