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FG Decries Massive Effect of Corrosion on Nation’s Economy
FG Decries Massive Effect of Corrosion on Nation’s Economy
By: Michael Mike
The federal government has decried the massive effect of corrosion on the nation’s oil production and economy.
Speaking at the 2023 Nigerian Corrosion Association conference, NICA in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako said according to Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) over 270 million barrels of national commercial crude oil production was lost between 2016 and 2020, at an estimated revenue loss of $14.6 billion, due to corrosion, operational faults and other factors.
He said furthermore, in 2021, 193 million barrels of crude oil deficit was allegedly recorded, which translated to an estimated $3.5 billion of revenue, about 10% of the country’s foreign reserves, noting that: “Corollary to revenue deficits are incidents of air and water pollution, loss of vegetation, land contamination, climate effects, manifesting in loss of livelihoods, quality of life, pollution burdens of diseases in impacted communities and huge costs of remediation and rehabilitation.”
The Minister, who was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Engineer Dilichukwu Etigbue said: “The costs associated with corrosion impacts on critical assets and associated losses are rapidly becoming unacceptable, but really hardly completely mitigatable, in today’s world where sustainability is a priority.
“Therefore, deploying appropriate eco-friendly strategies for corrosion management is not only the best sustainable infrastructural development, but a smart investment preventing highly expensive industrial failures and accidents. It also mitigates other safety hazards, linked indirectly with health,
quality of environment and carbon-footprints. The cumulative benefits thereof include an increased public safety, reliable performance, maximised assets life, environmental protection, and more cost‐effective operations on the long term.”
He assured that: “Federal Ministry of Environment places a premium on inclusive stakeholders’ participation in environmental governance,” soliciting for the support of NICA and other critical players in advancing a paradigm shift from traditional control processes with carbon and human/environmental exposure footprints, to sustainable effective, economic and environmentally friendly corrosion protection technologies/processes, in order to guarantee long-term sustainability of our national infrastructures and structures.
On the international level, he said a two-year study by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE), United States of America, estimated the corrosion cost as $2.5 trillion per year, or around 3% of global Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
He noted that: “The study, however, projected that implementing best practices in corrosion prevention could result in as much as $875 billion in savings. This claim was also corroborated by the World Corrosion Organisation (WCO).”
He decried that corrosion is also one of the major legacy challenges facing Petroleum Refineries and Chemical Process Industries globally, some of which have recorded incidental accidents leading to destruction of infrastructures and loss of personnel, he added that: “Among these are the Caribbean Petroleum Refining Tank Explosion and Fire Puerto Rico, 2009; Chevron Refinery in Richmond, California (2012); and Bhopal Pesticide Plant, India Incident of 1984, one of the world’s largest industrial disasters, resulting in the ill-fated death of nearly 8,000 people.”
The Minister of Transportation, Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola said that prevention and control of corrosion cannot be undertaken by the government alone, especially in the face of emerging innovations and advances in technological developments in addressing this phenomenon.
Oyetola while was represented by a Director in the Ministry, Engineer Shogo Omotayo said; “The significance of this conference in terms of addressing the critical issue of corrosion in building environmentally resilient infrastructures and the need to maintain their integrity over their service life couldn’t have come at a better time as the Nigerian Government intensifies its commitments to expanding public Infrastructures and utilities for improved economic and social development.”
According to him, “This conference will produce workable and implementable outcomes to address the challenges of corrosion in the development of public infrastructures and utilities in all sectors for the Nation’s benefit.”
On his part, the President Nigerian Corrosion Association, Mr Ese Ochoga said the conference aimed to educate and enlighten the society on the best practices in physical assets protection management in improving the GDP, as well as public and environmental safety.
“The theme of our conference this year is an inclusive one, as it hones on the impact of corrosion on the public infrastructure and utilities, which is common to us all,” he said.
Ochoga noted that the conference would also help present the unique perspective of the materials and corrosion specialist insights and recommendations in managing and maintaining public infrastructures.
He said: “We are here today at the Annual Conference of the Nigerian Corrosion Association, importantly, the corrosion is addressing the issue of building sustainable infrastructure by ensuring that there is corrosion resistant or resilient to corrosion. Corrosion comes from environmental sources and as the environment varies, the corrosion impact also varies some lower and some higher, the corrosion professional is always monitoring this to ensure that infrastructure or structures are viewed to be able to withstand the peculiar environment that is bound to a counter because of his service, that’s why we’re here and the conference is going to address this issue.”
The Nigerian Corrosion Association established in 1988 by industry practitioners and academicians, provides opportunities for excelling in the fields of corrosion science and engineering practices.
It also assess and proffer solutions to the interwoven adverse effects of the environment and corrosion on modern civilization.
”Corrosion Control of Public Infrastructures and Utilities,” was the theme of the 2023 Annual National Conference. It was organised by the Nigerian Corrosion Association (NICA) and hosted by Federal Ministry of Environmennt.
FG Decries Massive Effect of Corrosion on Nation’s Economy
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
By: Michael Mike
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has warned that 2026 will be an extremely difficult year for human traffickers operating in the country, as the agency intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks across Nigeria.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello made this known in Abuja while reviewing the agency’s activities in 2025 and outlining its operational plans for 2026.
Bello disclosed that in 2025, NAPTIP secured the conviction of 93 human traffickers, describing the achievement as significant given the complexity of prosecuting trafficking cases.
She also stated that the agency intercepted over 2,500 potential victims who had been deceived and recruited for various forms of exploitation within and outside Nigeria, adding that many of them were rehabilitated and reintegrated into society.
According to her, the agency’s increased surveillance and coordination among its commands led to a rise in rescues, arrests, and successful prosecutions during the year. She noted that traffickers were effectively disrupted, with several high-profile suspects arrested and convicted.
Among those apprehended were operators of some orphanages and care homes allegedly involved in trafficking and exploitation of children. Bello said over 120 suspected trafficked children were rescued from such facilities.
She further revealed that in collaboration with international partners, NAPTIP rescued more than 370 Nigerian victims from countries including Ghana, Senegal, and Côte d’Ivoire.
Looking ahead to 2026, the NAPTIP boss said the agency would scale up its operations by strengthening partnerships with other security agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners. She also pledged closer collaboration with federal, state, and local governments, including the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), to improve grassroots monitoring and prevention.
Bello emphasized that NAPTIP would work more closely with the legislature and judiciary to ensure stronger legal backing and faster prosecution of traffickers.
She added that within the first weeks of 2026, NAPTIP had already secured three convictions and warned that more traffickers would face jail unless they abandon their criminal activities.
The Director-General reiterated the agency’s commitment to nationwide awareness campaigns, particularly in rural communities, to reduce vulnerability and protect potential victims from traffickers.
NAPTIP Vows Tough Crackdown on Traffickers in 2026 as 93 Convicted in 2025
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
By: Michael Mike
The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced a two-week Ophthalmology Equipment Set-Up and Training Programme at the Maiduguri Eye Hospital in Borno State, following the deployment of advanced eye-care equipment valued at over N3 billion.
The programme, which began on Monday, marks a major step in the Commission’s efforts to improve specialist healthcare delivery and address preventable blindness across the North-East region.
Activities on the first day included the installation, calibration, and coupling of cutting-edge ophthalmic equipment, alongside the start of hands-on technical and clinical training sessions. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the newly supplied equipment is fully operational and optimally configured for effective eye-care services.
The training is being led by Prof. Abdull Mohammed Mahdi, a Chief Consultant in Ophthalmology, with support from Dr. Abuh Sunday, also a Chief Consultant, and a multidisciplinary team of experts in ophthalmology and biomedical engineering.
Participants include consultant ophthalmologists, resident doctors, ophthalmic nurses, optometrists, and biomedical engineers from the Maiduguri Eye Hospital and the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH). They will receive intensive practical training on the operation, maintenance, and efficient use of the equipment.
According to the NEDC, the initiative is expected to significantly enhance the hospital’s diagnostic and surgical capacity, particularly in the management of cataract and glaucoma cases. The Commission noted that the intervention aligns with its long-term objective of transforming Maiduguri Eye Hospital into a regional centre of excellence for ophthalmic care.
In addition to the equipment deployment and training, the Commission is undertaking extensive renovation and infrastructure upgrades at the hospital to support modern clinical operations and improve patient experience.
The NEDC is also extending similar ophthalmic interventions across other states in the North-East. Of note is the ongoing construction of an ultra-modern Eye Institute at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi, which commenced last year and is scheduled for accelerated implementation this year.
Officials of the Commission described the intervention as a strategic investment that combines modern medical infrastructure with deliberate human capacity development, noting that the ₦3 billion equipment deployment and training programme will have a lasting impact on access to quality eye-care services in the region.
NEDC Deploys ₦3bn Ophthalmic Equipment, Begins Training at Maiduguri Eye Hospital
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Security operatives in Yobe State have raided a notorious criminal hideout in the Saman Tudu area of Pompomari District, Damaturu, arresting a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and 16 other suspects.
A reliable source told Zagazola Makama that the raid was carried out on Jan. 18 at about 7:20 p.m. following a coordinated, intelligence-driven operation targeting criminal elements who use the area as a haven.
The source said the enclave served as a convergence point for trafficking and consumption of illicit drugs, as well as planning and execution of various criminal activities within the community.
“During the operation, the team stormed and ransacked the hideout, leading to the arrest of 17 suspects, including one Mohammed B. Kolo, identified as an NSCDC personnel attached to the Yobe State Command,” the source said.
He added that exhibits recovered from the scene included a knife, five bicycles, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis sativa, hemp wrapping papers, a long sack used as a mat and the sum of N8,500 found inside a sack suspected to contain the drugs.
The suspects are currently in custody while investigation is ongoing to determine their level of involvement in criminal activities.
The source said those found culpable would be charged to court for prosecution after the conclusion of investigations.
Residents were urged to continue supporting security agencies with timely and credible information to sustain the fight against crime in the state.
NSCDC personnel, 16 others arrested in raid of criminal hideout in Yobe
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