Month: October 2023

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, says a combat ready Nigerian Army requires effective training using emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, genome sequencing and other software applications.

Lagbaja, who was represented by the Chief of Special Services and Programmes (Army), Maj.-Gen. Henry Wesley, said this at the opening of the Simulation Workshop of the Land Forces Simulation Centre Nigeria (LFSCN), on Tuesday in Abuja.

The theme of the workshop is, “Effective use of Simulation Technology to Enhance Nigerian Army Operation in a Joint Environment.”

He said the theme reflected his Command Philosophy for the Nigerian army which is, “To Transform the Nigerian Army into a Well-trained, Equipped and Highly Motivated Force Towards Achieving our Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint Environment.

“A Nigerian Army that is always combat ready can only be achieved through effective training using emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, genome sequencing and other even as they come software applications.

“Simulation training which involves the application of these technologies is thus a contemporary essential enabler for preparing Nigerian army personnel for current and future operational challenges.

“It is reassuring to say that in this regard, the centre has justified the purpose for which it was conceived and established.”

Lagbaja said he had approved the equipping of the centre with all the hardware and software essential to its efficiency.

He added that approval had also been given for the procurement of two 10 Lane Virtual Firing Range, a 100-KVA solar-inverters with lithium batteries as well as Aluminum Composite External Cladding for this Centre, to enhance its aesthetics.

He added that his overall goal was to make the centre a one-stop shop for all operations planning training in the Nigerian army in both peace time and during war.

According to him, the simulation centre is now well and sufficiently equipped to carry out simulation training for all combat arms, combat support arms and combat support services of the Nigerian Army.

“Battle Simulation Centres such as this help trainers to formulate training models by testing their operations planning and theories without expending scarce live ammunition, manpower fatique and the requirement for operational logistics supplies, especially in a dwindling economy.

“It is my firm belief that ultimately, the Centre would not only enhance the Nigerian Army training and operational readiness but also provide training support to our sister services, other security agencies, Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“I am delighted to note that the Centre has so far conducted several capacity building programmes in line with the Nigerian Army Forecast of Events 2023, with considerable successes.

“I am aware that the in-house training conducted at the centre has significantly improved the capacity of the new centre staff since their deployment,” he said.

The COAS pledged to continue to support all the efforts of LFSCN within available resources to make it one of the most respected in the world.

The Director General, LFSCN, Maj.-Gen. Usman Yusuf, said the centre had since its establishment in 2019 made concerted efforts to provide the necessary hardware and software to make it functional and a centre of excellence.

Yusuf said the centre was being ranked among the best simulation training centres in sub-Saharan Africa and in the world, owing to the necessary support provided it to function optimally.

He said LFSCN had so far held in-house simulation exercise, four battalion simulation exercises, three brigade simulation exercises and three joint simulation exercises.

According to him, the centre conducted seminars and workshops to enhance the capacity of its staff as well as create awareness within the Nigerian army, sister services, security services, ministries, department agencies and other stakeholders.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

Two Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Coalition for Peace In Nigeria (COPIN) and Iconoclast Media Platform, have commended the leadership of Department of State Services (DSS) over the establishment of a new directorate.

The two CSOs gave the commendation in a statement, jointly issued by the National Coordinator of COPIN, Mr Emeka Akwuobi and National Secretary of Iconoclast, Dr Mayago Mayago, on Monday in Abuja.

The CSOs commended the Director-General of DSS, Alhaji Yusuf Bichi, over approval for the establishment of the Directorate of Public Relations and Strategic Communications in the service.

According to the groups, the appointment of Dr Peter Afunanya, as the pioneer Director/Head of the new directorate was a step in the right direction and a case of “putting a round peg in a round hole”.

The groups congratulated Afunanya on his appointment and urged him to sustain his partnership and regular engagements with the media and CSOs.

They said such engagements would deepen democratic principles, enhance democratic accountability, as well as raise public trust/confidence in the agency.

The groups said the DSS boss had left no one in doubt of his capacity to engender innovative reforms in the areas of training, welfare, civil relations, inter-agency cooperation and infrastructure development.

The statement said the leadership style of the DSS boss had helped in changing the image of the service and earned it a positive public perception.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has begun consultation with stakeholders prior to finalising seven more petroleum draft regulations, in compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021).

Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the Commission’s Chief Executive, said this at the 4th Phase of its Consultation Forum with Stakeholders on regulations development, as mandated by Section 216 (4)(g) of the PIA, on Thursday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the regulations include Draft Upstream Commercial Operations Regulations, Upstream Petroleum Code of Conduct and Compliance Regulations as well as Upstream Petroleum Development Contract Regulations.

Others are: Upstream Revocation of Licences and Lease Regulations, Petroleum Assignment of Interest Regulations, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum (Administrative Harmonisation) Regulations and Amendment to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Host Communities Development Regulations 2022.

Komolafe, represented by Dr Kelechi Ofoegbu, Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning, NUPRC, said the regulations were significant in line with recent happenings in the industry and that it formed part of the framework of key regulatory tools for PIA implementation.

“This phase of public hearings on the making of regulations for the upstream is divided into two segments.

“The first segment will run from Oct. 9 to Oct. 13, while the second segment will start from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10,” he said.

He said the Draft Upstream Commercial Operations Regulations 2023 proposed to establish commercial operations framework on the procedure and process for evaluation and approval of Field Development Plans and annual work programme and budget approvals.

“Upstream Petroleum Development Contract Administration Regulations prescribed the framework for the regulatory administration of petroleum development contracts joint development Agreements and Production sharing agreements (Service Agreements) relating to upstream petroleum operations.

“Upstream Revocation of Licences and Lease Regulations propose to set out the framework for implementing the Revocation Provisions of the Act and for dealing with post revocation issues in a systematic manner.

“Draft Petroleum Assignment of Interest Regulations 2023 propose to elevate the provisions of the existing guidelines on divestment of interest to a regulation and by so doing, improving the rules to reflect current realities,” Komolafe explained.

He also listed the relevance of the draft regulations, which the second segment would consider.

Komolafe described the Draft Upstream Petroleum Code of Conduct and Compliance Regulations 2023 as a novel regulation aimed at ensuring commitment by licensees, lessee and permit holders to maintain high ethical standard in the conduct of upstream petroleum operations.

“The Draft Nigerian Upstream Petroleum (Administrative Harmonisation) Regulations 2023 seeks to provide regulatory clarity on the implementation of the dual regulatory regime in the upstream occasioned by the preservation of licences and leases.

“Draft Amendment to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Host Communities Development Regulations 2022 seeks to introduce certain amendments to the existing regulation on the implementation of the host community regime.

“This will further ease the administrative process and provide regulatory clarity to the challenges that the implementation of the regime has thrown up in the last one year since the initial regulation was established,” he said.

He reiterated that the process of formulating the above regulations had been a rigorous and strenuous exercise.

He added that they were products of critical thinking and the evaluation and process was incomplete until the stakeholders’ critical inputs were obtained, discussed, and incorporated.

Recall that PIA 2021 empowers the Commission to make regulations which will give meaning and intent to the spirit of the PIA.

Consequently, Komolafe said in fulfillment of this mandate, the commission swung into action with the drafting of regulations of which 12 regulations have been successfully gazetted into law and published to date between June 2022 and July 2023.

According to the CCE, the gazetting of these regulations demonstrated the Commission’s commitment towards providing a business enabling environment in the Nigerian Upstream Oil and Gas industry space.

Earlier, in a remark, Mr Kingston Chikwendu, Head, Compliance and Enforcement, NUPRC, said the PIA had seen accelerated implementation on the side of the upstream sector and part of the process was anchored on developing framework for regulations.

“We have been able to issue 12 regulations out of 26 priority regulations identified by the Presidential Implementation Committee of the PIA.

“We are here to consider more regulations which will be forwarded to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice for approval,” he said.

The event was attended by the NUPRC executive commissioners, officials from Oil Producers Trade Section of the Lagos Chambers of Commerce, Independent Petroleum Producers Association and Indigenous Operators among others.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria