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Bridging Payments For PMS Remains, Says NMDPRA

Published

5 years ago

December 2, 2021

CHIDI UGWU, ABUJA

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said it will continue to honour and process claims for bridging of PMS to ensure product availability nationwide.

Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the Authority Chief Executive, NMDPRA, said this on Thursday in Abuja when delegates from the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) paid a courtesy call on the Management Team of the Authority.

Ahmed said the Authority was aware of the fact that the signing of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA, 2021), leading to the creation of the NMDPRA may have raised some uncertainty on the continuation of the bridging scheme; whether or not bridging funds will continue to be paid to beneficiaries.

He stressed further that NARTO as well as other stakeholders should not panic because all verified bridging obligations will be honoured and paid by the Authority.

Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, the National President, NARTO, earlier informed the NMDPRA of the outstanding payments being owed its members by the Federal Government.

He expressed concern over the fact that some members were losing interest in the business of transporting PMS, which according to him, was no longer profitable. To this end, he made an appeal for the upward review of the bridging funds on the pricing template.

He urged Government to put in place policies that will not only address the current dwindling returns on investment but will in addition, stimulate investment in the transportation and logistics of petroleum products in the country.

Mr Ogbugo Ukoha, the Executive Director, Distributions System, Storage and Retail Infrastructure, NMDPRA, urged NARTO to continue being patriotic and ensure that it plays its part in ensuring PMS availability throughout the yuletide period, regardless of its current challenges.

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RMRDC DG Prof. Ike-Muonso Wins WAITRO Sub-Saharan Africa Board Seat in Landslide Victory

Published

51 mins ago

October 28, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo M. Ike-Muonso, has emerged winner of the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Representative position on the Board of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO), in a landslide victory at the WAITRO Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye.

In a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Director, Directorate of Corporate Affairs, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). Mrs. Nnamdi-Anum stated that Prof. Ike-Muonso’s election, announced at the summit holding from October 26 to 28, 2026, marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and RMRDC, strengthening the country’s representation in the international research, technology and innovation community.

The RMRDC Director-General contested the position alongside two distinguished candidates: Prof. Wellington Riach Liamba Masamba, Vice-Chancellor of the Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN), Botswana, and Prof. Mohammed Aliyu Paiko, Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University (AKUM), Nigeria.

His emergence as the successful candidate presents an important opportunity to advance African research priorities, strengthen international partnerships and promote the application of research and technological innovations to industrial development across the continent.

WAITRO is a global association of industrial and technological research organisations that facilitates collaboration, knowledge exchange and partnerships among research institutions, universities, industries and innovation stakeholders. Through its governance structure, the organisation provides a platform for regional representatives to contribute to international research and technology development initiatives.

Prof. Ike-Muonso’s election comes amid RMRDC’s sustained efforts to promote research-driven industrialisation, indigenous raw materials development, value addition, technology commercialisation and strategic partnerships with national and international institutions.

Under his leadership, the Council has continued to pursue initiatives aimed at bridging the gap between research and industry, strengthening the commercialisation of research findings, promoting local processing of raw materials and supporting the development of a competitive manufacturing sector in Nigeria.

RMRDC’s engagement with international research and technology organisations, including WAITRO, reflects the Council’s commitment to leveraging global expertise and partnerships to advance Nigeria’s industrial development agenda.

His election to the WAITRO Board is expected to provide a broader platform for promoting collaboration among African research institutions, encouraging technology transfer, facilitating knowledge sharing and advancing innovative solutions to the continent’s industrial and economic challenges.

For Nigeria and the wider Sub-Saharan African region, the development represents an opportunity to strengthen participation in international conversations on scientific research, technological innovation and sustainable industrial transformation.

The WAITRO Summit 2026 brings together research and technology organisations, universities, industry leaders, policymakers and innovation partners to explore collaborative approaches to research, innovation and sustainable development.

Prof. Ike-Muonso’s emergence is a notable achievement for RMRDC and Nigeria, further reinforcing the importance of strategic international cooperation in advancing indigenous technological capacity, promoting raw materials value addition and supporting sustainable industrial growth.

The Council remains committed to building partnerships that translate research and innovation into practical industrial applications, create economic opportunities and contribute to Nigeria’s broader development objectives.

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