The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has set Sept. 10 as the deadline for its 2026 November/December certificate examinations.

This was contained in a statement by Uchechukwu Olisah, Assistant Director, Media/Protocol, NABTEB, on Sunday in Benin.

Olisah said the registration for the National Business Certificate (NBC), National Technical Certificate (NTC), Advanced National Business Certificate (ANBC) and Advanced National Technical Certificate (ANTC) examinations had commenced since Aug.

10.

He noted that candidates yet to register had until Sept.

10, to complete the process, while registration for the December Modular Trades Certificate Examination would remain open until Sept. 30.

“Prospective candidates and other stakeholders are advised to complete their registration before the respective deadlines,” he said.

He said the registration fees were N22,500 for NBC/NTC; N25,500 for ANBC/ANTC and N6,000 for the December Modular Trades Certificate Examination.

The board’s spokesperson urged prospective candidates, schools, technical and vocational institutions, apprenticeship centres and other stakeholders to comply with the approved registration requirements.

He also advised candidates to obtain registration information only through its authorised channels to avoid “errors, delays or complications” in the process.

He explained that the examinations were part of NABTEB’s mandate to provide competency-based assessment and certification in business and technical education.

According to him, the examinations will contribute to skilled manpower development while promoting technical and vocational education and training as a pathway to economic empowerment and self-reliance. (NAN)

From Mike Tayese, Yenagoa

An oil spill from crude loading operations at Nembe Creek oilfield in Bayelsa has affected several fishing communities, residents and environmental monitors have said.

It was learnt that the incident occurred on Aug.

22, when a barge loading crude oil from a manifold at the facility reportedly ruptured.

The Nembe Creek oilfield within Oil Mining Lease 29 (OML) is operated by Nembe Exploration & Production Limited formerly Aiteo Eastern Exploration and Production Limited.

A field report by Environmental Conservation Agriculture and Rural Development (ECARD), sighted by DAILY ASSET indicates that the organisation visited the spill impacted site on Aug.

24.

ECARD said it observed crude oil along the creek and mangrove banks.

Its Lead Field Monitor, Chief Alagoa Morris, said the pungent smell of crude oil became noticeable about two kilometres from Nembe Creek during the visit.

ECARD said the spill had spread to several fishing settlements, with residents reporting loss of fishing activities and damage to fishing equipment.

The paramount ruler of Nembe Creek communities, HRH Agent Waya, said the incident had worsened the hardship faced by residents.

Waya said the community reported the spill to naval personnel after Aiteo officials allegedly failed to respond immediately to their concerns.

He said women from the affected communities later protested at the Aiteo facility, demanding relief materials, assessment of damages and compensation.

According to him, the affected communities requested relief materials within three days because residents could no longer engage in fishing.

Waya said the spill reportedly occurred while crude oil was being loaded into a barge, which subsequently tilted and discharged crude into the river.

He listed Mile 1, Mile 2, Mile 3, Roka, Williamkiri, Atonbarakiri, Korukiri and Madam Wanwakiri among the affected communities.

Others, he said, included Ewelesuo, Kpongbokiri, Victorkiri, ‘Abuja’ 1, 2 and 3, Pipeline 1, 2, 3 and 4, Kalakububogo and Etikiri.

The women leader, Ebi Otokolo, said the pollution had made the river waters unusable for fishing, domestic activities and other livelihood purposes.

She said residents had been forced to remain indoors because of the crude oil odour, while fishermen could no longer access their means of livelihood.

A community woman, Love Mark, said some fishing nets contaminated by crude oil had become unusable.

Mark said individual fishing nets cost between N150,000 and N170,000, adding that affected residents needed urgent assistance from the operator.

Also, a former youth president of neighbouring Ewelesuo community, Mr Daukoru Benjaka called for the inclusion of the community and its fishing camps in the Joint Investigation Visit.

Benjaka said the spill had affected fish catches and other aquatic resources, including periwinkles, while threatening the survival of fishing communities.

ECARD said its observations showed substantial crude oil on the water and along mangrove roots, despite residents’ reports that tidal movement had thinned the pollution.

The organisation said rising tides could carry crude oil deeper into the mangrove ecosystem and further affect aquatic organisms, including crabs, oysters and periwinkles.

ECARD said information from the Bayelsa Ministry of Environment and Nembe Oil and Gas Committee indicated that the Joint Investigation Visit had identified operational failure as the cause.

However, it said the volume of crude spilled and the extent of the affected area remained inconclusive as of Aug. 26.

The organisation said the latest incident was part of a history of oil spills associated with operations in OML 29.

The Nembe Creek oilfield, regarded as the largest oil and gas field within OML 29, was developed by Shell Petroleum Development Company from the 1970s.

Shell divested its interest in OML 29 including the 97 kilometer Nembe Creek Trunkline to Aiteo in 2015 for about $ 2.5 billion.

Among the notable incidents was the 2019 spill at Santa Barbara Well 1 and the major 2021 incident, which reportedly discharged crude oil into the environment for more than a month.

ECARD said subsequent spills around the Nembe Creek facility had frequently been linked by residents and environmental groups to crude-loading activities.

Residents also accused oil operations of restricting fishing through the deployment of large lifebuoys and the movement of crude-loading vessels.

They said fishing nets were sometimes caught by the buoys or damaged by vessels operating around the loading areas.

The paramount ruler appealed to the Bayelsa Government and relevant authorities to intervene, saying the communities were facing severe economic hardship.

He also urged Aiteo to provide regular support to fishermen whose livelihoods had allegedly been affected by oil pollution and operational restrictions.

ECARD called for comprehensive cleanup and remediation of the polluted Nembe Creek environment to restore the ecosystem and the communities’ fishing livelihoods.

Public Affairs officials at Nembeb E & P declined to comment when contacted for an update on the development.

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Management of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, has called for urgent intervention by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in critical infrastructure, including the provision of a solar power plant, perimeter fencing, a fire-fighting truck and a fire service station within the university.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Salisu  Usman, made the call  when the member of the TETFund Board of Trustees representing the North Central Geopolitical Zone, Dr. Hassan Abdulrahman Ocholi, paid him a courtesy visit in his office over the weekend.

The vice Chancellor, who was represented by Prof Sani Rufai Abdullahi, the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of the university said the requests were aimed at addressing some of the institution’s major infrastructure and security challenges.

According to him, the construction of perimeter fencing along its boundaries, if granted, would strengthen security as well as ensure the provision of a fire-fighting truck and establishment of a functional fire service station within the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor congratulated Ocholi on his appointment to the TETFund Board of Trustees and expressed the university’s appreciation to the Fund for its sustained partnership and interventions since the institution’s establishment.

He said the university was particularly delighted to receive Ocholi as one of its alumni expressing confidence that his visit would further strengthen the relationship between PAAU and TETFund.

Usman thanked TETFund for its recent donation of 10 units of six-seater electric tricycles, describing the intervention as a development that would enhance the university’s operational activities.

Responding, Ocholi thanked the university management for the warm reception accorded him, expressing excitement at returning to the institution where, according to him, he obtained his first, second and third degrees.

He assured the management that he had taken note of the requests and would pursue support for the critical projects.

On the power challenge, Ocholi disclosed that following an earlier complaint by the Vice-Chancellor, he had approached the relevant authorities and explained the university’s situation.

He said the request had already been forwarded to the appropriate desk for consideration, expressing optimism that the proposed intervention would receive favourable consideration.

On the perimeter fencing, the TETFund Board member pledged to work towards ensuring that the project was achieved before the expiration of his tenure on the Board.

He also disclosed that efforts were already being made to establish a fire service station in the eastern part of Kogi State.

According to him, discussions had been held with the Director-General of the Federal Fire Service even before his appointment to the TETFund Board, with Anyigba identified as one of the possible locations.

“Anyigba had been considered as a possible location and, given the facilities already available, the University premises would be considered as a potential site for the proposed fire service station,” he said.

Ocholi explained that a dual approach would be adopted to expedite the process, including the submission of a formal request to TETFund, with the ultimate objective of establishing a functional fire-fighting station within the university.

On the proposed hostel for medical students, he assured the university management that the request would be presented to the appropriate TETFund management level for consideration.

He urged the university management to continue supporting the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly its efforts to reform and reposition the education sector and promote sustainable development.