Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, panic buying in Lagos – Newstrends
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Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, panic buying in Lagos

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3 years ago

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There is mounting anxiety in Abuja due to longer fuel queues as the petrol scarcity bites harder in the Nigeria’s capital.

This came on Monday just as motorists in some parts of Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, resorted to panic buying of fuel as many filling stations on the Island were shut.

Long queues were also reported on the Lagos Island and a few other places in Lagos, giving rise to traffic congestion in the affected areas.

The Guardian reports that the panic began gradually at the weekend when unusual long queues of vehicles at various filling stations in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki were noticed as residents spent longer period trying to buy the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS popularly called petrol especially in the Lagos Island.

Many had attributed this to increased demand for fuel due to power outage following a fire incident that led to the shutdown of Nigeria’s largest power plant, Egbin, from the national grid, last week.

However, the long queues persisted on Monday morning despite improved power supply. There were long queues on Awolowo road in Ikoyi, which caused gridlock along the axis.

The situation was different on the mainland part of Lagos as queues were barely noticed at filling stations. This posed a challenge for motorists and commuters resuming their daily activities after the weekend break.

Most of the fuel stations visited in the metropolis claimed they were without supply. The few stations that had supply attracted long queues.

From Ojodu-Berger to Lekki, Gbagada, Alapere, Oshodi-Apapa axis, Ajah, Sangotedo, Mile-2, among others, long queues were sighted in filling stations, which in some stations spiraled into the major roads.

Many commuters along the Lekki-Epe Expressway, including Sangotedo and Victoria Garden City (VGC) axis had a hectic time in traffic. On the Island (Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Obalende axis), only a few stations had supply with manageable queues. It was the same situation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

But there were no queues at filling stations in Mushin, Isolo, Ejigbo, Ikotun and environs.  The Guardian, yesterday, gathered that the flash petrol scarcity currently being experienced in Lagos is due to current effort by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to recall harmful imported petroleum products.

According to sources, most of the petrol imported into the country under the Direct Sale, Direct Purchase (DSDP) contract has a high content of methanol and ethanol, which are outside the official specification of Nigeria’s petrol. “This product is highly harmful to the market,” a source said.

A senior official in the downstream sector confirmed the development, adding that NNPC is currently doing a product tracing to contain the harmful implication in the market.

The fuel situation may be compounded in days to come should the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) make good its threat to down tools over rising price of diesel and operating cost.

It said in a statement on Monday that it would withdraw haulage service if the Federal Government failed to urgently address the rising cost of operation that its members were facing.

Top on the list, according to the union, is the ever-increasing cost of diesel, which petrol tankers run on and which is part of the determinants of freight charges. The cost of diesel presently is N430 per litre.

The association’s National President, Yusuf Lawal Othman, in a statement, said members would be advised to ground their haulage tankers if nothing was done to address the matter, describing the business environment as becoming unbearable. “Our people have parked their trucks and more people are going to park theirs,” he said.

While some states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has been struggling with fuel scarcity despite promises of sufficient petroleum products, Othman said the challenge could escalate across the country.

The association had earlier decried delay in the payment of about N45 billion bridging cost for diesel, demanding an increase in the transportation allowance factored into the pump price of petrol, but the continuation of subsidy payment on petrol meant that the freight cost would remain.

 

Decrying the prevailing situation, Othman said, “We will tell them (tanker drivers) to park if nothing is done because we can’t operate in such manner. Transporters, whose freight rate is fixed and regulated, cannot sustain the business if nothing is done.

“We can’t operate. We can’t work if nothing is done to increase the freight rate. The condition is unbearable because of the cost of diesel.”

He urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to urgently increase the freight rate to reflect the present cost of Automative Gas Oil (AGO) diesel and spare parts.

According to him, ex-depot cost of diesel soared to N401 per litre on Monday, adding that it might hit N420 per litre at the filling stations if nothing was done urgently.

 

 

The Guardian also reports that petrol sufficiency days and stock figures are receding, noting that the NNPC used to boast of 30 to 40- day stock sufficiency and about two billion metres, the record has dipped to 24.02-day sufficiency and about 1,345,338,930 litres stock of petrol.

Quoting from an official document titled: ‘Petroleum Products Stock & Days Sufficiency Report 27th January 2022,’ the from the NMDPRA, it states that Nigeria consumes between 54 million and 60 million litres of petrol daily.

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BREAKING: Many injured as 2 Edo council chairmen impeached

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28 minutes ago

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January 2, 2025

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BREAKING: Many injured as 2 Edo council chairmen impeached

THE crisis in Edo state local government areas continued on Tuesday as two chairmen have been reportedly impeached by their elected councillors in Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon local government areas.

This is their Owan East counterpart; Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadirihas said that his purported impeachment and that of his Vice, Hon Clement Ojebuovbo was unconstitutional and illegal.

In Uhunmwonde, several people were injured as gunmen allegedly attacked bystanders injuring many of them in the process.

The chairman of the council, Kenneth Adodo alleged that the people who came to shoot were policemen from the government house.

The councillors in Orhionmwon on Wednesday impeached the Leader of the house, Hon Daniel Osariemen and replaced him with Hon Chuks Isan as they got wind that Osariemen was being mobilized to impeach the chairman, Hon Newman Ugiagbe and his Vice Midwest Ogbebor.

The purportedly suspended Leader, Osariemen was alleged to have led unknown persons to take over the secretariat of the council in Abudu where he purportedly resumed as the Acting Chairman of the local government area.

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But Ugiagbe in a statement by his Press Secretary, Roy Osariemen said the action in Abudu was illegal and that Ugiagbe remained the chairman of the local government area.

Addressing journalists in Benin City on Thursday, the chairman of Owan Owan East, Okodo-Kadiri said his purported impeachment processes were fraught with irregularities which, according to him, violated provisions of the law.

He referenced the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (as amended in 2002) which outlined specific procedures for the removal of council executives.

Okodo also argued that the councillors failed to establish a seven-member investigative panel as mandated by the law even as he was denied the opportunity to defend himself before such a panel.

He pointed out that the mace used during the impeachment was not the official mace of the Owan East Local Government Council, thereby invalidating the process.

According to him, “the governor alleged that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million meant for salaries, but this claim lacks merit.

“Monthly salary expenditures far exceed ₦50 million in most councils and salaries were paid promptly up to November, contrary to the governor’s claims.

“If funds were misappropriated, where is the proof? Our bank records are clear, and no salaries are owed.

“Moreso, the purported impeachment revealed that two key councillors were involved in the process—Hon. Haruna Mohammed and another member from Ward Seven who had been suspended for gross misconduct before the session.”

He argued that the suspended councillors’ participation in the process rendered the proceedings invalid and emphasised that his office was never notified of their reinstatement, as required by due process.

He however vowed to seek justice through the judiciary to restore justice and uphold the rule of law.

He expressed confidence in the courts to overturn what he described as illegal and politically motivated impeachment.

 

BREAKING: Many injured as 2 Edo council chairmen impeached

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JUST IN: NNPCL invites Obasanjo for tour of Port Harcourt Refinery

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48 minutes ago

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January 2, 2025

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

JUST IN: NNPCL invites Obasanjo for tour of Port Harcourt Refinery

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has extended an invitation to former President Olusegun Obasanjo for a tour of the Port Harcourt Refinery to verify its operational status.

This development follows Obasanjo’s recent interview with Channels Television, where he cited advice from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) suggesting the refinery would not function effectively.

According to the former president, SPDC, which was approached to acquire equity in the refinery, expressed concerns about corruption impeding its operations.

Obasanjo further alleged that NNPCL has been misleading Nigerians about the refinery’s functionality.

Responding to the claims, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, respectfully invited the former president to visit the facility, emphasizing the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Soneye said: “Furthermore, we extend an open invitation to President Obasanjo for a tour of the rehabilitated refineries to witness firsthand the progress made under the new NNPC Limited.”

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Soneye also invited Obasanjo to join the NNPCL in its determination to guarantee the country’s energy security.

“We invite our esteemed former president to join us in this effort as we continue to deliver energy security for our nation and provide tangible benefits to Nigerians.

“His wisdom and experience are invaluable, and we assure him that his advice will always be welcomed and appreciated,” he said.

Soneye explained that the NNPCL did not only carry out a turnaround maintenance on the plant but it embarked on a complete overhaul of the refinery.

He said: “As part of this transformation, NNPC Limited has gone beyond oil and gas to become an integrated energy company.

“One of our notable achievements is the complete rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PhRC) and Warri Refinery.

“This process was not merely the Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) of the past but a full-scale overhaul designed to meet world-class standards. Similarly, we are currently conducting the same comprehensive rehabilitation of the old Port Harcourt Refinery and Kaduna Refinery.”

He added that NNPCL has evolved from being a government corporation to a private entity with limited liability.

He said owing to the transition, NNPCL has also moved on from being a loss-making organization to profit -driven international energy firm.

The new NNPC Limited, he said,  is committed not only to enhancing these refineries but also to maintaining them to global standards.

Soneye noted that NNPCL will ensure their sustainable operation and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s energy security.

He said: “Regarding his recent comments, we would like to respectfully clarify the current state of the NNPC.

The NNPC has undergone a transformative journey, evolving from a government corporation into a private entity—NNPC Limited.

“This transition has marked a significant shift from being a loss-making organization to a profit-oriented global energy company.”

“We deeply respect and hold President Obasanjo in the highest regard as a distinguished statesman who has contributed significantly to the progress of our nation.

 “He has every right to share his perspectives on national issues, and we value his insights and counsel.”

He said: “We remain grateful for his leadership and enduring commitment to the growth and development of Nigeria. Together, we can continue to build a brighter future for our great nation.”

Soneye, who was also requested to react to a media report that NNPCL was to stop the supply of crude oil to Dangote Refinery said, “No need to respond to falsehood.”

 

JUST IN: NNPCL invites Obasanjo for tour of Port Harcourt Refinery

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El-Rufai’s ex-CoS Bashir arrested for alleged financial misconduct

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53 minutes ago

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January 2, 2025

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Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai

El-Rufai’s ex-CoS Bashir arrested for alleged financial misconduct

Mohammed Bashir Sa’idu, a former Kaduna State Commissioner for Finance and Local Government, has been arrested on allegations of money laundering, criminal breach of trust, and misappropriation of public funds.

The Nigeria Police Force confirmed the arrest and stated that an investigation is ongoing to uncover the extent of the alleged misconduct.

Sa’idu, who once held a critical role in managing the state’s finances, now faces serious accusations that could have far-reaching implications for governance and accountability in the region.

According to a security source, a petition received by the police, Sa’idu is accused of laundering N3.96 billion and misappropriating N244 million during his tenure in the Kaduna State government between 2015 and 2023.

The allegations include the sale of $45 million in state-owned foreign currency at an undervalued exchange rate of N410 per dollar, instead of the parallel market rate of N498 per dollar, causing a loss of over N3.96 billion to the government.

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Police sources say this transaction breaches Section 18 of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. Additionally, Sa’idu is accused of failing to account for proceeds from the sale of government houses in Marafa Estate, Kaduna, amounting to approximately N244 million. This constitutes a breach of trust under Section 300 of the Penal Code of Kaduna State, 2017.

Reports indicate that the Kaduna State House of Assembly previously investigated Sa’idu’s financial dealings and forwarded its findings to anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). As part of the investigation, Sa’idu’s international passport has been seized.

Critics have attempted to frame the arrest as politically motivated, claiming it was orchestrated through Operation Fushin Kada, a unit established to combat banditry. However, the police have dismissed these claims, emphasizing that the arrest is based on credible allegations of financial crimes.

Sa’idu, who served in various capacities in Kaduna State, including as Chief of Staff and Commissioner of Finance, remains in detention as investigations continue.

 

El-Rufai’s ex-CoS Bashir arrested for alleged financial misconduct

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