metro
Petrol Scarcity To Linger As Cargoes ‘Stranded’
There seems to be no end in sight to the biting petrol scarcity across the country as four of the 17 cargoes ordered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, which have arrived, cannot discharge the product, Daily Trust reports.
This is happening at a time marketers say they cannot access the product at most of the NNPC depots nationwide.
Some of the marketers, who bought from private depots, are selling above the official price of N165/litre.
The NNPC had, last month when the scarcity started, cited the “importation of adulterated petrol” from Belgium.
In Abuja, Lagos and other parts of the country, black market operators currently sell for over N500 per litre; and many independent markets, N250/litre.
Sources at the NNPC blamed the current scarcity on supply and logistics issues.
One of the sources said out of the 17 cargoes ordered by the NNPC, four had arrived at the Lagos Port but could not discharge earlier this week as they were finding the space to berth.
According to the data from Daily Shipping Position by the Nigerian Ports Authority, 29 ships bearing petrol cargoes are expected to arrive at four ports between this week and next week.
The data shows that three ships belonging to MRS, WAPS and Pinnacle Petroleum are to arrive at Apapa Ports between Friday and Monday. At the Tin Can Island in Lagos, five ships, including that of AA Rano, Ibafon, Bovas and Capital Oil, were expected between Sunday and today; while one ship belonging to Dozzy Oil & Gas arrived on Tuesday at Calabar Port. Warri Port also got three ships yesterday with petrol belonging to Havilah, Nepal and Pinnacle Oil.
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Nigerian ports still expect more ships to berth with petrol. At the Apapa Port, two ships are to berth this week at New Oil and Pinnacle jetties with over 50,000 tons of petrol. At the Tin Can Port, three ships are expected by tomorrow with 58,000 tons of petrol; two ships carrying 30,000 tons of petrol for Dozzy Oil & Gas and Amrah Gas will arrive at the Calabar Port on Saturday. And in Warri, 12 petrol-laden ships with at least 157,000-ton cargoes should arrive from yesterday to Saturday. The cargoes belong to key petrol marketers, including AYM Shafa, Matrix Energy and RainOil. Another two ships carrying 25,000 tons of petrol have arrived at the Warri port.
Explaining the ships’ arrival position, another official said until the ships discharged their content, petrol could not get to the depots. “See, it is when the petrol gets to the depots that the retailers get their allocation and take it to their stations for sale. In all, these issues may linger for a week or two,” he noted.
What marketers say
Some of the marketers Daily Trust spoke to blame the hike in petrol price on the lack of supply at NNPC depots nationwide. They said they had resorted to the private depots, which had increased the ex-depot price of petrol and as such the marketers were left with no choice but to also increase the pump price.
Speaking on this, Yusuf Abubakar, a petroleum marketer in Abuja, said: “We loaded our products from depots, especially private depot owners because the NNPC depots are not enough to accommodate every loading.”
The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) for Benin Depot, Douglas Iyike, had, in a briefing in Lagos, said: “We want to place it on record that the increment is not due to any fault of oil marketers because we can only sell based on the price at which we buy petrol from the depots.
“There has been an increment in the ex-depot price, which has left marketers with no option than to increase the pump price of petrol above the official N165 per litre in recent weeks,” he said.
Daily Trust had reported last week that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) records showed that about 58 private depots got 387 million litres of petrol from the NNPC Ltd at the ports. But some depot owners confirmed that they had to increase their ex-depot price because the landing cost had risen from about N140/litre to N180/ after the NNPC Ltd began to charge the private depots an additional N500,000 as Ship-To-Ship (STS) coordination charge for petrol evacuation from ships since February 18.
An official of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) blamed the lingering scarcity on inadequate supply by the NNPC Ltd.
“If NNPC gives us as much product as we want, these queues will disappear. Right now, we have people who have paid since December and have not been given the product,” the official noted.
It was learnt that NNPC depots at Ibadan, Ilorin, Ejigbo and Mosimi were not loading as of yesterday. The President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Debo Ahmed, said currently, there was pressure in Lagos, urging the NNPC to supply the product to other NNPC depots to ease the pressure.
“They should push to Lagos satellites; it would reduce the tension in Lagos. Everybody is depending on Lagos. From Maiduguri, Sokoto, Yola, everybody is depending on Lagos. It is becoming too cumbersome,” he said.
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On the fuel scarcity and resort to private depots by the marketers, the Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Clement Isong, said there were alleged shipments of the product across Nigeria.
He said, “The market is insatiable coupled with the high price of crude in the international market. It has become more attractive to some to sell petrol outside Nigeria. Petrol is about N450 to N460 outside Nigeria. This has made it more attractive to sell it outside. However, MOMAN members are not selling above normal cost price.”
Crude oil hits $112/barrel as OPEC+ raises production
Meanwhile, as the faceoff between Ukraine and Russia continues, Brent crude soared to $112.5 per barrel yesterday while the Bonny Light, which is the Nigerian crude, was priced at $107.77/barrel.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) stuck to its gradual adjustment plan at a meeting held yesterday in Vienna, Austria, where they agreed on a 400,000 barrels per day increment for April.
Nigeria had yet to meet its quota for December 2021 as its production was around 1.4mbpd due to production cuts by some international oil companies and other issues. In the new quota, Nigeria is expected to reach a daily oil production of 1.735mbpd rising from 1335mpd in the March quota. At least 41.694mbpd oil production is expected every day from OPEC and its allies – OPEC+ in April, the meeting held.
NNPC mum
The NNPC did not respond to the enquiry by Daily Trust yesterday on why the scarcity had persisted despite the assurance that it would end in a few days’ time. There was also no response from the NNPC spokesman, Garba Deen Muhammad, to a question on why the vessels could not discharge the product.
Daily Trust
metro
Tinubu Rewards Qur’anic Champion Maryam Dan’Azumi With N20m
Tinubu Rewards Qur’anic Champion Maryam Dan’Azumi With N20m
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has rewarded 19-year-old Gombe State Qur’anic scholar Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi with N20 million following her outstanding performance at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Oluremi Tinubu presented the cash award to Maryam at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday after the young Qur’anic scholar was formally presented to her by Gombe State Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya.
The governor was accompanied by Maryam’s father, teachers and other members of the Gombe State delegation during the visit.
In addition to the N20 million reward, the First Lady expressed her willingness to support Maryam in pursuing a master’s degree, encouraging the young scholar to continue her academic development alongside her Qur’anic studies.
Tinubu described Maryam’s achievement as a source of pride for Nigeria and an example of what young Nigerians, particularly girls, can accomplish through dedication, discipline and education.
Maryam attracted international attention in August after emerging winner of the second category of the women’s division at the prestigious King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition in Saudi Arabia.
She scored 97.70 marks to take first position in a category that required participants to demonstrate mastery of the entire Holy Qur’an, together with excellence in recitation and interpretation of Qur’anic vocabulary.
The 46th edition of the international competition reportedly attracted 334 contestants from 133 countries, with participants competing across various categories covering Qur’anic memorisation, recitation and interpretation.
Maryam’s victory also earned her a prize of 300,000 Saudi Riyals, widely reported at about N120 million, making the N20 million presented by the First Lady a separate recognition of her achievement.
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Receiving Maryam at the State House, Oluremi Tinubu praised the teenager’s commitment to Qur’anic scholarship and her determination to excel in both religious and formal education.
She also acknowledged the contribution of Maryam’s parents, teachers and mentors, noting that sustained support from families and educators remains important in nurturing young talents.
The First Lady encouraged Maryam to remain committed to her education and to embrace mentorship as she progresses in her academic and personal development.
Maryam’s international success is also part of a remarkable family record in Qur’anic competitions.
Her elder sister, Hajara Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, won the 18th Hashemite Jordan International Qur’anic Competition for Females in Jordan in 2024.
The achievements of the two sisters have drawn attention from Nigerian leaders and stakeholders in Islamic education, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu previously congratulating Maryam on her international victory and recognising the role played by her family, teachers and mentors.
According to Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Maryam’s success followed years of participation in Qur’anic competitions at different levels.
She reportedly distinguished herself in local and state competitions before progressing to national contests and eventually representing Nigeria at the international competition in Saudi Arabia.
Maryam is a Physics Education student at Gombe State University and also studies at the Abubakar Siddiq Community School for Qur’anic Memorisation in Gombe.
Speaking after her reception at the Presidential Villa, Maryam expressed appreciation to the First Lady for the recognition and financial support.
She said her participation in the Saudi Arabian competition enabled her to interact with contestants from different parts of the world and gain broader exposure.
The young scholar also expressed hope that her achievement would inspire other Nigerian youths to remain committed to education, develop their talents and pursue excellence in their chosen fields.
With the latest N20 million award, Maryam has received substantial financial recognition following her historic performance in Saudi Arabia.
Her 300,000 Saudi Riyal prize came from the King Abdulaziz International Qur’an Competition, while the N20 million reward from Oluremi Tinubu was presented during her visit to the Presidential Villa.
The First Lady’s offer to support Maryam’s postgraduate studies could further strengthen the young scholar’s ability to pursue higher education while continuing her development in Qur’anic scholarship.
Tinubu Rewards Qur’anic Champion Maryam Dan’Azumi With N20m
metro
Kaduna APC Calls for Probe Into Alleged Attacks, Vandalism
Kaduna APC Calls for Probe Into Alleged Attacks, Vandalism
The Kaduna State chapter of the APC has appealed for calm after reporting alleged attacks, vandalism and intimidation involving its members and party-related facilities.
The party wants the police and other security agencies to determine what happened and identify those responsible for any offences established by the evidence.
APC Publicity Secretary Sani Dan Azare said vehicles were allegedly damaged during an incident at party premises, while some members and supporters were reportedly assaulted or intimidated elsewhere in the state.
Rather than draw conclusions from the competing claims, the party asked security agencies to examine all credible leads and evidence before taking action.
The appeal comes as political activities intensify in Kaduna ahead of the 2027 elections. The state has already recorded a separate dispute involving ADC supporters and security operatives during a campaign-related walk, with the parties giving different accounts of the confrontation.
The APC said such incidents should not undermine what it described as progress made in reducing political, ethnic and religious tensions in the state.
It therefore urged political parties, candidates and supporters to conduct their activities peacefully and within the law.
Dan Azare also asked APC members and support groups to avoid retaliation, warning against any form of self-help.
“Let the facts be established. Let due process prevail. Let the law take its course” the party said.
The APC added that anyone with relevant information should make it available to security agencies to help establish what happened and determine whether anyone should face legal action.
Kaduna APC Calls for Probe Into Alleged Attacks, Vandalism
metro
Fatal NURTW Leadership Clash in Osun Leaves Two Dead; State Orders Park Shut Down
Fatal NURTW Leadership Clash in Osun Leaves Two Dead; State Orders Park Shut Down
As Olalekan Oyeyemi is buried in Osogbo, authorities transfer murder probe to the State Criminal Investigation Department.
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