We didn’t increase petrol price, marketers did –FG – Newstrends
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We didn’t increase petrol price, marketers did –FG

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The Federal Government on Monday insisted that it had not raised the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, above the regulated cost of N165/litre.

It said the hike in the cost of the commodity, currently between N175/litre and N230/litre, depending on the location of purchase, was done by oil marketers. The government, however, could not explain why it was not enforcing the approved price.

Oil marketers across the country recently raised the price of petrol above the approved N165/litre rate without any official approval by the government. This was despite the fact that the cost of commodity was still being regulated.

The marketers had argued that the N165/litre approved price was not sustainable and was contributory to the scarcity of petrol in many locations nationwide.

They eventually hiked the pump price of petrol and had maintained the price increase for several weeks running without any resistance by the government.

Speaking on the sidelines of the stakeholders’ consultation forum on Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulations organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in Abuja, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, insisted the government had not raised the price of PMS.

Asked to comment on the disparity in the pump prices of petrol and why the government had not waded into the matter, the minister said, “Well, I can tell you authoritatively that we have not deregulated.

“The government is still subsidising, if there are increases in the price it is not from the government, it is probably from the marketers.

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“But, of course, I will talk to the NMDPRA’s chief executive to ensure that they actually regulate the prices. But this is not from the government because we have not deregulated.”

Probed further to explain why no action had been taken against the marketers and why there had been no monitoring exercise to enforce the government approved price, Sylva replied, “Well, I don’t know about monitoring exercise.

“But I know that the authority is fully on their job and the queues will be dissipated very soon.”

On the essence of the forum, the Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, said the programme was in accordance with the demands of the Petroleum Industry Act to allow stakeholders participate in the making of regulations which impact on them.

He said, “Section 216 of the PIA mandates the authority to ‘consult with stakeholders prior to finalising any regulations or amendments to regulations’.

“However, we do not consider this an obligation or box-ticking exercise as continuous engagement with our stakeholders to enable their business is at the core of our regulatory philosophy.”

Ahmed said the regulator had so far published and received significant feedback on the 10 regulations to be considered, as he outlined the pm to include the Petroleum (Transportation and Shipment) Regulations; Assignment and Transfer of Licence and Permit Regulations; and Midstream and Downstream Petroleum (Operations) Regulations.

Others include the Petroleum Pipeline Regulations; Gas Pricing Domestic Demand and Delivery Regulations; Natural Gas Pipeline Tariff Regulations; and Midstream and Downstream Decommissioning and Abandonment Regulations.

He named the remaining to include the Environmental Regulations for Midstream and Downstream Operations; Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund Regulations; and Environmental Remediation Funds Regulations.

Ahmed assured industry stakeholders that their inputs as regards the regulations during the forum, would be taken seriously, adding that the aim was to grow the Nigerian oil sector.

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Tron Founder joins Trump-backed crypto project, invests $30m

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Justin Sun

Tron Founder joins Trump-backed crypto project, invests $30m

Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron Blockchain has joined the World Liberty Financial project as an advisor after investing $30 million into the project.

The World Liberty Financial project is backed by the Donald Trump family and aims to become a leading crypto project in the global crypto space.

Justin Sun joined the project as an advisor after purchasing $30 million worth of WLFI tokens making him the largest shareholder in the project.

The development was announced via the official X page of the World Liberty Financial project welcoming the Crypto founder to the project.

“Exciting Announcement! 

We’re honored to welcome @justinsuntron as an advisor to World Liberty Financial (WLFI)! Justin is the founder of @TRONDAO an advisor to @HTX_Global, and a supporter of @BitTorrent 

. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he recently won Sotheby’s auction for the iconic banana artwork.  

#TRON is among the world’s top 10 cryptocurrencies and one of the largest public blockchains. Justin’s insights and experience will be instrumental as we continue to innovate and grow. Welcome to the team, Justin!” WLFI tweeted

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Justin Sun’s $30 million investment in the project boosted the sales traffic of its native token raising it from $21 million to $53 million.

The increased inflow of capital into the project better positions the project to achieve its goals which include a stablecoin-focused credit card and infrastructure enhancement.

Justin Sun brings onboard his wealth of experience as the founder of one of the Top 10 blockchains in the industry by market cap and his advisory role at HTX and BitTorrent.

Sun’s previous track record of bold investments and innovation is expected to be a huge boost to the WLFI project.

The WLFI gig is another feather to the hat of Justin Sun as he expands his activities in the crypto space. The Tron founder recently purchased a 6.3 million NFT art in a bid to revive a stagnant sector.

The World Liberty Financial project is backed by Donald Trump’s family and it looks to promote the mass adoption of Defi and stablecoins. This project aligns with the Donald Trump pro-crypto mantra and has all the credibility a project of that status needs.

Tron Founder joins Trump-backed crypto project, invests $30m

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Toyota By CFAO showcases latest Land Cruiser Prado, others at P’Harcourt Open Day 

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Toyota By CFAO showcases latest Land Cruiser Prado, others at P’Harcourt Open Day 

Toyota By CFAO, the authorized distributor of Toyota vehicles in Nigeria, has commenced a three-day special display of the latest new Toyota models from the company at an Open Day organised in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for residents of the city and its surrounding areas.

The Toyota By CFAO Open Day holds from Tuesday, November 26 to  Thursday, November 28, 2024, according to a statement by the company.

The event running from 9am to 5pm each day is taking place at the auto company’s showroom located at 184B, Trans-Amadi Industrial Layout, Port Harcourt.

It discloses that the exciting event will feature the highly anticipated 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado, one of Toyota’s flagship models, alongside a range of other exceptional vehicles tailored for the Nigerian market.

This, it notes, is an exclusive opportunity for attendees to explore the latest in automotive excellence, discover new vehicle options, and benefit from Toyota By CFAO’s End of Year Bonanza.

General Manager of CFAO Mobility Port Harcourt, Julius Fasetire, encourages all residents to “come witness history in motion as we proudly unveil the All-New 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado.

“Be among the first to explore this remarkable masterpiece and discover our full range of Toyota vehicles. Don’t miss out on the chance to experience automotive excellence and enjoy a free diagnostic check for your Toyota vehicle!”

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado has already generated excitement across the country, following its recent unveilings in Lagos and Abuja.

The product is quickly becoming one of the most sought-after sports utility vehicles in Nigeria, appealing to both corporate and individual buyers.

With over 11.3 million units sold globally in more than 170 countries, the Land Cruiser Prado is renowned for its rugged off-road capabilities and comfort for everyday driving.

The firm says this year’s model comes in two distinctive editions – the Limited Edition (First Edition) and the Adventure Edition – both equipped with a 2.4L turbocharged gasoline engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission, ensuring superior performance both on and off the road.

Toyota By CFAO also says it ensures that genuine parts and a comprehensive 3-year/100,000 kilometre warranty are available for all customers.

In addition to the Land Cruiser Prado, the event will showcase a variety of other popular Toyota models including the Belta, Rumion, RAV4, Camry, and Hiace.

The Open Day, it stresses, promises to be a must-attend event for anyone interested in exploring the world of Toyota vehicles, from luxury to practicality, and experiencing firsthand the future of automotive technology.

The company says more details about the rich offering of Toyota in the Nigeria market can be obtained from https://www.toyotabycfao.ng/.

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Nigeria’s foreign reserves in marginal increase, now $40.88bn 

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Nigeria’s foreign reserves in marginal increase, now $40.88bn

 

Nigeria’s foreign reserves rose to $40.88 billion as of November 21, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, has said.

Cardoso disclosed this on Tuesday at a press conference after the Monetary Policy Committee’s 298th meeting in Abuja.

He said the external reserves grew from $40.06 billion at the end of October to $40.88 billion in November.

The amount represents an increase of $82 million or 2.05 per cent in 21 days.

“The external reserves rose marginally to 40.88 billion as of 21 November 2024, from 40.06 billion at the end of October 2024, available to finance 17 months of imports,” he said.

However, from the apex bank’s website, the increase in Nigeria’s foreign reserves showed $40.27 billion on November 22.

Cardoso also said, “The process of getting us where we are in terms of reserves has been a long one”.

“It is a clear indication that the policies we have put in place are certainly yielding fruits,” he added.

“However, and it’s very important to make a distinction here and to reiterate the fact that reserves are there for a multiplicity of different purposes, not least of which is to create buffers in the event of unanticipated shocks.

“So they are not there to simply whittle away. They are there to be used to more or less defend yourself where that becomes necessary

“And when we talk about shocks that are not anticipated, I think we can see how the global economies are.”

Cardoso also said the bank would continue to intensify efforts to stabilise the currency and prices.

The CBN governor said, “The currency has been stable compared to what it was in June”.

But he said for the value of the country’s currency to be stable, there must be increased exports and diversification of the economy.

Cardoso said diaspora remittance had increased due to policies put in place.

He commended those in the diaspora for helping the country accomplish over $600 million in remittances.

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