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Reps Raise Alarm Over Plot To Sink Nigeria Through Fuel Subsidy

Published

4 years ago

September 20, 2022

… says Nigeria subsidising for neighbouring countries

NNPC extends DSDP to avert fuel scarcity during Christmas.

THE House of Representatives on Monday raised the alarm over alleged plans to sink the country through the controversies trailing the fuel subsidy regime.

Chairman, House ad hoc committee investigating the subsidy regime between 2013 and 2021, Honourable Ibrahim Mustapha, disclosed this while responding to the submission of the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited, Mr Mele Kyari, who averred that Nigeria is subsiding West African countries.

While responding to a question on the huge allocation of petrol to states near border towns, the NNPC helmsman lamented that previous efforts made by the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to install Acquila facility with a view to forestalling illegal transportation of PMS across illegal border failed.

He, however, said: “If you have N5 million, you can cross the borders with trucks laden with PMS and that is the bitter truth: we have porous borders; yes, we have the Customs service but I do not know.

“PMS crosses anywhere to Cameroon through the North-East, Nigerian petrol gets to Upper Volta, Mali; our neighbouring countries hardly import petrol; in fact, some of them do not have the LC cover to back up imports.

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“Cameroon refinery got burnt sometime last year or so, since that time, they have not imported petrol and then, still using the product. If you go to Niger, you find that petrol is sold in bottles just like Coca-Cola because, to them, it is a cheaper source why waste their foreign exchange? So, we are subsidising for our neighbours, that is the simple truth.”

In a swift response, Honourable Mustapha said: “There is a committee set up by the seventh Assembly that investigated subsidy. And, in the report of that committee, it was established that 31.5 million litres of PMS were being consumed daily as of that time; that was in 2012.

“Now, in comparison with the figure we are having before us here, 66 million plus litres, one will wonder what increase of consumption is it that within 10 years, we have over 100 per cent increment. How can we justify it?

“For a layman like me, if I say 1,500 trucks were discharged from various depots into the country, it will at least take those trucks five to 12 hours to arrive at their final discharge point and then, it will take more hours to discharge.

“So, how come that these trucks will discharge and return same day and also be able to load to maintain the 64 or 66 million consumption daily?

“And the second issue, if you look at this your table, gasoline price across West African countries per naira per litre. Maybe you will help a layman like me that probably we are simply subsidising for the West African region. Even in Niger Republic, it is sold for N536; in Mali, N577; in neighbouring Benin, N389; in Ghana, N589 and in Togo, N470. In Chad, N362 and in Cameron, N423, whereas the landing cost plus incidentals, profit and whatever as you projected here is N462 in Nigeria and we subsidise it to N162 or N165 or thereabout.

“Don’t you think we deliberately choose to sink the country for the benefits of others? What justification can we say we have to justify this to Nigerians? These are some of the key issues we will like to hear from the horse’s mouth.”

Speaking earlier, the NNPC helmsman, who painted a gory picture of how oil theft and pipeline vandalisation plagued the industry, disclosed that the country, which produced 2.3 million barrel per day before COVID-19, currently produces between 1.2 million and 1.6 million barrel per day, against 1.8 million barrels per day approved by OPEC.

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Noting that the joint venture partners are entitled to about half of the total production, some of the partners, he said, have declared force majeure, with ExxonMobil shut-in, while Shell has also signified plans to follow suit.

Kyari, who was represented by the company’s Chief Financial Officer, Mr Umar Ajia, said: “We have about 1.6 billion litres incoming, land and marine. This is what is the minimum level we have to maintain, especially as we approach winter. Most of the refineries that we procure are actually shutting down their operations because of the clamour for green energy and COP26 compliance.

“Even gas that is transition fuel for us is being given eight years. Of course, we do not agree. When you look at PMS outlook, we want be closing each and every month with a two billion closing stock. That is the only way you can sustain petroleum so that a marketer do not see some slack and take advantage by begin to hoard product that create, artificial scarcity which can lead to queue.

“There is a huge arbitrage for anybody to move product to outside. We are not saying that the bulk of the product is smuggled. The reality is that there is no study to validate the actual consumption. What we are reporting daily is what the authority, which is the regulator, publishes. They are represented at every depot in Nigeria.

“Exchange rate has been moving steadily from N195.5 to now N390.6 to a dollar, on average. The subsidy scheme is two ways, the fx subsidy and price.

“The shipping cost has doubled, therefore the landing cost of PMS has moved from N87 per litre in 2015 to about N327.68 per litre today. When you compare it to what we sell, you have a N209 on every litre. When you multiply the N209 per litre with an average of 66.7 million litre, you are talking about N3.4 trillion subsidy for the year.

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“The reality today is that if one were to take statistics of the number of vehicles in Nigeria, how many Keke NAPEP do we have? How many pumping machines do we have? On a routine visit, I saw nothing less than a million keke. Take an average that each one uses four litres every day, that is four million litres, one city.

“We have not done a study to validate; people are saying that we are evacuating 66 million a day. That is the reality. Some days, what is evacuated can go as much as 100 million a day, while some weekends, we do zero. The marketers are watching.

“States like Oyo and Ogun states even consume more than Lagos State, so you wonder. Is it that they have more vehicles than Lagos? This explains that these are states with porous borders and that will explain why this bulk evacuation is going out of Oyo and Ogun states, probably neighbouring countries.”

He also informed the lawmakers that the company resolved to extend the Direct Sales Direct Purchase (DSDP) contract, which was billed to end in August 2022, in order to avert fuel scarcity in December and during the 2023 general election.

“It is a very dangerous period to begin to re-tender for that because we are facing the winter. These are the difficult ‘embers months’ that we normally avoid fuel scarcity,” he said.

Before resorting to a closed-door session, Mustapha had directed some subsidiaries, including Duke Oil and NNPC Retail Limited, to appear on Thursday with relevant documents.
Tribune

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Nigerian Pastor, 68, Dies Mid-Air While Returning From US Vacation

Published

18 hours ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Dr Mrs Asabe Toye

Nigerian Pastor, 68, Dies Mid-Air While Returning From US Vacation

A Nigerian pastor, Dr Mrs Asabe Toye, has reportedly died aboard an aircraft while returning to Nigeria from a vacation in the United States.

The 68-year-old cleric reportedly suffered a medical emergency on October 16, 2026, while travelling with her husband on a flight from the United States to Frankfurt, Germany.

According to reports, the incident occurred during the journey when she suddenly developed a medical complication, prompting efforts by fellow passengers and other occupants of the aircraft to save her life.

Despite attempts to provide medical assistance and prayers offered on board, the pastor reportedly could not survive the emergency.

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Her death has reportedly thrown her family, loved ones and members of her religious community into mourning.

Family appreciates Nigerian Embassy, Customs Service

Following her death, the family expressed appreciation to the Nigerian Embassy in Germany and the Nigeria Customs Service for their assistance in facilitating the necessary clearances and arrangements for the return of her remains to Nigeria.

The family reportedly acknowledged the support of both institutions during the difficult process.

Dr Mrs Asabe Toye has since been laid to rest, according to reports published on Wednesday, November 11.

Her death has also triggered emotional reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing sympathy and offering prayers for her husband, children and other family members.

Nigerian Pastor, 68, Dies Mid-Air While Returning From US Vacation

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Tinubu’s Chicago Varsity Certificate Row: Omokri Challenges Journalists to Verify Fresh Allegations

Published

20 hours ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Tinubu’s Chicago Varsity Certificate Row: Omokri Challenges Journalists to Verify Fresh Allegations

Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Reno Omokri, has challenged Nigerian journalists to independently investigate fresh allegations surrounding President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s academic records at Chicago State University (CSU), insisting that the American institution confirmed the President’s admission, attendance and graduation.

Omokri’s challenge comes amid renewed controversy over Tinubu’s educational background following claims by Dr Pearse Adetokunbo, a former lecturer at Chicago State University, who reportedly questioned whether the Nigerian leader attended or graduated from the institution.

Adetokunbo, who said he worked at the university between 1985 and 1990, reportedly claimed during an interview on News Central Television that he found no evidence of Tinubu’s attendance or graduation. He also raised questions about the identity associated with the President’s academic records and the authenticity of documents attributed to the university.

However, Omokri rejected the allegations, saying he had personally visited Chicago State University and established that Tinubu was admitted, attended classes and graduated.

In a post on his official X account on Monday, November 9, Omokri urged journalists not to rely solely on claims made during television interviews but to travel to the United States and examine the university’s records independently.

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He wrote: “I went to @ChicagoState University and proved that President Tinubu was admitted, attended, and graduated from there.

“I urge Nigerian journalists not to sit in studios peddling gossip, but to also go to Chicago, as I did, and verify.”

Omokri’s response has brought renewed attention to a controversy that has featured prominently in Nigerian political and legal debates, particularly since the 2023 presidential election.

In September 2023, Chicago State University confirmed that Tinubu attended the institution and graduated in 1979 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting.

Documents released during the legal proceedings in the United States showed that the university’s records placed Tinubu’s attendance between August 1977 and June 1979.

The university’s confirmation of his graduation, however, became a subject of further scrutiny during proceedings connected to a case brought by former presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar, who sought access to Tinubu’s academic records.

During a deposition, CSU Registrar Caleb Westberg confirmed that Tinubu graduated from the institution but said he could not authenticate the particular diploma submitted by the President to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as the university did not have that document in its possession.

The distinction between confirmation of Tinubu’s graduation and authentication of the specific certificate submitted to INEC became a central issue in the legal dispute.

The latest claims by Adetokunbo have therefore reopened public debate over the President’s academic history, while Omokri has maintained that the allegations should be tested against the university’s records rather than accepted without independent verification.

The renewed debate is unfolding against the background of growing political activity ahead of the 2027 general elections, with Tinubu’s opponents and supporters continuing to scrutinise issues relating to his eligibility, background and record in office.

Tinubu’s Chicago Varsity Certificate Row: Omokri Challenges Journalists to Verify Fresh Allegations

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Fuel Prices: FCCPC Warns Marketers Against Denying Nigerians Relief

Published

23 hours ago

November 11, 2026

Trends Admin

Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello

Fuel Prices: FCCPC Warns Marketers Against Denying Nigerians Relief

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has warned petroleum refiners and marketers against maintaining high petrol and diesel prices despite the recent decline in international crude oil prices.

The Commission said Nigerians should begin to benefit from the reduction in global oil prices, insisting that refiners and marketers have no justification for keeping petroleum product prices elevated if their operating costs have declined.

The Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the FCCPC, Tunji Bello, gave the warning in a statement issued on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by the Commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu.

Bello said the Commission was closely monitoring developments in the international oil market to ensure that reductions in crude oil prices translate into lower wholesale and retail prices of petroleum products in Nigeria.

According to the FCCPC, Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, which rose to about $115 per barrel in September, has fallen below $90 per barrel this week.

Despite the decline, petrol prices remain high across major Nigerian cities.

The Commission disclosed that petrol currently sells for between N1,405 and N1,420 per litre in Abuja, while consumers in Lagos pay between N1,325 and N1,370 per litre.

It compared the current prices with those recorded on February 27, before the outbreak of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran, when Brent crude futures closed at $72.48 per barrel.

At the time, petrol sold for between N839 and N925 per litre in Lagos and Abuja.

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Petroleum marketers have attributed the sharp increase in fuel prices over the past eight months to fluctuations in international crude oil prices following the conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a major global oil transportation route.

However, Bello insisted that sustained reductions in crude oil prices should lead to corresponding decreases in the cost of refined petroleum products.

“If the decline in crude prices is sustained, there is no justification for refiners and marketers to continue to keep petrol and diesel prices relatively high. We expect easing in wholesale petrol costs and for the resulting savings to reach consumers at the pump without undue delay,” he said.

The FCCPC chief acknowledged the financial difficulties Nigerians had experienced because of elevated fuel prices, noting that the Commission was determined to ensure that consumers were not denied the benefits of favourable movements in the international oil market.

He said the Commission would continue working with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and other relevant government agencies to monitor wholesale and retail prices across the petroleum supply chain.

Bello also warned that the FCCPC would take appropriate action against operators found engaging in anti-competitive practices or unfair market behaviour that prevented consumers from benefiting from lower production and supply costs.

“Where there is evidence of anti-competitive conduct or unfair practices that prevent consumers from benefiting from lower costs, we will take appropriate action within our mandate,” he added.

The Commission’s intervention comes amid growing concerns over the impact of high petrol prices on transportation, food prices, manufacturing, household spending and the operating costs of businesses.

Although crude oil prices influence the cost of petroleum products, other factors, including refining expenses, foreign exchange rates, transportation, distribution, financing and inventory costs, also affect domestic pump prices.

The FCCPC’s position is that any sustained reduction in costs should be reflected in the market and that consumers should not be subjected to unfair pricing practices.

For millions of Nigerians struggling with high living costs, the major expectation is whether the latest decline in international crude oil prices will translate into meaningful reductions at filling stations.