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Cameroon, Niger, Benin citizens lament fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria

Published

1 year ago

June 17, 2023

Cameroon, Niger, Benin citizens lament fuel subsidy removal in Nigeria

Prices of petroleum products have nearly doubled in Cameroon, Benin Republic and Niger following the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria, findings by Daily Trust Saturday revealed.

Cheap petrol from Nigeria was regularly smuggled to as far as Sudan, a North African country, making it difficult for Nigerian authorities to save enough to provide services to the people.

The subsidy removal in Nigeria has also affected social and economic life in the neighbouring countries, with sources saying black market activities have significantly reduced.

The removal of fuel subsidy was announced on Monday, May 29, by President Bola Tinubu during his inaugural speech.

inubu on Friday, June 9, justified the action, stating Nigeria cannot continue acting as ‘Father Christmas’ to neighbouring countries.

He said this at an interactive session with the Royal Fathers under the aegis of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) at the Aso Villa.

No longer at ease at neighbours’ doorsteps

Our reporters learnt that petroleum products are being sold at CFA700 or CFA 800 in Benin Republic, nearly double the previous price, CFA 450.

The development lends credence to reports that a significant volume of Nigeria’s subsidised petroleum products were being smuggled into other African countries.

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The chief executive officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mele Kyari, in a media interview said, “We know how much we supply. There is data on this. Is all of this consumed in the country? The answer is no. The reason is very simple. We have an arbitrage environment. For instance, before this decision we made, fuel sold at N185 in Abuja, but just across your border, there is nowhere you would have prices that are lower than N500 per litre.

“None of the countries around us imports petroleum products, and you can’t do something about it because there is an arbitrage environment we have created. We have 4,500km of land borders and you don’t have all the resources to man them,” he said.

Questionable businesses grounded

Transporters, passengers and traders in neighbouring countries said they were grounded by the increase in the price of petroleum in Nigeria.

Speaking to Daily Trust Saturday, a top player in the Nigerien petroleum sector, Bio Abdourahamane, admitted that subsidy removal in Nigeria would have more negative effect on his country.

He said that before the subsidy removal, smuggled Nigerian fuel used to flood his country’s oil market and most consumers preferred buying it due to its cheapness, thereby preventing them from selling their domestic fuel favourably.

“Nigeria was selling at N195 and our domestic fuel sold at CFA508 (N381), so the smuggler took that advantage to exploit Niger’s market, selling below our litre price.

“At that time, we faced a lot of challenges selling our product because smuggled oil is cheaper, but now that the subsidy is removed, we can compete or even sell at a lesser price.

“But our fear is that if our fuel sells cheaper now, we would face the risk of shortage; and our product being smuggled into Nigeria, to Borno, Yobe, Kano, Katsina and Sokoto, among others and our fuel capacity is so little to accommodate that,” he said.

Malam Ali, the chairman of Niger/Nigerian transporters, lamented that the subsidy removal had plunged vehicle owners and passengers into economic crisis.

“Petrol is now too expensive that our drivers and passengers cannot cope. A passenger will now pay N10, 000 as transport for what he used to pay N6, 500,” he lamented.

He called on the Nigerien government to look inward and see how the situation could be regulated and bring succour to the citizens.

Malam Musa Abdullahi, the leader of Nigerian taxi owners in Diffa, also lamented that the subsidy removal in Nigeria jerked up fuel price in Niger, forcing many people to park their vehicles.

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“For one week, my car has been parked at home due to the increase in the fuel price because you would go out and burn the little you have without seeing passengers to pick.

“Fuel is available but it is more expensive in border towns where there are no filling stations. For instance, I only know of filling stations in Maine Soroa, Diffa town and Gigime, but I don’t know any in Boso, Kablewa, Jakori, Garin Wanzam, Kinchambi and Tumar. All these are big towns that are supposed to have filling stations. Unfortunately, they don’t have any.

“The consequence of that is that you can only buy fuel at the black market. We are now buying a five-litre gallon at N5, 000, against the old price of 3,000 and a 28-litre jerry can at N25, 000, against the N15, 000 it sold previously,” he said.

Situation same in Cameroon

Cameroonians living along the border with Nigeria have lamented the effect of subsidy removal by Nigeria, calling on President Tinubu to reconsider the decision.

Fuel smuggled from Nigeria provides Cameroonian border communities with cheaper alternative. In fact, many communities are without filling stations to dispense petroleum products; therefore, residents rely mainly on black marketers.

Residents told Daily Trust Saturday that life had not been easy since the announcement of subsidy removal by the Nigerian authorities. Commercial motorcycle operators across the border expressed fear that they would be pushed out of business.

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It was learnt that they even staged a protest to press home their demands, but considering that the channel they used to get the fuel was not legal, there was no any response.

Muhammadou Auwal, a business man in Garwa, said the increase in petrol prices took the people by surprise, saying the price of a litre of petrol suddenly jumped from round N300 to N800 equivalent.

“We never expected it because the prices of Nigerian fuel, although unstable, had always been relatively low and affordable. This increase is pushing transporters out of business because here, you cannot increase transport fares as you wish.

“We have our own local supply of fuel, only that border communities take advantage of cheap oil from Nigeria, which does not go beyond 150 kilometres. So it is limited to areas around the border, but it has a huge impact,” he said.

The pump price of petrol stands at CFA730, which is N900, to N1, 000 equivalent, while the smuggled petrol, which previously sold at N300, has risen to N850 equivalent following subsidy removal.

Yahaya Bello, a resident of Beka, depends on his motorcycle for movement within the general area and across the border into Nigeria and petrol had never been a problem until recently when it became scarce and expensive.

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Bianca raises hope Tinubu will free Nnamdi Kanu to restore peace in South-East

Published

12 minutes ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Nnamdi Kanu and Bianca Ojukwu

Bianca raises hope Tinubu will free Nnamdi Kanu to restore peace in South-East

The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s government to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Mr Kanu, who has been in the SSS custody since 2021, is being tried for alleged treason.

Ms Ojukwu said that the release of Mr Kanu would help to ensure the total restoration of peace in the South-East. According to her, if Mr Kanu is released, the region’s development will be fast-tracked.

The wife of the late Odumegwu Ojukwu made the call at her husband’s memorial on Tuesday in Owerri. She advised the people of the South-East to look inwards and appraise the Igbo race that made them who they are.

“In the olden days, we had Igbo unions in places like Kano, Lagos and Kaduna, among others, where people discussed matters affecting them and why they must unite.

“Today, we are celebrating Ojukwu, our uncommon man, a man who stood for peace and equality for every person,” she said.

Ms Ojukwu expressed dissatisfaction that the peaceful atmosphere which Igboland was known for was no longer obtained in the region.

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“There are so many killings, unrest and kidnappings going on today in the region, which is not how it used to be,” Ms Ojukwu said.

She regretted that many people from the region could not go home again to bury their dead or give their children out to marriage due to the spate of unrest and insecurity.

Ms Ojukwu urged the people perpetrating the evil acts to desist from it and embrace peace. She pointed out that some of the perpetrators were from the region and urged them to allow peace to reign.

She condemned the act of killing people in the region “in the name of a sit-at-home directive from non-state actors.”

“Many people from the South-East have left the region for other cities like Lagos and other places due to the spate of insecurity in the area. I was sad when an Igbo person in the U.S. told me that they are making donations in America to buy burial grounds to bury their dead relations as insecurity in the region doesn’t allow them to do that at home come home,” the minister stated.

The event organiser, Raph Uwazuruike, urged Mr Tinubu’s government to release the IPOB leader.

Mr Uwazuruike, the leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, stressed that Mr Kanu’s release would help the region experience peace again.

He said the memorial service was to commemorate Mr Ojukwu’s legacies, adding that “all the good things he stood for will not be forgotten.”

Bianca raises hope Tinubu will free Nnamdi Kanu to restore peace in South-East

(NAN)

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EFCC to arraign Yahaya Bello today for alleged N110bn fraud

Published

29 minutes ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Yahaya Bello

EFCC to arraign Yahaya Bello today for alleged N110bn fraud

Immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello may be arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, today, Wednesday, November 27.

Bello, who was declared wanted by the anti-graft agency in April over an alleged N110bn fraud, was finally grilled after all efforts to have him arrested and stand trial proved abortive.

The former governor on Tuesday submitted himself to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, in company of his lawyers.

Immediately after he turned himself in, the anti-graft agency held on to him for some clarifications and preparatory for his arraignment.

He is to be docked before Justice Maryan Anenih of the FCT high court sitting in Maitama.

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Justice Anenih had fixed November 27 for arraignment based on the request of the EFCC and had issued public summons against him on October 3 in respect of the fresh case filed against him by EFCC.

EFCC’S Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale confirmed that Yahaya Bello would be docked at the FCT high court but declined to give a specific date.

At the last hearing before Justice Anenih, Counsel for EFCC, Jamiu Agoro had said the order of the court, given on 3rd October had not elapsed.

After listening to all counsel, the judge granted the EFCC’s application for adjournment and fixed November 27 as the return date.

EFCC to arraign Yahaya Bello today for alleged N110bn fraud

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Court dismisses Sanwo-Olu’s suit to stop EFCC from arresting him after tenure expires

Published

35 minutes ago

November 27, 2024

Trends Admin

Court dismisses Sanwo-Olu’s suit to stop EFCC from arresting him after tenure expires

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has struck out the fundamental rights enforcement suit filed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik struck out the matter after counsel who appeared for Mr Sanwo-Olu, Gbenga Femi Akande, moved the motion for the discontinuance of the case.

Ms Abdulmalik had, on October 29, fixed November 26 (Tuesday) for further mention.

The adjournment followed the submission of the EFCC’s lawyer, Hadiza Afegbua, that she was yet to see the fresh originating summons served on them by Darlington Ozurumba, who filed the suit on the governor’s behalf.

However, it was observed that the matter was not listed on today’s cause list, and no governor’s lawyer was in court.

Out of the 10 cases scheduled for hearing before Ms Abdulmalik, the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024 between Mr Sanwo-Olu and EFCC was not on the Tuesday cause list.

When a correspondent asked the court workers why the matter was not listed, it was learnt that the case had been struck out on October 31 after it was withdrawn.

Meanwhile, there was a mild drama as the EFCC lawyer, Ms Afegbua, was sighted in court for the matter.

The anti-graft counsel, who had been appearing in the matter, was disappointed to see that the case was not on the cause list.

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Besides, she was taken aback when informed that the suit had been struck out on October 31.

Ms Afegbua, who refused to speak with journalists, left the court disappointed.

However, the enrolled order made on October 31 showed that only the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr Akande, was in the proceeding, leading to the striking out of the case.

Again, while the notice of discontinuance of the suit was dated and filed on October 30, the hearing notice issued to parties for November 26 (today’s) sitting was equally dated October 30.

Mr Sanwo-Olu, through his counsel, Mr Ozurumba, had sued the anti-graft agency as a sole defendant over the alleged threat to arrest, detain and prosecute him after his tenure as governor.

In the originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/773/2024, dated and filed June 6, the governor raised seven questions and sought 11 reliefs.

He sought an order restraining the EFCC from harassing, intimidating, arresting, detaining, interrogating or prosecuting him in connection with his tenure as the governor of Lagos State, among others.

But the EFCC, in its counter affidavit, urged the court not to grant the reliefs sought by Mr Sanwo-Olu, describing it as speculative.

The anti-corruption agency, in the application dated October 30 but filed on October 31 by its lawyer, Ms Afegbua, said contrary to the governor’s claims, the EFCC neither threatened, invited or took any step at all to infringe on his right to freedom of movement nor violated his right to private and family life and personal liberty.