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Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, Ondo, Osun, others

Published

3 weeks ago

April 27, 2024

Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, Ondo, Osun, others

There is no succour yet for motorists and other petrol end users despite the Thursday statement by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) that it had resolved the logistic problems that sparked the supply crisis.

Reports from across the country yesterday showed that many filling stations had no fuel to sell.

Some sold over and above the threshold of N650 per litre while motorists and other buyers besieged the few ones that sold within the range of N600 per litre.

While many petrol stations in Lagos sold fuel at the normal price and queues were not noticeable, it was a different story in the industrial town of Ota, Ogun State where some filling stations hiked their pump price to N799 per litre.

In Abuja, over 80% of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) retail outlets shut down their operations yesterday, creating an opportunity for a massive black market around the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Although the price remained unchanged at N617 per litre at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) filling stations while major marketers sold it for between N680 and N690 per litre, some independent marketers vended the product for as high as N750 per litre.

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Black marketers sold one litre for as much as N1,200 to desperate motorists.

Some drivers who ran out of fuel in hot spot were ready to pay N1,300 per litre just to exit the danger zone.

Meanwhile, there was a sign of hope that the situation would improve at weekend as The Nation could see more retail outlets getting opened to customers at 5:45pm.

Many civil servants who had a tough time returning home from work on Thursday did not bother to turn up at their workplace yesterday.

Epileptic fuel supply in Ondo

The epileptic supply of fuel was no better in Ondo State yesterday with many filling stations also shut down.

The price ranged between N600 and N670 in the few filling stations that opened for business.

Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Ore depot, Shina Amoo, said NNPCL was not selling to IPMAN members.

Amoo said IPMAN members had to resort to buying from third parties at high prices.

He said fuel marketers are shutting down operations in the state due to low or non-profit margin.

Long queues in Enugu

The crisis was characterised by long queues at filling stations in Enugu while the price hovered between N600 and N725 per litre.

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It was N660 in some Total, Enyo, Masters Energy, Rainoil and Northwest filling stations and N660 per liter in NNPC filling stations.

Osun residents, motorists groan as petrol stations hoard fuel

Residents and motorists in Osun State accuse petrol dealers in the state of hoarding and profiteering.

The Nation observed long queues at major marketers petrol stations with price ranging between N625 and N640 per litre.

Independent marketers sold theirs for between N700 and N750.

Human rights activist Comrade Waheed Saka asked the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the State government to check the situation.

A motorist, Saheed Salako, claimed that many of the petrol stations had fuel but refused to sell.

Crisis worsens in Plateau as a litre goes for N800

Many car owners in Jos, the Plateau State capital have been forced by the hike in fuel price to park their vehicles at home.

A litre sold for between N760 and N800 at some filling stations yesterday.

The NNPCL had attributed the tightness in the supply of PMS currently being experienced in some areas across the country to logistics issues but said the issues “have been resolved.”

It urged Nigerians to “avoid panic buying as there is sufficient product in the country.”

Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, Ondo, Osun, others

The Nation

Related Topics:abuja Featured fuel scarcity

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I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi

Published

9 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi

I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi

Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Prince Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has boasted that he has never for once accepted a bribe of any kind since he started active service as a police officer.

Adejobi, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), made this revelation in a post on his verified X account on Sunday.

The Force PRO, while responding to a netizen who asked if he had ever taken bribes before, said accepting bribes is a taboo for him as a royal prince.

According to him, accepting a bribe is not just ungodly but also affects someone somewhere anytime it is taken.

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He noted that the essence of life is to put smiles on the faces of others and not to be the source of their tears.

He further revealed that he has taken it upon himself to preach against accepting bribery to his fellow police officers and other people around him.

He wrote, “No. It’s a taboo for a royal prince to take a bribe. Taking bribe definitely makes someone somewhere cry for many reasons, and it’s ungodly to do so. Your main purpose in life is to put smiles on people’s faces. It’s Godly and rewarding. It’s my personal principle and a call to duty. I preach this to my colleagues and many others always. May we have the grace to remain steadfast and purposeful in life.”

Adejobi, who is a prince from Orile-Owu Community in Ayedaade Local Government Area of Osun State, was reappointed as the Force PRO by the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, in August 2023.

I’ve never taken bribe since joining police in 2005 – Force PRO Adejobi

News

Oba of Benin receives 2 looted ancestral stools from Germany

Published

15 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II

Oba of Benin receives 2 looted ancestral stools from Germany

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, has received two looted royal stools carted away during the invasion of Benin City in 1897, from the German government.

The artefacts — bronze and wooden royal stools (Ekete), were looted during the reign of Oba Eresoyen and Oba Esigie several centuries ago.

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The returned artefacts were handed over to the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, NCMM, on behalf of the Nigerian government by the German authorities in 2022.

Presenting the items to the Oba of Benin in his palace, the Director-General of National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Mr Olugbile Holloway, pledged to work-hand-in hand with the Benin Royal Court in uplifting and displaying Edo heritage.

He said as the Benin bronzes and other art works are gradually making their way home (Nigeria), adding that the NCMM will join hands with the Royal Court to create a befitting destination for people around the world to come and appreciate these works.

Oba of Benin receives 2 looted ancestral stools from Germany

News

Osun: Obaship tussle rages in Iree as court restrains Gov Adeleke again

Published

15 hours ago

May 19, 2024

Trends Admin

Osun: Obaship tussle rages in Iree as court restrains Gov Adeleke again

A High Court sitting in Osogbo has refused the prayer of the Osun State government to vacate the order preventing Governor Ademola Adeleke from issuing certificates, instruments and staff of office to one Prince Muritala Oyelakin as the Aree of Iree.

The state government, Oyelakin and seven others, through their counsel, Kayode Titilaoye, who is the Director of Legal Reform in the state Ministry of Justice, and Dr. D. A. Ariyoosu, had approached the court to vacate the restraining order granted Oba Raphael Oluponle, which stopped the official presentation of staff of office to Oyelakin on May 3, 2024 and to also refuse the interlocutory injunction sought by Oba Oluponle to restrain Adeleke from taking any further step on Aree stool pending the determination of the substantive matter before the court.

At the hearing last week, counsel to Oba Oluponle, Dr Muritala Abdurasheed, SAN, informed the court that the substantive matter was already before the court and parties had been served accordingly.

He urged the court to grant the interlocutory injunction, arguing that taking further steps on the matter before the court was not only contemptuous of the judiciary but also injurious to Oba Oluponle.

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Justice M.O Awe, in his ruling, refused the application of the state government and Oyelakin and granted interlocutory injunction sought by Oba Oluponle and restrained Governor Adeleke from issuing certificate, instrument and staff of office.

The order reads in part: “It is my view that the complainant’s application for interlocutory injunction ought to succeed. Accordingly, the application succeeds and it is hereby ORDERED AS PRAYED. “Specifically, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from installing the 9th defendant and respondent as Aree of Iree and/or present a staff of office to the said 9th defendant /respondent pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit that is the originating summon of the claimant pending before the court.

Parties are to bear their costs.”

It would be recalled that the court, on Friday, May 3, 2024, stopped Governor Adeleke from presenting staff of office to Oyelakin at an event scheduled to hold on Saturday, May 4, 2024 in Iree after preparations had been concluded for the ceremony.

The state government, through his Commissioner for Information and Civic Engagement, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement, said the governor had obeyed the court order and suspended the ceremony till further notice and directed the government legal team to approach the court to vacate the interim order.

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Oba Oluponle had been appointed by the former Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s administration and presented with the certificate and staff of office, but Governor Adeleke later issued an Executive Order that he should vacate the palace, without recourse to the fact that a case was pending in court on the matter as of the time.

The government subsequently issued a White Paper nullifying the appointment of Oba Oluponle and ordered that the case which was instituted against his appointment should be withdrawn before the commencement of a new process.