Fuel scarcity lingers as NNPC delays Dangote petrol supply, independent marketers ready to buy

Going by the projection of Alhaji Aliko Dangote, owner of the brand new Dagote Refinery, sufficient petrol from that facility should have been delivered at various filling stations across the country since last Thursday.

“Our PMS can be in filling stations within the next 48 hours, depending on NNPCL,” he said.

This was expected to douse tension and ease the prolonged fuel scarcity being experienced nationwide.

Dangote who spoke in Lagos last Tuesday with a promise of commencing the supply of premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol within 48 hours however gave a proviso – that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited would pick up the product from his refinery at a price agreeable to the two parties.

Dangote could not disclose the pump price of the product, saying the Federal Executive Council would determine how much he would a litre of petrol.

But five days after Dangote spoke at the launch of his refinery’s petrol into the market, the nation still awaits the promised PMS due to delay by the NNPC.

The NNPC, which had earlier indicated its willingness to buy off the Dangote fuel and distribute to marketers as it currently does has however made a U-turn.

It said in Saturday that it would only pick up the fuel if found to be cheaper than that of international market.

“NNPC Ltd has no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment, and therefore, the notion of becoming a sole off-taker does not arise,” it added.

While no concrete agreement has been reached between NNPC and Dangote on the issue, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria on Saturday said it would buy PMS from Dangote at any price, even if the NNPC refused to buy.

A report by Sunday PUNCH quoted National President of the association, Abubakar Maigandi, as saying the independent marketers were ready to patronise Dangote.

He said, “Whatever the case, if Dangote starts selling his product, we are going to patronise him; if at all he wants to do business with us.

“We are ready to buy at any price because the NNPC is saying that they don’t want to involve themselves in fixing prices.

“So, at any price that he wants to sell, we are ready to buy and discharge and sell at a good price.”

Members of IPMAN are said to own about 80 per cent of the filling stations in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, fuel scarcity has not abated nationwide despite the promise by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, that petrol would be made available by this weekend.

He said after a meeting with Vice-President Kashim Shettima in Abuja on the fuel crisis, “Between now and the weekend, there will be availability of products across the length and breadth of the country.

“We believe that by the time there is availability of products across the country, the price itself will stabilise.”

Lokpobiri urged Nigerians not to resort to panic buying, stressing that there is sufficient petroleum product to meet the nation’s demand.

Queues have remained at few filling stations dispensing petrol to motorists as many people spend long hours waiting for their turn.

While petrol is being sold between N855 and N920 per litre by the NNPC and major marketers, independent marketers are selling between N1,000 and N1,200.

The price is expectedly higher at the black market. In Lagos, a five-litre of petrol is offered between N7,000 and N8,000.

Opay, Moniepoint, others begin FG levy on transactions above N10,000 tomorrow

The federal government has imposed a deduction of N50 Electronic Money Transfer Levy (EMTL) from every inflow of N10,000 and above received by customers of Fintech companies, including Opay, Moniepoint, and others.

In a notice to its customers on Saturday, the online payment platform stated that the charges in line with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) regulations, will take effect from September 9, 2024.

“Dear valued customers, please be informed that starting September 9, 2024, a one-time fee of N50 will be applied for electronic transfer of N10,000 and above paid into your personal or business account in compliance with the Federal Inland Revenue Service regulations,” the notice read.

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The company clarified that the charges are requirements from the President Bola Tinubu-led government and not a source of revenue for the payment platform.

“It is important to note that OPay does not benefit from these charges in any way as it is directed entirely to the Federal Government,” it added.

Similarly, Moniepoint, in a terse notification to its customers on Saturday, said: “A N50 fee would be charged on inflows you receive of N10,000 and above from Monday, September 9, 2024.

“Your BRM is available to answer questions you might have.”

Opay, Moniepoint, others begin FG levy on transactions above N10,000 tomorrow

Keyamo gets Tinubu’s approval for airport concession

Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development,  Mr.  Festus Keyamo at the weekend disclosed that  President Bola Tinubu has given the go-ahead for the concession of four international airports terminals namely :  Murtala Muhammed International Airport, (MMIA), Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja;  Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano; and Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa.

Speaking during the inspection of facilities at the E-Wing of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Keyamo  said the big plan for the airports, especially the international terminals, remains the option of concessioning them to the best operators/managers with global pedigree.

He said : “We are looking for the best partners in the world to come and collaborate with us in turning the airport around and running them professionally. And all will be to the ultimate benefit of Nigerians.

“We are going public very soon and it is going to be the best. I spoke to Mr. President about it. Mr. President said, Minister, go for the best. Nobody is interested in whoever is coming to do it. The process that was done before, maybe you asked that there was a process before we came into the office. We halted that process because there were complaints. I am sure you know that. There were litigations. People went to court. It was not transparent enough. But under this government, under Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, it is going to be as transparent as possible.

“The president gave us marching orders, and said go and do it as transparently as possible. Look for the best bid, the best hands to come and turn around our efforts and run our airports. And that is where we are going ultimately,” he said.

He said the improvements at the E-Wing is aimed at providing excellent customer satisfaction and creating more awareness about government zero tolerance for harassment, touting and extortion.

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“There is a great improvement here. The management and staff, they worked very hard at making this place look very welcoming and a big lift from where it was before. This is not where we are going. This is not our big plan for the airport.

“But this is a low-hanging fruit we can hang on to for now. We want to make the place as conducive as possible for passengers who are coming into Nigeria. And that is why you can see that the management, they have actually initiated very simple ideas and executed very simple ideas to make the place very cozy. More lighting, new toilets, new signs. For instance, I want to show Nigerians this in particular. Now, we have been very concerned, Nigerians have been very concerned about the issue of harassment at the airport, touting at the airport, and extortion by even uniformed personnel.

“Now, our first step in addressing this issue is what you have seen here. So for Nigerians, please look at this. When you come into the E-Wing of the international airport in Lagos, you are going to see a sign discouraging, touting, extortion and general harassment of passengers coming into Nigeria.

“Now, there is a QR code. You must make use of it. Don’t come and go to the media and complain that there is nobody to speak to when you are harassed by law enforcement agencies. Use the QR code, use the hotlines and make a call there and then. Don’t say, oh, there was nobody, they dragged you to one corner and they took money from you. Make that call.

“Pick your phone and make that call and you will be attended to. We also encourage people to be courteous, to be respectful also to the law enforcement agencies at the borders. But at the same time, we have also taken measures to ensure that we put a leash around our law enforcement agencies. So here you will see it and you will see not only this, you will see it as strategic positions around the airport. It is not the final solution to it but this is the first big step towards addressing the issue of touting,” he added.

Also speaking,  the Managing Director, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku said the Authority is ready for business, adding: ‘but the investments we need to improve the facilities and the infrastructure in the aviation sector cannot only come in from the federal government.’

She added that the Minister for this reason, has over the past few weeks,  engaged with the private sector as well as other government institutions globally ‘to make sure that we can better collaborate. Especially around new terminal development, when it comes to increasing our routes so there is some work around route development too’.

Keyamo gets Tinubu’s approval for airport concession