metro
Fuel queues persist in Abuja, black marketers sell for N300/litre
…NNPC blames low loadouts, increased demand
Fuel queues persisted in the Federal Capital Territory on Monday as filling stations struggled to control desperate drivers waiting to buy the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, at the official price.
Racketeers had a field day, selling a litre of PMS at N300 in different parts of the FCT.
In Kubwa, a litre of fuel went as high as N320, rising to N400 in Asokoro and other prime parts of Abuja, The PUNCH gathered.
One of the racketeers, who identified himself as Usman, said he stored fuel in several gallons, with the belief that fuel would be scarce at some point in the future.
Another racketeer, Bala, claimed that he was still selling his reserves.
“When there is scarcity, I buy from some filling stations at night. I usually pay extra N200 or more for a 10-litre gallon. I buy at N 2000 and sell N3,500,” he said.
Vehicle drivers told The Punch that they spent between two and four hours at various filling stations before buying PMS.
A commercial vehicle driver, George Akinsanya, said he spent three hours at Oando Filling Station opposite the NNPC depot in Abuja before buying the PMS.
Akinsanya said, “We need to find a solution to this perennial problem of fuel scarcity. It is looking like filling stations are looking for this type of opportunity to make money. Last time there was fuel scarcity, they sold at higher prices at night and limit sales to one or two pumps in the day.”
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A driver, Mr Udoka Uzondu, who said he waited to buy PMS at an NNPC depot in Abuja, urged the government to put an end to the scarcity to reduce the plight of the common man.”
Fuel queues have become a recurring decimal in Nigeria, especially the FCT. In the first quarter of the year, fuel scarcity disrupted economic activities, leading to an increase in inflation to 15.92 per cent, from 15.70 per cent.
The PUNCH reported on Monday that most filling stations in Abuja and neighbouring states of Nasarawa and Niger that dispensed Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, were on Sunday greeted with long queues.
It was observed that many other outlets were shut as they claimed not to have products to dispense, a development that led to the crowding of the filling stations that dispensed the commodity.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation has ascribed the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja to low loadouts and increased purchases that characterise post-holiday periods.
In a statement, the spokesman for NNPC, Garba Deen Muhammad, said on Monday that the company had sufficient fuel supplies to satisfy the demands of Abuja residents for over six weeks.
The statement partly read in part, “The NNPC Ltd notes the sudden appearance of fuel queues in parts of Abuja. This is very likely due to low loadouts at depots which usually happen during long public holidays, in this case, the Sallah celebrations.
“Another contributing factor to the sudden appearances of queues is the increased fuel purchases which are also usual with returning residents of the FCT from the public holidays.”
He further said the NNPC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, in conjunction with our marketing partners, had taken necessary measures to ramp up loadouts from all depots.
He assured all residents of the FCT and Nigerians that NNPC had ample local supplies and national stock in excess of 2.5 billion liters, with the sufficiency of more than 43 days.
“The NNPC Limited hereby advises motorists not to engage in panic buying as supplies are adequate as will become increasingly evident in the coming days.”
But the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, urged the Federal Government to deregulate the industry to avoid long queue recurrences.
metro
LAUTECH: Police officers accused of killing student arrested
LAUTECH: Police officers accused of killing student arrested
The Oyo State Police Command said some officers involved in the alleged killing of a student, Damilola Iyanda, at a club in Ogbomoso, have been apprehended and detained.
According to a statement by the spokesman of the command, Adewale Osifeso stated that the officers involved in the shooting have been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku.
The deceased was allegedly killed by a policeman identified as Inspector Rasheed Saheed, while two other people were also injured during the incident.
Osifeso noted that the commissioner of police in the state, Adebola Hamzat has ordered the Homicide Department of the State Criminal Investigation Department with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of the investigations to take up the matter.
The statement reads: “The Oyo State Police Command wishes to clear the air about the unfortunate shooting incident that occurred on Monday 22/4/2024 at about 0130hrs around a popular Night Club along, “Under G” Area, Owode-Ogbomoso resulting in the demise of Iyanda Damilola, ‘m’.
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“Investigation report reveals that during the early hours of the same date and time, a distress call was received by Operatives of the Command’s Monitoring Unit stationed within Ogbomoso through the Director of a popular Night Club within the axis, requesting for immediate intervention and protection from rampaging suspected student cultists who were at the time harassing guests and destroying club property.
LAUTECH: Police apprehend officers allegedly involved in killing of student in Ogbomoso
metro
In fresh attack, bandits invade two Zamfara communities, kill three, abduct many
In fresh attack, bandits invade two Zamfara communities, kill three, abduct many
Bandits have attacked two communities, Dauran and Zurmi in the Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, killing three persons and abducting an unconfirmed number of people.
The attack reportedly occurred on Wednesday night along with the razing down of the MTN service mast in the town, shutting down the network service in the area.
Channels TV quoted spokesperson for Zamfara State Police Command Yazid Abubakar as confirming the attack on Thursday.
He said three persons were killed in the attack but added that only one person was abducted.
“Yes, there was an attack in Zurmi town yesterday night and our men fought gallantly to repel that attack but unfortunately, three persons were killed and one person kidnapped,” he said.
“The MTN network operating in the town was also set ablaze during the attack.”
A resident of the town Nasiru Zurmi said the bandits invaded the town around 9pm after kidnapping five people in Dauran town.
According to him, three persons were killed in Zurmi town while a yet-unknown number of persons were abducted at the Emir’s Palace.
He said, “The bandits entered the town with sophisticated weapons around 9pm. They killed three persons and kidnapped three persons at the Emir’s Palace. The bandits also attacked Dauran and kidnapped five people there.”
metro
119 inmates escape Suleja prison after stormy rain
119 inmates escape Suleja prison after stormy rain
No fewer than 119 inmates yesterday escaped from the the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, following the heavy downpour that destroyed the facility.
According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Command, Adamu Duza, at least 10 of the escapees have been recaptured and taken into custody following the the immediate activation of recapturing mechanism in collaboration with sister security agencies.
“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on yesterday night has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of one hundred and eighteen (119) inmates of the facility.
“The Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest.”
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Dazu said that the heavy rainfall that wreaked havoc on the custodial facility which was constructed during the colonial era, lasted over several hours, forcing it to give way for the inmates to escape.
“The Service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era, and that they are old and weak.
“The Service is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern ones. This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six (6) number of 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all the geo-political zones in Nigeria as well as the ongoing reconstruction and renovation of existing ones.
“The Service wishes to assure the public that it is on top of the situation and that they should go about their businesses without fear or hindrance. The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency.” The statement reads in parts
119 inmates escape Suleja prison after stormy rain
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