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Fuel scarcity bites harder in Abuja, Ondo, Osun, others
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
News
Investigation of wanted businesswoman Achimugu not linked with Atiku, Sanwo-Olu – EFCC
Investigation of wanted businesswoman Achimugu not linked with Atiku, Sanwo-Olu – EFCC
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reacted to media reports linking its investigations of Ms. Aisha Achimugu with political undercurrents involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
This is contained in a statement by the commission on Friday night.
The statement read, “We wish to state unequivocally that the investigations of Achimugu have no correlation of any kind with the two political actors. She is being investigated for alleged criminal conspiracy and money laundering and has since been declared Wanted by the Commission”.
The EFCC started investigating Achimugu in 2022. Although she approached the court to obtain an injunction restraining the Commission from arresting, investigating, inviting or detaining her for any alleged criminal act, the injunction was challenged and vacated on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 by a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
The court ruled that “…no court has the power to stop the investigative powers of the Police or EFCC or any agency established under our laws to investigate crimes when there is reasonable suspicion of commission of a crime or ample evidence of commission of an offence by a suspect.”
“The court further upheld the interim order of forfeiture of assets of Achimugu suspected to be proceeds of crime, dismissing her suit against it as lacking merit .
“The foregoing clearly establishes that the EFCC’s case against her has no immediate or remote nexus with any politician or any veiled or open reference to any political engagement or transaction.
“The EFCC is non-partisan and non-sectarian. We enjoin the public to continue to keep faith with the professionalism of the Commission without imputing any extraneous consideration to its works.”
News
Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG
Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) yesterday attributed its neutral position on the recent declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State to the need to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.
Taking positions on contentious partisan issues, the NGF said, would not augur well for it, especially in view of its past experience in fundamental division.
Notwithstanding, the declaration of the state of emergency by President Bola Tinubu yesterday generated more kudos and knocks from across the country.
Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, Senator Basheer Lado, said the action of the president was meant to ensure protection of lives and restoration of law and order in the state, while the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, said his principal was required to “avert needless harm and destruction .”
National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Felix Morka, said Tinubu, by his action, cleared what had manifested as a constitutional crisis in Rivers state.
But former President Goodluck Jonathan saw it from a different perspective.
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He described “abuse of office and power by the three arms of government in the country“ as a dent on Nigeria’s image.
The NGF, in a statement by its Director General Abdulateef Shittu, said it is essentially “an umbrella body for sub-national governments to promote unified policy positions and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in pursuit of sustainable socio-economic growth and the well-being of the people.”
It added: “As a technical and policy hub comprising governors elected on different platforms, the body elects to steer clear of taking positions that may alienate members with varying political interests.
“In whatever language it is written, taking positions on contentious partisan issues would mean a poor sense of history — just a few years after the forum survived a fundamental division following political differences among its members.
“Regardless, the Forum is reputed for its bold positions on governance and general policy matters of profound consequences, such as wages, taxes, education and universal healthcare, among others.”
It asked for “the understanding of the public and the media, confident that appropriate platforms and crisis management mechanisms would take care of any such issues.”
Why governors’ forum is silent on Rivers emergency, by DG
News
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
Chairman of the Senate Services Sunday Karimi has hailed President Bola Tinubu for the decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State.
He told reporters on Friday in Abuja that the President acted in the best interest of the State and Nigeria, having taken his decision in compliance with the Constitution.
“No President or government worth a name, will fold its arms and watch a political situation deteriorate to what we saw unfolding in Rivers State.
“We saw that bombing of pipelines had begun, and the security situation was getting worse with the tension everywhere”, Karimi stated.
Karimi, who represents Kogi-West on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled the “fatherly role” Tinubu had played in the crisis since 2023 in a bid to get the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara to reach an understanding, to no avail.
He explained: “We were all here in 2023 when Mr President called that truce meeting at the Aso Rock Villa. There was the eight-point agenda for settlement reached between the factions.
“When Nigerians expected that progress should be made to achieve peace, things started deteriorating considerably to a point where the governor demolished the House of Assembly building and administered the state with only three legislators.”
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Karimi observed that with the recent judgment of the Supreme Court, which gave the upper hand to the 27 lawmakers loyal to the camp of the FCT Minister, matters merely got worse in the State as the lawmakers were set to impeach the Governor.
“What did you expect would be the implications? There would have been more destruction, killings and economic losses for the country.
“With the bombings that had already started, it was a matter of time before the whole state would be engulfed in flames. No responsible President would sit, arms folded, and allow that to happen “ he added.
The senator further argued that it took “painstaking efforts” by the administration to raise daily crude oil production to around 1,800 barrels, noting that Nigeria’s economy was already “witnessing a rebound under the renewed hope projects of the government.”
“Allowing the situation in Rivers to get worse before he would act, wouldn’t have helped the state or Nigeria as a country in any way.
“Mr. President intervened at the right time, and his actions are covered by law,” he said.
Karimi also spoke on the emergency declaration in Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and a couple of other states by former President Goodluck Jonathan without removing the Governors from office or suspending the state assemblies.
According to him, the case with those States was not generated by political crises but rather security concerns.
“So, I will advise those comparing the two scenarios to remember that one was purely about security threats resulting from the insurgency caused by Boko Haram, while that of Rivers is clearly political.
“It was the proper thing to do to suspend the political actors in the two factions to allow for tensions to diffuse. Nigerians should appreciate the President for the action he has taken so far,” he stated.
Sen. Karimi also noted that there was no cause for alarm as the National Assembly had indicated that the emergency rule could be reviewed as soon as there were signs that things could quickly normalise in Rivers State.
Rivers: Tinubu acted to save state, economy, says Karimi
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