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Fuel scarcity bites harder in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja, commuters stranded

Published

4 years ago

October 26, 2022

Petrol scarcity worsened in different parts of Nigeria on Tuesday and motorists spent hours at filling stations in their battle to get the product.

Black marketers, according to a Punch report, had a field day, selling a litre of petrol between N300 and N400 in many parts of the country. And desperate motorists who could not afford to wait long hours at filling stations had to patronise them.

The situation has led to a sudden increase in transport fares across the country.

In Lagos, for instance, a trip from Iyana-Isolo to Berger along Lagos-Ibadan expressway that used to go for N500 jumped to N800 on Tuesday. The fare from Iyana Oworo to Berger was raised from N300 to N400, according to a Punch report.

Amid long queues and waiting hours in Lagos, some filling stations sold a litre of the Premium Motor Spirit at N200/litre as against the approved price of N180-N185/litre.

A Punch correspondent who visited some filling stations around Ikotun, Egbeda and Ojodu Berger areas reported long queues at the few stations that managed to sell.

A businessman, Kayode Oloriegbe, said he could not wait to buy from filling stations, but had to patronise a black marketer who sold at N300/litre.

“I was lucky to buy a 10-litre gallon at N3,500. Others said they bought at higher prices from the black marketers,” he said.

A tricyclist, Ade, who operates between Ago Palace Way and Second Rainbow Bus Stop at Amuwo-Odofin, said, “Black marketers sell five litres at N1,700 at Ago Palace during the day and N2500 at night. This is a normal thing. Whenever we are approaching the end of the year, we mostly witness fuel scarcity.”

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One of our correspondents who went round the Isolo, Okota and Ilasa axis in Lagos witnessed that only one out of six petrol stations around that axis sold petrol to motorists and other consumers. Others said they did not have petrol.

Two NNPC filling stations before Sule Abore Street in Ojodu were shut.

The attendants at the filling stations told The Punch that they had run out of fuel. They, however, said they were expecting to get the supply before the end of yesterday (Tuesday).

At Bova’s filling station, a long queue caused traffic gridlock along Ogba road as of the time of filing this report.

Similarly, a long queue was sighted at Rainoil filling at Berger Roundabout, with some drivers alleging that they were charged an extra N300 by fuel attendants. The attendants declined to speak with our correspondent.

At the Eterna Oil filling station located before Afeez Bus Stop, Ojodu Berger, there was also a long queue.

One of the fuel attendants said the trucks that were supposed to supply them with fuel did not turn up.

A similar long queue was seen at the Amuf Oil filling station at the Grammar School Bus Stop, Ojodu Berger.

An attendant at Oando filling station, Aguda, after Omole Bus Stop, who spoke with The Punch, told one of our correspondents that the flood that occurred a few days ago caused fuel prices to shoot up at depots, making it difficult for many stations to sell at regulated prices.

Checks by one of our correspondents revealed that many of the petrol stations along Alagbole/Akute/Denro/Ajuwon axis were shut due to the unavailability of petrol, while some of the filling stations witnessed small crowds of motorists jostling to manoeuvre through the queues.

It was also observed that while some of the filling stations sold at N180/litre, others sold as high as N185 as motorists flooded forecourts of gas stations in search of petrol.

A motorist, who identified himself as Alabi, said he had tried to get the product from more than three different stations on Tuesday before retiring out of frustration.

“When I came back from work yesterday, I tried at least three different filling stations, all to no avail. None of them sold. This one is out of the blue. The country is just becoming frustrating. Here, they sell at N180. By the time you come tomorrow, they might sell at N190.”

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On the Iyana-Iba – Egbeda axis, only two filling stations (Oando and Total) were sold as at the time of this report while the gates of other stations, including the ones belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), were under lock and key.

Other stations such as TotalEnergies, Ardova, 11 Plc and Fatgbems on the Berger expressway had long queues as of Tuesday morning.

Stations such as TotalEnergies and NNPCL sold at N180 per litre.

In Katsina State, operators of illegal fuel depots known as “Bubulutu” were the only ones that sold fuel to motorists and other users of the product.

The few filling stations that still sold the product, especially in the state capital, only sold for a few hours before announcing to motorists that the product was no longer available.

Although the majority of the black market operators sold at N2,000 per four-litre keg, they still recorded heavy patronage due to the non-availability of the product in many filling stations in the state.

Fuel scarcity was first observed at the beginning of October in the state and was attributed to the flooding witnessed along some of the routes which vehicles supplying fuel passed through.

The situation was still on as of Tuesday.

It was also observed that the few filling stations sold fuel to motorists N240 and N270 per litre.

Some motorists said the development had forced them to buy the products from neighbouring states where they alleged they found it easier to buy without much stress.

A lecturer at a University in Katsina said, “What I do these days before coming to Katsina is to fill up my car either in Kano or in Gusau and also buy an extra 25 litres to take care of my movements while here. I believe the fuel scarcity is more or less artificial, instead of all these flooding reasons being given as excuses.”

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Kano Building Collapse: One Dead, Four Injured as Rescue Teams Respond

Published

41 minutes ago

July 10, 2026

Trends Admin

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Kano Building Collapse: One Dead, Four Injured as Rescue Teams Respond

A two-storey building under construction on Sultan Road in Kano State collapsed on Friday morning, July 10, 2026, resulting in one fatality and four injuries. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. in the Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state, trapping five people beneath the debris. Emergency responders, neighbours, and passersby quickly mobilised to rescue victims trapped beneath the rubble, with the community’s swift response playing a crucial role in saving lives.

According to the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) , Isyaku Abdullahi Kubaraci, one of the rescued victims died from injuries sustained in the collapse. “Fortunately, four people survived, and only had one casualty. We have handed over the body of the deceased to his family members. I have to commend the neighbours and passersby who assisted in the rescue operation, and we send our condolences to the family of the deceased,” he stated. The four survivors sustained varying degrees of injuries and were rushed to the Sir Muhammadu Sanusi Hospital in Kano for medical treatment, where they are currently receiving care.

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Construction workers at the site noticed warning signs of structural failure while work was ongoing on the upper floor. One worker, Aliyu Ibrahim Baba, recounted the harrowing events: “I had just arrived and was eating my breakfast before I began work. I heard a noise and went upstairs to check. I saw the caretaker wetting the part of the building we worked on yesterday, so I left and continued eating.” He continued: “Suddenly, sand particles started raining down on me and entered my eyes. One of my co-workers went to check on the caretaker upstairs. There were three people at the door when the building suddenly gave way. We barely managed to run out, but five people were trapped under the rubble. They have all been rescued and taken to the hospital.” Another construction worker, Shuaibu Yaro, confirmed that those trapped included a security guard and a commercial tricycle rider, both of whom were among the rescued survivors.

Baba credited the swift response of residents for saving lives: “People rushed to help us even before the fire service arrived, and that made a huge difference in getting the victims out alive.” Authorities are yet to determine the official cause of the building collapse, though investigations are expected to commence. The incident has once again raised concerns about construction safety standards and regulatory enforcement in Kano State, with many calling for stricter oversight of building projects to prevent future tragedies. Rescue operations at the site have since concluded, with all victims accounted for, as the community mourns the loss of one life while expressing relief that four others survived.

Kano Building Collapse: One Dead, Four Injured as Rescue Teams Respond

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Imo Pastor Gets Life Imprisonment for Raping Minor Living With Him

Published

45 minutes ago

July 10, 2026

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Imo Pastor Gets Life Imprisonment for Raping Minor Living With Him

An Imo State High Court has sentenced Samuel Ehirim, a 42-year-old pastor, to life imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually assaulting a minor who lived under his care. The judgment was delivered by Justice C.O. Chukwumaeze, who held that the prosecution proved its case “beyond reasonable doubt” and established the defendant’s guilt through credible and consistent evidence. The case has been hailed as a landmark ruling in the enforcement of child protection laws in Imo State, demonstrating the judiciary’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable members of society.

Ehirim was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on sexual assault, assault with intent to commit an unnatural offence, indecent treatment of a girl under the age of 13, and assault, contrary to the provisions of the Imo State Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law No. 8 of 2021 and the Criminal Code. In her judgment, Justice Chukwumaeze said the evidence before the court “overwhelmingly” showed that Ehirim committed the offences. The judge held that the defence failed to discredit the prosecution’s witnesses or create any reasonable doubt during the trial, noting that the testimonies of the victim and other witnesses were consistent and credible.

Samuel Ehirim

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The court further found that the victim, who had been living with the convict, was subjected to repeated sexual abuse over a period of time. The judge noted that the pastor had abused his position of trust and authority, preying on a vulnerable child who had been placed under his care. Although defence counsel S.E. Ibechem, who held the brief of D.O. Agbo, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy, the judge convicted Ehirim on all five counts and handed down a life sentence, stating that the severity of the offences demanded the maximum penalty permitted by law.

Speaking after the judgment, Ikenna Obi, counsel to the Imo State Ministry of Justice, described the conviction as a significant milestone in the enforcement of the state’s Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law. Obi said the ruling demonstrated the state’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons from sexual and gender-based violence, and should serve as a strong warning to perpetrators of such crimes. The prosecutor also commended the court for its firm stance, expressing confidence that the decision would strengthen ongoing efforts to combat gender-based violence in the state, while also encouraging more victims to come forward and report abuse without fear of stigma or retaliation. The case reinforces the state’s resolve that no one, regardless of position or title, is above the law when it comes to the protection of children.

Imo Pastor Gets Life Imprisonment for Raping Minor Living With Him

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MURIC Demands Release of El-Rufai’s Personal Physician, Condemns ICPC Arrest

Published

2 hours ago

July 10, 2026

Trends Admin

Appeal Court Hijab Verdict 'Travesty of Justice', MURIC Vows to Fight On

MURIC Demands Release of El-Rufai’s Personal Physician, Condemns ICPC Arrest

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to immediately and unconditionally release Professor Bello Abubakar, the personal physician to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, describing his arrest as arbitrary and inconsistent with democratic principles.

The Islamic human rights organisation made the demand in a statement issued on Friday by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, following reports that the ICPC arrested the medical doctor over alleged false statements.

MURIC expressed concern over the arrest, arguing that medical professionals occupy a protected position globally because of the ethical responsibilities attached to their profession.

According to the group, the detention of a physician raises fears that he could be pressured to disclose confidential information about his patient, contrary to the ethics of medical practice.

“We condemn this arrest. It is arbitrary, alien to global best practices and absolutely uncalled for. This arrest stands in contradistinction to democratic principles. We therefore demand the unconditional release of the doctor with immediate effect,” the statement read.

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The organisation further noted that even in conflict zones, medical personnel are generally accorded special protection because of their humanitarian role in providing care to the sick and injured.

MURIC argued that subjecting a physician to detention could undermine patient-doctor confidentiality, warning that such a development may set a dangerous precedent.

The group also questioned the basis for the arrest, insisting that the explanations provided so far by the anti-graft agency were insufficient to justify the action.

“We are not convinced that the doctor had committed any offence and the explanations given by ICPC can hardly scratch the surface. Nigerians need more to be convinced,” Akintola stated.

The ICPC had reportedly arrested Professor Abubakar on Wednesday in connection with allegations of making false statements. However, the commission has yet to issue a detailed public response to MURIC’s demand for his release.