Subsidy: Tinubu to fix one refinery before December — Kyari – Newstrends
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Subsidy: Tinubu to fix one refinery before December — Kyari

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11 months ago

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Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari

Subsidy: Tinubu to fix one refinery before December — Kyari

The Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Mele Kyari, has revealed that the administration of President Bola Tinubu has concluded an arrangement to have one of the four refineries repaired and operating at an optimal level before the end of the year.

Kyari made the revelation when he visited the party secretariat for a meeting with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

The NNPC boss, who arrived at the premises at about 12.30 pm, was warmly received by the chairman and members of the National Working Committee.

Addressing newsmen after the session, Kyari explained that following the hike in pump price and the resultant effect on commercial fares, the president is working out some palliative measures to ease the pains of Nigerians.

He also added that there is an ongoing process of rehabilitation to ensure one of the refineries is ready this year.

“I’m aware that Mr president has directed some engagements and some palliatives will be put in place. I am very sure this will happen. There is an ongoing process of rehabilitation. One of them will come this year, the second one will come on stream next year and then the third will follow thereafter.

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“Of course, it is very obvious that we can no longer afford subsidy. Subsidy bills have piled up. The country is not able to settle NNPC for the money we are spending on subsidy. Therefore pricing this petroleum at the market price is the right thing to do at this point in time and I believe it would benefit the country in the long term,” he said.

Recall Tinubu had affirmed during his swearing-in ceremony that his administration would not continue to pay subsidy on petroleum products.

He said the Federal Government was struggling to fund subsidies, noting that it was no longer justifiable to continue.

The development had triggered a 100 per cent hike in transport fares, while long queues resurfaced at fuel stations across Lagos, Abuja, Ilorin, Benin, Asaba, Port Harcourt, Kano, Makurdi and other major cities and urban areas.

To worsen the situation, many outlets shut down their facilities and refused to dispense fuel to motorists, further creating scarcity and panic buying at the fuel stations that were opened to customers.

But Kyari confessed on Thursday that the country can no longer sustain such an expensive regime.

According to him, over 38 per cent of the total fuel distributed in this country is consumed by four states namely Lagos, Abuja, Kano and Rivers.

He said, “There was subsidy in 2022 but in 2023, not a single naira was provided for the purpose. And ultimately while we held back our fiscal obligations, we still have a net balance of over N2.8trn that the federation should have given back to the NNPC. For any company, when you have negative N2.8 trn, there is no company in the whole of Africa that will lend to you. You cannot have receivables. The provision of subsidy is there but absolutely there is no funding for it. It means it is only on paper. It doesn’t exist.

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“We can no longer bear it. If we continue, we will run into defaults and the defaults of NNPC is the default of Nigeria. Once NNPC goes into defaults and liquidity, it affects every borrowing done by the country. Even the subnational. Your lenders will come back to you and say your country can no longer pay. The only way you can stop this is to stop this conversation around subsidy. It is why Mr President announced that the subsidy is gone. In 24 hours, the bond market appreciated. It is nothing else other than the statement around subsidy and balancing of the apex market. These two elements are major concerns that every investor all over the world, and every partner that we have is worried about.

“Before today, the average subsidy level was N400bn every month. There is nothing anybody can do about it. There is this common argument that the masses will suffer. I agree that once you increase prices of this proportion, as it has happened, it will have an impact on inflation. There is no doubt about it. The market determines what happens next. Even inflation in very many countries goes up when you have the economic indices become difficult.

“Mr president’s target is to have seven per cent growth of GDP. You cannot have it if you have this disruption in your demands and consumption pattern. Very many of us here have at least two cars in our houses including myself. When you buy fuel of 100 litres in an SUV, you are literally subsidising three litres with 100 naira for all of us.

“Even the consumption itself is clearly skewed in locations and states where the level of economic activities are higher than the others. It is very understandable and that is why people can afford it in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Kano. So over 38 per cent of the total fuel distributed in this country ends up in these places. All the other parts of the country suffer for it and you can see the relativity. Imagine the per capita basis?

Subsidy: Tinubu to fix one refinery before December — Kyari

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Aviation

FG suspends Dana Air for comprehensive audit

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9 hours ago

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April 24, 2024

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FG suspends Dana Air for comprehensive audit

The Federal Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development has ordered the suspension of Dana Air flight operations.

This came about 24 hours after the airline’s runway excursion incident at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

The directive was passed on Wednesday to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority to be effected.

A letter signed by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Meribole, addressed to the NCAA said recent incidents involving Dana Air had raised concerns about the safety and financial viability of the airline’s operations.

It said the suspension would not be lifted until comprehensive audits on the Dana Air’s fleet had been conducted.

It stated that the audit would include safety protocols, maintenance procedures and financial health.

It stressed that the move to suspend the airline was aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of Nigerians.

The statement reads, “As the supervisor overseeing our nation’s aviation safety and regulatory compliance, it has come to the Honourable Minister’s attention that recent incidents involving Dana Airline have raised serious concerns regarding both the safety and financial viability of their operations.

“In light of these incidents and with the paramount priority being the safety and well-being of our citizens and travelers, the Honourable Minister has directed that you immediately initiate the suspension of Dana Airline’s fleet until a comprehensive audit can be conducted. This audit should encompass all aspects of safety protocols, maintenance procedures, and financial health to ensure full compliance with our aviation regulations.

“The recent incidents have underscored the urgency of this matter, and it is imperative that swift and decisive action be taken to safeguard the interests of all stakeholders involved.”

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African automakers, minister, NADDC DG for June 27 Nigeria industry summit

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16 hours ago

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April 24, 2024

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African automakers, minister, NADDC DG for June 27 Nigeria industry summit

A delegation of the African Association of Automotive Manufacturers (AAAM) from South Africa is expected in Nigeria on June 27 this year to attend the maiden edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU).

The team will be joined by the Nigeria Association of Automotive Manufacturers (NAMA) team and other leading stakeholders to brainstorm on the sector’s development in the country and by extension Africa.

The organisers of the event, Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), disclosed this in a statement, adding that it would be organised in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).

Scheduled to hold at Radisson Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, on Thursday, June 27th, 2024, the summit is envisioned as an annual flagship event of the country’s automotive industry to rally all stakeholders together to explore the great potential in the automotive sector for national development.

It said the maiden edition of the event would be declared open by the Minister of Industries, Trade and investment, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, under the theme ‘Reviving Nigeria’s Economy through the Automotive Sector’ .

It would have the NADDC Director General, Mr. Joseph Osannipin, as the chief host, it stated.

Commenting on the importance of the summit for the development of the country’s automotive sector, Chairman, organizing committee of NAISU, Femi Owoeye, said, “Initiating this summit is vital, especially at this moment in history, when Nigeria is struggling to map its way out of the prevailing global economic despair.

“Being one of the drivers of the global economy, the automobile industry, if given the necessary impetus in Nigeria, is capable of transforming the country to an automotive manufacturing hub in Africa.

“To this end, Nigeria Auto Industry Summit shall annually produce significant information that would help the government to make it happen.”

On his part, Chairman of NAJA, Mike Ochonma, said, “Significantly, the summit shall bridge the information and communication gap between the nation’s auto industry stakeholders and relevant government agencies.

“Moreover, annually, the summit shall give a single and united voice for the auto industry leaders to set developmental agenda aimed at kick-starting and driving relevant government policies towards a sustainable development of the automotive industry in Nigeria and ultimately position the country as a frontline beneficiary of the African Free Trade Agreement Area.”

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CBN releases more dollars as naira weakens to 1,300/$

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18 hours ago

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April 24, 2024

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CBN releases more dollars as naira weakens to 1,300/$

The naira depreciated further against the United States dollar at the official market on Tuesday, closing at 1,300/$.

This came as the Central Bank of Nigeria stepped up efforts to stem the tide, selling more dollars to Bureau De Change operators.

The apex bank disclosed the dollar sale in a new circular referenced TEM/FEM/PUB/001/013 and uploaded to its website on Tuesday.

It was signed by the CBN Director, Trade and Exchange Department Dr Hassan Mahmud.

The apex bank said it was set to sell $10,000 to BDCs at N1,021 per dollar and directed the operators to sell at a spread not more than 1.5 per cent above the CBN rate.

Amid the development, the naira maintained a depreciation trend against the United States dollar on Tuesday, falling to N1,300 per dollar at the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market.

The new rate is N66 per cent weaker than N1,234 per dollar recorded on Monday.

A summary of the forex transaction showed that the intra-day high depreciated by N22, closing at N1,317 per dollar from N1,295 per dollar. The intra-day low however gained to N1,000 from N1,051/$.

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While the total daily turnover increased slightly to $133.65m from $110.17m on Monday.

At the parallel market, currency traders sold the dollar between the rate of N1,300 and N1,320 on Tuesday from N1,260 recorded on Monday.

Earlier this month, the apex bank sold $10,000 to BDCs at a rate of N1101/$ and directed the BDCs to sell to eligible customers at a rate not exceeding 1.5 per cent above the purchase price.

This initiative represents the second such occurrence this month and the fourth instance this year, underlining the CBN’s proactive strategy in managing currency volatility and ensuring the availability of essential foreign exchange.

The PUNCH reported on Monday that the Naira depreciated against the United States dollar reaching an exchange rate of N1,234 at the official foreign exchange market. This represents a decline of N65 or approximately 5.26 per cent from the previous rate of N1,169.99/$1 recorded on Friday. The fluctuation in exchange rates can have significant implications for trade and economic stability.

The statement read, “We write to inform you of the sale of $10,000 by the CBN to BDCs at the rate of 1,021/$. The BDCs are in turn to sell to eligible end users at a spread not more than 1.5 per cent of the purchase price.”

This recent move follows the CBN’s resolve to continue to defend the naira as stated by the bank earlier.

The CBN directed all eligible BDCs to commence payment of naira deposit into the designated CBN accounts from April 22, 2024.

It also asked the operators to submit proof of payment and other documents at the appropriate CBN branches for disbursement.

CBN releases more dollars as naira weakens to 1,300/$

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