Independent petroleum marketers have expressed concern over the rising price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol, in private depots to N710 per litre.

With the increase, petrol pump prices at outlets operated by independent marketers also rose to between N730 and N750 per litre which has led to queues at some stations operated by major marketers and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, where pump prices are cheaper at N610 and N568 per liter respectively.

A visit to the private depots in the Satellite and Apapa areas of Lagos showed that prices varied as the product were sold at between N701 and N735 per litre. The depots with the highest price include Bovas depot which sold petrol to independent marketers at N762 per litre followed by MRS depot with N735 per liter.

The lowest prices were at Rainoil depot at N705 per litre, Emadeb depot with N705 per litre, while depot owned by Eterna Oil and Sahara also known as Asharami depot sold at N701 per litre respectively.

One of the independent marketers who spoke on condition of anonymity stated “most major marketers own tank farms in Lagos and they buy directly from NNPC. Scarcity has eased out a bit because NNPC supply mainly to major marketers but we the independent marketers are struggling as we depend on these major marketers for products.

“The major marketers buy at NNPCL rate of N548 to N550 per litre and they sell to us at N705, the cheapest is N701 per litre. These major marketers have filling stations in Lagos and other states but in Lagos they sell in their various stations at N610 to N620 per liter.

“IPMAN stations in Lagos are struggling as we are unable to sell due to the price difference making the market highly competitive. Our people outside Lagos are the ones selling as they benefit from the high price that it’s being sold over there.

He noted “when we buy from these major marketers at N705 per liter, NUPENG will charge us per the number of liters we purchase and then we add transportation cost of N15 to our filling stations, the price at the pump will be sold at N740 to N750 per liter”

Meanwhile, in a telephone interview with Vanguard, the National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Alhaji Abubakar Migandi Garima, stated that the supply hitches witnessed in the past few weeks have eased, adding that the situation in the country has gradually improved as marketers have started lifting the products from NNPC depots.

“Some of our members have started direct purchase through NNPCL, but the allocation from them is very low and cannot sustain all our members, therefore we have to go through private deports and buy from them to augment our various stations. For our members that buy from the private deports, automatically the price will change at their stations as they sell at a higher rate compared to major marketers”.

Findings by Vanguard indicated that some independent marketers partner with some major marketers to get petroleum products at NNPC price in order to stay afloat.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, had reiterated that it would declare a nationwide strike anytime soon following the federal government’s refusal to meet its demands despite consistent appeals.

While addressing journalists on Tuesday during a news conference at the University of Lagos, the coordinator of the Lagos zone of the union, Prof. Adelaja Odukoya, said the union was fast losing patience over government’s insensitivity to the plight of its members and that of the public universities.

Odukoya said the only saving grace that could stop them from embarking on the proposed industrial action is for the federal government to do the needful fast.

He spoke against the backdrop of the union’s National Executive Council, NEC, meeting held at the Obafemi Awołowo University, Ile-Ife, on May 11 and 12, 2024.

“Our union assessed the outcomes of its engagements with the state and federal governments over the last few months on matters pertaining to the status of developments around the renegotiated 2009 Agreement, payment of owed salaries and earned academic allowances (EAA), unremitted deductions made by the disruptive and discredited IPPIS, proliferation of universities, and a number of other matters.

“NEC also had a critical review of government policies and actions that had led to the present deteriorated living and working conditions across the country and in our universities, particularly,” he said.

According to him, most of the issues mentioned had been lingering and unaddressed by the government for many years.

He also debunked the threat of a ‘no work, no pay’ rule by the government, adding that the policy is unknown in global labour laws of which Nigeria is a signatory.

On the newly-constituted governing councils for federal universities, Odukoya described them as ‘illegal.’

He said ASUU had urged the federal government to recall them about a year ago to complete their tenures in line with the University Act upon which they were constituted.

“So, we are not talking about the personalities and composition of the list but the illegality of constituting new councils,” he added.

Odukoya called for proper funding of public universities rather than creating new ones, noting that it is far better to enhance the capacity and access of these universities and make them globally competitive.

He said ASUU would not relent in its struggles for better public university education and the country.

Constituents of Kaura Namoda-Birnin Magaji federal constituency of Zamfara State have notified the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, of their resolve to recall Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji from the House of Representatives.

The constituents said their decision is on account of poor representation pursuant to Section 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The recall letter, submitted by the constituents to the office of the chairman at the INEC Headquarters in Abuja, was duly acknowledged and stamped.

Constituents have also commenced the collection of signatures of the voters as contained in the voters’ register, which will be forwarded to the commission for verification of the voters’ signatures and subsequently to conduct a referendum for Jaji’s recall.

The statement, signed by Hon. Bello Mahmud Birnin Magaji, chairman of the Coalition for Sustainable Democracy and its secretary, Comrade Mustapha Ibrahim, said: “We urge eligible voters in the constituency to turn up en masse for this crucial civic exercise. The urgent need to recall Hon. Jaji cannot be overemphasised, as he failed woefully to represent his constituency at a time when his service is most needed.”

Activist and political analyst Atiku Abubakar has said that President Bola Tinubu inherited a nation in disarray, economically, politically and security-wise.

He said this during an interview on Arise Television’s News Day, insisting the president is on track and requires time to address the issues inherited from the previous administration.

According to him: “The President, in my opinion, has done well. This is because he met a country in disarray, economically, politically and security-wise. But he has been able to put things in proper perspective, even though we expect him to do some more.

“But in my opinion, the President is on track because he has shown so far that he is a listening President with so many actions he has taken so far.

“His policies are well conceived but in the implementation, there are some things that should have been done differently.

“But the good thing is that the President is listening and anything that needs to be corrected will be corrected because he has shown capacity in leadership so far.”

Names have been mentioned regarding the manager likely to replace Mauricio Pochettino at Chelsea.

DAILY POST reported on Tuesday that the Argentine gaffer left the Blues on mutual consent.

Chelsea witnessed a significant improvement towards the end of the season, finishing sixth in the Premier League table.

But the former PSG and Tottenham boss could not stay any longer at Stamford Bridge, as he is reportedly at loggerheads with the club’s owners.

Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported that the Blues are looking for a dynamic manager.

He said that several candidates are being discussed internally with owners and directors involved.

“Thomas Frank is among the names mentioned internally; also Kieran McKenna but still all open. Seb Hoeneß, highly rated but fully focused on Stuttgart,” he said.

Governor Similanayi Fubara of Rivers State has said he started taking decision as a governor in February, 2024.

Fubara, who spoke on Tuesday at Egbeda Community Secondary School field, venue of the inauguration of some internal roads project in Emohua Local Government Area, inaugurated by Delta State governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, reiterated that the projects people were seeing were accomplishments of four months.

He said good governance, service and projects were being delivered at a cost-effective rate.

He said, “We are just starting but I assure you of more attention. If in four months, we can do this, and we are getting this level of applause, you can imagine what will happen when we do one year of our record time, two years of our own record time, Rivers State would have experienced something different from the regular governance.

“I know why I said four months. We started full governance in February, 2024. That was when we started taking decisions, when we started confronting governance. And I am proud to say that our people are happy with what we have done.

“What we want to do is to bring governance to our people, service delivery at record time, and in a cost effective way.

“Everything that we are doing is in my white paper. I carry it along, so, there is no issue of any manipulation. Call me any day, anytime, it is there. Even the ones I did before this time, I still have all the records.

“If you call me any day, I will bring the records of all my activities in government, because I know that as a civil servant, what is most important is record keeping; so that if you are not there, and something happens, it is just for somebody to pick up the file and he will see the history.

“That is how I am trained, and I have that in my mind before I do anything. So, I am not scared of anything. Anybody who calls me any day, anytime, I have my records to show. I have all the approvals to show that I acted based on approval and not personal decision.”

The governor assured that his administration would continue to deliver projects that impact positively on the people directly while also empowering them to live better lives.

He stated that the Egbeda Internal Roads Project had been accomplished to both satisfy the needs of the people by making them happy and solving the perennial flooding problems experienced in the area.

The Governor acknowledged the support of the people before, during and after the elections, saying what his administration owes them is the dividends of democracy that included projects and social service delivery.

Performing the inauguration of the project,Oborevwori said he drove with Fubara on the road while accessing the venue of the event, and can testify of the commitment of his brother governor to sustain infrastructure development in the State.

He said, “This road project at Egbeda bears true testimony of the commitment of the Rivers State Government towards fulfilling its promise of sustainable infrastructure development of the State.

“It is reassuring that these all-season roads will economically empower, not only the people of Egbeda, but the entire Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State.”

A talented Nigerian artiste, Olaolu Akeredolu-Ale, has designed the 2024 Emirates FA Cup trophy which final comes up this Saturday.

The 23-year-old British-Nigerian, popularly known as Olaolu Slawn was approached by the English Football Association to design a one-off special trophy after BRIT awards.

He designed the trophy alongside Thomas Lyte.

This was first disclosed by @whatsonshuffle via X writing, “After previous endeavors with the BRITs Awards, Slawn has been commissioned to create the design for the 2024 FA Cup Trophy.”

Olaolu Slawn’s video of the making of the FA Cup trophy was also posted.

Confirming the project on Monday via his Instagram handle, the Lagos-born designer wrote, “Biggest thing I’ve done yet. My tribute to the FA Cup trophy. Slawn and @ThomasLyte. Thank you @EmiratesFACup. Amen.”

The Emirates FA Cup reacted, “Can’t wait to see your tribute unveiled on Monday.”

Most of Slawn’s works include spray paint, large-scale pop art canvases, graffiti, caricatures and murals.

In 2023, he became the youngest person to design the Britannia statuette for the annual BRIT awards.

His latest work, the FA Cup trophy would be lifted by either side of the Manchester clubs in a derby final at Wembley Stadium, on Saturday, May 25, 2024.

first black UK consultant in kidney treatment
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester were crowned the EPL Champions of Saturday, and look forward to getting a better chance of their bitter rivals to do double.

Manchester United, managed by Dutch Erik ten Hag, are desirous of the England’s oldest cup to wrap up the season with a silverware and book a place for Europa League next season.

The Kano State House of Assembly has commenced the process of amending the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law amidst call for the return of the deposed 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi.

The House resolved to amend the law after the Majority Leader and member representing Dala constituency, Hussien Dala, moved the motion during plenary on Tuesday.

Daily Trust reports that the law was first amended in 2019 during the rift between then-Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and the deposed Emir.

The first amendment had broken the Kano emirate into five different emirates with the creation of Rano, Karaye, Gaya and Bichi Emirates, and the appointment of First Class Emirs for the new emirates, eventually culminating in the deposition of then Emir of Kano.

But following the electoral victory of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who had campaigned with the restoration of the old Kano Emirate system, several groups renew the call for the reinstatement of Emir Sanusi.

One month before Governor Yusuf assumed office, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, leader of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), the ruling party in Kano, had said issue of the emirates would be reviewed.

“We campaigned and we are well-known in Nigeria, especially in Kano. What we showed the people is by God’s grace all the good projects we started when we were in government. This governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) and his team will pick up from where we left off,” Kwankwaso had said.

“We as elders in the movement will continue to advice them to do things that are proper. We tried not to talk about whether the Emir would be removed or not, but now you see, the opportunity is there.

“Those who God made leaders will now decide on the next step and decision to take. They will review it and determine what is the right thing to be done.

“Apart from the issue of changing the emir, the emirates have now been divided into five. All of that will be reviewed too. When a leader comes into power whether in a country, state or local government area, he inherits things that are good and things that are difficult and challenging.

“We are confident God will give the governor (Abba Kabir Yusuf) the wisdom to come and resolve the challenges planted in Kano state so that everyone will leave peacefully in Kano state.”

The Central of Nigeria Monetary Policy Committee has raised interest rates by 150 basis points to 26.25 per cent from 24.75 per cent in March to tackle rising inflation.

CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso disclosed this on Tuesday at the 295th MPC press briefing in Abuja.

The apex boss said the decision to raise the interest rate was to tame the country’s soaring headline inflation which increased to 33.69 per cent in April.

CBN had continued tightening of monetary instruments to bring down inflation.

The 295th MPC meeting is the third since the appointment of Cardoso in September last year.

In May 2023, Nigeria’s interest rate stood at 18.75 per cent.