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There were long queues of vehicles yesterday at the few filling stations selling petrol in the commercial city of Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
It is the same situation in many state capitals, cities and towns across the country.
Major roads in Lagos were empty because motorists did not have petrol to move around.
Black market boomed with the scarcity of the product.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributed the scarcity of the product to a distribution glitch.
It cautioned against panic buying.
“The NNPC Ltd regrets the tightness in fuel supply witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT, which is as a result of distribution challenges,” Olufemi Soneye, spokesman of the NNPCL said yesterday.
He urged motorists to shun panic buying as it works round the clock with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy.
He added that the challenge was temporary.
The product sold yesterday for between N840 and N1,000 in many places nationwide.
Lagos:
Fuel queues resurfaced in Lagos as many filling stations ran out of stock, leading to closures and long queues at the stations.
Along Ikorodu Road, many filling stations were not selling.
However, there were long queues at the NNPCL and NIPCO stations at Fadeyi Bus Stop, which sold to commuters.
Along Bank Anthony/Airport Road in Maryland, Total, Northwest, and NNPCL stations were beset by long queues while the Mobil Station at Salami Shaibu in Somolu closed abruptly due to chaotic scenes caused by commercial vehicles.
Illegal fuel hawkers were spotted along Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Gbagada, and Ogba, taking advantage of the situation.
Also, fares paid by commuters along Iyana-Ipaja/ Ikotun rose from N300 to N400. Commuters along Ajao Estate/ Obalende paid N1,000 instead of N800.
A bus driver, Jimoh Saka, who ply the Onipaanu/Ilaje/ Bariga route, spoke on the struggle to obtain fuel, justifying the fare hike from N200 to N300 for trips from Bariga to Onipaanu.
He said: “The increase in transport costs is not our fault. We sleep at petrol stations just to buy fuel and continue our business. Things are hard, and people should understand it is not our fault.”
Another driver, Gbenga Saliu, expressed frustration over the stress of waiting in long queues, saying: “It’s seriously stressful.”
At the three NNPCL outlets in the Ojodu-Berger axis, only one had a 45,000-litre truck waiting to discharge its content while anxious motorists formed queues at its entrance causing traffic snarls.
The RainOil petrol station sold to motorists, amid the chaotic queue.
From Berger through Alapere to Iyana Oworonshoki, to Anthony on Ikorodu Road, none of the filling stations opened for business. TotalEnergies, ConOil, AP, and Heyden on Ilupeju Bypass, were all closed.
Abuja
Petrol remained scarce in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) yesterday.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) President, Dr. Billy Harry attributed the shortage to a “supply challenge.”
Apart from some NNPCL retail outlets, only a few independent filling stations sold the product.
While NNPCL sold for N617 per litre, some independent marketers sold for between N625 per litre to N996 per litre.
Black marketers sold 10 litres at N1,000 per litre for N11,000 in plastic containers.
Some drivers sacrificed their Sunday worship for petrol sourcing, leaving their homes as early as 6:00am to queue in different stations.
Plateau
Many filling stations in Jos, Plateau State capital, did not open.
Commercial drivers expressed worry over the scarcity, and hiked the price at the few stations dispensing the product
Motorists said they bought the product for N950 per litre at independent oil marketers’ stations and N620 at NNPCL stations in the metropolis.
A commercial driver, Pam John, said he would rather join the queue at the NNPCL station instead of paying over N900 for a litre.
Another motorist, Kateng David, said he parked his car because he could not afford to buy a litre of petrol for over N900.
Along Bauchi Road, a station sold the product for N900; while at A.A. Rano Station, petrol was dispensed at N730.
An independent oil marketer in Jos, who pleaded anonymity, attributed the supply shortage to marketers’ reluctance to bring the product from Lagos because of the possibility of the price crashing when Dangote Refinery begins supplying to the market.
According to him, marketers buy petrol for N900 per litre in Jos and sell for N950 after considering transportation costs.
Black marketers are in brisk business as a gallon of the product is sold for N5,000, while a litre is sold for N1,250.
Akure
Fuel scarcity hit, Akure, the Ondo State capital, with the price rising to between N800 and N900 per litre.
Some major marketers sold for between N600 and 680 per litre.
Sources said the non-availability of fuel was due to low sales of fuel to independent marketers.
Osun
Due to scarcity in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, a few independent marketers sold for N900 per litre.
Many stations were shut while others sold for between N850 to N900.
There were queues at the NNPC stations in Lameko and Abere areas.
Similarly, there were long queues at NIPCO stations in Ogo-Oluwa, Technical and Lameco areas.
Also, Ilesa, Ile-Ife and Ikirun experienced fuel scarcity.
Owerri
As the pump price rose to N950 per litre in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, transport fares rose by 100 per cent.
“This is a nightmare for us drivers,” said Emeka Uzoma, a commercial driver. “Our income hasn’t increased, but fuel prices have doubled. We’re struggling to survive.”
Commuters are also feeling the pinch. “I’m a student, and my transport fare has doubled,” lamented Nneoma Okorie, who added: “This sudden increase will affect my ability to attend classes. The government needs to act fast to address this crisis.”
Transporters appealed to the Federal Government to intervene, while residents fear potential protests and disruptions.
A resident who simply gave his name as Jonathan urged the authorities to address the crisis and regulate prices to ensure affordable transportation.
Rivers
Filling stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State sold a litre for between N890 to N900.
Many of the filling stations were not open, a situation that created some queues in others.
At the popular Ada George Road, only one filling station was open.
Residents complained about the rising cost of fuel and appealed to the government to reduce the price.
A resident, who identified himself as Adulphus, said many filling stations in his area did not open for business.
Katsina
Fuel price jumped to N1,050 in Katsina, leading to increased transport fare
At Dan Manna filling station, a motorcyclist, Abdulkadir Mohammed, said the situation was worse as most passengers now preferred trekking.
He said: “The government must do something about the fuel situation; the people are suffering.’’
Akwa Ibom
Consumers groaned in Akwa Ibom State following the hike in the price to N970 per litre.
The NNPC filling station along Ikot Ekpene Road sold the product at N840 per litre.
Some filling stations have remained closed.
A fuel pump attendant in one of the stations in Uyo, the state capital, said the proprietor of the station cannot afford to restock the product.
He complained about low patronage as one of the reasons why some filling stations were out of business.
Ekiti
Motorists and commuters in Ekiti State lamented the increase in the pump price, which has been fluctuating at stations across the state.
Most independent petrol stations visited in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, sold petrol for between N850 to N900/litre while major marketers sold for between N650 and 680 per litre.
The situation has forced motorists to jerk up the transportation fare.
A motorist simply identified as Yaro, who plies the Ado Ekiti/ Ilesha route, lamented the situation, saying he purchased fuel at the rate of N850 in a private petrol station in Ado-Ekiti.
Jigawa
Filing stations sold petrol for N950 per litre in Dutse, the state capital, and many towns in the state.
Enugu
In Enugu and its environs, petrol was sold for between N880 and N920 per litre and N1,300 on the black market.
But the product was available in most petrol stations in the Enugu metropolis.
Mobil, Total, among other mega stations sold for between N690 and N760 per litre.
The hike in the pump price of PMS has led to an increase in transport fare by commercial drivers, as those plying Agbani Road / Holy Ghost Roads, who charged N200, increased the fare to N400.
From Obiagu to Ogui Road, passengers who previously paid N100 paid N200 yesterday.
Ogun
Scarcity hit Abeokuta, the state capital, where petrol was sold for between N850 and N900.
Major marketers like MRS near the Grammar School in Oke Igbein area of Abeokuta did not open.
But AP in the Adatan area of Abeokuta sold for N635 while Fatgbems located near the NNPC Mega station area sold for N645.
However, a long queue was observed at the NNPC mega station beside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta because it was dispensing the product to consumers at N580 per litre.
In Ijebu Ode, BOVAS filling station sold a litre for N665 while others sold for between N850 and N900 per litre.
Anambra
The price of fuel hit N950 in Anambra State at most filling stations.
Black marketers sold a litre for between N1000 and N1,200
The situation led to a hike in transport fares.
One of the commuters who spoke with The Nation Sunday, Stella Achikwu, said a journey from Awka to Achina in Aguata where she used to spend N1,500 now costs between N6,700 and N7,100.
Asaba
Scarcity of petroleum products resurfaced in Asaba and its environs, forcing a spike in pump prices and long queues at many filling stations.
With many filling stations under lock and key, pump price increased to between N815 snxN900 per litre.
Although the NNPC mega station along the Benin- Onitsha Expressway sold at N591 per litre to motorists, there were long queues.
Oyo
In many petrol stations in Ibadan, the Oyo State, capital city and its environs, there was no fuel.
The majority of the stations were under lock and key as the attendants claimed they did not have the product.
The few independent marketers sold at different prices which ranged from N680 to N920 per litre.
The NNPC stations that sold at N580 per litre had long queues.
Edo
Most filling stations in Benin and its environs sold at N880 per litre without any queue.
However, the independent marketers sold at N900 per litre in Benin and its environs.
The product was available at most filling stations, but motorists complained about the high price.
Cross River State
The NNPCL price was N591 naira per litre, while North West Petroleum, an independent private marketer, sold for N650 per litre.
Other marketers sold between N650, N700 and N750. Some sold for N800 and N900.
On the black market, it was sold for between N1,200 to N1,500.
A female Taxi driver and Chairman of the Female Taxi Drivers Association in Cross River, Ms Philomena Ifeoma Asibe, said the solution is to bring back subsidy to stabilise fuel prices.
She said: “Some days, we buy fuel, go out and we cannot make any profit or even get the capital back. The solution is that they should bring back our fuel subsidy. The only way to stabilise fuel price is to return fuel subsidy.”
A taxi driver, Mr Ettah Godson, said: “Fuel is now N900 in my area. I bought fuel for N8000 and the whole day I made N6,000. The government needs to do something.
“The fuel is there, but it is too expensive. We can’t buy much and the passengers won’t accept to pay according to the fuel price.”
Jalingo
Some petrol stations sold the product while others were closed. Fuel was sold for N930 per litre.
Minna
Minna, the capital of Niger State, was not hit by fuel scarcity, although a litre sold for between N780 and N950 at various filling stations.
At Rano and Shafa filling stations, fuel was sold for N820; at Rainoil, it was sold for N780. Other non-independent marketers sold for between N900 and N950.
Also, NNPC sold a litre for N617, amid long queues.
Ebonyi
In Ebonyi, the product sold for between N830 and N850. However, it sold for N900 on the black market.
However, the NNPC filling station along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway sold fuel for N600. There were long queues.
Also, the Total filling station on the old Ogoja Road sold at a cheaper rate.
Sokoto
Most filling stations in the Sokoto metropolis did not sell.
At the independent marketers’ filling stations, commuters paid N1,000 for a litre,
The NNPCL mega station along Kano-Gusau Road sold at N620 per litre amid long queues.
Residents resorted to trekking to their destinations.
Delta
Major marketers sold for N900 per litre at filling stations in Warri, Effurun and its environs.
Some fuel stations reportedly sold petrol for N1,170 in the Uvwie council area.
Despite the high cost, the product was not readily available at fuel stations.
A commercial vehicle operator who claimed to have bought a litre at N1,170 said he had to do so after failing to get fuel at two other stations visited.
Also, a resident of Warri who bought the product at N920 per litre, said most fuel stations in the Warri/Effurun metropolis were selling above N900 per litre.
Abia
Some petrol stations in Abia State sold a litre for between N930 and N960.
Some of the petrol station owners attributed the hike to the cost of purchase and transportation to their dump.
In Aba, Total Energy and the only NNPCL outlet were without products.
Some tricycle operators said the NNPCL outlet on Asa Road, near Cemetery Market, sold for ₦596 per litre.
[TheNation]
The Nigeria Labour Congress has hired forensic experts to comb its national secretariat in Abuja for possible bugs planted by the police, The PUNCH was told.
The union said the forensic security audit would facilitate the return of its workers to their offices following the recent raid by the police.
The PUNCH reported that security agents, on July 7, conducted a night raid on the NLC national secretariat in Abuja.
According to the NLC spokesperson, Benson Upah, the operatives burst into the building at about 8.30 pm and arrested the security guards, forcing them to hand over keys to the offices on the second floor.
Upah said, “The security operatives, some from the Nigeria Police Force, some wearing black tee-shirts, presumably from the Department of State Services, and others on outright mufti, swooped on the 10th Floor of the NLC and arrested the security operative on duty and then commandeered him to the second floor where he was asked to produce the keys to the offices.”
The police took responsibility for the operation, saying it was aimed at uncovering incriminating documents that could help build a case against an international “subversive” figure considered a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
Last week, the NLC rejected the explanation offered by the police on the raid and demanded the release of its arrested members and seizes documents.
In an exclusive interview with our correspondent, the National Assistant General Secretary of NLC, Chris Onyeka, said the union had hired foreign experts to comb the office for possible bugs planted by the police.
“The police stormed and raided NLC’s headquarters in the nation’s capital and carted away documents.
“The NLC, in its National Executive Council meeting, deliberated and agreed that there is a need to conduct a forensic security audit to ensure that the people were safe, and nothing was planted in its headquarters, among other things before they resume back to their offices.
“As a result of this, the NLC has initiated a thorough forensic security audit of the national secretariat. The security checks are being conducted by international experts, who have already begun working to secure the premises against any potential surveillance devices,” Onyeka said.
He insisted that the explanation offered by the police was untenable.
“The NLC met in their National Executive Council meeting and demanded an apology from the Federal Government and the police which has not been offered till now,” he said.
[Punch]
Following the outbreak of violence over what worshippers of a church in Abuja called legalisation of practices alien to christian culture, police from the FCT Command reportedly fired tear gas to disperse Church members on Sunday.
Sources said trouble started at the United Methodist Church, Durumi, when members engaged in a fight over the decision of the parent church, said to be based in America, to impose certain practices which the Abuja Church goers were not confortable with.
“The parent church in the US legalised some practices that are not part of our culture.
“Some elders kicked against it and demanded that the church in Nigeria should pull out, and give the church another name.
“Another set of elders kicked against the move. This created a faction in the church and this fight is the outcome,” a source said.
Some elders of the church are vehemently against imposition, legalising of such practices and calling for a breakup from the parent church.
However, the presiding pastor was said to have kicked against the breskup with the backing of some other elders. Hence a fight ensued, leading to th3 police being invited to quell the violence.
During the service, the pastor had reportedly said he and some elders would head to the court to stop those calling for a break up of the church. He also vowed to ensure the church remains with the parent headquarters.
This led to heated arguments and the church service ending abruptly with fighting between members, and the police were called in.
Police step in
Eyewitnesses disclosed that on arrival at the scene, police operatives made efforts to stop the fight. But when things got out of hand, tear gas had to be fired to disperse the fueding members.
The police later whisked away some elders of the church with a view to conducting investigation
FCT Police Command Public Relations Officer, SP Josephin Adeh, confirmed the incident.
She noted that the Command CP, Benneth Igweh invited all the elders of the church to
the Command over the incident.
The Economic Community of West African States Parliament is stepping up diplomatic efforts to prevent Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso from leaving the regional bloc.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, confirmed that parliamentary diplomacy mechanisms are being deployed to engage the three nations, emphasising the importance of unity within ECOWAS.
He spoke in an interview on Saturday, August 17, 2024, with newsmen in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on the sidelines of a meeting of the parliament’s Joint Committee on Administration, Finance, Budget, Public Accounts, Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research, of which he is Chairman.
Kalu assured that letters had been sent to the governments of the concerned nations, and visits by parliamentary representatives would soon follow.
He expressed confidence that dialogue would lead to their reintegration into the regional body.
“There are already mechanisms in place, through what is called parliamentary diplomacy, to reach out to them.
“Letters have been sent to them, and very soon, some of us will start visiting those countries to engage the heads of government.
“We will open up the doors for them to come back to the family; We need them.
“We will tell them, for instance, that, granted, maybe they were offended by one or two things, but let us sit down again and discuss,” the deputy speaker stressed.
Kalu also noted that even in a worst-case scenario where the three countries proceed with their exit, ECOWAS’s financial stability would not be at risk.
He highlighted the organisation’s multiple revenue streams, including the Community Levy and contributions from development agencies.
“There are many other sources. So, we want to make sure that we streamline it and know where monies are coming from.
“If these are not enough, we will increase because there are so many development agencies, there are so many people who are interested in the sub-region.
“There are multiple ways of raising funds for the parliament, as well as the community,” he said.
In addition to addressing the potential exits, the ECOWAS Parliament is pushing for reforms to strengthen legislative independence.
Kalu, who also chairs the country’s House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee, said that the laws governing ECOWAS need updating to reflect the changing political landscape.
The proposed amendments would bolster the separation of powers and enhance the credibility of the institution on the international stage.
“Rightly put, we need to amend the Supplementary Act.
“The protocols that brought the ECOWAS Commission and ECOWAS Parliament into existence need to be overhauled.
“This is because these laws are not cast in stones; Indeed, no law is cast in stone”, the two-term lawmaker (APC-Abia, Bende Constituency) added.
Since January 28, 2024, when the military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger announced their decision to withdraw from ECOWAS, the regional body has attempted to negotiate their return through sanctions relief and invitations to technical meetings.
However, these attempts have been met with silence.
Fuel queues have resurfaced in several parts of Lagos as scarcity of petroleum hit Nigeria’s commercial centre.
Channels Television observed that in some areas of the state, motorists were spotted in the queues that snaked into the streets. The development caused gridlock around filling stations.
A litre of the product now sells for between N800-N1,000 in some filling stations, a move that has resulted in an increase in the cost of transportation
Some filling stations are not selling the product while black marketers have taken advantage of the situation to do brisk business.
The situation is not limited to Lagos. Some states in the northern region have experienced persistent scarcity of the product.
FG Reads Riot Act
But in a bid to tackle the situation, the Federal Government through the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) threatened to withdraw licenses of filling stations hoarding fuel.
“NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans. Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so would result in the suspension of retail licences,” the agency said in a tweet on its handle.
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) last month blamed the scarcity of petroleum on a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels.
“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” the NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye said.
But he assured Nigerians that the NNPCL is working to resolve the situation.
“Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes, which has constrained the movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja,” he said.
LASTMA Deploys More Officers
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has deployed its officers to monitor traffic around filling stations.
LASTMA’s Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department Adebayo Taofiq quoted the agency’s general manager Olalekan Bakare-Oki as warning motorists against obstructing the flow of traffic.
He said the deployment became necessary due to reports of long queues at filling stations caused by motorists who park indiscriminately, thus blocking roads.
“We want our roads to be free-flowing; fuel queues should not become a burden for other road users in Lagos,” the LASTMA chief said.
Abdullahi Ganduje, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has disassociated himself from campaign posters on social media, claiming he would be contesting for the presidency in 2027.
In a statement on Sunday by Edwin Olofu, chief press secretary (CPS), to the APC national chairman, Ganduje said the campaign posters are “malicious pieces of fake news”.
The campaign poster featured Ganduje as a presidential candidate in 2027, with Hope Uzodimma, governor of Imo, as his running mate.
The poster also showed the two politicians will contest the presidency on the platform of the APC.
Ganduje said “mischief makers” linked with the Kwakwassiyya movement were behind the posters.
He added that the perpetrators are working to cause discord between him and President Bola Tinubu.
“This is to inform the general public that the poster currently circulating on social media, claiming that the APC national chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, is contesting for the presidency in 2027 with Imo state governor, Hope Uzodimma, as his running mate, is entirely false and a malicious piece of fake news,” the statement reads.
“The All Progressives Congress (APC) wishes to categorically state that this is the work of mischief-makers, likely in collaboration with certain elements within the Kwankwassiyya movement, who are determined to create disaffection between Dr. Ganduje and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje remains unwaveringly loyal to President Tinubu and is fully committed to supporting the president’s vision and leadership.
“Dr. Ganduje believes that President Tinubu is on the right trajectory to steer Nigeria towards greater prosperity and unity.
“We urge the public to disregard this fabricated story and refrain from spreading unverified information.”
Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says he receives threat calls from unknown persons who are against the progress in the power sector.
Adelabu spoke on Saturday in Oyo state during Fresh FM’s ‘Political Circuit’ programme.
He said all problems in the power sector are surmountable.
“There will be resistance, people stand in your way, saboteurs and others. Let me say this for the first time. I receive threat calls,” he said.
“I am the 49th power minister in the country. The past ministers were probably bullied and intimated in their work. It does not take ordinary people to blow up a power transmission substation with dynamites, and pull down a power line.
“It is an organised crime. It is a cabal and cartel. We are all Nigerians but we are all Nigerians, we will not run away from ourselves.”
Speaking further on the significant development attained in his one year in office, he said Nigeria had struggled with electricity generation of 4,000 megawatts (MW).
He added that in less than a year in office, his development plans have added more than 1,000MW of electricity to the capacity of the national grid.
“We have raised the electricity generated capacity from 4,000MW to 5,155MW recorded on the 8th of August, 2024. In the past, it took the country over 25 years to achieve 2,000MW of power and it took between 1984 and today to achieve additional 2,000MW,” he said.
“When we resumed as minister, the electricity generated was 4,000MW and within a year, we have added over 1,000MW. Our target is to hit 6,000MW with the support of the Federal Government before the end of this year.”
‘IMPLEMENTATION OF WORKABLE PROCESSES’
Adelabu said a comprehensive diagnosis of the entire ministry “with many organised retreats to find workable and practical solutions to the quagmire in the ministry”.
“First we needed an underlining legislation that will decentralise control and make states as players in the value chain,” Adelabu said.
“It took the effort of President (Bola) Tinubu who signed the Electricity Bill into law which allowed states and private sectors to join and invest in the sector.
“We implemented the supportive policies to act as guiding principles. Then we moved to the market where we looked at the cost reflective tariff as well as infrastructural development, enhancement and upgrade. Extension to remote areas with the adoption of renewal energy and power asset security against saboteurs.”
The minister added that energy consumers must be ready to pay their bills for continuity and sustainability of the many achievements in the power sector.
Adelabu emphasised that, in contrast to the overall cost of running generators, Nigerians can afford to pay their energy bills regardless of cost.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said Nigeria would have been much better and occupied a place of pride in the world but for its problem of self-centred leadership.
Apart from being self-centred, Nigerian leaders, according to Obasanjo, also have a knowledge deficit.
The former President spoke on Saturday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital during the 2024 edition of the Leadership Empowerment International Conference.
The conference featured the conferment of Doctor of Leadership and Theology awards on some Nigerians by South-African-based Immanuel Theology Institute International in conjunction with Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative Inc. based in Nigeria.
“There is no end to leadership and service to your community until you breathe the last. And you can never be too old to be a leader and to give something to the community in which you lead and serve as a leader, to serve your state, your country, the continent and the world.
“And if you asked me in one word, what is the bane of Nigeria today? I will not think about it twice. I will say it is leadership. Leadership that is self-centred, leadership that is a deficit in knowledge and understanding and leadership that does not see service as the centrepiece of what leadership is all about.
“If we can get the leadership right, we will get all other things right. That is what Prof. Olusesi Obateye is doing, which is commendable and very good. We must encourage and inculcate good leadership into every level of our national life,” Obasanjo said.
Obasanjo commended the International Coordinator of Priesthood Leadership Development Initiative, Prof. Olusesi Obateye, and the President of the South Africa-based institute, Prof.Van Den Berg Edward Alfred, for recognising and encouraging some Nigerians with leadership capacities.
Earlier, Obateye, who spoke on the theme of the conference “Responsible And Responsive Leadership,” lamented the dearth of good leaders, saying it was responsible for Nigeria’s under-development almost 64 years after independence.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Obasanjo said Nigeria’s problems would continue to defy solutions until the country began to feed itself.
He stated this when a delegation from Niger State, comprising commissioners and Special Advisers to Governor Mohammed Bago, paid him a courtesy visit in his Abeokuta, Ogun State home at the weekend.
Governor Bago’s Special Adviser on Print Media, Aisha Wakaso, made this known on Sunday in a press statement.
“The former President expressed his admiration for Bago’s initiative, likening it to his own ‘Operation Feed the Nation’ policy of 1976. He emphasised that with modern equipment now available, the impact of such initiatives can be even greater than before.
“Obasanjo highlighted the critical importance of agricultural self-sufficiency, stating, ‘Until Nigeria begins to feed itself, the challenges facing the country will persist. A nation that cannot feed itself is sitting on a time bomb’.
“He urged other state governors to follow Niger State’s lead in agricultural development to ensure that Nigeria can produce the majority of its own food,” Wakaso stated.
The Special Adviser disclosed that the former President encouraged Niger State to continue investing in agriculture and to explore modern methods to enhance existing practices, expressing his intention to visit Niger State with his team to learn from their progress and exchange ideas to improve and add value to his own agricultural endeavors.
“Obasanjo also advised Nigerians to consider investing in soilless farming, warning that with the current rate of land use, Nigeria could soon face a shortage of arable land. He stressed that innovative farming techniques are essential to sustaining the nation’s agricultural productivity,” she stated
The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has issued permits to Golden Penny Power Limited, MTN Communications Nigeria Limited, Havenhill Synergy, and others for mini-grid electricity generation.
The NERC said it issued nine new off-grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024 with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and three new trading licences.
According to a report by the commission, Golden Penny Power Limited got a licence to build six off-grid gas plants in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, and Cross River states. The total capacity is 100MW.
Also, MTN was granted a permit to build four captive generation plants across Lagos State with 15.94MW capacity.
Aside from MTN, SweetCo Foods Limited, African Steel Mills Nigeria Limited, West African Ceramics Limited, Royal Engineered Stones Limited, and Armilo Plastics Limited were permitted to generate captive power.
“Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to own and maintain power plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party. The commission issued nine captive power generation permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW.
Our correspondent gathered that other licensed companies for mini-grids are Daybreak Power Solutions, TIS Renewable Energy Limited, Auro Nigeria Private Limited, Watts Exchange Limited, Centum Dopemu Energy Services Ltd, DMD Electric Limited Lagos State.
Section 165(1)(m) of the Electricity Act 2023 permits the commission to award licence of mini-grid concessions to renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating aggregate electricity to be generated and distributed from a site with the obligation to serve customers to request service.
Under this, the commission said it has continued to encourage the development and utilisation of renewable energy by issuing permits and registration certificates for mini-grid development.
A permit is issued to a mini-grid developer for the construction, operation, maintenance, and where applicable ownership of mini-grids with distribution capacity above 100 kilowatts and generation capacity up to 1MW.
The commission disclosed that it issues registration certificates to a mini-grid developer for one or more systems with distribution capacity below 100kW.
“Following the satisfactory evaluation of mini-grid applications, the commission issued three mini-grid permits and two registration certificates in 2024/Q1,” the NERC stated.
During the period under review, NERC stated that it certified six Meter Service Providers, including four meter installers and two meter manufacturers.
A Meter Service Provider is an entity certified by the commission as a manufacturer, supplier, vendor, or installer of electric energy meters and/or metering systems.
A Meter Asset Provider is an entity that is granted a permit by the commission to provide metering services with roles that may include meter financing, procurement, supply, installation, maintenance, and replacement.
The certified meter service providers are Genobet Limited (installer), Mojec Meter Asset Management (installer), Epagad International Services Limited (installer), Abdulrahman Ahmadu Zubairu (installer), Smart Meters Company Limited (manufacturer), and Crestflow Energy Limited (manufacturer).
The commission also said it issued one regulation and 36 new Orders in 2024/Q1. They include NERC–R–001–2024 — Eligible Customer Regulations, 2024; NERC/2023/023—NERC/2023/033 — Multi-Year Tariff Order 2024 for the Distribution Companies; and NERC/2023/034 — MYTO 2024 for the Transmission Company of Nigeria Plc.
Other are NERC/2023/035 — Order on Performance Improvement Plan of the Transmission Company of Nigeria; NERC/2024/001 — Order on the Regulatory Intervention in Kaduna Electricity Distribution Plc; NERC/2024/004 – NERC/2024/014 — Order on Noncompliance with Capping of Estimated Bill by DisCos for the period January – September 2023; and NERC/2024/016 – NERC/2024/036 — February 2024 Supplementary Order to the Multi-Year Tariff Order for the Discos.
During the quarter, the commission issued 36 orders to guide the activities of licensees.
Due to the current economic crunch in the country, payments by Nigerian students for the new academic session starting in September, this year, in universities in the United Kingdom have dropped by 65 per cent compared to last year, a report by the Financial Times of London has said.
The report also indicated that payments by students from India also dropped by 44 per cent, compared to last August.
The two nations are among the top three contributors to the League of International Students in the United Kingdom.
The paper, quoting data from Enroly, a web platform used by one in three international students for managing enrolment, said there was a 35 per cent drop in deposits for places on UK university courses overall by foreign students this month, compared to August 2023.
‘’Some will likely need to take further significant action to secure their financial sustainability,’’ said Paul Kett, senior education and skills adviser at PwC UK.
The number of international students applying to UK universities has remained far below recent levels, despite signs of a slight recovery this month, leaving some institutions facing financial crisis.
This shows a slight improvement in May when the drop was 57 per cent, compared with a year earlier.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said last month that the new Labour government wanted to welcome international students.
She criticised the negative rhetoric of the previous Conservative administration which successive Tory ministers had deployed as they tried to cut overall migration figures.
The data showed a significant decline in students from Nigeria and India, two of the three largest international markets for UK universities.
Deposits from Nigerian students fell by 65 per cent, and from Indian, students were down by 44 per cent, when compared to August 2023.
Smaller markets, such as Kenya and Nepal, showed increased demand against a year ago.
Jeffrey Williams, Enroly’s Chief Executive, said the “early signs” of recovery reflected efforts by the new government to stabilise immigration policy.
“Concerns regarding the potential elimination of the postgraduate route work visa have been assuaged,” he said, adding that this had been helped by “continued political uncertainty” in other markets such as Australia and Canada.
Harry Anderson, Deputy Director of Universities UK International, the sector lobby group, said the international environment remained volatile for universities as they continued to look to diversify the range of countries from which they recruit students.
Labour has so far retained the Conservative’s ban on most graduate students bringing family members, which Anderson said would still present competitive challenges for UK institutions.
“Most of our competitor destinations do allow students to bring their family members, and most of the growth in recent years has been in postgraduate taught courses where students typically tend to be older and have family members.
“Still, the hope is that stability signalled by the new government will benefit the next admissions cycle after the turbulence of the last 18 months. But the sector needs to be working hard with embassies to communicate this,” Anderson added.
The regulator, the Office for Students, has already started to prepare for a potential wave of university insolvencies, advertising for a contract of up to £4million for professional services companies to handle restructuring programmes.
It made the move after financial accounts revealed over-optimistic assumptions about the growth of overseas’ recruitment in the next few years.
In its annual report this May the OfS accused universities of “optimism bias” for using projections of 35 per cent growth in international entrants in 2022-26.
Meanwhile, a recent data from the Central Bank of Nigeria’s balance of payment compilation spanning the first six months of 2023, showed that Nigerians spent $896.09million on foreign education, with a large chunk going to the UK.
Foundation courses in the UK go for between £10,000 and £15,000 and an average student would need about £8,000 for other expenses yearly.
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Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa state, says Nigeria’s woes stem from its leaders, and not the country’s constitution.
Lamido said this in reaction to a call by The Patriots, a group of elder statesmen who visited President Bola Tinubu and canvassed for a new constitution.
Emeka Anyaoku, former secretary-general of the Commonwealth, who led the group, had urged the president to convene a constituent assembly to draft a people-centred constitution for the country.
In an interview with THISDAY on Sunday, Lamido said the flaws in the 1999 Constitution’s implementation are a result of human error, not inherent weaknesses in the constitution.
“If you see smoke from the chimney and it is polluting the entire environment, and it is very black and you are choking from the smoke, what you have to do is to find out where the smoke is coming out from,” the former governor said.
“Don’t blame the chimney; calm down and find out the source of the smoke. Find out the problem and deal with it. The symptoms are only a manifestation of something that has gone wrong. Why do you blame the constitution?
“The constitution does not reason like human beings. It cannot contain every solution to your problems. It is supposed to guide you and not solve your problems.
“The people who are supposed to operate and implement the constitution are Nigerians. Now tell me who is doing the right thing in Nigeria: From the motor parks to the schools to the banks.
“So why are we running away from our own shadow? How many constitutions do we need to have before we get it right? After any problem, we shout ‘amend the constitution.’ How many new constitutions do we need to have?
“So no matter what you write as a constitution, so long as the operation is subverted, it can’t work. Look at the country, people are fighting each other: in the south-east, south-west, south-south, north-east, north-west. Clans are fighting each other; anywhere you go, people are fighting each other. Is it the constitution or because of the operators?
“It is not the constitution; it is the operation of the constitution. There is no perfect human being or perfect constitution anywhere in the world but we the operators.
“In other climes, constitutions become good through the way they are managed. So we cannot run away from our shadows. No matter how fast you run, your shadow will follow you.”
Lamido added that the country’s challenges “lie in the attitude and character of those who operate the constitution”.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the national assembly to disclose the total amount paid to lawmakers as “running costs”.
Recently, there has been public discourse on salaries and allowances of the 469 members of the house of representatives and senate.
Last Wednesday, Kawu Sumaila, senator representing Kano south, told BBC Hausa that he receives N21 million monthly as “running costs”.
Sumaila said the salary of a senator is about N1 million.
The senator’s comment came days after former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused federal lawmakers of fixing their salaries and allowances — a claim the senate has denied.
In a statement on Saturday, Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP’s deputy director, asked the leadership of the national assembly to “promptly disclose the exact amount of the monthly running costs of millions of naira currently being paid to and received by members of the national assembly and the spending details of any such running costs”.
He said the alleged practice of paying money meant for “running costs” to the personal accounts of lawmakers amounts to corruption, which should be investigated.
“The allegations that members of the national assembly are fixing their own salaries, allowances and running costs are entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the constitutional oath of office and the object and purpose of the UN convention against corruption to which Nigeria is a state party,” the statement reads.
“We would be grateful if the recommended measures are taken within seven days of the receipt and/or publication of this letter.
“If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall take all appropriate legal actions to compel you and other members of the national assembly to comply with our request in the public interest.
“Accounting for and returning any misused or mismanaged running costs collected by members of the national assembly would build trust in democratic institutions and strengthen the rule of law.
“Accounting for and returning any misused or mismanaged running costs collected would also enhance the ability of the lawmakers to effectively and efficiently discharge their constitutional and statutory responsibilities.”
… Absolves NNPCL, NMDPRA Of Alleged Favouritism
Matrix Energy has refuted claims that it is behind the importation of substandard petroleum products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel and Jet A-1 fuel, from Malta and Russia.
A recent publication by a newspaper (Not This platform) alleged that Matrix Energy’s Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu, who is a member of the Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC), was linked to the surge in imports from the countries.
This has sparked thousands of comments on microblogging sites X, with ‘Malta’ and ‘Dangote’ trending on the platform on Saturday.
The report said in 2023, Nigeria’s petroleum importation from Malta surged significantly to $2.8bn as against zero between 2017 and 2022, and a mere $13.32m in 2016.
The report alleged, “Matrix — which has three old ships (Matrix Pride, Matrix Triumph, and Matrix S.ILU) — reportedly loads diesel products exported from Russia in Lome, Togo.
“It is understood that the diesel from Russia is typically off-spec and is often corrected in places like Lome and Malta through blending with other components.”
This allegation was first brought up by Dangote Group when their Founder and Chairman, Aliko Dangote, claimed that oil traders and terminals have opened a blending plant in Malta.
The Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, further accused the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of indiscriminately licensing traders to import “dirty” diesel and jet fuel into the country.
This was after he failed to secure feedstock arrangement for his refinery — Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals —, resulting in alleged blackmail against the government to bend rules in the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, according to experts.
In response to the claims made against its CEO, 20-year-old Matrix described the allegations as “lies” aimed at destroying the firm’s reputation as well as that of its CEO and founder.
Matrix Energy also absolved the NMDPRA and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) of any wrongdoing.
Matrix Energy clarified that the NMDPRA is the sole regulatory body empowered by the PIA 2021 to issue import licenses and enforce the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) product specifications adding that the company has never compromised quality or sabotaged the country.
Matrix said, “Matrix Energy has consistently imported products that meet the approved specifications, and we have never been found wanting in this regard. Our commitment to quality is reflected in the fact that none of our customers have ever rejected our products; indeed, demand for Matrix products often exceeds our capacity to supply, a testament to our reputation for reliability. This success is equally reflected in our fertilizer businesses.
“Our depots boast a storage capacity of 150 million liters of liquid products, including LPG and bitumen. However, contrary to the claims made in the aforementioned publication, we did not discharge 200,000 metric tons of PMS into our facility in July 2024.
“While we have the capacity and customer base to handle such volumes, Matrix Energy has never imported or distributed any substandard cargo in our two decades of operation. Our quality test has never been doubted by the regulators and Nigerians who have found a partner in us.”
The NNPCL on August 5, 2024 introduced its Utapate crude oil blend from OML 13 and the state-owned company has exported its first shipment.
Matrix said, “NNPC traditionally tenders its free crude cargoes, and any company that wins the tender is operating within the law. Matrix Energy like other companies also won the tenders. As a people-oriented company that operates above board and in line with international best practices, we welcome constructive criticisms.
“Our Chief Executive Officer, Abdulkabir Adisa Aliu is a talented and dedicated Nigerian with the right to associate freely as well as trade freely in any part of the world. Like he stated in his presentation before the Nigerian Senate, we are not aware that Nigerian companies have been banned from bringing in legitimate and standard products from outside the country and until such is done, we will continue to serve the public with best quality products.”
The firm said its CEO is deeply committed to making a positive impact adding “his selection by Mr. President to serve as a member of the Economic Coordination Council is a recognition of his dedication to shared values and his commitment to the betterment of Nigeria.”
The company said it will not relent in its commitment to supporting Nigeria by ensuring the availability of petroleum products at competitive prices.
President Bola Tinubu has directed that only authorised officials with justifiable reasons should attend the forthcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, United States.
The 79th session of the UN General Assembly, set to commence on September 10, 2024, will cover a wide range of global issues, including sustainable development, economic growth, and international cooperation.
The meeting’s provisional agenda seen by THE WHISTLER comprises 178 items, including climate change, human rights, peacekeeping operations, and international security, among others.
The directive, aimed at reducing unnecessary expenditures, was announced by the president’s Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, during a retreat at the State House on Saturday.
During the one-day retreat organised for heads of government agencies under the supervision of the State House management, Gbajabiamila said the directive was in line with the president’s commitment to prudent resource management and reduction of overall cost of governance.
According to him, the upcoming 79th session of the UN General Assembly will be a test of President Tinubu’s policy directive on reduction in cost of governance.
”I just discussed with the President this afternoon. In the next few weeks, we are going to see a test of this policy during UNGA in New York,” he said.
Gbajabiamila recalled the recent protests against economic hardship and high cost of governance, noting that “Everyone is waiting to see if Nigeria, as in the past, will send the ‘largest delegation’ to UNGA.
”From experience, we know that some individuals use the opportunity of such international meetings to go about their personal businesses.
”I have received a directive from Mr. President that this time, we will be strict. If you have no business at the UN General Assembly, do not step foot in America, and this is a directive from Mr. President,” Gbajabiamila said.
The Chief of Staff stressed that all heads of agencies must comply strictly with the directive, warning that non-compliance would not be tolerated.
The retreat, themed “Strengthening Institutional Mechanism for Effective Delivery,” was an avenue to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, particularly those under the State House.
Gbajabiamiala urged the State House management and chief executives of agencies to lead by example by ensuring compliance with statutes, laws, regulations, and various policies designed to enhance governance.
”We must demonstrate excellence in our compliance with the Public Procurement Act, Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria Act, the Finance Act, and various appropriation acts in operation.
”Compliance with the civil service rules and the scheme of service guidelines, especially regarding recruitment, promotion and presidential approvals is also non-negotiable,” he added.