The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says the Dangote refinery is expected to supply 25 million litres of petrol daily this month.

Speaking in a social media post on Tuesday, the authority said The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has agreed to supply crude oil to the refinery in naira.

“At the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja, NNPCL reach an agreement to commence crude oil sale and supply to Dangote Refinery in local currency,” the authority said.

“The refinery is now poised to supply an initial 25 million litres of PMS into the domestic market this September. And will subsequently increase this amount to 30 million liters daily from October 2024.”

The Dangote refinery officially began petrol production on September 3.

This is comes months after its initial announcement to begin production of the commodity, also known as premium motor spirits (PMS).

On May 18, Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), had said the refinery would begin to produce petrol from June, adding that Nigeria would not have to import the product again.

However, in June, the business mogul said due to a minor delay, the refinery would commence petrol supply in July.

Still, production did kick off in July as planned, as Dangote refinery announced a shift to August.

On August 14, reports had claimed that the delivery date of the petrol supply had been postponed, but Anthony Chiejina, chief branding and communications officer of Dangote Group, denied the reports.

On July 29, the federal executive council (FEC) had approved a proposal by President Bola Tinubu directing the NNPC to sell crude oil to Dangote refinery and other refineries in naira.

Former Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) presidential campaign organization during the 2023 elections, Doyin Okupe, on Monday, submitted that all elections in Nigeria have been rigged in one way or the other.

He argued that the only exception that might have been was the 1993 annulled election, which produced the late Chief MKO Abiola.

Okupe stated further that the verdict of the Supreme Court regarding the outcome of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria has laid to rest all contentions about the polls which produced President Bola Tinubu.

The former presidential aide made the submission on Monday while addressing journalists in Lagos in reaction to online attacks from supporters of the 2023 Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, popularly known as Obidients, who were criticising him for dumping their principal and backing the policies of the present administration.

He argued that life must continue after elections, and the citizens must patiently wait till the next election cycle to correct any observed grievances or imperfections.

“To me, the allegations of rigging do not hold water. All elections in Nigeria from the 1st Republic to date have been rigged in one way or another, except perhaps Abiola’s election. In America today, the majority of Republicans believe the election that brought Biden in as POTUS was rigged. However, the Americans did not bring down their country because of that. They patiently waited for the next election and are making efforts to correct the imperfections,” he said.

It is not yet Uhuru for Nigeria when it comes to resolving the rising food crisis in the country, as newly released data from the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), says increasing flood levels have affected no less than 115, 265 hectares of farmlands In Nigeria.

A breakdown of the affected states revealed that Bauchi recorded the highest affected farmlands with 50, 343 hectares, Taraba with 22, 182 hectares, Jigawa with 9, 919 hectares, Niger with 9, 488 hectares, and Sokoto, 8, 676 hectares.

Other states affected by the flooding are Adamawa with 3, 392 hectares, Bayelsa 170 hectares, Borno 313 hectares, Ebonyi 100 hectares, Enugu 953 hectares, Gombe 1, 311 hectares, Kaduna 120 hectares, Kano 3, 072 hectares, Katsina 37 hectares, Kebbi 3, 382 hectares, Yobe with 223 hectares, and Zamfara with 1, 584 hectares.

The report on the 2024 flood by the centre also said 29 states of the federation, 154 local government areas, 611, 201 persons have been affected, 225, 169 persons displaced, 83, 457 households affected, 201 lives lost, and 2,119 injuries have been recorded so far during this year’s flooding.

The new flood data comes on the heels of recent food shortages in the country, and food inflation put at over 40 per cent by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Nigerians To Spend 54.9% Income On Food In Next Six Months

On Monday, a Central Bank of Nigeria’s survey said rising inflation rate will force Nigerian households to spend the largest amounts of their earnings on food in the next six months.

According to the CBN report, the poll was conducted from July 22 to 26, 2024, with a response rate of 99.7 per cent with its sample size drawn from the NBS master sample list of 1,665 households in the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

The report, Household Expectation Survey published on its website, CBN said many Nigerians intend to cut down on items that are not essential now, in the next three and six months.

They, however, plan to spend 54.9 per cent of their income on food items in the next six months.

“Spending outlook for the next six months showed that consumers plan to spend a substantial amount of their income on the following items: food and other household Items (54.9 points), education (35.4 points), transportation (30.2 points), electricity (20.0 points) and medical expenses (12.2 points),” the poll shows.

On the flip, the respondents do not plan to spend a substantial amount of income on big-ticket items such as the purchase of a house, car and household appliances.

Also, Nigerians do not intend to spend on investment, such as acquiring landed properties or other forms of investments. They equally do not plan on saving their incomes.

“This reflects their family financial situation in the current month and reaffirms their stance that they will be drawing down on their savings or getting into debt,” the apex bank survey shows.

Looting Of Warehouses, Food Trucks In North-East

Food crisis in the country had pushed residents in the north, to engage in looting of warehouses and food trucks, a move which had caused a source of concern in the country.

Chairman, the North-East forum of the DSS, Babagana Bulama while speaking at the 15th conference of the North-East directors of the state services at Damaturu, Yobe State recently, said the rising prices of goods has motivated hoodlums to take advantage of the crisis to attack warehouses, and vehicles with goods, particularly foodstuff being transported from one state to the other.

He said; “This edition is taking place at a time when the insecurity of the nation bothers on criminality, especially the trace of Book Haram insurgency, banditry and kidnapping which have been on the forefront, now overtaken by social securities issues comprising of food crisis, to hoarding of foodstuff, hunger in the land, starvation and renewed threats of protests by organised labour groups such as the Nigerian Labour Congress, and others.

“Similarly, the rising prices of goods have motivated hoodlums to take advantage of the challenges to attack warehouses, and vehicles with goods, particularly food stuff being transported from one state to the other. The situation is also being exploited by economic saboteurs who are bent on destroying the economy. It is pertinent to mention that all this is happening barely a year after the 2023 general election.”

Army Deploys Officers To Protect Farmers In The North

The Nigerian Army said it has deployed troops in several northern states, to protect farmers.

A recent statement by the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba said the deployment was made particularly in the North West and the North Central states.

Govt Moves To Curb Crisis

The Federal Government in the wake of the galloping prices of essential commodities reeled out a raft of measures to address the challenge.

It recently suspended duties, tariffs, and taxes on the importation of maize, husked brown rice, wheat, and cowpeas through the country’s land and sea borders, for 150 days.

It also approved the procurement of 2,000 tractors, and 1,200 trailers and set up a committee to help proffering solutions to the food crisis rocking the nation.

Expect Bumper Harvest, Agric Minister Assures Nigerians

The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Abubakar Kyari says the country is expecting a bumper harvest before year-end.

While speaking last month, Kyari said the Federal Government had measures in place to address the situation including ramping up farming which would increase food production.

“It [bumper harvest] is about October-November this year. That’s when we are going to have the harvest. We are expecting a bumper harvest baring any natural issues,” Kyari said on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

“Well, I am just giving you the assurance that we will have a bumper harvest,” he said.

According to him, one of the reasons for the acute food shortage in the country at the moment is also linked to seasonal reasons.

“The season we have here is a critical issue we have in agriculture. This is what we call the lean season and this is between June-July and the next harvest,” the minister said.

Apart from this, Kyari attributed the food shortage to other issues such as reduced landmass, flooding, and others.

“The shrinkage of land mass for agric, flooding, habitation problems, and insecurity…An ageing farming population; younger people are not going into agriculture now,” he said.

Kyari said the government is further ramping up moves for mechanised farming with the distribution of fertilizers to farmers and efforts to purchase tractors.

“We have ordered. It’s not like chewing gum; you can’t buy it off the shelf. I went to Belarus and ordered 200 tractors and 9,000 other implements,” the minister said on the current affairs show.

“The basic implement for farming in Nigeria is a hoe, which is archaic and antique. That’s why we are talking mechanisation,” said Kyari.

President Bola Tinubu has approved that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, remain in office until 2027.

Against the backdrop of reports that his tenure was extended, a senior police source, who requested anonymity, clarified that the letter was not an extension but rather a confirmation that he should complete the four-year tenure as originally stated in his letter of appointment.

The source said, “The tenure of the IGP was not extended but rather a clarification on his letter of appointment that stipulated four years in office.”

In July, the National Assembly passed the Police Act Amendment Bill to enable a person appointed to the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP) to remain in office until the end of the term stipulated in the letter of appointment.

President Tinubu forwarded the Bill to the House of Representatives and Senate to amend the tenure of the IGP.

The Bill was expeditiously passed by lawmakers in both green and red chambers. The upper and lower chambers passed the bill at separate sittings.

The President appointed Egbetokun as the IGP in June 2023 for four years. He was appointed alongside four new service chiefs.

According to Section 18(8) of the Police Act 2020, Egbetokun, who was born on September 4, 1964, is expected to retire in September 2024, when he clocks 60.

At the moment, Egbetokun has been in office for one year and three months, with two years and nine months remaining of his four-year appointment.

The controversy about the tenure of IGP didn’t start with the current police boss. That of Egbetokun’s predecessor, Usman Baba, was not in any way different. Baba clocked 60 years old in March 2023 and attained the mandatory 35 years of service but he remained in office till Tinubu appointed Egbetokun as his replacement three months later.

After over a year of its launch in May 2023, Dangote Refinery, on Tuesday, rolled out its first Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from its 650,000 barrels per day facility.

At a press conference, owner of the Lagos-based refinery and billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote declared that “it’s a celebration day” for Nigerians.

He assured all citizens that they “are now going to have good petrol while the engines of your vehicles will last longer. You will not be having an engine issue, which a lot of us were having. It won’t happen at all.”

“The quality here will match that of anywhere in the world; US, America, we will make sure that nobody will beat us in terms of quality,” Dangote said.

‘We’ll Save Forex’

The refinery owner said as soon as his company finalises modalities with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the product will hit the market.

“As soon as we finalise with the NNPCL, our product will start going into the market.

“We will help to restore industry and manufacturing. We will begin real import substitution, which is what we have, you know, saving foreign exchange, earning foreign exchange, which will stabilise the naira, and it will also help bring down inflation and cost of living,” he stated.

Last December, Dangote, Africa’s leading industrialist, commenced operations at his $20bn facility sited in Lagos with 350,000 barrels a day.

The refinery, which was initially bogged by regulatory battles, hopes to achieve its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day by the end of the year.

The refinery has begun the supply of diesel and aviation fuel to marketers in the country and now petrol.

NNPCL Debt Challenge

The rollout of petrol by the Dangote Refinery followed the admission by the NNPCL that it owes “significant debt to petrol suppliers” and this poses a threat to the sustainability of fuel supply.

There have been reports that a $6 billion debt the NNPCL owes petrol suppliers has worsened petrol scarcity in Nigeria, a perennial feature since the beginning of 2024.

At different times, the NNPCL blamed logistics challenges, and flooding, amongst others for the supply shortages of the essential commodity.

However, in a statement on Sunday, NNPCL spokesman Olufemi Soneye said “this financial strain has placed considerable pressure on the company and poses a threat to the sustainability of fuel supply”.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, faces energy challenges, with all its state-owned refineries non-operational. The country is heavily reliant on imported refined petroleum products, with the state-run NNPC being the major importer of the essential commodities.

Fuel queues are commonplace in the country. Prices of petrol tripled since the removal of subsidy in May 2023, from around ₦200/litre to about ₦800/litre, compounding the woes of the citizens who power their vehicles, and generating sets with petrol, no thanks to decades-long epileptic electricity supply.

The government simultaneously unified forex windows, with the value of the naira nosediving terribly from $1/₦700 to over $1/₦1600 at the parallel market. Prices of food and basic commodities immediately climbed through the roof as Nigerians battled attendant inflation.

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy, Taiwo Oyedele, says his committee has advised the Federal Government to remove taxes on food, public transportation, house rents, and other necessities critical to Nigerians’ well-being.

Oyedele stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Monday.

He said the proposal also includes the exemption of value-added tax (VAT) on these necessities.

Oyedele said the proposal would soon be signed by President Tinubu before being sent to the National Assembly to become part of Nigeria’s tax laws.

He said, “What we have taken into account is what are those necessities of life—food, accommodations, transportation, education and health. We’ve deliberately identified those items. And we’ve removed almost all the taxes applicable to them, including no VAT.

“We think that from the fiscal policy and tax perspective, we can make it more affordable for the Nigerian people to be able to afford those necessities. Share-passenger transportation is completely tax-free.

“However, if you hire a taxi, we assume that you’re not the poorest Nigerian so you have to pay the tax. Whereas if you get into a bus, that will be completely tax-free. That’s what we’ve done so far.”

Uruguayan football legend, Luis Suarez has confirmed his retirement from international football, which will take effect after the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Paraguay in Montevideo on Saturday, September 7.

Luis Suarez made this announcement at an emotional press conference earlier today, September 3. 

While speaking with reporters, the 37-year-old Inter Miami striker said it was not an easy decision to make, but he is determined to give his all in his final match for Uruguay.

“I’ve been thinking about this and analysing this. I believe this is the right time,” Luis Suarez said.

“I want to be relaxed when I play my last game with the national team. I’ll be just as excited to play as I was in 2007 when I played for my national team for the first time.

“That 19-year-old kid is now a veteran player, an older player – however you want to call it – with an incredible history with the national team that will give his life for the team.”

Throughout his career, Luis Suarez has been recognized as one of the greatest players of his generation and is leaving behind a remarkable legacy as Uruguay’s all-time leading goal scorer with 69 goals from 142 appearances.

Suarez, who made his international debut for Uruguay in 2007, led the country to victory in the 2011 Copa America, where he was honoured as the Player of the Tournament.

In addition to his impressive achievements, Suarez’s career has not been without controversy. He was involved in infamous incidents such as being banned from the 2014 World Cup for biting an opponent and his handball on the goal-line during the 2010 World Cup quarter-final clash against Ghana. His career in club football also saw incidents that sparked controversies, including a suspension for alleged racial abuse.

Despite the controversies, Suarez continued to make significant contributions to the Uruguay national team, helping them qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, as well as making appearances in this summer’s Copa America.

The Chief Executive Officer of Geregu Power Plant, Femi Otedola, has disclosed why Aliko Dangote decided to establish his own crude oil refinery.

The owner of Zinon Depot said he and Aliko Dangote would have been part owners of Kaduna and Port Harcourt refinery if not for the cabals that kicked them out through the then government.

On Tuesday, in his congratulatory message to Dangote, as his crude oil refinery rolled out refined petrol today; Otedola said he planned to purchase 20% while Dangote planned to purchase 51% in the refineries through a company the co-established.

“First and foremost, I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to President Bola Tinubu for his unwavering support and belief in actualizing this monumental achievement under his administration. This day belongs to every Nigerian who has dared to dream of a better future. Congratulations to our great nation—today, we all stand a little taller.

“Aliko, it feels like just yesterday, but it has been 25 long years since we first set our sights on transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape. I remember vividly when we set up the Blue Star Consortium to acquire stakes in the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries—20% for me and 51% for you. We were ready to change the game, but fate had other plans. The government of the day, in an act I can only describe as utterly obnoxious, canceled our stakes and thwarted our vision. But, as always, you refused to be deterred.

“You never gave up on the dream we shared. You carried the torch forward, igniting a spark that has today become a roaring flame. And now, 25 years later, here we stand on the precipice of history, with the first fuel shipment from the Dangote Refinery—a feat that is nothing short of miraculous.

“While the Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries have remained dormant, their promise unfulfilled despite billions of dollars spent on so-called turn-around maintenance, you have achieved what many said was impossible. You have beaten all the skeptics, silenced the naysayers, and proved wrong those who doubted your resolve, even those who never wanted this project to succeed,” Otedola said.

The billionaire businessman further stated that Dangote Refinery was fought heavily by foreign powers that wanted Nigeria to depend on them and local cabals who were making so much money through oil imports.

The Geregu Power Plant Owner said with Dangote Refinery, the economy of Nigeria will grow. He added that Dangote has dismantled obstacles put in place to hold Nigeria’s development.

“You have not just built a refinery; you have liberated us from the chains of economic dependence that have held this nation back for far too long. The days of bowing to foreign powers for our fuel needs are over, thanks to your vision and determination.

“You have dealt a death blow to the so-called local cabals who have fattened themselves for years, feeding off our nation’s economic slavery. These cabals, who have grown rich by keeping Nigeria in a perpetual state of dependence, must now face the reality that their era of easy gains is coming to an end.

“I am reminded of the time you revolutionized the cement industry in Nigeria. Ships that once brought in cement turned into rusting relics, scraps of a bygone era. Now, with your refinery in full swing, I foresee a similar fate for fuel imports. The depot owners should take heed—it’s time to dismantle those depots and sell them as scraps while the market is still high. The world has changed, and those who do not adapt will be left behind.

“When I ventured into the depot business with Zenon, it was in response to the inefficiencies of the NNPC. Zenon pioneered the diesel business in Nigeria and quickly became the largest in the country, filling the gaps left by our inefficient system. But today, your refinery stands as a beacon of what is possible when one has the audacity to dream and the tenacity to see it through.

“Aliko, you have my deepest admiration and respect. Congratulations to you and the entire board, management and staff of Dangote Refinery on this monumental achievement. This is not just a victory for you but for every Nigerian who dares to dream. May this be just the beginning of even greater things to come,” Otedola added.

Kano residents are facing a new wave of fuel price hikes as Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, soared to ₦1,200 per litre at several filling stations across the city.

According to Daily Trust, the development comes as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) adjusts its pump prices to ₦904 per litre.

The surge in fuel prices has led to long queues at NNPCL outlets, where customers are scrambling to fill their tanks before the new price is fully implemented.

An official at one of the NNPCL stations, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed to the platform that they were awaiting directives to commence sales at the updated price.

This spike in fuel costs has further strained the pockets of Kano residents, many of whom are already grappling with the high cost of living.

The situation has also sparked concerns about the potential impact on transportation costs and the prices of goods and services, which are likely to rise as a result.

He said, “We just came this morning (Tuesday) and turned on our machines only to see the adjustment. You can see it for yourself. We are here now waiting for directives to start selling.”

Motorists in queue expressed concerns over the development.

Isah Muhammad said, “Where are we heading to in this country? How do we survive now? It’s very unfortunate we are witnessing this.”

Another motorist, Ibrahim Saleh, said, “I can recall when I used to sell petrol (black market). It was then ₦95. One day during the late President Shehu Musa Yar’adua regime, we went to buy fuel and they halted the process.

“We all thought it was going to be increased but they adjusted the litre to ₦65. It was something that I would never forget in my life. When things go up, they never come down in Nigeria and since then it has been like that.”

The representative for Ogbaru Federal Constituency in Anambra State at the House of Representatives, Afam Ogene, has appointed no fewer than 70 aides throughout Ogbaru.

According to Ogene, the appointments reflect his dedication to providing outstanding service to his constituency.

The appointed individuals encompass advisers, special assistants, executive assistants, and various other roles.

The letters of appointment, signed by Ogene’s Chief of Staff, Chinedum Uwolloh, seen by journalists on Tuesday, detailed the responsibilities assigned to the aides.

The letter states that the aides will “Assist the office of Hon. Ogene in achieving its core objective of delivering excellent service to the people of Ogbaru Federal Constituency in your specific area of appointment or perform any other duties assigned by the office from time to time.

“The appointments were made based on the appointees’ experience and commitment to the lawmaker’s success as Representative of Ogbaru Federal Constituency and the well-being of Ogbaru. The newly appointed aides are expected to bring their expertise and enthusiasm to their critical roles, particularly in enhancing service delivery to the constituents.

“They will receive monthly allowances aimed at motivating them and improving their economic conditions. This financial support will enable them to carry out their responsibilities more effectively without the burden of financial constraints.

“The allowances are intended to supplement their income, allowing them to better meet their basic needs and focus on providing exceptional service to the constituents of Ogbaru Federal Constituency.”

The letter also recalled that Ogene made a covenant with his constituents and Nigeria upon assuming office, outlining his commitment to responsible leadership.

The covenant, made public in February 2024 during a thanksgiving programme to celebrate his victory at the tribunal, reads: ‘I pledge to be a sensitive, responsible, and responsive Representative, working tirelessly for the peace and socio-economic development of Ogbaru Federal Constituency. To prioritise the interests of the people, ensuring equity, fairness, and justice for all Nigerians in my lawmaking and oversight responsibilities, guided by the principles of servant leadership.

“I commit to promoting self-accountability, decorum, propriety, and integrity in public office, setting a high standard for ethical governance. So help me God.‘

Notable among the appointees are Mr. David Chukwuekezie, Special Adviser (Political); Ben Nwasike, Special Adviser (Political); Emmanuel Akpati, Head of Media Relations; Maxwell Nwebo, Special Assistant (Events); Frank Oduah, Personal Assistant (Education Programmes); Tina Nwafor, Special Assistant (Women Mobilisation); Amechi Ede, Executive Assistant (Religious Affairs).