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President Bola Tinubu may bar revenue-generating agencies from collecting revenues on behalf of the Federal Government as he plans to introduce a single agency – Nigeria Revenue Service – to handle the task.
This came as the Federal Government instituted a comprehensive set of fresh tax reforms aimed at significantly boosting revenue collection.
The reforms, designed to enhance the efficiency of collecting direct taxes, along with various levies that are imposed on behalf of the government, will bar the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigerian Ports Authority, and 60 other revenue collection agencies from participating in revenue collection activities, but will lead to the creation of the Nigeria Revenue Service.
By implementing these changes, the government seeks to streamline the tax collection process, ensuring that all taxable entities contribute their fair share and that the revenue generated is maximised to support public services and infrastructure development.
The policy directive was instituted on Thursday when the President forwarded four executive bills to the National Assembly for consideration, aiming to implement significant tax reforms.
Nigeria is contending with a revenue challenge that cuts across all government tiers but wants to attain a minimum tax-to-GDP ratio of 18 per cent. The country’s tax-to-GDP ratio is below Africa’s average and ranks as one of the lowest in the world.
This has led to fiscal deficit and over-reliance on borrowing to finance public spending resulting in a cycle of inadequate funding for socio-economic development.
One of the key proposals is the renaming of the Federal Inland Revenue Service to the Nigeria Revenue Service.
A source at the Presidency, however, hinted that the new bill would not lead to a merger but seek to remove the revenue collection arm from the agencies and allocate its function to the Nigerian Revenue Services.
“There is no merger of agencies. The bill will only take the revenue collection arm of each agency involved and take it to the Nigerian Revenue Service.
“The plan is that the new revenue agency will be like the US or UK revenue agency that collects all government revenues while other revenue agencies like NIMASA, NPA, Customs, etc, will now focus on their core mandate, which is trade facilitation. There is no merger at all,” the official said.
The bill seeking the name change for FIRS was outlined in a letter read by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during the plenary sessions.
The proposed law, titled the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, seeks to repeal the Federal Inland Revenue Service (Establishment) Act, No. 13, 2007, and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service.
According to Tinubu, the new agency will be responsible for assessing, collecting, and accounting for revenue accruing to the government.
In addition to the name change, Tinubu submitted three other tax reform bills under the title, ‘Transmission of Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Bills’ to the National Assembly.
The President also transmitted to the parliament the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill, which seeks to create a Tax Tribunal and a Tax Ombudsman.
He wrote, “The Nigeria Tax Bill: This bill seeks to provide a consolidated fiscal framework for taxation in the country.
“The Nigeria Tax Administration Bill: Aimed at offering a clear and concise legal framework, this bill will ensure the fair, consistent, and efficient administration of tax laws, facilitating ease of tax compliance, reducing disputes, and optimizing revenue collection.
“The Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill: This proposal seeks to establish the Joint Revenue Board, the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and the Office of the Tax Ombudsman, which will work to harmonise, coordinate, and resolve disputes arising from revenue administration in Nigeria.”
Tinubu emphasised that the proposed tax bills would have far-reaching benefits for the country, promoting taxpayer compliance, strengthening fiscal institutions, and fostering a more effective and transparent fiscal regime.
“I am confident that the bills, when passed, will encourage investment, boost consumer spending, and stimulate Nigeria’s economic growth,” Tinubu stated.
On the floor of the House of Representatives, Speaker, Abbas, confirmed receipt of the bills, stressing that they were designed in line with the objectives of the present administration.
He noted that when passed into law, the bills would encourage the growth and sustainability of the economy.
The House also consolidated six bills seeking the repeal of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007 to enact the Fiscal Responsibility Bill, 2024.
The bill aims at ensuring prudent management of the nation’s resources, ensuring long-term macro-economic stability of the national economy; and securing greater accountability and transparency in fiscal operations within the medium-term fiscal policy framework.
Abbas, who presided over plenary, urged the Committee on Rules and Business to fix a date for debate on the general principles of the newly consolidated bills.
The PUNCH recalls that the tax reforms are policy recommendations from Taiwo Oyedele’s Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, which seeks to reduce taxes in the country from the current 62 to a maximum of nine.
It also aligns with the recommendations of the President Tinubu Policy Advisory Council, which proposed declaring a state of emergency on revenue generation in the country.
Speaking in an earlier interview, Oyedele noted that fiscal reforms were needed to protect small businesses, the vulnerable and the poor while effectively taxing the rich.
He said, “Revenue transformation for us means we can no longer continue to celebrate incremental progress because the base was just so small and for us, it wasn’t about raising the taxes from existing taxpayers.
“In fact, one of the things we found out is that poor persons are those paying taxes, so it is time for them to take a break which means we have to look at the system to take that burden away from the vulnerable people, small businesses and let the middle class and the rich who can afford to pay do so.
“We have a brand new national fiscal policy that sets the framework for where we want to be, where we want to go, what we want to do, and what we want to stop doing as a country. We have identified company income tax, personal income tax, value-added tax, stamp duty, capital gains, and excise tax and we have redrafted new ones.”
This new law will expunge the revenue collection function from 62 revenue-generating agencies and transfer the responsibility of revenue collection to a single agency to promote collection efficiency.
Some of the agencies include Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Nigerian Ports Authority, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Meteorological Agency, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency.
Others are the Bank of Agriculture, Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Nigerian Railway Corporation, Federal Reporting Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority, National Broadcasting Commission and Joint Admission Matriculation Board.
Commenting on the implications of the new law, a former National President of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders, Dr Eugene Nweke, faulted the bill.
He added that customs all over the world were known for revenue collection.
“Customs all over the world are known for revenue collection. What it means is that they would outsource that function to a third party. Customs all over the world are known for revenue collection and anti-smuggling operations,” Nweke said.
According to him, revenue collection had lots of technicalities.
“What they should do with Customs is to train our importers and compel the NCS to go beyond the issues of scanning with a lot of compromises. The government should stop always thinking of how to protect a bill,” he advised.
also reacting, National Public Relations Officer, Association of Registered Freight Forwarders of Nigeria, Taiwo Fatobilola, said, “It is not possible, don’t mind the government. They think revenue collection is what anybody can wake up and start with? Do they know how much it takes to train people on something the NCS have been trained to do? Please don’t mind them, it’s not possible.”
however, National Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Customs Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, said he was not aware of the bill.
“I am not aware of that, I am just hearing it from you,” Maiwada told The PUNCH.
The House of Representatives, on Thursday, approved a bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Surrogacy Regulatory Commission for the monitoring and supervision of surrogacy arrangements in Nigeria.
The bill aims to “provide for the registration, regulation, and monitoring of surrogacy agencies in Nigeria and related matters.”
Leading the debate on the general principles of the proposed legislation, the sponsor of the bill, Ayodeji Alao-Akala, stated that the bill seeks to regulate and evaluate surrogacy in Nigeria to ensure that medical and health laws are not violated.
He added that it will also protect those seeking to overcome infertility.
Alao-Akala highlighted that a black market has emerged within the system, which takes advantage of the needs of expectant parents and exploits them.
He further stated that surrogate mothers and the children to be born also require legal protection.
Following its adoption, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, referred the motion to the House Committee on Healthcare Services for further legislative action.
![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Mourns Victims Of Niger Boat Accident](/media/k2/items/cache/77f34565cdbfa6a5e566d6fbe21b8fa6_M.jpg)
President Bola Tinubu has sent condolences to the Government and people of Niger State over a boat accident which occurred Tuesday night at Mokwa Local Government Area.
The boat, which was said to be carrying about 300 people, primarily women and children, was sailing on the Gbajibo River from the Mundi community when it capsized.
While at least 150 people were rescued from the scene, 25 bodies have so far been recovered.
President Tinubu commiserates with the families of the victims and prays for the repose of the souls of the dead.
The President directs the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to investigate the spate of boat accidents in Niger state and across the country and devise modalities to check the trend.
He orders NIWA to expand the scope of its surveillance of inland waters to ensure our people's safety and prosecute boat operators violating the ban on night sailing.
President Tinubu thanked emergency workers and local divers who were working to find the remaining people.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)
![[STATE HOUSE PRESS STATEMENT] President Tinubu Hails Leadership Newspapers At 20](/media/k2/items/cache/1cc4728542b8dd6c733bff24c256eceb_M.jpg)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu congratulates Leadership Newspaper Group on its 20th anniversary and commends the media organisation for its enduring contribution to informed journalism and good governance.
President Tinubu fondly remembers Sam Nda-Isaiah, pharmacist, businessman, columnist, and politician, who was the visionary founder and chairman of the newspaper group.
The President recalls Nda-Isaiah’s invaluable contributions to Nigeria's vibrant media landscape, from his time as a weekly columnist at Daily Trust newspaper to founding Leadership Confidential and later establishing the Leadership group of newspapers.
The group began as a weekly newspaper on October 1, 2004, before transitioning to a daily national newspaper on February 1, 2006. The group also publishes LEADERSHIP Hausa and National Economy.
President Tinubu commends the newspaper's board, management, and staff for upholding the founder’s vision of producing a flagship national newspaper that promotes good governance, defends the interests of the Nigerian state and its people, and adheres to the highest ethical standards of journalism.
The President also acknowledges the role of Nda-Isaiah's wife, Zainab, who epitomises the ideal African woman. Following her husband’s passing in 2020, she took over as chairman and has successfully led the company to greater heights.
President Tinubu further recognises the critical contributions of a dedicated team, including media icon Azubuike Ishiekwene, the editor-in-chief.
As friends, readers, and well-wishers celebrate Leadership Newspapers' two-decade milestone, President Tinubu reaffirms that his administration will continue to support journalists in performing their duties unhindered, free from threats, intimidation, or any form of inhibition, in accordance with the constitution.
President Tinubu hopes that the Leadership Newspapers will continue to churn out balanced stories that future generations will treasure as newspapers of untainted record.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
Folashodun Shonubi, a former acting Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has disclosed that the redesigned naira notes released by the apex bank under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele was different from what former President Muhammadu Buhari approved.
Shonubi disclosed this while appearing before Justice Maryann Anenih of the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
The Deputy Governor of Operations informed the court that Emefiele had claimed that there were intrigues and politics involved in the naira redesign exercise.
While responding to questions from Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, SAN, Shonubi said the late 2022 naira redesign exercise, ahead of the 2023 general elections, was fraught with politics.
“The currency redesign of 2022 was the only one I was part of. When we had meetings with the defendant (Emefiele), he said there were politics and intrigues around the whole exercise,”Shonubi stated.
He informed the court that the former CBN governor presented a document during one of the CBN’s Committee of Governors’ meetings, which contained the signature of the President.
Shonubi also revealed that the redesigned naira notes produced by the CBN under Emefiele were not the same as what was approved by the President.
“The CBN, under Emefiele, produced something different from what former President Muhammadu Buhari approved,” he said.
The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has issued a landmark ruling declaring that the Directorate of Road Services, commonly known as the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO), must immediately cease confiscating vehicles or imposing fines on Nigerians for road traffic violations.
Delivering the judgment in case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023 on October 2, 2024, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha stated that the VIO is not legally empowered to seize vehicles or impose harsh sanctions on motorists.
This ruling follows a lawsuit brought by rights attorney Abubakar Marshal from Falana and Falana Chambers, which aimed to challenge the authority of one of the country’s most notorious road traffic enforcement agencies.
The decision significantly curtails the powers of the VIO, offering relief to millions of motorists who have long faced the threat of vehicle confiscation and fines.
However, it is important to note that the ruling does not extend to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), which has operated for decades as Nigeria’s largest body of road traffic marshals.
In her judgment, Justice Maha emphasized that VIO officers “are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fines on motorists.”
The court subsequently issued a perpetual injunction against the VIO and its agents, forbidding them from infringing upon the rights of Nigerians, including their freedom of movement and right to own property, without lawful justification.
As of Thursday afternoon, it remained unclear whether the VIO would comply with the ruling, as a spokesperson for the directorate had not responded to requests for comments regarding the judgment.
[NaijaNews]
Nigeria is winning the war against terror and banditry, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said.
He said this at the opening ceremony of the News Agency of Nigeria’s first Annual International Lecture on Thursday in Abuja.
”Our target is to eliminate all the threats of Boko Haram, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and the scourge of all forms of violent extremism. Within one year, our government has eliminated Boko Haram and bandit commanders faster than ever.
“As of the last count, over 300 Boko Haram and bandit commanders have been eliminated by our gallant troops in the North-East, North-West, and some other parts of the country,” the minister explained.
Mr Idris added, “Indeed, this quote from President Booa Tonibu has amplified the resolve and determination of this administration to address the security challenges confronting us.
“By understanding the root causes, evaluating the impact on our territorial integrity, and implementing strategic policy measures, we can effectively address the challenges posed by this crisis.
“The task ahead is daunting, but with determination, collaboration, and a united effort, I am confident that we can safeguard Nigeria’s territorial integrity and contribute to the restoration of peace and stability in the Sahel region.”
The Sahel region, he said, has experienced instability and violence over the years, which has escalated to terrorism and other insecurity issues.
“The violence in the Sahel is not an isolated issue, and no single country can tackle it alone,” he said.
According to the minister, the federal government is tackling insecurity through intelligence gathering and other grassroots measures.
Mr Idris added that understanding the root causes of insecurity can lead to effectively managing and addressing the issues of insecurity.
He also mentioned that the lecture was timely and significant because it proffers deeply into the deep crisis in the Sahel and explores the strategies available based on the country’s security architecture.
(NAN)
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he proposed a single six-year tenure and the rotational presidency for Nigeria in a bid to advance democracy.
Naija News reported that Atiku, in his letter addressed to the National Assembly, appealed to the legislators to immediately commence constitutional alterations to accommodate a single six-year tenure and rotational presidency.
The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate’s letter was addressed to the Deputy President of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitution Review, Senator Barau Jibrin, and dated August 30, 2024.
Explaining the reason for his proposal, the Special Adviser to Atiku on Media, Paul Ibe, said the former Vice President’s recommendations were to “advance the course of constitutional democracy in Nigeria, especially as the National Assembly continues its ongoing effort to revise the 1999 Constitution.
“These amendments seek to raise the standard of the educational qualification of political office seekers. An end to violent takeover of political parties and thereby strengthening internal structure of political parties.”
Ibe added that it would reduce the tendencies of political parties to breach the constitution and electoral acts
“Reducing the tendencies of political parties to breach the constitution, electoral act, rules and guidelines made thereunder, and the constitution of the political party
“The implication of the above is that political parties are allowed a very wide latitude to breach the perimeter of laws on elections.
“Such indiscipline by political parties and infidelity to the electoral parameters yield chaos in the system.
“The above amendments will enthrone the discipline that is needed in a democracy,” Ibe said.
A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Maitama has issued a public summon against immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
The court ordered Bello to attend court and answer to a fresh 16-count charge pending against him.
By the summons, Bello is to attend court on October 24 for his arraignment alongside two other defendants.
Justice Maryanne Anenih issued the order for public summons in a ruling on Thursday, following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Justice Anenih ordered the EFCC to publish the public summons in a widely circulating newspaper
She also ordered the EFCC to paste copies of the public summons on Bello’s last known address and in conspicuous places in the court premises.
The EFCC had claimed that it has been unable to serve Bello with the charge filed on September 24, in which the ex-governor and two others were charged with criminal breach of trust to the tune of N110.4billion.
The other two defendants in the charge are Umar Oricha and Abdulsalami Hudu.
Bello’s absence stalled the arraignment earlier scheduled for Thursday.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has submitted four tax reform bills to the House of Representatives, urging for their consideration and prompt passage.
The announcement was made during a plenary session on Thursday, where Speaker Abbas Tajudeen read the President’s letter outlining the significance of the proposed legislation.
The bills, designed to align with the objectives of Tinubu’s administration, include the Nigeria Tax Bill 2024, aimed at providing a comprehensive fiscal framework for taxation in the country.
Additionally, a tax administration bill is included, which seeks to establish a clear and concise legal framework for all taxes, with the goal of reducing disputes within the tax system.
Another key piece of legislation is the Nigeria Revenue Service Establishment Bill, which will repeal the existing Federal Inland Revenue Service Act and establish the Nigeria Revenue Service.
Lastly, the Joint Revenue Board Establishment Bill is set to create a tax tribunal and a tax ombudsman to oversee tax-related disputes and enhance taxpayer protection.
President Tinubu emphasized that these bills are essential for strengthening fiscal institutions across the nation and are in line with the government’s broader objectives.
The proposed reforms are expected to bring significant changes to Nigeria’s tax landscape, promoting efficiency and transparency in tax administration.
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A bill seeking to regulate and provide legal backing for private investigators in the country on Wednesday at plenary failed to pass a second reading at the Senate.
The bill titled ‘A Bill for an Act to prescribe standard and conditions of licence for operation and practice of private investigators in the country’ was sponsored by Osita, Ngwu (PDP-Enugu).
The lawmakers expressed fear that the bill if passed, would empower private individuals to pry into the private lives of perceived opponents. Leading the debate on the bill earlier, Mr Ngwu said private investigators could be used in various capacities.
He said that while some investigators specialised in tracing, others specialised in technical surveillance countermeasures. He said this involved locating and dealing with unwanted forms of electronic surveillance, like a bugged boardroom for industrial espionage purposes.
He listed the bill’s objectives as fraud prevention, detection, assessment, and resolution, as well as corporate fraud and risk management services. According to him, others are insurance fraud and claims investigation, aviation accident and loss investigation. Others are marine loss investigation, occupational health and safety incident investigation, witness location and bail bond defaulters.
Victor Umeh (LP-Anambra), who supported the bill, said it was a well-thought-out bill to fill the gaps left by the EFCC, ICPC, and other security agencies.
“When due diligence is applied, a lot of high-profile crimes will no longer be swept under the carpet,” he said.
Neda Imaseun said, “It’s the bill was the best practice (all) over the world.”
However, Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo) vehemently opposed the bill, saying, “It will be wrong to create an open-ended body” that will have the power to pry into people’s privacy.
He added, ”It could be a willing tool in the hands of political enemies.”
Aminu Iya Abbas (PDP-Adamawa) said the bill, if passed, would be a duplication of efforts and functions of security agencies in the country.
Titus Zam (APC-Benue) said, “I rise to express my strong reservation as the country has enough investigators. Our country is divided on ethnic, religious and political lines, and your enemies can use your opponents against you.”
Salihu Mustapha (APC-Kwara), opposing the bill, said the developed countries like the U.S. and UK, where private investigators were operating, were currently experiencing a debate on the use of private investigators who pry into private lives.
He said certain conditions like a national forensic institute needed to be in place” to streamline evidence being of a private investigator.
After the debate, Senate President Godswill Akpabio sought the sponsor’s opinion on whether to put the bill to the vote or withdraw it by himself for further legislative consultations and action.
Mr Ngwu opted to withdraw the bill.
(NAN)
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on its state councils to gear up for a significant challenge ahead, as public sector workers wait with anticipation for the federal government to implement the new ₦70,000 minimum wage.
The NLC emphasized that securing the wage increase is only part of the battle, and the true victory lies in making sure it is implemented in its entirety to benefit all workers.
Naija News reports that these sentiments were expressed by NLC President, Joe Ajaero, during a two-day workshop in Lagos for NLC’s southern state councils.
The workshop organized by Fredrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO), was themed “Strategies for Effective Implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act.”
Ajaero stressed the importance of fair wages, stating, “The wage of a single worker often sustains many more—feeding families, educating children, and supporting communities. It is not merely a pay-check; it is the lifeblood of society. When we fight for better wages, we are not asking for charity. We are fulfilling a sacred duty—to build a vibrant economy, to uplift the nation, and to secure the dignity of work. This is a divine responsibility, one that we are bound by conscience and duty to carry out.
“On the 3rd of this month, we were in Kano where we kicked off this workshop beginning with the Northern zone and now, we are here for the Southern zone. And, as we gather here today, just as I told them in Kano, know that the eyes of every worker are upon us. They depend on our courage, our resolve, and our unity to carry their voices to the negotiation tables that await us.”
Reflecting on the struggle that led to the new minimum wage, Ajaero said, “We all followed the battle that led to the new National Minimum Wage act. We saw the threats, the drama, the propaganda, and the unrelenting attempts to weaken our cause. We were called names, vilified, and faced with all manners of intimidation. But we did not bow. We stood strong. We sacrificed, not just for ourselves, but for every worker in this country.
“Yet, winning the fight for a new minimum wage is not enough. We must now ensure that it is implemented in full, so that its benefits reach every corner of Nigeria, from the largest cities to the smallest villages.”
He warned that the path forward would be challenging, with likely opposition, insults, and blackmail.
“If we faced such fierce opposition at the negotiation stage, then know that the road ahead will not be any easier. Be prepared for insults, threats, and attempts to blackmail you.
“But remember why we are here: the trust and hopes of our members rest in our hands. Their meals, their homes, their children’s education depend on our ability to fight for them,” Ajaero added.
The NLC President noted that the workshop aims to prepare leaders for the task ahead: “Our goal is not just to celebrate the passage of the law—it is to make sure every worker feels its impact in their daily lives. And that responsibility rests with each of you here. You are the vessels through which this victory will be delivered to our members. You must be strong, focused, and unwavering.”
He also warned that any state council or official found colluding with employers, whether private or public, to deny workers their full entitlements under the new law would be sanctioned appropriately.
Ajaero expressed his appreciation to FES and the ILO for their continued support to the NLC, encouraging participants to stay engaged and focused on delivering the benefits of the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to their members.
“Together, we will overcome. Together, we will deliver the 2024 National Minimum Wage Act to our members, no matter the challenges,” he concluded.
Oil marketers have said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited portal used to purchase petrol has been shut against dealers, making it impossible for them to apply for the commodity purchase.
They said marketers are still awaiting over 90 million litres of petrol from the state-owned company. This is valued at about N79bn.
The PUNCH recalls that amid marketers’ complaints over their inability to order petrol, the NNPC confirmed the shutdown of its purchasing portal to our correspondent last month, giving its reasons.
According to NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, the company shut the portal due to a significant backlog.
Soneye explained that the shutdown became necessary to stop NNPC from holding marketers’ capital for too long.
“We have a significant backlog to address. The closure is intended to prevent us from holding marketers’ funds for an extended period,” Soneye had explained.
He, however, assured marketers that the portal would be reopened after the backlog had been reduced.
“It will be reopened once the backlog has been sufficiently reduced. We are working to address it as soon as possible,” he told our correspondent.
Marketers who spoke with our correspondent confirmed that NNPC was expediting actions to clear the backlogs as of the weekend.
Though NNPC did not disclose the value of the ‘huge backlogs’, independent marketers said they have over 2,000 tickets yet to be cleared with NNPC.
In an interview, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said the association is still waiting for the portal’s opening.
“They are on it, our marketers are still loading petrol from the NNPC. I can’t confirm the price now because the portal is still shut down.
“We have more than 2,000 tickets for 45,000 litres (of petrol). That is 45,000 multiplied by 2,000, you can now know the number of million litres it will be. This is just an estimate, you know I don’t work with NNPC and I don’t know what is on their system,” Ukadike stated.
He disclosed that a 45,000-litre truckload of PMS is around N39.5m, making N79bn when multiplied by 2,000.
The Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria also confirmed that its members could not access the NNPC purchasing portal.
PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, confirmed this in a phone conversation with our correspondent.
“The portal shutdown affects us too, we are all buying from NNPC,” he said briefly.
Meanwhile, the marketers noted that they have since been patronising private depot owners, who sell petrol to them at a premium.
This, they said, informed why the product is more expensive in their filling stations than in outlets owned by the NNPC and the major marketers.
Our correspondent gathered that the marketers usually bid for PMS through the NNPC portal.
According to them, payments will be made through the same channel while the marketer waits for months to get the product.
Independent marketers told The PUNCH that they paid for petrol but were not supplied after three months.
During an interview with The PUNCH in January, the National Vice President of IPMAN, Hammed Fashola, made a similar allegation which was denied by Soneye.
Fashola had asked the Federal Government to review the current distribution pattern to give priority to IPMAN members.
Fashola said, “We buy products from NNPC cash and carry. We don’t enjoy any credit facility with the NNPC. There are times when we pay for products, and you don’t get the products for two or three months. You have your money in the coffers of NNPC, which means they are trading with our money.
“If I am not exaggerating, we should be talking of over N300bn, when you consider the number of marketers all over Nigeria. Our money is always there, trapped, while we keep struggling to get fuel. The three days will turn into months if they don’t have products or they are out of stock, you have to wait, and your money will be there.”
At the moment, the marketers said they want to buy petrol directly from Dangote to ensure price parity.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed amendments to the 1999 Constitution to establish a rotational presidency among Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
In addition, Atiku suggests implementing a single six-year term for the president to strengthen Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in last year’s election, addressed his proposals to the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who also chairs the Senate Committee on Constitution Review.
This comes as the National Assembly continues amending the constitution, with issues such as power rotation, local government autonomy, and regionalism under consideration.
In his proposal, dated August 30, 2024, Atiku also called for changes to the educational qualifications required for political candidates and reforms to promote internal democracy within political parties.
He emphasized the need to prevent the violent takeover of parties and ensure they operate within democratic frameworks.
Atiku argued that political parties are often allowed to violate electoral laws, leading to chaos. He stated that his suggested amendments would bring greater discipline to the political system.
He wants the constitution to clearly state, “The office of the president shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the federation on a single term of six years, alternating between the North and South.”
He also proposed revising Section 135(2) of the constitution to set a clear six-year term limit for the presidency and amending Section 137(1)(b) to ensure a president cannot serve more than one term. According to Atiku, these changes will promote stability and fairness in Nigeria’s political system.