The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Monday, noted that the consistent attacks in the state by notorious and wanted bandit leader, Bello Turji, will soon end.
Lawal also expressed belief that the bandit leader will soon be apprehended or eliminated.
While speaking on Channels Television, he said, “It’s only a matter of time.
“With what we have in place, with the collaboration between us (the state government) and the Federal Government, security agencies, believe me, it is only a matter of time; Turji would be killed very, very soon.”
The governor’s comments come just days after the military made significant gains against bandits, killing wanted bandit leader, Halilu Sububu, who had been terrorising citizens in Zamfara, Sokoto and other parts of the North-West.
Sububu and more than 30 other bandits were killed last week.
The governor does not expect the elimination of the Turji to end to banditry in the state but he is confident “it will bring it down significantly.”
Governor Lawal believes the military is on the right trajectory and must not let up.
He added, “What we need to do is to sustain this military pressure.
“If we are able to sustain this pressure within the next two weeks to one month, believe me, it will be a different story as far as banditry is concerned.”
Nigerians’ hopes of some relief from the cost of living crisis in the country have been dashed as petrol from the newly launched Dangote Refinery is being sold at prices higher than expected, as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) fixed new estimated petrol pump prices across all states.
The NNPC said that after completing the loading of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, from the Dangote refinery, petrol prices for September 2024 would range from approximately N950 to over N1,000 per litre, depending on the region.
Recall that NNPC stated it paid N898 per litre for the 16.8 million litres of petrol purchased from the Dangote refinery on Sunday, September 15.
A breakdown of the pricing showed that Borno State will pay N1,019.22 per litre; Sokoto State – N999.22 per litre; Kano State – N999.22 per litre; Kaduna State – N999.22 per litre; Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – N992.22 per litre; Rivers State – N980.22 per litre Oyo State – N960.22 per litre; and Lagos State – N950.22 per litre.
NNPC explained that the new prices for September are based on figures obtained from the Dangote refinery and not set by the federal government.
The company’s spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, in a statement on Monday, said these prices are for September 2024.
The NNPC also stressed that the petrol loaded from the Dangote Refinery was priced in dollars as the Naira sale of petrol will commence in October.
Initially, there were hopes that local production would significantly lower fuel costs, thus lowering the cost of transportation, and prices of food items.
According to the NNPC, it purchased petrol from the Dangote Refinery at N898 per litre, while distribution costs and regulatory fees contributed to the final retail prices. The company emphasised that these prices are determined by market forces, as mandated by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), rather than government regulation.
To this end, other petroleum products marketers are expected to sell higher as they adjust to the new price regime as announced by NNPC.
The executive secretary of the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria(MEMAN), Clement Isong, while reacting to the situation when LEADERSHIP put a call across to him yesterday said, he is not aware of the adjustment but will get the clearer picture and revert to our Correspondent.
The price hike caught many off guard, especially as it came shortly after the refinery’s launch. NNPC’s pricing reflects a significant increase from previous rates, with petrol prices rising from N568 to N896 per litre on the same day. This has led to calls for transparency regarding the refinery’s pricing structure and production costs, with some stakeholders questioning why locally produced petrol is not cheaper than imported alternatives.
The situation has sparked debates about market dynamics and regulatory practices in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, with many citizens feeling that the anticipated relief from high fuel prices has not materialised.
Many Nigerians are understandably shocked that petrol being pumped out of the Dangote refinery will not be selling at a relatively affordable price at the pumps, or a little cheaper than the imported variety.
Long conditioned to subsidised products, Nigerians had expected that locally produced petrol would offer a huge relief from the cost-of-living crisis currently in the country.
Hope was heightened when the government announced recently that Dangote will buy Nigerian crude oil in Naira and sell his products within the country in the same currency.
In many social media platforms and talk shows, Nigerians have been busy analysing the refinery’s production economics and explaining why we should be buying cheap fuel soon.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria expressed concerns over the pricing of petrol from the Dangote Refinery, urging the NNPC to ensure it is not sold at a higher price than imported fuel.
IPMAN argued that such a disparity would be counterproductive to the nation’s drive for energy self-sufficiency and could negatively impact consumers and marketers alike.
According to IPMAN on Monday, the pricing strategy for locally refined petrol should reflect the advantages of domestic production, offering Nigerians a more affordable option.
The association emphasised that maintaining competitive pricing is crucial for the success of the Dangote Refinery and for fostering a sustainable fuel market in the country.
IPMAN national welfare officer John Kekeocha stated this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme on Monday.
“If NNPC can sell Dangote products higher than the imported products then it doesn’t make sense. What is the celebration we are having all these while then?” he queried.
An energy analyst, Etim Etim, while commending NNPCL for these disclosures, noted that these prices are only obtainable for the month of September when NNPC is buying in dollars from the refinery.
“For October, when crude would be sold in Naira, the prices may change, depending on a few variables like the exchange rate and the crude oil price in the international market.
He said that the downstream market is now fully deregulated, and for the first time in our history, subsidy is truly gone.
He urged Nigerians to brace up for a market-determined pricing structure that would be influenced by a few factors: the price of crude oil, the exchange rate, the cost of refining, overheads, borrowing costs, and insurance.
“Crude oil price will continue to be a major determinant of petrol price. Even when NNPC sells crude in Naira to Dangote, the pump price would still be determined by the prevailing exchange rate. If the naira continues to slide, petrol prices will increase, even if other factors remain unchanged.
He further said, “This morning, crude oil is selling at about $72, and at the exchange rate of N1,600/dollar, Dangote would be buying a barrel of crude oil at about N115,200. Although there are many other products that are obtained from a barrel of crude oil, petrol will not come cheap because of other inherent costs in the production process.
“Dangote is highly indebted to Nigerian banks, and even before his refinery began production, he was already repaying and servicing his debts.
“He had told the media in July that he had incurred huge interest charges due to failed attempts at land acquisition in Ogun State and delays in construction in Lagos State due to communal issues. The accumulated interest charges and other interest costs will count in the pricing of his gasoline.
Etim noted that Dangote’s production costs must also be very high, which will heavily impact the pricing of its products.
“The refinery provides everything for itself, including building three ports within the complex for its use in bringing in heavy equipment and building a huge 400 MW power plant to provide its own electricity. In addition, DR has over 8,000 people on its payroll. During construction, 29,000 Nigerians and 11,000 expatriates worked at the site. The huge wage bill would have to be taken care of by the selling prices of the products.”
Etim expressed hope that the refinery’s purchase of crude oil in Naira would ameliorate the impact on the exchange rate.
“The only reason petrol will sell cheap is if crude oil goes for as low as $40 per barrel or if the dollar exchanges for N800 or less. Both have significant implications for the economy, of course. But with tension mounting in the Middle East, cheaper crude oil is not likely soon.
“I have taken note of the assurance from the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, that petrol prices will fall as the refinery scales up production.
Speaking at the refinery on Sunday, Edun said, ‘’We’re expecting that as this refinery, and even others, ramp up production scale, and achieve economies of scale, there should be the opportunity—and there is definitely the potential—to reduce their costs, which should be passed on to consumers’’.
Nigerians have taken to social media to express their dismay at the current situation.
One X user queried, ‘’Why would Dangote not sell his petrol cheap or cheaper than imported product when he is not bearing the cost of shipping, LC charges, wharf charges, insurance, and other costs borne by importers?’’
Another person noted on X, ’’Anything above N766 per litre from Dangote is back to square one’’.
One other commentator wrote, ‘’Queuing for fuel is not our problem. If Dangote’s fuel is not cheaper than what we have now, then the whole thing is not worth it’’.
The NNPC began loading the first batch of petrol from the Dangote Refinery on Sunday, saying it got N898 per litre from the private refinery.
Before lifting petrol from the Dangote Refinery on Sunday, NNPC retail outlets in Lagos sold petrol for around N855, but a litre of Dangote petrol now sells for N950 per litre in Lagos and N1,019 in Borno.
However, Dangote Refinery denied selling petrol to the NNPCL at N898. In a statement late Sunday, a spokesman for the refinery, Anthony Chiejina described the claim by the NNPCL as “misleading and mischievous”.
“It should also be noted that we sold the products to NNPCL in dollars with a lot of savings against what they are currently importing. With this action, there will be petrol in every local government area of the country regardless of their remote nature,” Chiejina said.
However, the NNPCL insisted that it got petrol from Dangote Refinery at N898 per litre and challenged the latter to release the price at which it sold petrol.
The NNPCL further released a breakdown of pricing it sells Dangote petrol at its filling stations nationwide.
Last December, Dangote, Africa’s leading industrialist, commenced operations at his $20bn facility in Lagos with 350,000 daily barrels.
The refinery, initially bogged by regulatory battles, hopes to achieve its full capacity of 650,000 barrels per day by the end of the year.
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is pleased with the commitment of the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu to guarantee a free, fair and credible election in the state.
Obaseki stated this while addressing journalists after a closed-door meeting of the party caucus, Monday night, at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State’s capital.
Expressing confidence that the party will come out victorious in Saturday, September 21 governorship election, the governor expressed the readiness of the PDP for the poll, charging party leaders and members to continue mobilising support for the party across the State.
He said, “As a caucus, we are pleased with the current utterances from the security agencies in Nigeria. We want to particularly appreciate the statement issued by the Inspector General of Police, making a commitment to support the peace process, ensuring that there is a level-playing field for all the players, and we endorse his efforts to draft a lot more men to Edo to support the elections on Saturday.
“We are also pleased with INEC so far and have every reason to trust the authorities of INEC and what they are committed to doing. So, our leaders are going to various local governments to continue mobilising for citizens to come out and support our candidate who clearly stands shoulder high above other candidates in the governorship race.
“We want to say that we are ready for this election. From this meeting of the caucus of the party, we have made sure that we have covered all grounds and the leaders of our party have all assured me that they are heading back home now to cross the ‘Ts’ and dots the ‘Is’ on Saturday.”
Obaseki added, “We are hoping that when the Courts resume tomorrow, Tuesday, September 17th, 2024, all our people who have been detained in Abuja all these weeks will be released. If they are granted bail, allowed to come back home to their families and participate in the democratic process, we would consider signing the Peace Accord.”
On INEC’s plans to postpone the governorship election in Edo State, the governor noted that “the Chairman of INEC has promised that the election will be held on Saturday 21st of September 2024, so we have no reasons to doubt his words.”
On his part, the Chairman of the PDP in Edo State, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi said, “After some hours of deliberations, the State caucus of the party reviewed and endorsed all the programmes put together by the party thus far.
“It was a deliberate and exhaustive conversation. A few areas not covered have been taken note of. We wish to State that the PDP in Edo State is ready for the election and believes very strongly that the programmes we have put together will lead us to victory.”
He added, “Edo people should not be afraid to come out on September 21st to cast their votes. We believe that we are one and nobody will come to hurt anybody. We are brothers and sisters in the polling units and together we will make the right choice and Edo will be better for it. We are confident that the Edo people will vote for PDP and Asue Ighodalo.”
The federal government says increasing halal exports will add $1.5 billion to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027.
Aliyu Sheriff, the special assistant to the president on export expansion, announced on Monday in a statement by Stanley Nkwocha, spokesperson to the vice-president, in Abuja.
The halal market refers to the global trade in products and services that comply with Islamic law.
Halal also means permissible or lawful in Arabic, hence halal products and services refer to goods and services that are produced and provided in accordance with Islamic law.
The halal market encompasses a wide range of sectors including food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, garments, tourism, finance and banking.
Sheriff said the government will unveil a comprehensive strategy on September 17 aimed at positioning Nigeria as a leading player in the $7 trillion global halal economy.
The project, he said, is part of initiatives to diversify the economy and tap into the burgeoning global halal market- products and services that meet Islamic standards of permissibility and embody ethics, integrity and universal values that resonate across cultures and regions.
“The Halal economy represents a tremendous opportunity for Nigeria to diversify our economy, generate foreign exchange, and achieve sustainable growth,” Sheriff said.
“By increasing our Halal exports and focusing on strategic import substitution, we project an addition of nearly $1.5 billion to our GDP by 2027.”
According to the presidential aide, the initiative will bring together government agencies, private sector leaders and international partners with a view to capitalising on Nigeria’s position as the eighth-largest domestic halal economy globally.
“The success of Sukuk bonds and the growing appeal of Islamic banking demonstrate that Halal principles are compatible with global economic standards and can benefit all Nigerians,” Sheriff said.
He added that a strategic focus on the halal economy opens up new avenues for Nigerian businesses to compete on the global stage.
Sheriff said it is not just about tapping into a market but elevating Nigeria’s standards and practices to world-class levels.
The ongoing nationwide fuel crisis has forced the Independent National Electoral Commission to increase its financial commitment to the transport unions that would be involved in Saturday’s Edo State governorship election, The PUNCH has exclusively learnt.
The adjustment, one of our correspondents learnt, was in response to the recent surge in fuel prices, which has impacted the operational costs of transport companies.
The decision followed a meeting held last Friday at the INEC State Office in Benin-City, the Edo State capital, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, told The PUNCH on Monday.
The meeting, chaired by INEC boss, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had the electoral body holding discussions with representatives of the three major transport unions – National Union of Road Transport Workers, National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria.
The discussions, which culminated in a new Memorandum of Understanding that addressed various concerns related to the election logistics, came after concerns were raised about the availability and cost of transportation for the timely distribution of election materials such as ballot boxes, voting machines and other sensitive resources.
Oyekanmi noted that the revised funding aimed to ensure the unions effectively contributed to the smooth conduct of the election.
He further noted that the unions would mobilise their resources and workforce to support the election process, pledging their cooperation to ensure a successful outcome.
“The meeting, held last Friday at the INEC State Office in Benin-City between the INEC team led by the commission’s chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and the national/Edo State officials of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, National Association of Road Transport Owners and the Maritime Workers Union of Nigerian agreed on all areas of concern,” Oyekanmi said.
“INEC agreed to increase the amount payable to them due to the increase in per litre price of fuel, and the terms of the MoU were agreed upon.
“The three unions thereafter gave their commitment to work hard for the successful conduct of the Edo Governorship election.”
Meanwhile, with just four days to the election, Edo political landscape witnessed a new twist on after the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo, filed a N20bn defamatory suit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole of the All Progressives Congress even as he dared the FCT minister, Nyesom Wike, saying the ex-Rivers governor had no power to determine his fate in the poll.
Ighodalo, through his counsel, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, sought an immediate retraction and apology for the comments made by Oshiomhole on the defunct Planwell Scheme – which allegedly scammed many Edo People in the 1990s – during an All Progressives Congress ahead of the poll.
A letter by Ighodalo’s lawyers, dated September 16, 2024 and addressed to Oshiomhole read, “It is our information that at a campaign rally of your Party on Saturday, 14th of September, 2024, you (Oshiomhole) made statements to the effect that our aforesaid client, Dr. Ighodalo, was associated with or participated in an alleged pyramid scheme known as ‘PLANWELL’ in which numerous Nigerians were defrauded of their hard-earned funds.
“This false and unfounded statement of yours was broadcast live on television and has received extensive exposure on electronic and social media.
“It is sad to note that despite your status as an elder and holder of a public office, you appear to have developed a pattern of spewing false statements in the public domain purely for the achievement of your political ends.
“Our client is an accomplished Nigerian legal practitioner and a corporate leader whose impressive resume from birth up till the current day is entirely in the public domain and our client has absolutely no connection with and could never have been involved in any manner whatsoever with the purported ‘PLANWELL’ scheme with which you have seriously defamed our client’s reputation.”
The letter stated further, “In consequence of the foregoing, therefore, our client demands the following: i) an immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for your false, defamatory and malicious statements which should be published in at least two National Television Networks and three nationally circulating newspapers.
“Pay to our client damages in the sum of 20 billion Naira for your false, defamatory, and malicious statements referred to herein.
“Take Notice that it is our client’s instructions that we immediately institute appropriate proceedings against you for damages in the sum of Twenty Billion Naira (N20,000,000,000.00) for your said false, malicious, irresponsible and damaging statements made against our client without any foundation whatsoever in fact.
“Further take notice that such action will be instituted without further notice or correspondence to you in that regard whatsoever,” it added.
In a similar move, Ighodalo, on Monday, stated that Wike didn’t have the power to determine the next governor of Edo.
The contestant’s statement was a response to Wike’s claim that he told Governor Godwin Obaseki he won’t back Ighodalo during the governorship poll.
Ighodalo expressed disappointment in the position of the FCT minister, saying that wasn’t exactly the outcome of the meeting he earlier had with him.
He said, “Sometimes when gentlemen talk in some kind of privacy or arrangements, we don’t voice out what has been said. But it is not correct that (former) Governor Wike said he wasn’t going to support us. That’s incorrect. But events may have overtaken his decision at that point and he is free to change his mind.
“I believe, as a gentleman, he would adhere to the word he gave me. But if he changed his mind, so be it. When he and I spoke, we deliberated on issues around fair governance, and how we can create a better country and Edo State. At the end of the day, we ended the conversation at a point where Wike said he would mind his business and Edo State is not part of his business.
“Again, if he has decided to change his mind, that’s fine. But the decision as to who becomes the next Governor of Edo State is the decision of the people. It is not his or anybody else’s to make.
“Whether you are a governor or a minister, it is only Edo citizens and residents who have their PVCs who can take that decision with the support of God Almighty. I fear no man, I only fear God.”
Continuing, the lawyer emphasised that he would concede defeat and congratulate the winner if his party lost the political contest but expressed strong conviction that he would defeat his political opponents.
“Honestly, if we lose this election and we know we’ve lost it fairly and squarely, I will be the first to concede. But I know we can’t lose this election if there is a level playing field for everybody.
“We have related with the people of Edo State and told them what we plan to do for them. They trust us and will vote for us. All the polls and indicators (seen so far) support us. So I have no fear,” he stated.
Peace Accord discord
On Monday night, Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki said the PDP will sign the Peace Accord if arrested members of the party were released.
Obaseki, who stated this after the party’s caucus meeting at the Government House in Benin City, said granting bail to the arrested members would allow them to come back home to their families and participate in the democratic process.
“We are hoping that when the courts resume tomorrow (today), all our people who have been detained in Abuja all these weeks will be released. If they are granted bail, allowed to come back home to their families and participate in the democratic process, we would consider signing the Peace Accord,” Obaseki said.
The Governor added that the PDP was pleased with the commitment of the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetoku, and INEC boss Prof. Yakubu in ensuring a free, fair and credible election in the state.
He said, “As a caucus, we are pleased with the current utterances from the security agencies in Nigeria. We want to particularly appreciate the statement issued by the Inspector General of Police, making a commitment to support the peace process, ensuring that there is a level playing field for all the players and we endorse his efforts to draft a lot more men to Edo to support the elections on Saturday.
“We are also pleased with INEC so far and have every reason to trust the authorities of INEC and what they are committed to doing. So, our leaders are going to various local governments to continue mobilising for citizens to come out and support our candidate who clearly stands shoulder high above other candidates in the governorship race.”
With just four days to the Edo State governorship election, the leading political parties, the PDP, APC, and the Labour Party on Monday began massive wooing of voters across the state.
After the grand rally of the PDP and APC on Saturday in Benin City, and the road show of the LP last Friday, all the parties are back strategising for the big day.
The APC kicked off their ward-to-ward campaign, consolidating their support base and winning new voters to its fold.
Media Director of the APC Campaign Organisation, Orobosa Omo-Ojo, said, “As I speak to you now, we are doing unit-to-unit and house-to-house campaign, soliciting for votes from the electorate for our candidate. This is what we will be doing in the next 48 hours.
“The moves have been very successful. It was easy to sell our ideas to them because where we went to, there was no government presence there. The only presence of governance in those places was the project done during Adams Oshiomhole’s tenure as governor of the state.
“The school built, road constructed, primary health centre and farm road graded under Oshiomhole were still the only signs of development in those areas.
“We had to apologise to the people of Ovia North East and other people who we sold Governor Godwin Obaseki to in 2020 because of the poor state those area are in.”
The Public Relations Officer of the Labour Party, Sam Uruopa, said the party candidate, Olumide Akpata, visited the riverine areas in the state to seek votes.
He said, “The Olumide Akpata Campaign Organisation visited the riverine areas on Monday. That is the first time a candidate is visiting the people and he has shown that he has their interest at heart.
“The welcome by the mammoth crowd was overwhelming and they have also vowed to vote for Akpata. They are tired of PDP and APC and were happy to welcome him at the jetty.”
The Deputy Director-General of the Asue/Ogie Campaign Council Management, Olu Martin, added that the party had embarked on unit-to-unit and ward-to-ward campaign to strengthen its support base.
He said, “The election is ours to lose, so, campaigns are going on unit-to-unit and ward-to-ward. Even though the open campaigns have been slowed down, there are strategic meetings going on. The idea for us is to defend our votes.
“It is obvious that 70 per cent of the Edo voters have the name of Asue Ighodalo on their lips and on September 21, they will put their thumbs on the ballot papers for Ighodalo.”
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the September 21 governorship election in Edo State, Asue Ighodalo has filed a N20bn defamatory suit against Senator Adams Oshiomhole over comments on the Planwell scheme.
Ighodalo, through his counsel, Ayo Asala (SAN) & Associates, also sought an immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for the false, defamatory, and malicious comments which should be published in at least two (2) National Television Networks and three (3) nationally circulating newspapers.
The PDP candidate noted that the allegations by Oshiomhole are baseless, false, and malicious, describing them as another of such defamatory fabrications and statements made by the Senator representing Edo North Senatorial District in the recent past.
He added that the fabrication of the unfounded and false story is a figment of Oshiomhole’s imagination, intended to denigrate his good character and reputation for the political purpose of advancing the sinking fortunes of Oshiomhole’s party and candidate in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Edo State.
A letter by Ighodalo’s lawyers dated September 16, 2024, and addressed to Oshiomhole reads, “We are counsel to Asue Ighodalo, who is the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the forthcoming Edo State Governorship election. It is our information that at a campaign rally of your party on Saturday, September 14, 2024, you made statements to the effect that our aforesaid client, Dr Ighodalo, was associated with or participated in an alleged pyramid scheme known as ‘PLANWELL’ in which numerous Nigerians were defrauded of their hard-earned funds.
“This false and unfounded statement of yours was broadcast live on television and has received extensive exposure on electronic and social media. It is sad to note that despite your status as an elder and holder of a public office, you appear to have developed a pattern of spewing false statements in the public domain purely for the achievement of your political ends.
“This baseless, unfounded, false, and malicious allegation has become another in a long line of such defamatory fabrications and statements made by you in respect of our client in the recent past. Our client is an accomplished Nigerian legal practitioner and a corporate leader whose impressive resume from birth up till the current day is entirely in the public domain our client has absolutely no connection with and could never have been involved in any manner whatsoever with the purported ‘PLANWELL’ scheme with which you have seriously defamed our client’s reputation.”
Ighodalo further noted, “It is clear that the fabrication of the unfounded and false story regarding the purported involvement of our client in the said ‘PLANWELL’ scheme or any other financial scheme whatsoever, is a figment of your imagination and a story fabricated purely to denigrate the good character and reputation of our client for the achievement of the political purpose of advancing the sinking fortunes of your political party and candidate in the forthcoming Edo State Gubernatorial elections.”
The letter added that Ighodalo was determined to ensure that the allegations against him do not go unaddressed.
“Our client has been inundated with calls and other contacts from concerned members of the public who heard your said allegations on electronic and social media as a result of which our client has suffered enormous unwarranted reputational damage arising from the lies and baseless fabrications of which you have become the purveyor.
“Our client is determined to ensure that these defamatory lies and fabrications which you have put in the public space do not go unchallenged.
“In consequence of the foregoing, therefore, our client demands the following: i) An immediate and unqualified retraction and apology for your false, defamatory and malicious statements which should be published in at least two (2) National Television Networks and three (3) Nationally circulating newspapers.
“Pay to our client damages for 20 billion Naira for your false, defamatory, and malicious statements referred to herein. Take Notice that it is our client’s instructions that we immediately institute appropriate proceedings against you for damages in the sum of Twenty (20) Billion Naira (N20,000,000,000.00) for your said false, malicious, irresponsible and damaging statements made against our client without any foundation whatsoever. Further take notice that such action will be instituted without further notice or correspondence to you in that regard whatsoever,” it added.
The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI, yesterday reported that the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, disbursed N3.473 trillion to the three tiers of government in the second quarter of 2024, reflecting an increase of N46.77 billion (1.42%) compared to the first quarter of 2024.
NEITI in its latest Quarterly Report on Federation Account Revenue Allocations for Q2 2024 showed the Federal Government received N1.102 trillion, representing 33.35% of the total allocation.
The 36 states received N1.337 trillion (40.47%), while the 774 local government councils shared N864.98 billion (26.18%). Additionally, nine oil-producing states received N169.26 billion as their derivation share from mineral revenue.
Compared to the previous quarter, the Federal Government’s allocation decreased by N41.44 billion (3.76%), while state governments saw an increase of N58.13 billion (4.29%), and local government councils experienced a rise of N30.82 billion (3.57%).
The report highlighted an upward trend in revenue allocations in the latter months of 2023 and early 2024. Total monthly disbursements increased from N1.094 trillion in January 2024 to N1.098 trillion in February but then declined slightly to N1.065 trillion in March.
On state-by-state allocations, Delta State received the largest share of allocations in Q2 2024, with a gross allocation of N137.357 billion, including oil derivation. Lagos State followed with N123.282 billion, and Rivers State came in third with N108.104 billion. Nasarawa, Ebonyi, and Ekiti States received the least, with N24.735 billion and N25.404 billion, respectively.
At the local government, Alimosho in Lagos State received the highest allocation at N5.721 billion, followed by Ajeromi/Ifelodun (N4.592 billion) and Kosofe (N4.541 billion). Ifedayo received the smallest share of N661.82 million.
Tje report indicated that nine states benefited from 13% oil derivation revenue, with Delta State leading at 40.153%, followed by Bayelsa (38.112%) and Akwa Ibom (36.117%). Rivers State recorded a derivation ratio of 27.272%, while the other oil-producing states had ratios below 20%.
The report also noted that solid minerals-producing states did not receive derivation revenue in Q2 2024 due to insufficient revenue generation from the sector.
According to the report, Bauchi State recorded the highest debt deductions in Q2 2024 at N6.49 billion, followed by Ogun State. Anambra State had the least deductions at N115.6 million, while Lagos and Nasarawa recorded no debt deductions for the quarter.
Commenting on the report, the Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, emphasized that “The Quarterly Review aims to highlight the sources of funds into the Federation Account and the factors affecting the growth or decline in revenues and distributions over time.
“The ultimate goal of this disclosure is to enhance knowledge, increase awareness, and promote public accountability in the management of public finances,” Dr. Orji stated.
The NEITI Executive Secretary urged the citizens and civil society organizations, particularly those involved in revenue and expenditure monitoring, to show interest and strengthen their capacity in budget tracking and monitoring of allocations and disbursements to all tiers of government.
The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, and the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, were identified as the main revenue-generating agencies for the Federation Account.
Their contributions included oil and gas royalties, petroleum profit tax, company income tax, value-added tax, and import & excise duties.
as NNPC set Dangote petrol price at N950 per litre
Hopes for a potential reduction in petrol prices, following the commencement of supply from Dangote Refinery, were dashed, yesterday, as NNPC Limited released a new pricing template that raised pump prices by about 11 per cent to N950 per litre.
The pump price of petrol was increased by over 45 per cent two weeks ago, apparently in anticipation of the refinery’s output.
But amid disagreements between NNPC and Dangote Refinery over price of the product, a statement by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that Dangote petrol will not sell cheaper.
A document, titled “Estimated pump price based on Dangote Refinery September 2024 PMS supply”, showed that petrol from the refinery will have a base cost of N898 per litre.
Additional costs such as Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, charge of N4.495, Midstream and Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) charge of N4.495, distribution and logistics cost of N42.45 all added up to bring the effective pump price in Lagos area to N950.22 per litre from the current rate of N855 per litre.
NNPC also adjusted the price of the product across the country for its stations with Abuja now at N992.22 per litre from N897. The price for Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto has also increased to N992.22 while consumers in Borno area will pay the highest pump price at N1,019 per litre. Prices in Port Harcourt and Imo have been increased to N980.22 per litre.
NNPC insisted that it loaded the product at N898 per litre from Dangote and challenged anyone with contrary figures to make it public.
The company stated: “The NNPC Ltd also wishes to state that in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, PMS prices are not set by government, but negotiated directly between parties.
“The NNPC Ltd can confirm that it is paying Dangote Refinery in dollars for September 2024 PMS offtake, as Naira transactions will only commence on October 1st, 2024.
“The NNPC Ltd assures that if the quoted pricing is disputed, it will be grateful for any discount from the Dangote Refinery, which will be passed on 100% to the general public.
“Attached to this statement are the estimated pump prices of PMS (obtained from Dangote Refinery) across NNPC Retail stations in the country, based on September 2024 pricing.”
NNPC completes lifting 16.5m litres
Meanwhile Vanguard findings yesterday, showed that the NNPCL has completed lifting of 16.8 million litres of petrol allocated to it.
A competent source in the refinery said: “NNPCL has completed lifting the 16.8million allocated it. The product would be discharged into retail outlets, thus assisting to ease shortage in the country.”
Meanwhile, checks indicated that depot owners and oil and marketers have not started to take delivery of the product.
A depot owner, who spoke to Vanguard said: “We are still lifting imported petrol from NNPCL at N766 per litre. We don’t know what price the Dangote Refinery product will be sold to us. We look forward to discussing with the NNPCL.”
Also, an independent marketer, who pleaded to be anonymous, said: “We have not started selling Dangote Refinery petrol. In fact, we are not even sure of what the price would be. But I can confirm that we are still lifting imported product from depot owners at N875 per litre.”
Consumers should expect N1, 200 per litre — Marketers
On his part, with NNPC selling at almost a thousand naira in Abuja, the Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, said consumers should expect to pay as much as N1,200 per litre in outlets operated by other marketers.
“You can expect the price to be significantly higher than what you have at NNPC stations. Depending on how much depot owners are getting from NNPC, price may rise to between N1, 200 and N1,300 per litre in most parts of the north.
“We don’t know yet how much NNPC will sell and for independent marketers, things will even get more difficult because we don’t have direct access to products from NNPC. We have to buy from those who bought from NNPC,” he stated.
He had earlier lamented that the continued closure of NNPC Retail portal meant they would not be able to get access to petrol supplied by the Dangote Refinery through NNPC Limited.
Ukadike explained that the group which owned the majority of petrol stations across the country had also not been informed by NNPC of how it would get supply.
“We are happy that Dangote’s supply has commenced and we have another source of petroleum product supply. We are also not against the policy of selling the product to NNPC. The independent marketers are saying we also want the refinery to deal directly with us. We have the highest number of filling stations and will be the best partners for the refinery.
“We have not heard anything from NNPC. We are still waiting for their portal to open, so we can make purchases because since the issue started, NNPC has not opened its portal.”
When contacted to know the price NNPC Limited will be supplying other marketers as the sole off-taker of petrol from Dangote Refinery, Mr Soneye said the company was in discussion with the marketers.
Similarly, IPMAN National Welfare Officer, John Kekeocha, stated: “If Dangote products becomes higher than the imported products, then it doesn’t make sense. What is esence of the celebration we have been having all this while?”
Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Breakfast programme yesterday, he said the government should try to address all downstream problems and deliver petrol to consumers at an affordable rate.
Dangote keeps mum
However, the Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer of Dangote Refinery, Anthony Chiejina, did not respond to enquiries on the new facts yesterday.
But in his earlier statement Chiejine said Nigerians should “await a formal announcement on the pricing, by the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude sales to local refineries, appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which will commence on October 1, 2024, bearing in mind that our current stock of crude was procured in dollars.”
Sector requires increased transparency — DAPPMAN
However, Olufemi Adewole, Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, said: “The downstream sector needs to operate transparently in a manner that gives all stakeholders the opportunity to thrive and contribute significantly to the quest of ensuring availability, reliability and accessibility of petroleum products nation-wide.”
We’ve supplied more than 48m barrels to Dangote refinery — NNPCL
Meanwhile, the NNPCL, yesterday, said it has so far released 48,622,741 barrels of crude to Dangote refinery for processing.
In a document titled – Number of barrels of crude made available to Dangote Refinery, NNPCL, stated that 3,424,584 barrels, 3,477,214 barrels and 3,290,723 barrels were supplied in December 2023, February 2024 and March 2024, respectively.
The company said 3,330,537 barrels, 3,021,368 barrels, 5, 108,050 barrels and another 5, 108,050 barrels, were supplied in April, May, June and July 2024, respectively.
It also maintained that 4,797,215 barrels, 5,350, 000 barrels and 11,715,000 barrels were supplied to the refinery in August, September and October 2024, respectively.
[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Visits Borno State, Pledges More Support For Citizens, Creation Of Disaster Relief Fund
Admin![[STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE] President Tinubu Visits Borno State, Pledges More Support For Citizens, Creation Of Disaster Relief Fund](/media/k2/items/cache/6419096b2625ae0f94e7bcd904d36b48_S.jpg)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced a disaster relief fund Monday in Maiduguri, Borno State, to assist Nigerian citizens impacted by floods and other disasters.
He said the relief fund is already expedient as the climate becomes more unpredictable and many places in the country are vulnerable to its vagaries.
President Tinubu announced this at the Borno Government House when he visited the state to sympathise with the government and people over the recent flooding from Alau Dam.
He urged the private sector to contribute to the fund.
Senate president Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied the President on the visit, said the National Assembly will collaborate with the executive to establish the Fund.
Tinubu visited the Shehu of Borno, an Internally Displaced Persons camp at the Government Secondary School in Maiduguri and had a drive-through of the areas affected by the disaster.
President Tinubu said: “After my visit to the Shehu of Borno and the IDP camp, I have been reflecting on how to tackle this kind of disaster and the effects of climate change.
“There must be a disaster relief fund. I will invite the private sector to team up with us and help rebuild the affected areas.
“If we take a small percentage from FAAC and put it as disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging,” he said.
The President thanked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu; and Kogi State governor Ahmed Usman Ododo; and other governors who look beyond party lines to bear the burdens of others.
He said that Nigeria’s diversity should spur prosperity.
The President extended his sympathy to the government, the people of Yobe State, and all the states affected by flooding and pledged his government's continued support for victims of natural disasters.
“For all the people of Yobe State, I sympathise with you. We will create an outstanding programme for Nigeria to recover from this calamity. We will build our nation together,” the President assured.
The President commended the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, for prompt intervention and the Theatre Command of the Nigerian military for the evacuation that saved many lives.
“I am glad that Prof. Zulum has been a very active governor. Let me assure you that we will be with you, Borno State and share the burden.
“This disaster was a natural one. It was not the making of anybody. We cannot pass the blame. We pray that the Almighty Allah will receive the souls of the departed and grant them eternal rest.
“May God also overlook their shortcomings and misdeeds on earth," he added.
President Tinubu commended all the ministries, agencies, and security outfits, particularly the military, involved in evacuation and relief and recognised the international organisations working in the state.
The Governor of Borno State thanked the President for the visit and commended the prompt intervention of Federal Government agencies, particularly NEMA and the military's Theatre Command, in evacuating stranded victims.
At the palace, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi, thanked the President for the honour of visiting the state after the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, had earlier represented him.
The Shehu of Borno urged the President to investigate the cause of the Alua dam collapse and overflow into the town to prevent a recurrence.
Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information & Strategy)
The Nigerian government has begun a free programme to convert petrol-powered commercial vehicles to run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Ibadan and Zaria, as part of efforts to promote cleaner energy and reduce fuel costs after the removal of subsidies.
In Ibadan, around 100 vehicles were converted at three locations, including a Mobil filling station on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and two other sites in the city.
Louisa Afu, Business Development Executive of the Presidential CNG initiative, said the project aims to help vehicle owners cut costs while contributing to a cleaner environment.
Afu noted that the initiative, part of President Bola Tinubu’s push for sustainable energy, would expand to other regions. “Gas is cheaper, more sustainable, and safer,” she said, adding that Nigeria’s abundant gas reserves made CNG a viable alternative to petrol.
Local transport officials praised the programme as a positive step for the sector, though some, like CNG user Sowole Jayeola, called for further reductions in conversion costs to encourage more widespread adoption.
In Zaria, the government also launched its CNG initiative, starting with 50 vehicles. Dauda Suleiman, Team Lead at the National Institute for Transport Technology Centre, said the conversion kits were being provided for free to commercial drivers in the region.
More...
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says it purchased premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in dollars.
In a social media post on Monday, the NNPC said naira transactions would commence on October 1.
“The NNPC Ltd can confirm that it is paying Dangote Refinery in USD for September 2024 PMS offtake, as Naira transactions will only commence on October 1st, 2024,” the statement reads.
NNPC also released the estimated pump price of petrol based on prices set by the Dangote refinery.
On September 14, Wale Edun, the minister of finance, had said from October 1, the refinery would supply PMS and diesel to the domestic market in naira.
“From October 1, NNPC Ltd. will commence the supply of about 385,000 bpd of crude oil to the Dangote refinery, to be paid for in naira,” the minister had said.
“In return, the Dangote refinery will supply PMS and diesel of equivalent value to the domestic market, to be paid in naira.”
On September 15, the NNPC commenced petrol lifting at the refinery’s gantry after an extended period of price negotiations.
The development followed the deployment of a fleet of NNPC’s trucks to the refinery on September 14.
At the close of loading on Sunday, the NNPC had said it bought petrol from Dangote refinery at N898 per litre.
However, the Dangote refinery countered the claim, describing it as “both misleading and mischievous”.
President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Maiduguri to commiserate with the government and people of Borno state over the recent flood incident.
On September 10, flood displaced many residents in the Fori, Galtimari, Gwange, and Bulabulin areas of Maiduguri.
No fewer than 30 people have been reported dead from the flood which occurred following the collapse of the Alau dam.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima had visited Maiduguri shortly after the incident, describing it as the “most catastrophic” flood in Borno state in the last three decades.
Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment, Shettima said the impacts of the floods “exceeded estimation”.
Tinubu had directed the immediate evacuation of victims of the flood while he was away from the country.
The president left Abuja for China on August 29 but stopped in Dubai before arriving in Beijing on September 1.
After six days in China, Tinubu left Beijing for London where he met with King Charles III on September 12.
The President arrived Nigeria just before midnight on Sunday, September 15, and was received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by some members of the administration and heads of security agencies.
[TheCable]
Despite steady rise in commodity prices across the country, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said that headline inflation rate further eased to 32.15 per cent in August 2024 relative to the July 2024 headline inflation rate of 33.40 per cent.
The August 2024 headline inflation rate showed a decrease of 1.25 per cent points when compared to the July 2024 headline inflation rate at a time the country grapples with high cost of food items, fluctuation in exchange rate and shortage to the food supply chain occasioned by insecurity.
However, on a year-on-year basis, the headline inflation rate was 6.35 per cent points higher compared to the rate recorded in August 2023 (25.80 per cent).
“This shows that the headline inflation rate (year on-year basis) increased in August 2024 when compared to the same month in the preceding year (i.e., August 2023)” the statistics bureau said in a report released on Monday.
According to the NBS, on a month-on-month basis, the headline inflation rate in August 2024 was 2.22 per cent, which was 0.06% lower than the rate recorded in August 2024 (2.28 per cent).
“This means that in August 2024, the rate of increase in the average price level is lower than the rate of increase in the average price level in July 2024,” NBS said, making nonsense of the current high cost of living in Nigeria, driven by over 354 per cent increase in gasoline.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has tackled Dangote Refinery for selling petrol to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) higher than imported ones.
IPMAN National Welfare Officer, John Kekeocha, stated this on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief breakfast programme on Monday.
“If NNPC can sell Dangote products higher than the imported products then it doesn’t make sense. What is the celebration we are having all these while then?” he queried.
The NNPCL began loading the first batch of petrol from the Dangote Refinery on Sunday, saying it got petrol at N898 per litre from the private refinery.
Before lifting petrol from the Dangote Refinery on Sunday, NNPCL retail outlets in Lagos sell petrol for around N855 but said a litre of Dangote petrol now sell for N950 per litre in Lagos and N1,019 in Borno.
However, Dangote Refinery denied selling petrol to the NNPCL at N898. A spokesman for the refinery Anthony Chiejina in a statement late Sunday described the claim by the NNPCL as “misleading and mischievous”.
“It should also be noted that we sold the products to NNPCL in dollars with a lot of savings against what they are currently importing. With this action, there will be petrol in every local government area of the country regardless of their remote nature,” Chiejina said.
NNPCL insisted that it got petrol from Dangote Refinery at N898 per litre and challenged the latter to release the price it sold petrol. The NNPCL further released a breakdown of pricing it sell Dangote petrol at its filling stations across the country.
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.
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 over ₦1000/litre, compounding the woes of the citizens who power their vehicles, and generating sets with petrol, no thanks to decades-long epileptic electricity supply.