The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited says it stands by its earlier disclosure that Dangote Refinery Petrol is sold to them at N897 per liter.

NNPCL spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye disclosed this exclusively to DAILY POST on Sunday.

This comes after the Dangote Group in a statement by its spokesperson, Anthony Chiejina, on Sunday disagreed with NNPCL over its statement that Dangote Refinery Petrol was to them at N898 per litre.

However, when DAILY POST contacted NNPCL on his reaction to Dangote Refinery’s statement, he said, he stood by his revelation.

“We stand by our earlier stand that Dangote Refinery Petrol is sold to us at N898 per litre.

“We have documents to back this point”, he told DAILY POST.

The confusion comes after Dangote Refinery started loading its petrol on Sunday.

NNPCL had confirmed that 70 trucks belonging to the state-owned firm loaded Dangote Petrol on Sunday.

There’s an indication that the much discussed merger talk among the trio of Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso, which will see the opposition united against the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, might not sail through after all.

The sign emerged recently after Kwankwaso, presidential candidate of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, in the last general election, declared he will win the 2027 presidential election.

DAILY POST reported that the NNPP leader made the outburst when he recently inaugurated the party’s secretariat in Katsina State.

He was also in the State for a condolence visit to the Yar’Adua family over the death of their matriarch, Hajiya Dada, the mother of late President Umaru Yar’adua.

The former Kano state Governor, who had been courted as a beautiful bride by both Atiku and Obi, maintained that his party, NNPP, is ready to take over the presidency, states and other positions across the country come 2027.

In addition to his declaration, Kwankwaso claimed that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is already dead, and had gone out of the line.

“I wish to remind you that Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is already dead, because we were in the party, since they have gone out of the line, we decided to check out,” he said.

Prior to Kwankwaso’s outburst, the PDP had announced that key opposition leaders were exploring a merger to challenge the APC in the 2027 elections.

DAILY POST reported that Ibrahim Abdullahi, PDP’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, made this known while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme.

Abdullahi confirmed that Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso were discussing a potential alliance.

He lamented that the party lost by over one million votes, adding that if Kwankwaso or Obi had remained with the party, “We could have closed that gap and avoided the current political and economic hardships.”

“Sure. Discussion is ongoing. You’ve seen Peter Obi discussing with Atiku. You’ve seen Peter Obi meeting with El-Rufai,” Abdullahi said, adding that his party was working to bring Obi, Kwankwaso, and other leaders that had left back into the PDP.

“One of them will concede for the others, and then we will have a direction. Our concern as a party and to these people that I have mentioned is to salvage Nigerians from these despair and despondency—the two maladies of hunger and poverty and frightening insecurity in the land.

“You could see cluelessness and ineptitude on the part of those managing the country. And to these people (Atiku, Obi, and Kwankwaso), salvaging Nigeria out of it is more important than their individual ambitions,” he added.

DAILY POST recalls that before the 2023 general election, the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku, had, in an interview with the BBC, given a hint of a possible alliance with Obi and Kwankwaso but it never happened.

In addition, there was also a failed talk over an alliance between Peter Obi (LP) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (NNPP), on the other hand.

Speaking in an interview with News Central Television, which aired on Thursday, Obi said he’s not desperate to become Nigeria’s President.

He said he would only agree to work together with others if he sees people who can do the work better.

According to him, he will not join just anybody for the purposes of state capture or for winning elections.

Obi’s words: “Quite frankly, for me, I am not desperate to be Nigeria’s President. I am desperate to see Nigeria work.

“If I see people who can do the work better, I will. I have even heard people who are saying I should not come out in 2027, and I said to them ‘offer yourselves, then we will put everybody on a scale. If they are better, I will vote for them.”

When asked if he will stay with the Labour Party if he’s contesting in the next election, Obi said: “Yes, I will be here, and if any person is coming for us to negotiate or come together, he must tell me for what purpose.

“I will not join anybody for state capture or for winning an election. I want anybody to tell me how we are going to make sure that no child is left behind; how we are going to put those millions of out-of-school children back in school; and how we are going to create jobs.

“We must first of all establish what we are going to achieve by coming together.

Collaboration shouldn’t be for just state capture and continue with the same consumption. If it’s a collaboration for production, we will.”

On whether he will say yes to Kwankwaso joining him as collaborators, the former Anambra state Governor answered: “We want to dismantle the two biggest jobs in Nigeria. Anybody who wants to move the country from consumption to production; anybody who wants to pull people out of poverty, who wants to bring out-of-school children into school, we will say yes, yes.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP, Barr. Ray Nnaji told DAILY POST in an interview that it’s a good idea if they (Atiku, Obi, Kwankwaso) could actually agree, especially Obi and Atiku, who he said had run on one ticket in a past election.

However, Nnaji, a former National Auditor of the PDP, said he’s not foreseeing the possibility of the leader of the NNPP, Kwankwaso, who he described as President Tinubu’s friend, agreeing to work with Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

The PDP chieftain explained that an alliance among the trio could only be possible on the basis that Kwankwaso would be given the opportunity to be the presidential candidate.

Nnaji said: “This alliance has been something actually advocated for even when they were contesting the 2023 election. I was saying that most especially, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Labour Party, LP, will actually beat the All Progressives Congress, APC.

“That of the New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, the possibility of coming into alliance… because Rabiu Kwankwaso believed he can actually win the election, even when he’s controlling only Kano.

“Though Kano has a very big and relative population, that alone cannot give him the presidency. And knowing fully well that Kwankwaso and President Tinubu they are all friends, I am not foreseeing the possibility of Kwankwaso coming together with Atiku Abubakar to form an alliance, except on the basis that Kwankwaso will be given the opportunity to be the presidential candidate, which I don’t know the possibility of that happening.

“Atiku and Obi have run together before and they defeated the APC. If not that Buhari saw it coming, that was why he removed Walter Onnoghen, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, from office through an exparte order because he knew quite alright that the matter will end up in the Supreme Court, and with Onnoghen at Supreme Court, he was not sure of winning the case.

“That’s why he made every effort and removed Onnoghen and brought in his brother, Tanko, who actually made sure that the intention of bringing him did not fail.”

He continued: “If they are talking about merging now, like I just said, I am not foreseeing Kwankwaso coming into alliance with Atiku and Obi, except the offer of being the President is given to Kwankwaso.

“I’m not his spokesman and I haven’t talked with him, but his body language has shown that. And you know quite well, if Obi will agree to run with Atiku or have an alliance, the problem will be who actually becomes the candidate, and on which platform.

“If Obi accepts, you know he was formerly of the PDP but left because of Wike. Obi has been able to surprise all bookmakers. Even myself, I never gave him the chance he’s going to make it.

“So, if they can come together, what we have seen now is that the populace are even tired of the ruling party, because instead of things getting better, it’s getting worse.

“The ruling party (APC) is not even prepared to proffer solutions to the problem. It’s a very big problem and right thinking people should know what to do.

“If you compare what’s happening now to what actually caused the PDP to lose the election, you will find out that the APC has not justified why it’s an alternative to the PDP since 2015.

“It’s a good idea if they can actually agree, especially between Obi and Atiku who had run on one ticket before.

“But this time around, if an alliance is going to take place, it’s no longer going to be a situation where Atiku will be the one endorsing Obi. It will now be three equal parties because if you look at the scores, you will find out that Obi did the best.

“He’s not a push over. Therefore, it will be an arrangement of two equals, although the Labour Party has only one state, PDP has about 13 states. That will be the only thing to make sure that the APC is dislodged. If not, it will be very difficult, knowing the mentality of our people.”

Speaking also about the matter, Dr Yunusa Tanko, ex-spokesman and media director of the defunct Labour Party Presidential Campaign Organisation, said the issue about the talk of merger and alliance was a continuous discussion.

Tanko, the Interim National Coordinator of Obidient Movement, made this known in an interview with DAILY POST.

He explained that no definite position on that matter had been taken even though people were still talking to each other.

“The issue about the talk of merger and alliance is a continuous discussion. There’s no definite position on that matter but people are talking to each other.

“It’s very imperative that people understand the need for combined efforts of people who will be aligning on the same matter of good governance and ensuring that they take over power from these people. So people are talking to each other while they are consolidating their base.

“There’s no issue of doubting anybody’s sincerity. The truth about this is that either you’re in it or you’re not. If you feel there’s a need for collaboration, nobody will need to force you into it,” Tanko said.

On his part, the Kano State Chairman of the NNPP, Hashimu Dungurawa, informed DAILY POST that it’s only the situation in the nearest future that will warrant what will happen.

Dungurawa stated that his leader, Kwankwaso is a very friendly person and is not in a quarrel with anybody.

According to him, Kwankwaso wants things to be done rightly in Nigeria, insisting he wants true leaders that will manage the affairs of the country.

He said: “You see in politics, things don’t just happen like that. It’s only the situation in context that will warrant what will happen, whether Mr A is going to work with Mr B or Mr C.

“It’s only time that will determine that. You can’t preempt what has not happened or arrived.

It’s only when the time comes that people can only say what will happen. This is just a rumor.

“Our leader, Rabiu Kwankwaso is a very friendly person. He’s not in a quarrel with anybody.

“He wants things to be done rightly in Nigeria and he wants true leaders that will manage the affairs of this country. That’s what he’s fighting for.

“He is the only person that’s not decamping to the ruling-government party. But many politicians in the country, they used to dump the opposition party and join the ruling party because they are after themselves.

“But when they formed APC, when they formed PDP, he was a governor there. They misbehaved, he moved to the APC that wasn’t in the government.

“When they formed the government of APC, APC started misbehaving, he went back again to the PDP. And the same PDP repeated its mistake, that’s why he joined the NNPP.

“By the grace of Allah, he produced a governor and many members of the National Assembly, including senators.

“That’s why he is different from others, that are more of prostitute politicians. Many of them are crossing from the opposition to the government party. And Kwankwaso’s own is not like that.

“You see, what’s happening in the country is well familiar and known to everybody. That party called APC has a logo of broom.

“The broom has now turned to a stick, and it’s hitting everyone. Everybody is receiving its consequences.

“The PDP that you mentioned has an umbrella as logo, it has now turned to a mad tiger that is biting everybody.

“It doesn’t even have leadership today. So, people are ready to come and work with NNPP.

“We are the one to make this country great and everyone happy, if we are given the chance in 2027.”

Dangote Group has responded to reports claiming that it sold premium motor spirit (PMS) to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) at N898 per litre, calling the reports “misleading and malicious.”

In a statement issued by Chief Branding and Communication Officer Anthony Chiejina, Dangote Group did not confirm the specific price at which the product was sold, only stating that it was sold in dollars.

Olufemi Soneye, the NNPCL’s chief spokesperson, had previously stated that the company purchased the PMS at N898 per litre, correcting an earlier report that suggested the price was N760 per litre.

Dangote’s statement criticized Soneye’s report as intentionally misleading, aimed at undermining the achievement of the Dangote Refinery’s recent milestone in addressing Nigeria’s energy challenges. The statement urged Nigerians to disregard the misleading claims and wait for the official price announcement from the Technical Sub-Committee on Naira-based crude sales to local refineries, which will be made on October 1, 2024.

The statement further emphasized that the refinery sold the product to NNPCL in dollars, offering significant savings compared to current import prices, and reassured that the refinery would help alleviate fuel scarcity across Nigeria by ensuring availability in every local government area.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, and Dangote Refinery yesterday disagreed over the pricing of the petrol to be supplied by the refinery.

The disagreement came against the backdrop of the first lifting of the product from the refinery by NNPCL yesterday.

Although NNPCL got the first supply at N898 per litre, Dangote said the price was not reflective of any agreement on the pricing of its product.

Dangote argued that it sold the initial supplies for N898 per litre because the crude was imported for refining, hence it was selling at dollar equivalence.
In a statement by Anthony Chiejina, Group Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Dangote described the claims by NNPCL that it got the product for N898 per litre as “misleading and mischievous”.

Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Limited, was earlier reported to have said it bought the product at N898 per litre, in contradiction to reports that it was sold to it N766 per litre.“Clarifying this, Dangote said: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement attributed to NNPCL spokesperson, Mr. Olufemi Soneye, that we sell our PMS at N898 per f to the NNPCL.““This statement is both misleading and mischievous, deliberately aimed at undermining“the milestone achievement recorded today, September 15, 2024, towards addressing“energy insufficiency and insecurity, which has bedeviled the economy in the past 50 years.

““We urge Nigerians to disregard this malicious statement and 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.““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.““We assure Nigerians of availability of quality petroleum product and putting an end to the“endemic fuel scarcity in the country.”

Meanwhile, there were indications yesterday that Nigeria’s fuel shortage may linger due to a 38.8per cent shortfall in the first delivery of premium motor spirit, PMS, from Dangote Refinery to the NNPCL.

This is because the 650,000 barrels per day, bpd, refinery was scheduled to deliver 25 million litres of petrol to NNPCL but could only deliver 16.8 million litres for now.

Recalled that the Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) had said that Nigeria’s domestic petrol consumption has dropped by 33.58 per cent to 44.3 million litres per day, from 66.7 million litres per day.

This indicates that the 16.8 million litres would be grossly inadequate for domestic consumption.

In a letter communicating the shortfall to the NNPCL, Dangote refinery, stated: “This is to formally notify you of the release of Twelve Thousand, Two hundred Metric Tons (12,200 MT) of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from Tank No.3201D at Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Ibeju Lekki to Messrs. NNPC Trading Limited to be loaded via road trucks.”

To facilitate distribution, the NNPCL has mobilized over 300 trucks to transport the fuel from the refinery and also berthed a vessel for same.
It was gathered that the NNPCL had issued a Letter of Credit (LC Ref SBLCxxxxT0083) for over $120 million to cover the initial supply of 25 million litres before being informed by the Dangote refinery that it won’t be able to deliver as planned.

Vanguard has learned that the price of PMS from the Dangote Refinery for this initial loading is at N898 per liter.
The fuel lifting is part of a “naira for crude” arrangement, whereby crude oil is sold to local refineries and petroleum products are purchased in naira.

We are lifting 16.8 million litres at N898 per litre – NNPCL

Confirming the development, yesterday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, said: “We successfully loaded PMS today (yesterday) at the Dangote Refinery. The report stating that we purchased it at N1, 300 per litre is false.

“For this initial loading, the price was N898 per litre. I can also confirm, in response to your inquiry, that we will receive 16.8 million litres. As of now, 4.09PM (Sunday) we have loaded over 70 trucks.”

Similarly, the Executive Vice President (Downstream) of the NNPCL, Dapo Segun, pledged the commitment of the NNPCL to the deal, saying: “As a shareholder in the Dangote refinery with 7.25 per cent interest, we are committed to the lifting of product.

“We are running a business. Dangote is running a business. I can tell you there’s nothing unfair going on. Everything that’s going on is according to the terms and conditions signed by both parties, and that is the way business should be done.”

NNPC portal closure denies us access to Dangote petrol — Oil marketers

Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, has lamented that the continued closure of NNPCL’s Retail portal meant they would not be able to get access to petrol supplied by the Dangote Refinery through NNPC Limited.

An agreement between the Federal Government and the Dangote Refinery last Friday made NNPCL the sole off-taker of Dangote petrol, with other marketers expected to get their allocations from NNPC.

This, according to government sources, is to ensure that Nigerians do not pay much higher price for PMS.

But speaking to Vanguard yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, said: “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.

“But 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 are waiting to hear from NNPC. We are still waiting for their portal to open, so we can make purchases.”

On his part, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association, PETROAN, Joseph Ehimen, said: “We are all waiting for Dangote refinery petrol. We need to see the product at the market place. We need to know the price. We do not want the price to be fixed by anyone. Let the market forces determine the price.

“It should be noted that other investors would be encouraged to do businesses in the sector when prices are not pegged. We need more investors to step up investments in the sector in order to stimulate lasting growth. No single public or private single investor can do it alone.”

We look forward to lifting if price is right — Depot owners

Also, Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMAN, Olufemi Adewole, said: “We have been lifting diesel (AGO) and aviation fuel (Jet fuel) and we look forward to lifting petrol (PMS).

“We await clarity in respect of the pricing mode and once that is clarified, we’ll do the needful towards meeting the energy needs of Nigerians.”

Dangote refinery to meet domestic demand, export — Edwin

In an interview with the media, yesterday, the Vice President, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said: “Fifty two years ago, we were trying to see how to solve the problem of PMS supply and the queues. Now, after 52 years, we have a solution.

‘’The solution is local production and it is from a Nigerian owned company. It was constructed by a Nigerian company.

“So, it is a matter of great pride that a Nigerian-owned company, constructed by a Nigerian owned company, is able to refine PMS from the local crude and deliver not only to meet the entire requirements of Nigeria but we can also have surplus to export.

“It is time and a moment of great pride for every Nigerian. Every day with 650,000 barrels of crude, we can generate more than 54 million litres of PMS. The refinery has a capacity to produce various other products too.

‘’Also, 44% of the production can meet the entire requirements of the country, while 56% of the production has to be exported.

“It is not only going to be impacting in terms of import substitution alone, but also going to generate forex through export. At a go, we can load 86 trucks. We dedicate 40 gantries to PMS alone.”

Dangote refinery petrol supply to NNPC’ll eliminate queues – Otedola

Reacting to the lifting of petrol from the refinery yesterday, billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, the owner of Zenon Petroleum, said the lifting of fuel from the refinery by NNPCL will eliminate queues at retail stations.

Otedola in a post on X, said: “Kudos to President Tinubu for making this a reality! Fuel queues are now a thing of the past as Dangote Refinery starts loading PMS today (yesterday), Sunday, September 15, 2024.”

LASG begins implementation of E-call up on Lekki – Epe port corridor

Meanwhile, in a bid to avert severe congestion by articulated trucks and improve the efficient logistics operations within the Lekki-Epe Free Trade Zone corridor, Lagos State government has announced the commencement of the e-call up system to manage truck movements within the axis from next week.
The commencement date, according to a statement signed by Mrs Bolanle Ogunlolu, Deputy Director, Public Affairs at the Lagos State Ministry of Transport, was earlier extended on stakeholders request to give adequate room for full compliance.

The Commissioner for Transport, Seun Osiyemi, disclosed that the e-call up system was ready for implementation for a sustainable, effective and technology-driven solution of truck movement in the Lekki-Epe corridor.

Osiyemi explained that the application of e-call up system would help synchronize movement of trucks accessing the Lekki Deep Seaport and other industries within the corridor, starting from Eleko junction to Lekki Free Trade Zone.

Highlighting the state and federal government’s plans on road network expansion and inter-modal transport systems to streamline vehicular traffic and enhance free movement in one of Lagos’ most critical economic zones, the commissioner opined that the e-call system would control the corridor.

Osiyemi said: “The e-call up system, an advanced digital platform, is designed to regulate the entry and exit of trucks in the Lekki-Epe area by scheduling and coordinating their movements.

‘’This system will help prevent the chaotic traffic situations often caused by the indiscriminate parking and movement of trucks within the corridor.
“The Lekki-Epe corridor, a key economic hub in Lagos, is home to numerous industries, including the Lekki Free Trade Zone, the Dangote Refinery, and the Lekki Deep Sea Port.

‘’The efficient movement of goods and services in this area is crucial for the state’s economy, making the e-call up system an essential tool for sustainable development.”

Also speaking on the development, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Sola Giwa, who is saddled with the enforcement of the e-call up system, said an interim arrangement was being put in place to decongest the roads through evacuation of all illegal tankers from the red zone by a joint TASKFORCE of the state, local government areas/local community development areas, LCDAs, security agencies and stakeholders.

Giwa urged truck operators and logistics companies to comply with the new system to ensure its success.

The Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, Peter Obi, has condemned the Presidency for what he claims is a futile effort to tarnish his reputation by drawing comparisons to the American presidential election.

In a statement released through his Media Office on Sunday, titled “Why Desperate OBI Traducers Are Kissing the Dust?” and signed by his Spokesman, Ibrahim Umar, Obi accused the Presidency and its allies of attempting to distort facts in a bid to damage his impeccable image.

Obi’s statement criticized the purported attempts by “desperate propagandists” and their “presidential enablers” to use the American election scenario as a weapon against him.

He described these efforts as not only misguided but also futile in their attempt to undermine his credibility.

Umar said, “For these traducers, it would be a huge omission for a day to pass without finding something to negatively link Obi within the media space, if he and his family members are not being arrested imaginarily (a kite being flown to test waters?), he is being wickedly accused of sponsoring violence or twisting his public appearances in a manner to suite their dubious motives.

“Perhaps the most laughable of such delusions is the Presidency’s effort to ridicule Obi by dragging his name into the United States of America, USA electioneering process, by scandalously linking him with the Republican Party Candidate, Donald Trump.

“We are very much aware of the motive behind these ridiculous comparisons, which is their uncanny way of currying favour so undeserved from the Democrats.

“Nigerians who mused about the derisory and facetious comparison have tried to ask: ‘Will your calling Peter Obi ‘a Trump’, translate to or mean that Tinubu is Harris’?

“Every discerning mind who wants to compare Obi and Tinubu and attempts to equate them with the two American Presidential candidates, Trump and Harris, knows too well the similarities and parallels in terms of morality, transparency, good-standing antecedents and people-focused policies.

“The Presidency by indulging in such clever-by-half comparisons, which are intended to discredit Obi, merely brings to the fore the glaring weaknesses of the incumbent administration and their crassness and inability to discern the realities and especially the pains and pangs their actions and policies foisted on the nation in the past year.

“Nigerians are not so gullible to be fooled by such empty propaganda.

“It’s even ironic that the spin doctors of a leader who since the early campaign days into over a year as President has remained disturbingly aloof and seemingly incapable of presenting himself and his policies to Nigerians through the media, and who has continued to evade public accountability, are trying to malign Obi who has easily emerged in all ramifications as the most visible, focused and articulate political personality in this dispensation.

“Obi remains a man who has not only become the conscience of the people but also their hope for a new and egalitarian Democracy.

“Rather than strive to market and justify their rusty and anti-people deleterious policies that have put Nigeria and Nigerians in the most horrendous, conditions, they have resolved to convey misleading accounts of our Principal’s activities just to distract the credulous public.

“While we understand the frustration of selling a bad product in a competitive market, the FairPlay rule demands that you don’t de-market the good product by forcefully associating it with the ugly product.

“We know the intention of these trolls and spin doctors, who have also gone ahead to provoke our Principal’s massive supporters across the country and diaspora by twisting his recent media interview to insinuate that he is ready to be Vice President to anyone.

“But that fallacy could not be true of a man who has repeatedly stated in various forums that he is not desperate to be President but desperate to see Nigeria work.

“Such plebian conduct that is utterly devoid of integrity, remains the height of mischief from propagandists, who are envious of the rising profile of our Principal.

“Finally, POMR wishes to plead with Nigerians especially the Obidients within and outside the country and across all the political parties to remain undistracted in their aspiration and desire to see a new Nigeria that is P0ssible.”

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, leaders from the Ogoni and Oyigbo zones in Rivers State are seeking a replacement for incumbent Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

They converged on Nonwa in the Tai Local Government Area of Rivers State on Saturday at an event tagged “Ogoni, Oyigbo People’s Assembly.”

The gathering was attended by prominent politicians, most of whom are loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Wike, the immediate past governor of Rivers State, is currently in a running battle with Fubara, his estranged political godson, and has vowed not to support Fubara again.

Among the attendees were personalities such as Senator Barinada Mpigi, Senator Magnus Abe, Ambassador Desmond Akawor, and Chief Victor Giadom.

The Assembly emphasized unity and cooperation between the two ethnic nationalities, which fall under the same senatorial district (Rivers South-East) that produced Fubara as governor.

As part of their resolution, read by Senator Mpigi, they demanded the Ogoni/Oyigbo governorship slot in 2027 and called for unity and cooperation between the Ogoni and Oyigbo people.

They also called on major political parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo candidates for the governorship, while condemning the activities of Governor Fubara.

Senator Mpigi alleged that some political actors were visiting Aso Villa at night to declare their support for President Bola Tinubu and urged them to do so openly during the day.

He called on President Tinubu to contest the 2027 general election to consolidate his efforts in improving the economy and complete his developmental projects.

The resolution reads: “The Ogoni and Oyigbo Peoples Assembly, a multi-political convergence of five Local Government Areas within the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, met today to reaffirm their support for the President Bola Tinubu-led administration and pledged total loyalty to the former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of FCT, Chief Nyesom Wike, as the political leader of Rivers State. They also reiterated the obvious fact that the senatorial district’s upland is due for a governor and should produce the next governor of Rivers State come 2027.”

Mpigi further stated: “I call on Mr. President to contest the 2027 election and finish the numerous projects, including the Coastal Roads, Badagry Express Road, and others.”

The leaders commended the FCT Minister for uniting Ogoni and Oyigbo politically and condemned recent comments by the Ijaw leader and elder statesman Edwin Clark against Wike.

Speaking earlier, Ambassador Akawor, who was the chairman of the occasion, said that since the Ijaw people within the senatorial district had segregated themselves from the upland, the upland would make a statement that would change the political history of the state come 2027.

Chief Victor Giadom, South-South Deputy National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, thanked President Tinubu for his people-oriented reforms and urged major parties to consider Ogoni/Oyigbo for the governorship slot in 2027.

On his part, Senator Abe emphasized the importance of peace and unity, while Dumnamene Dekor, the member representing Khana/Gokana Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, stressed Ogoni/Oyigbo’s capacity to produce the next governor.

Former federal lawmaker Emmanuel Deeyah also praised President Tinubu and Wike for their love for the Ogoni people and their developmental strides in the country.

Parents of boarding students at Eva Adelaja Girls Grammar School in Bariga, Lagos, took to the streets on Sunday to protest the Lagos State government’s increase in boarding fees from N35,000 to N100,000.

The parents, who gathered in large numbers, chanted slogans and demanded an immediate reversal of the fee hike. They insisted that the school would not resume until their demands were met.

Protesters held banners and placards with messages such as “No reversal, No resumption!” “Free education is our right,” and “We say no to this fee increment.”

A letter addressed to all boarding school principals and signed by Olufemi Asaolu, Director of Basic Education Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, announced the fee increase. The letter, dated Friday, stated: “The state government has approved the review of the boarding fee payable in all public boarding house schools in Lagos State. The newly approved fee is N100,000 only.”

The letter, titled ‘Review of Boarding Fees in All Public Secondary Schools in Lagos State for the 2024/2025 Session,’ also noted that no additional fees should be collected by the schools. It indicated that the resumption date was now set for Sunday, September 15, 2024.

Segun Bashorun, a parent and the Public Relations Officer for the Parents’ Forum at the Senior School, expressed frustration over the sudden increase. In an interview with our correspondent, Bashorun said, “We should have been consulted before such decisions were made. The fee was increased just two days before resumption. There was hardly any time for parents to adjust.”

He continued, “The economic situation is tough, and the increased transportation costs are also a burden. Many parents are struggling, and some are even in tears. We appeal to the government to involve us in such decisions. We need to be part of the conversation since we are the ones paying these fees.”

Another parent was captured on video saying, “Our children aspire to become presidents and governors in the future. How can we keep them at home because we can’t afford the new fees? The cost is too high, and we are pleading for help. Governor, please assist us!”

Telecommunications operators are expected to start disconnecting mobile telephone lines that are not linked to National Identification Numbers, following the expiration of the September 14 deadline set by the Nigerian Communications Commission.

The NCC said in a statement in August that it expected that no SIM card would remain active without a verified NIN from September 15.

The telecom regulator had encouraged subscribers who were yet to complete their NIN-SIM linkage or have faced issues due to verification mismatches to visit their service providers promptly to update their details before the deadline.

As of March 2024, data from the NCC showed 219 million active lines across mobile networks such as MTN, Glo, Airtel, and 9mobile, with 153 million already linked to NIN. This leaves approximately 66 million unlinked lines at risk of disconnection.

Between July 28 and 29, millions of lines were temporarily barred due to unverified NINs, causing widespread disruptions in the country. The NCC had reversed its decision, giving subscribers more time to comply. However, with the deadline now expired, disconnections will commence.

Speaking to The PUNCH, an NCC official, who requested anonymity as he was not authorised to comment on the matter, dismissed any possibility of an extension.

“We will disconnect anyone who refuses to comply; the grace period is over. The reason why we extended the last time was the misconception of Nigerians who claimed that the NCC wanted to frustrate the August 1 protest.”

The official clarified that the commission has no intention of deliberately disconnecting subscribers. “A significant number of Nigerians have opted not to link their SIMs to their NIN for various reasons.

“While there may be challenges at the Centres, it remains crucial to revisit and complete the process. Let me be clear—there will be no further extensions,” the official emphasised.

A few weeks ago, subscribers expressed frustration over the challenges they face in uploading their details on the National Identity Management Commission portal.

The President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers, Adeolu Ogungbanjo, described the situation as “terrible” after visiting some telecom centres, including MTN and Airtel.

He told our correspondent earlier that the existing portal challenges are obstructing the timely completion of the NIN-SIM linkage, adding, “Without immediate action, subscribers will struggle to meet the deadline.”

He pleaded that the NCC should consider extending the deadline due to the technical issues that marred the process of registration last week.

“NCC must be commended after a series of extensions but I believe they can still do that for maybe one week,” he told Sunday PUNCH.

In March, the NIMC and NCC strengthened their partnership to streamline the NIN-SIM linkage process. Both agencies launched public awareness campaigns, stakeholder training, and the dissemination of accurate information to help citizens comply with the directives.

According to financial results from the first half of 2024, MTN Nigeria and Airtel Africa barred a combined 13.5 million lines for non-compliance with the NIN-SIM linkage directive.

MTN reported it had blocked 8.6 million lines, while Airtel stated that 8.7 million of its customers had completed verification.

The compulsory linkage of NIN with SIM cards began in December 2020, when the government ordered telcos to bar unregistered SIMs and those without NIN links.

Following multiple deadline extensions by the NCC since December 2023, April 15, 2024, was set as the final deadline for fully barring subscribers with four or fewer SIMs having unverified NIN details.