THE prolonged petrol scarcity worsened in Lagos, Ogun and other states, yesterday, as independent marketers started lifting the product from private depots at N780 per litre, from N595 per litre, indicating an increase of 31 per cent.

The marketers believe the hike in price reflects the current demand and supply of the product in the domestic market.

Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, who confirmed this in an interview with Vanguard, also expressed optimism that the bad situation could improve in the coming days.
Chief Ukadike noted that more trucks have left the depots in the past few days, adding that though independent marketers are still sourcing the product at a higher rate, more marketers can load their trucks.

According to him, “NNPC has started releasing products to independent marketers. The queues you are seeing now are ghost queues. They appear in the morning but disappear in the afternoon or evening. It will continue like that until supply stabilizes in the coming days and becomes sufficient enough.

“You must also remember that we are in the rainy season and it takes some time for trucks to come up north. In a few days, I believe the situation will ease.”

Petrol distribution challenges, which have gone on for about six weeks have led to long queues at filling stations across the country with several marketers jerking up their pump prices.

Checks around Abuja yesterday showed that while queues have eased slightly at the stations around the central area, the supply situation remains tense in other parts of the Federal Capital Territory.

Pump prices also remained high, ranging from N685/litre at outlets operated by major marketers to N950/litre at stations managed by independent marketers.

He said: “So we sell as we can buy and put up markups and margins to be able to make little profit. The transportation cost is a lot higher now. The product we normally bring in at N800,000 now costs N3.5 million because of the high cost of diesel and maintenance cost of the trucks.”

He disclosed that IPMAN is still waiting to meet with the management of the Dangote Refinery ahead of the expected release of petrol from the refinery, stressing that independent marketers are determined to remove middlemen from their dealings with the refinery.

“We are still anticipating that Dangote will invite us as one of the major stakeholders in the downstream of the oil and gas distribution chain. We will be one of their major off-takers. We are serious about the issue of third parties and that this is what IPMAN is trying to erase. Third parties’ involvement increases cost of the product and we don¡¯t want that to happen,” he added.

Scarcity worsens in Lagos, Ogun, others

Checks indicated that the situation in Lagos, Ogun and other states that had recorded improvement in the past few days, yesterday, worsened as long fuel queues reappeared in many parts of the states.

There were several long queues at some filling stations, especially the outlets belonging to the NNPC and major oil marketers, which sold it at about N568 per litre while their independent counterparts sold it at between N900 and N950 per litre.

However, others without the product simply shut their gates against motorists and other buyers while hawkers were seen freely hawking it at higher prices, ranging between N1,000 and N1,500 per litre, depending on location.

Transporters lament, jerk up fares by over 200%

Further checks indicated that there was a significant increase in transport fares and motorists passed the cost of the high price to commuters in Lagos, Ogun and other states.

It now costs about N6,000 to travel from Ikorodu to Victoria Island, Lagos, a trip that used to cost less than N2,000 before the shortage.

Mr. Emmanuel Okonkwo, a Sienna bus driver who plies Lagos to Owerri said: “Naturally, the fuel scarcity is affecting our business negatively. Nowadays, there is no fixed fare for trips again, you fix what you like and the way it suits you to enable you remain in business. The worst aspect of it is that people are no longer traveling like before, hardly could one get full load in Toyota Sienna bus. If you are lucky to get full load, you should thank your star.

“In most cases you get four to five passengers and after all expenses, you discover that you are left with nothing to go home with. We are not finding it easy at all, because it takes a long time to get full load, departure and arrival time also have been affected. Drivers get to their destinations late as a result of queuing for fuel on the road. 

“In most cases they have to sleep in any town before proceeding the next day due to fear of insecurity. In fact things are no longer the same.”

Another driver , who operates from Lagos to Port Harcourt, Mr. Eugene Eze noted that the scarcity was affecting their business because they queue all day to get fuel and at the end not having passengers on ground like before. He said that outside Lagos, fuel is sold at between N900 to N1,000, and this affects our profit.

He said: “We are working for nothing under the present fuel scarcity situation. The dilemma is that we can’t increase fares because passengers cannot afford the high fares.

“The danger is that we will be out of business if the fuel price continues the way it is. The vehicle maintenance is getting higher by the day and the option is to stop putting the vehicles on the road.

“Presently drivers spend a full day to search for fuel which they purchase at very high price. Our business is heading towards extinction. We are not even talking about extortion by local government officials and law enforcement agents on the road that collect toll fares from the transporters. It is very tough for us. Government should hear our cry and help us before we become unemployed,” he said.

Price rises as few depots have product

A visit to some depots in Lagos, including at Satellite Town yesterday, indicated that many of them have depleted their stocks, thus resulting in price hike.

However, it was gathered that some operators have concluded plans to further increase their depot prices to N800 per litre, from over N780 per litre.

Regulator not monitoring

The checks indicated that officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, were not physically present at filling stations to monitor activities, thus culminating in irregularities, including pump manipulation.

Rains, lightning, thunderstorms, cause of shortage — NNPC

However, NNPCL¡¯s Vice President (Downstream), Dapo Segun, attributed the shortage to rains, lightning and thunderstorms.

Speaking during a press conference at the NNPC Towers, he said: “We apologise to Nigerians for the fuel queues. Many of the challenges we’re facing are outside our control, but we’re doing our best to address them.

“The recent rains have made the Escravos channel difficult to navigate due to siltation, which has significantly hindered our ability to transport petroleum products, especially PMS, across the country.”

He said lightning and thunderstorms culminated in suspension of fuel discharges, adding that the situation is worsened by the poor states of roads in the country

Nigeria becoming failed state — PENGASSAN

However, President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Engr. Festus Osifo, who is also President of the Trade Union Congress TUC, attributed Nigeria’s current economic hardship to government policies like floating of the currency.

Engr. Osifo stated the above in his address on Wednesday in Abuja, at the 3rd edition of PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit with the theme, “The future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry: Energy mix, energy security, artificial intelligence, divestment and crude oil theft.”

He said: “A country that cannot meet its energy needs or guarantee energy availability for its citizens is on the path of becoming a failed state.

“As an association, we have mounted the rostrum over time, both on the streets and in the boardroom, to champion this cause, and we will not relent until victory is certain.

“As we gather here, let us not lose sight of the broader state of our nation. Nigeria stands at the crossroads, and our actions and decisions here in the next few days will provide a framework for a policy thrust for government towards shaping the economic outlook of our country.

“It is incumbent upon us to drive positive change, foster economic growth, and ensure our people’s prosperity. Recent policy directions by the government have placed untold hardship on Nigerians. Chief among them is flotation cum devaluation of the Naira, which saw our currency sliding from 450 Naira officially in May 2023 to the current exchange rate of about 1,600 Naira.

“This is the reason why the landing price of PMS today is over 1,000 Naira (reintroduction of subsidy), the reason why AGO is selling for over 1,300 Naira, and the reason why all imported commodities are over the roof today. The over-arching impact of this on Nigerians can only be imagined rather than experienced.”

Emmanuel Ayoola, former chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), is dead.

Musa Aliyu, ICPC chairman, announced Ayoola’s death in a statement on Wednesday.

Ayoola, who was the second ICPC chairman, died on Tuesday at the age of 91.

He served as the commission’s chairman between 2005 and 2010, after succeeding Mustapha Akanbi.

Ayoola served the country in various capacities. He was appointed as a high court judge in 1976 and rose through the ranks to the supreme court.

He retired as a justice of the nation’s apex court in 2003, having attained the mandatory retirement age of 70.

He was born on October 27, 1933, in Ilesha, Osun state.

Ayoola attended Temidire Model School from 1939 to 1943 for his primary education and Ilesha Grammar School from 1944 to 1950 for his secondary education.

Ayoola obtained a law degree in 1957.

He studied at several institutions, including the University of London and Oxford University London.

In 2002, the secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) appointed Ayoola as a judge of the appeals chamber of the special court for Sierra Leone.

The court was set up to try those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Sierra Leone civil war.

He was president of the court from 2004 to 2005.

In a tribute, the ICPC chairman said Ayoola’s death “marks the end of an illustrious chapter in the history of Nigeria’s judiciary and the broader legal profession”.

“A jurist of international repute, his legal career spanned over five decades, encompassing private practice and notable tenures on the Bench both in Nigeria and abroad,” the statement reads.

“His exceptional integrity, brilliant legal analysis, incisive judgments, and steadfast commitment to justice distinguished him as a towering figure in the legal profession.”

Aliyu said during his days as the ICPC chairman, Ayoola was “unwavering in his commitment to the fight against corruption—a cause he championed with vigour and a profound sense of duty”.

He said Ayoola’s contributions to the Nigerian judiciary and his international engagements, including his service as chief judge of the Gambia and his role at the special court for Sierra Leone, “reflect his dedication to upholding the rule of law and justice globally”.

“Justice Ayoola’s exemplary life and work have left an indelible mark on the legal profession, inspiring generations of legal practitioners and public servants,” he said.

“As we mourn the loss of this extraordinary jurist, we also celebrate a life well-lived, one dedicated to the pursuit of justice, fairness, and the betterment of society.

“The ICPC and the entire nation have lost a venerable elder statesman. However, his legacy will continue to guide and inspire our ongoing efforts in the battle against corruption, providing hope for a more just and fair society.”

The federal government has approved the upward review of the cost of obtaining the country’s passport.

KT Udo, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), announced the new passport fees in a statement on Wednesday.

Udo said the increase of the passport fee by the federal government is “part of its efforts to maintain the quality and integrity of the Nigerian standard passport”.

The NIS spokesperson said the 32-page passport booklet with a validity of five years now costs N50,000 from N35,000, while the 64-page booklet with 10-year validity is N100,000 from N70,000.

He added that the increase takes effect on September 1.

“Based on the review, 32-page Passport booklet with 5-year validity previously charged at Thirty-five Thousand Naira (N35,000.00) will now be Fifty Thousand Naira (N50,000.00) only; while 64-page Passport booklet with 10-year validity which was Seventy Thousand Naira (N70,000.00) will be One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) only,” the statement reads.

“However, the fees remain unchanged in Diaspora.

“While the Nigeria Immigration Service regrets any inconvenience this increase might cause prospective applicants; it assures Nigerians of unwavering commitment to transparency and quality service delivery at all times.”

The member representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Ikenga Ugochinyere, has urged the Nigerian Police Force to withdraw its invitation to the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, Joe Ajaero.

Ugochinyere, who is also the spokesperson of the opposition coalition lawmakers, stated that “it’s clear to everyone that the NLC President didn’t commit any terrorism or murder”.

He told the police to withdraw the invitation and avoid creating confusion for President Bola Tinubu, stressing that any move by the security operatives to detain Ajaero might lead to another nationwide protest.

He said, “Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC President didn’t commit any terrorism or murder challenge, drop it, so you don’t bring people back on the street and create confusion for the President. If you want to help President Tinubu go and chase out these bandits in the forest. Find out why crude oil is still being stolen.

“You don’t help the President by inviting the NLC President and accusing him of murder and treason. Stop it!!!!! The President needs help, there’s insecurity, that’s why there’s economic hardship, that’s why food products are high. That’s the real terror that you need to deal with, not Comrade Ajaero.

“I have to advise the Nigerian police, there’s no basis for this now, what Nigerians need now is more enhanced security, more involvement of security agencies in quelling security challenges across all parts of the country instead of inviting the President of Nigerian Labour Congress for a chat over his involvement in terrorism.

“These are old strategies that people can decode, from someone that has been through it, this same police force invited me multiple times and charged me multiple times. Based on my personal experience, I think this invitation should be withdrawn, the country is at a difficult moment now.

“I know Comrade Ajaero and I know he’s not involved in any terrorism. We are trying to find a way to maintain stability and navigate these economic challenges, the Nigerian police should Channel their energy on oil production, what the oil thieves are doing etc. they should focus on wiping out the bandits and criminal elements. I’m urging the Inspector General of Police, don’t let your era be known with what you used to have, don’t get involved in that. The biggest thing I know you can do for the President that I know you love is to find a way to energize the police force to go after all these criminal elements in different parts of the country.”

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nyesom Wike, has vowed to stand his ground and fight for his principles, amidst internal crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party.

Speaking at a media parley on Wednesday, marking his one year anniversary as a minister, Wike declared, “I don’t run away from any fight. I will stay there, I will fight it out. Who am I going to run from? The vampires? I cannot do that!”

Wike’s statement comes amidst speculation that he may leave the PDP due to the internal crisis in the party, particularly against him. However, the minister has consistently maintained that he will not abandon his principles, even if it means standing alone.

Less than 24 hours ago, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, had called on the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ambassador Iliya Damagun, to expel Wike from the party to save it from destruction.

In an open letter to Damagun, Clark stated: “I am writing to bring to your attention the activities of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Nyesom Wike, who is using his closeness to President Bola Tinubu to intimidate the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and the party.”

Clark, who is also the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum and the Southern and Middle-Belt Leaders Forum, said: “I cannot stand by and allow the minister to continue to hound the governor. If we do not stop him, the matter will consume him, Wike, and their cohorts.”

When asked by a journalist if he sees himself leaving the PDP in the future, Wike responded, “Anybody who knows me knows too well if I want to join APC today… when I was then PDP and I said ‘look, I will not support your presidential candidate’, Did I say it secretly? Or those people that are saying those things did they bring one member that won election?”

The minister also highlighted his commitment to principle, stating, “Did PDP not win (in Rivers State)? I stood my ground in terms of principle that if this is not done we will not accept it. People must know you for something. Integrity is very important. Forget about those that are saying this, they are afraid of my face.”

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has declared the ‘Park n Pay’ scheme in Abuja illegal, following revelations that the scheme was being used to syphon government’s funds under the guise of a legal operation.

Wike made the announcement during a live media parley on Wednesday, marking his one year in office.

The FCT minister expressed his dismay at the scheme’s revenue-sharing formula, where private consultants received 80% of the collected funds, while the FCT administration received a mere 20%.

He condemned the arrangement, while highlighting a significant flaw in the system that allowed private entities to divert funds meant for government use.

Wike further stated that the incident was brought to his attention when a senior advocate reported an attempt by individuals claiming to be from the Transport Secretariat to seize vehicles from his office.

Upon investigation, Wike noted that he discovered that the people were operating under the ‘Park n Pay’ scheme, which he was previously unaware of.

THE WHISTLER reports that the scheme involved an agreement between the Transport Secretariat and private consultants, who collect the majority of the funds.

According to him: “The call from a senior advocate, brought to light a scheme that has been syphoning government funds under the guise of a legal operation.

“The scheme, which appears to have been operating under the radar, highlights a critical flaw in the system that allows private consultants to pocket the lion’s share of revenues meant for the government.

“These are things we need to fight within the system. Sometimes, if you don’t bring it to our attention, we may not know. We can’t be everywhere,” Wike emphasised, while noting the challenges faced in overseeing the sprawling FCT administration.

He continued, “The incident unfolded when a senior advocate reached out to me with a troubling report. He said, ‘Sir, some people came to our office and are trying to seize our cars. They claim to be from the Transport Secretariat’.

“I asked him to give the person the phone, and I asked the person, ‘Who are you?’ He said he is from ‘Park and Pay from the Transport Secretariat.

“I wasn’t aware of this, so I called the person in charge of it. I asked, ‘Who collects the money?’ Unknown to us, there are agreements between the secretariat and some people who claim to be consultants. So, the consultant takes 80%, and the FCT administration takes 20%,” Wike explained, visibly disturbed by the discovery.

The minister emphasised that such activities are illegal and promised immediate action to dismantle the operation.

“I’m trying to say that it’s illegal, and nothing like that exists. And if my colleague hadn’t called me, I wouldn’t have known,” he stated.

In August 2023, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and a group of concessionaires of on-street parking, signed an agreement to restore the ‘park and pay’ scheme in Abuja.

The Permanent Secretary of FCTA, Olusade Adesola, who signed on behalf of the FCTA said that the move was to promote a culture of orderliness and organisation in vehicle parking.

According to him, the initiative will decongest the city and make motoring a more pleasant experience.

Mr Adesola explained that the scheme was suspended in 2014 by an Abuja High Court, on grounds that it was not backed by a law.

He also said that the earlier implementation was without the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Kano State government has moved against Governor Abba Yusuf’s political godfather, Musa Kwankwaso after the state’s Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) invited the former governor’s nephew Musa Garba Kwankwaso for questioning regarding alleged medical contract scam.

The state government has quickly moved to block N160 million by securing a post-no-debt on an account connected to the state’s local government contract where reports of corruption have been reported.

The government said the move is an effort to retrieve N440 million linked to the medical contracts.

Investigators from the anti-corruption agency are expected to question all those accused of being part of the alleged contract scam which includes Kwankwaso’s nephew, Musa Garba Kwankwaso.

He is anticipated to respond to inquiries about Novomed Pharmaceuticals’ possible role in the contract scam.

The contract was allegedly given without proper procedures, with revelation that each local government was expected to pay roughly N9m per month, for a total monthly payment of N396m.

The alleged scam was revealed by Bello Galadanchi, a Nigerian filmmaker and content creator, who claimed that the state government ordered each of the 44 local government councils to pay roughly N10 million for the drug supply, with Novomed Pharmaceuticals receiving the exclusive contract.

Galadanchi claimed that 25 local governments have already paid the company for August: Dambatta, Warawa, Garun Mallam, Dawakin Tofa, Shanono, Doguwa, Tudun Wada, Gezawa, Ungogo, Nasarawa, Ajingi, Kumbotso, Kabo, Kura, Madobi, Bichi, Tofa, Gwarzo, Rogo, Takai, Kiru, Makoda, Bebeji, and Gabasawa.

Once the terms of the elected council chairmen expired in March,

Governor Yusuf had formed interim management committees for the local governments after the expiration of the terms of council chairmen he inherited from the APC-led government in the state.

However, the interim committees have been accused of not operating in a transparent manner.

Governor Yusuf last week stated that he was unaware of the contract and immediately initiated an immediate investigation.

The chairman of the PCACC, Muhuyi Magaji, said: “We’ve already issued invitations to about five or six individuals, including the permanent secretary of the Ministry for Local Governments, the Director of Planning, and the Director of Local Government Inspection”.

According to him, the commission also called a meeting with the state secretary, the chairman of the Local Governments Directors of Personnel Management Forum, the forum’s public relations officer, and the chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Kano State.

Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in Nigeria have raised concerns over the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) inconsistent dollar allocations, which they believe are impeding the recovery of the naira. The operators pointed out that the lack of regular and predictable dollar supply from the CBN is causing a loss of confidence in the foreign exchange (forex) market, leading to increased pressure on the parallel market.

To alleviate the forex scarcity, the CBN had approved the sale of $20,000 to BDC operators at a rate of N1450 per dollar on July 18, 2024. This measure was intended to strengthen the naira, particularly in the retail segment of the market. However, despite this intervention, the exchange rate remains high and volatile, with the dollar trading at N1590 in the parallel market.

Aminu Gwadebe, President of the Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON), noted that the inconsistency in the CBN’s dollar supply has contributed to ongoing volatility in the forex market. He emphasized that the lack of frequent interventions has increased demand pressure and further weakened the naira.

“The problem is the streamlining, only once, is it on the 18th of July or so? Like you said, about three weeks, till now, no sales again,” Gwadebe remarked, highlighting the sporadic nature of the CBN’s interventions.

Gwadebe called for the CBN to engage in more frequent dollar sales to currency traders. He suggested that sales could occur once or twice a week to ensure a more stable and predictable flow of dollars into the market. According to him, regularity and volume, coupled with a clear cut-off time, would encourage market participants to engage more confidently, thereby improving liquidity and stabilizing the exchange rate.

“But if I know the window is open for one month for me to buy and with no cut-off time, and then I am not sure when it will come again, people will not be encouraged to come into the market,” he explained, stressing the need for consistency in the CBN’s forex interventions.

National Union of Electricity Employees, (NUEE), has threatened to shut down the power sector if the President of Nigeria Labour Congress, (NLC), Joe Ajaero, is arrested.

WITHIN NIGERIA recalls that the Intelligence Response Team, (IRT), arm of the Nigerian Police Force, (NPF), had on Monday, August 19, invited Ajaero, for questioning over alleged Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion and Cybercrime. 

NUEE’s Acting General Secretary, Igwebike Dominic, while reacting in a statement, said that NUEE noted with utter dismay the political machinations surrounding the police invitation of its General Secretary-cum-President of Nigeria Labour Congress – Comrade Joe Ajaero as a purported fall out of the politically-motivated investigation into an alleged trump up charges of terrorism financing, cybercrime, subversion, criminal conspiracy and treasonable felony against him.

The statement noted that it was not only embarrassing, but childish and clueless for the Federal Government of Nigeria to take to the antics of witch-hunting, harassment, intimidation and name-calling instead of coming out openly to apologize to the Congress and its leadership for the unlawful invasion of NLC National headquarters few days ago.

According to the statement, the choice by the Government to stifle labour and free speech in the country as a tool to compel Nigerians to continue to suffer in silence in the face of government policies that were not favorable to the people was quite deplorable. 

The statement said, “Those in government, especially elected leaders, should be mindful of their actions in times like this, if they have the love of the country at heart.”

It emphasised that it was so painful to see this happening in a democracy where it is supposed to be ‘Government of the people, by the people and for the people’, lamenting that what Nigerians have is simply the government of the selected few, for themselves against the people.

The NUEE’s Acting General Secretary noted that it was a blatant abuse of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and International Labour Organization Conventions especially convention 87 and 98, was unacceptable and would be vehemently resisted.

The Union condemned in its entirety what it called Government’s interference in the Labour movement through the weapons of intimidation and official harassment of Labour Leaders, in the country, warning that in the event that Comrade Ajaero is arrested, they will have no choice but to go with the NLC directives.

NUEE called on their National, Zonal, State and Chapter leadership to commence immediate mobilization of their teaming members in Generation, Transmission and Distribution to withdraw their services in the event that Comrade Joe Ajaero is arrested.

They also called on the Federal Government to tread with caution as the entire Nation was angry and heated up already because of the hunger and hyper-inflation in the land.

According to NUEE, “The rights of citizens must be respected and guaranteed if the country must move forward.”