TheNewsGuru

Tag: Fuel Scarcity

  • Ondo APC suspends campaign

    Ondo APC suspends campaign

    The Ondo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has ordered the immediate suspension of its campaign activities in the state over the current scarcity of fuel and new naira notes.

    Mr Ade Adetimehin, the state chairman of the party, in a statement on Wednesday in Akure, explained that the decision was in sympathy with residents of the state.

    “The party has, therefore, directed chairmen, and Directors-General at all levels, within the chapter, to suspend rallies, in sympathy with our people,” Adetimehin said.

    The chairman expressed regrets that the country was experiencing unusual shortage of petrol and scarcity of the new naira notes few weeks to “an all-important general election.”

    He argued that the people of the state had the right to be angry, and express same over the unfortunate development, but urged them to do so as “patriots that believed in a better tomorrow.”

    “As a party, we identify with our people at this unpleasant period. We agree they are exercising their rights, but we urge them to do so with measure of restraints.

    “Our strong believe is that this time shall fade soon,” he added.

    He commended the efforts of the Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu-led administration to ameliorate the harsh situation and ensuring the security of residents of the state.

    Adetimehin called on chieftains and members of the party to show more understanding and identify with those in their various localities to ease the tension.

  • Fuel Scarcity: Queues ease as NNPC, Matrix Energy begin massive supply in Delta, Edo, other

    Fuel Scarcity: Queues ease as NNPC, Matrix Energy begin massive supply in Delta, Edo, other

    The perennial queues occasioned by the non-availability of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as fuel in Warri, Effurun and other parts of Delta State has started phasing out following recent mass supply of the product to marketers in the State.

    It was also observed that the price of PMS which was sold between N420 to N510 has now crashed and it is now being sold between N205 and N260 by marketers especially in Warri, Effurun and their environs.

    It was gathered that the development followed the intervention of leading indigenous oil and gas company, Matrix Energy Group and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC) which have depots in the oil city.

    Some marketers had told our correspondent who monitored the supply of the product that some major marketers like Matrix Energy entered partnership with some independent marketers to ease the distribution of the product in line with the directive of the federal government.

    It was further gathered that to ease the scarcity and hike in the price of PMS, the NNPC has sent five additional vessels totaling 100 million litres to Delta State.

    It was reliably learnt that the five NNPC vessels will berth in the various fuel depots  in the state latest this week. The product will be distributed to the depots at Warri Refining and Petroleum Company (WRPC), Warri, Oghara and Koko.

    Queues which hitherto were witnessed in most parts of Warri, Asaba, Effurun, Sapele, Ughelli and their environs have started easing out following the mass supply of the product in the areas.

    Aside Delta, it was gathered supply of the product to states of the Niger Delta has drastically improve as motorists were seen spending less time to get the product at the various filling stations visited between Saturday and Sunday.

    It was further learned that some major marketers that owned retail outlets including Matrix and Shafa were already dispensing a litre at the rate of N205 in Warri, Effurun and their environs.

    Motorists, who commended the intervention, called on the Federal Government to stabilise the availability and pump price of the product.

    They lamented that the hike in the pump price had led to an increase in the cost of transportation and foodstuffs within the state and beyond.

    An industry player, who confirmed Matrix Energy’s intervention in making the product available, stated that the company had entered into partnership with some independent marketers to ensure that the queues were out in Warri, Benin and other parts of the country in the days ahead.

    He added that owing to the company’s intervention through massive supply of the product, most filling stations have started dispensing the product below N220 per litre particularly in Effurun, Warri, Udu and some other parts of Delta.

    Our source added there was also an arrangement with marketers in Benin, Edo State, to supply one million litres weekly to the city to cushion the scarcity of the product in the state.

    It further disclosed that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has sent additional four laden vessels to depot in  ogarah and Warri in Delta  to ameliorate the challenges being faced by residents of the region.

    “The federal government has directed all depot owners in the coastal areas to focus on supplying their primary areas which is what had led to availability of the product.

    “The government wants to see that the product is available. Effective Monday, the pump price is expected to go down to N190. If you go round, some filling stations like Matrix Energy have been selling the product at N205.

    “But hopefully, we will see reduction continue to reflect in the pump price as availability of the more vessels increases this week”, the source assured.

    A circular by Matrix Energy company last week Thursday announcing it has commenced full distribution of the product confirmed the position of our source.

    The circular obtained by our correspondent read, “This is to inform you that our PMS vessel will be berthing today and loading shall commence tomorrow God willing. We shall only allocate volumes directly to those with valid NMDPRA permits and willing to sell at regulated price.”

    Meanwhile, motorists in Warri, Effurun and Udu area of Delta have commended Matrix Energy Group for easing the suffering of Nigerians by ensuring adequate distribution of the product in the areas.

    They also commended the company for ensuring that the product was sold within the government regulated price, stressing that the Federal Government must double its efforts to make the product more available to the Nigerian public.

  • Fuel scarcity: IPMAN urges Nigerians to stop panic buying of PMS

    Fuel scarcity: IPMAN urges Nigerians to stop panic buying of PMS

    The Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN), Western zone, has urged Nigerians to stop panic buying of petrol, assuring them that fuel scarcity would soon ease off.

    Alhaji Dele Tajudeen, IPMAN Zonal Chairman, Western Zone, gave the assurance on Tuesday in Ibadan, while speaking with newsmen.

    Tajudeen said that there was no directive stopping its members from continuing with their operations, pointing out that the speculation on shutting down of filling stations was not from the association.

    He was reacting to the speculations making the rounds that IPMAN had directed its members to stop operations and shut down their filling stations to protest hike in the price of fuel.

    Tajudeen said that IPMAN has units, zones and that its South-West zone comprised Lagos, Sapele, Ibadan, Ore, Ilorin and Mosimi Depots, pointing out that none of them had been directed to shut down their operations.

    He said that such directive was from Maiduguri Depot, stressing that it doesn’t affect members of IPMAN in other parts of Nigeria, particularly in the South-West region.

    Tajudeen said: “As far as we are concerned, as the Zonal Chairman, I have authority of other chairmen in the zone, we are not closing our stations.

    “The letter you are seeing is from Maiduguri; look at the letter very well, it emanated from Maiduguri and has nothing to do with South-West.”

    On the lingering fuel scarcity, Tajudeen said the situation would soon improve gradually.

    “We just rose from a meeting with the authority concerned and we have a very useful discussion with the authority.

    “One, we have to address the issue of availability and cycle. We appeal to people to bear with us, as the scarcity will fizzle out gradually.

    “By the special grace of God by next week, we will start to see changes and the queues will disappear,” he assured Nigerians.

    Recall that IPMAN had pleaded with the Federal Government to give its members time to sell off the product they sourced with huge amounts of money before complying with selling fuel at the official rate of N195 per litre.

    IPMAN said that its members had been directed to buy the product from NNPC and not from the private depot owners so that they can sell at the official rate.

  • Lagos APC forced to suspend campaign

    Lagos APC forced to suspend campaign

    The Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) has announced the suspension of its campaign activities ahead of the forthcoming elections due to fuel scarcity and cash crunch occasioned by the Naira redesign.

    The State Chairman of the party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, made the announcement in a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Seye Oladejo, on Tuesday.

    Ojelabi said the decision was reached due to the scarcity of fuel and pain caused by the Naira redesign.

    The chairman said that the party empathised with the general public, especially the downtrodden who were at the receiving end.

    According to him, it will be insensitive to forge ahead with the various rallies with the situation of things.

    Ojelabi said that members of APC were not immune against the development, adding that he had been inundated with several complaints.

    “I joined my voice with those of other well-meaning Nigerians to call for the review of the Naira redesign policy to give it a human face and ameliorate the suffering of ordinary Nigerians,” he said.

    The chairman appealed that petroleum products should be made available in order not to jeopardise the preparation for the elections and reduce the negative economic impact.

    He enjoined all Lagos residents to remain law abiding as all issues would be resolved in due course.

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Oct. 26, 2022, announced the introduction of redesigned N200, N500 and N1,000 notes into the financial system.

    The scarcity of the new notes and fuel scarcity has continued to disrupt business activities across Nigeria.

  • FG vows to find permanent solutions to fuel scarcity

    FG vows to find permanent solutions to fuel scarcity

    The Federal Government has warned of dire consequences for any individual or groups who attempt to exploit or further cause untold hardship to ordinary Nigerians by disrupting fuel supply and distribution chain.

    This is coming on the heels of renewed efforts by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) to maintain the 450.92 million litres weekly evacuation of Premium Motor Spirit to different petrol stations nationwide.

    The Minister of State Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, gave the warning on Tuesday in a statement by his Senior Adviser, Media and Communications, Horatius Egua.

    Sylva, while reassuring Nigerians of government‘s determination called on security agencies to be on high alert in preventing attempts by subversive elements to cause any disruption during the period of the general elections in the country.

    He appealed to Nigerians for understanding, noting that the President Muhammadu Buhari‘s government was sincere with finding permanent solutions to the fuel problems in the country.

    He said the government was exploring all options in seeking an end to the fuel problem in the country.

    Slyva urged stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to join hands with government in ending the problem.

    During a tour of selected petrol stations, in Abuja, on Friday Sylva had expressed government’s satisfaction at the efforts of the NNPCL in ensuring fuel availability to the average Nigerian and urged them to keep up the tempo.

    In the last one month, NNPCL has maintained a total weekly evacuation of 450.92 million litres of PMS, a daily average of 64.42 million litres.

    Sylva, while calling for a collective support in dealing with the fuel issue said the government felt the pains of the ordinary Nigerian occasioned by the lingering fuel queues.

    He said that the relevant government agencies were working round the clock to ensure fuel availability at petrol stations across the country.

    “The problems associated with fuel queues in the country is not a problem that came with Buhari’s government but a fallout of long years of rot and decadence in products supply and distribution chain by successive governments.

    “Buhari’s administration is addressing the problem holistically, this is the first time in so many years that a government is addressing the problems associated with fuel supply and distribution collectively,’’ he said.

    And as part of the move to find lasting solution to the problem, the minister said the Federal Government recently set up a 14-Man committee to get to the bottom of the problem with a view to avoiding future occurrences.

    He said the Federal Government had also embarked on refineries rehabilitations neglected over the years with Port Harcourt Refinery at about 65 per cent completion, Kaduna just awarded to Daewo of South Korea and Warri expected to follow soon.

    He said the government through the NNPCL acquired a 20 per cent equity stake in the Dangote Refinery had embarked on the licensing of modular refineries.

    According to him, it concluded the marginal fields bid and improvement of security along crude pipelines in the Niger Delta region in the last few months, all geared toward increasing crude oil production to meet domestic consumption.

  • BREAKING: IPMAN makes u-turn

    BREAKING: IPMAN makes u-turn

    Following directives to its members in Borno and Oyo States to shut down fuelling stations, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has made a u-turn.

    Recall that the Borno and Oyo States chapters of IPMAN had directed members to shut down their fuelling stations while ordering members to stop buying products from source.

    However, in a retraction Borno IPMAN Chairman, Mohammed Kuluwu stated: “Having met with the concerned authority, all filling stations should open with immediate effect.

    “Continue selling while the association continues with further consultation and accordingly keep you informed”.

    Meanwhile, IPMAN’s National Controller of Operations, Mike Osatuyi described the memo to members, which emanated from the IPMAN Borno chapter, asking all its members in the State to suspend services, as a wrong move.

    “Fake news. Bad eggs and sabotage,” Osatuyi said while speaking with The PUNCH on Tuesday over the phone.

    Also, the National President of IPMAN, Elder Chinedu Okonkwo when contacted said Kuluwu should not have issued the statement credited to him.

    “He should not have issued the statement. In fact, he has retracted it,” Okonkwo said.

    Recall that on Sunday, the IPMAN’s Public Relations Officer, Ibadan Depot, Mojeed Adesope was said to have also issued a similar statement ordering IPMAN’s members in Oyo State to stop buying products and shut down their stations.

  • BREAKING: IPMAN directs members to shut all fuelling stations

    BREAKING: IPMAN directs members to shut all fuelling stations

    The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has directed its members to suspend operations and shut down all fuelling stations across the country.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports this is contained in a statement signed and released by the Chairman of the Association, Alhaji Mohammed Kuluwu.

    The statement reads: “Following the critical situation as it affects our sourcing and selling of product at lost and the action of the authority to impose the selling of product at a lost price on our side.

    “You are all hereby directed to suspend selling at all filling stations and also suspend the payment of ordering products from source until further notice”.

  • Fuel scarcity will end soon in Delta – Taskforce

    Fuel scarcity will end soon in Delta – Taskforce

    The Delta Petroleum Products Monitoring Committee has urged residents not to indulge in panic buying of the product.

    Chairman of the Committee and State Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Prince Emma Amgbaduba, gave the advice on Monday in Warri.

    The advice came shortly after the committee’s meeting with the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN).

    Amgbaduba assured that all bottlenecks within the petroleum industry that led to the recent fuel hike in pump price would soon be resolved.

    He said that residents would soon heave a sigh of relief with the delivery of 20 million litres of petrol at the Warri depot and the expected arrival of additional15 million litres soon.

    Amgbaduba enjoined marketers to support the government to ensure that petrol was made available, accessible and affordable to ameliorate the sufferings of the people.

    The commissioner said that Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa felt the pains and sufferings of the people over the non availability of the petroleum product, hence the setting up of the taskforce.

    “This informed Gov. Okowa decision to set up the product monitoring team to interface with all relevant stakeholders and ensure that fuel is made accessible, available and affordable to the people,” he said.

    Amgbaduba decried the inability of the Federal Government to regulate and fix official fuel pump price under its purview, noting that non availability of the product has caused untold hardship to the  citizens.

    He, however, promised that the state government’s intervention would soon bring relief to everyone.

    On his part, Mr Zino Onaemor, the Chairman, IPMAN, Delta branch, urged the Committee to interface with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and depot owners to eradicate the activities of middle men.

    He said Independent marketers do not buy the products at government regulated pump price because of the activities of agents and middlemen.

    Onaemor, however, said once the middlemen are removed and the prices brought down, marketers would be encouraged to sell at government approved pump price.

  • Gov Lalong begs for forgiveness as Plateau marks Forgiveness Day

    Gov Lalong begs for forgiveness as Plateau marks Forgiveness Day

    Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau State pleaded with residents of the State on Sunday to forgive government over the current hardships being experienced by the cashless policy and fuel scarcity.

    The governor made the plea at an interdenominational service at St. Monica Catholic Church, Jos, to mark the 2023 Plateau Forgiveness Day.

    He said that the situation had been of concern to governors who were having series of meetings with the president to address the situation.

    “On behalf of all of us, we apologise for the pain being inflicted on the society and we ask for forgiveness,’’ the governor said.

    Lalong prayed that the Federal Government would look into the hardships and review the policy.

    He said the Plateau Forgiveness Day celebrated annually on Feb. 7 was conceived as part of efforts to continue the restoration of peace.

    It was also conceived to remind the younger generation that the state is home of peace, hospitality and tourism, he added.

    The governor explained that the day was marked to strengthen peace processes, using the Plateau Peace Building Agency to coordinate its initiatives.

    “The Day of Forgiveness which was unveiled and launched by Mr President in 2018 has since then been implemented by the Plateau Peace Building Agency.

    “We established it as the first in the country with the sole responsibility of coordinating and implementing all our efforts towards removing toxic narratives, crisis merchandising, violence and tackling root causes of disharmony and intolerance.

    “The day is to appeal to our conscience and take us to the path of forgiving the past, and looking ahead to the future that will be devoid of ugly experiences,’’ Lalong said.

    He thanked the Church for supporting him in the discharge of his duties and for preaching forgiveness which is one of its pillars, stressing that forgiveness is not a sign of weakness but of strength.

    He dispelled rumours that many villages had been taken over by herdsmen.

    “I can say authoritatively that there is no report on my table that any village has been taken over,’’ he said.

    The governor added that the Anti-Land Grabbing Law of 2020 was enacted to prevent such situation and urged communities to report such attempts instead of going to social media to politicise it.

    In his remarks, the Catholic Archbishop of Jos Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Audu, thanked the governor for conceiving the Forgiveness Day and urged him to legislate it for continuity.

    He advised the involvement of stakeholders, especially those in the rural areas affected by insecurity, to achieve the objectives of the Forgiveness Day.

    The archbishop urged Plateau people to vote for credible persons irrespective of their parties, saying that only the action would ensure good governance.

    Audu in his homily also urged Christians to be the light of the world, and to make positive difference wherever they found themselves.

  • Fuel scarcity: Makinde deploys free commuter buses in Oyo

    Fuel scarcity: Makinde deploys free commuter buses in Oyo

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has deployed Omituntun buses free to ease movement of residents of the state following the twin crisis of new naira notes and fuel scarcity.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Taiwo Adisa, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, on Saturday in Ibadan.

    According to him, the Omituntun Mass Transit Buses would be deployed to more routes within the state for free, in order to ameliorate the sufferings of people.

    The governor said that his administration was ready to do whatever it could to alleviate the sufferings of the masses.

    Makinde, however, frowned at the resort to violent protests by some residents of Ibadan on Friday.

    He said while citizens were free to express their feelings peacefully, government would not condone any resort to violence, adding that resort to violence would breed other problems.

    The governor also put all the security agencies operating in the state on high alert to avert any breakdown of law and order.

    He urged the people to ensure that they use their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to usher in a responsible government in the forthcoming general elections.

    The governor also said that the state was also working with the local government chairmen in the state to provide immediate palliatives for vulnerable people.

    According to him, this is to alleviate the hardships that the twin scarcity of new naira-notes and fuel have brought upon them.

    He urged all law-abiding citizens and residents of the state to go about their lawful activities peacefully.

    “Violence cannot and will not solve our problems, it will only create new ones.

    “We have another opportunity in a few weeks to move this country in a new direction. Use your PVC, not violence.

    “We must not allow elements within us, who have other motives, to take advantage of peaceful protests to perpetrate evil or push their agendas.

    “I urge all law-abiding citizens and residents of the state to go about their lawful activities.

    “All our security agencies are on high alert and so, peaceful residents of the state have no cause to fear.

    “Once again, we have another opportunity to put an end to oppressive system and that is through the ballot.

    “For now, I urge everyone to remain calm, as we are doing our best to mitigate the hardships,” Makinde said.