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Tag: Fuel

  • Reps set up committees to determine fuel consumption, state of refineries in Nigeria

    Reps set up committees to determine fuel consumption, state of refineries in Nigeria

    The House of Representatives has set up a 14-man committee to investigate the quantity of fuel consumption in the country daily and determine the state of the nation’s refineries.

    Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, said the move became necessary following planned removal of subsidy by the Federal Government on Wednesday in Abuja during the plenary.

    Gbajabiamila said it was important to know the state of the nation’s refineries and the planned subsidy removal to understand whether the planned removal was right or wrong.

    The 14-man committee on the amount of fuel consumed per day will be chaired by Rep. Abdulganiyu Johnson (APC-Lagos), while that of the state of Nigeria refineries is to be chaired by Rep. Abdullahi Ningi (APC-Bauchi).

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that following the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), which became an Act after it was assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, it was expected that subsidy would go

    Worried by the incessant planned removal of subsidy and the state of the nation’s refineries, the House decided to set up the 14-man committee for each to investigate the issues.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Timipre Sylva, said the Federal Government was not in a hurry to remove subsidy on petroleum products.

    The president, on Tuesday approved the suspension of the removal of fuel subsidy until further notice and proposed an 18 months extension to the National Assembly for the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that was billed to go into effect this February.

  • Fuel subsidy removal: Why we shelved planned protest – NLC

    Fuel subsidy removal: Why we shelved planned protest – NLC

    The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has opened up on why it decided to stop the protest it was planning against the removal of fuel subsidy.

    The NLC on Tuesday shelved its planned nationwide protest over the planned hike in the pump price of petrol by the Federal Government.

    The labour had scheduled a nationwide protest for Jan. 27 and a national protest for Feb. 2 , to oppose government planned hike in pump price of petrol.

    But the federal government on Monday announced that it had also suspended the planned removal of fuel subsidy.

    NLC President, Mr Wabba Ayuba said the decision to suspend the protest was taken at a virtual National Executive Council meeting of the NLC.

    ”At the peak of very rigorous mobilisation of Nigerians by the NLC and a host of her Civil Society allies, the government through the Minister of Finance on Jan. 24, made a public announcement reversing the plans to increase petrol pump price.

    “The position of the government was also officially communicated to the congress with calls for further engagement.

    ”Following the reversal and reapproach by government, the National Executive Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress met this morning virtually to consider the new position of the government.

    ”The NEC after vigorous debates took a decision to suspend the planned nationwide protest scheduled for Jan. 27 and the national protest scheduled for Feb.2,” he said.

    Wabba added: ”The leadership of the congress has communicated this organ’s decision to our civil society allies who have stood stoically behind Nigerian workers in our quest for social and economic justice for workers and the downtrodden people of our country.

    “Going forward, we will continue to engage with the government on the very critical issues of ensuring local refining of petroleum, creation of sustainable jobs and affordable price of petrol for Nigerian workers and people.”

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Chapter of NLC has said the shelved protest due to hold on Jan. 27, 2022 is for peace to reign and allow the Federal Government to fufil its agreement.

    The State Chairman of NLC, Mrs Funmi Sessi, who made this known on Tuesday in Lagos, urged government to be dutiful and diligent in fulfilling its part of the agreement.

    “The NLC has reviewed every situation surrounding the protest; we have reviewed the intervention of those top leadership of the country; also the intervention of those who are the stakeholders.

    “Government has said it is not going ahead with the increase in the petrol price and we are not expecting the increase at any point in time, whether now or in the future.

    “We expect government to be truthful, dutiful, diligent and work on our refineries,“ Sessi said.

  • No decision yet on fuel subsidy – NEC

    No decision yet on fuel subsidy – NEC

    The National Economic Council (NEC) says it has yet to take a decision on the issue of fuel subsidy removal as deliberations are still ongoing.

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo fielded questions from State House correspondents after the NEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to the governor, NEC has been deliberating on the issue of fuel subsidy for more than a year.

    “There was an ad hoc committee set up by NEC and headed by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai that included members of the executive arm of government and worked on recommendations as to what we should do about the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) locally.

    “Because as you realise, as it has been told us, the cost of PMS in Nigeria today is about N162 for a litre whereas every other country surrounding Nigeria is selling the product at more than 100 per cent of the cost in Nigeria.

    “The country, as at last year, spent in excess of …; we must have the exact figures — but we must have spent almost N2 trillion subsidising petroleum products.

    “That is money that could have gone into building roads; money that could have gone into healthcare and education.

    “So, for NEC, the argument has been put out; should we continue this regime of spending money that we do not have to subsidise the living standard of mostly those who have vehicles.’’

    He said that when NEC looked at some of the analysis last year, it realised that less than one-third of the states of the country consumed two-third of the subsidy.

    According to him, the issue of equity also comes up.

    “All of these findings were presented to NEC and NEC has deliberations still ongoing.

    “So, NEC has not come up with any decision yet and I think has also been made to the president,’’ he said.

    On his part, Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said Nigerians ought to know about the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as the NNPC had become a limited liability company.

    According to him, the NNPC will run differently henceforth.

    “So, if the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning provides for six months, you probably can understand part of the reason for the provision of six months before NNPC takes off.

    “At that moment, that is when decision will be made. But I want to make the correction that it is not governors who are making the recommendations.

    “It is actually a NEC committee that is looking at this and no decision has been made; probably a decision will be made; the PIA would have taken charge and it would not require any recommendation from anybody,’’ Sule said.

  • Son wets mother with fuel, sets her ablaze in Niger State

    Son wets mother with fuel, sets her ablaze in Niger State

    Mrs Comfort Jiya, former Principal of Government Girls Secondary School, Sabon Wuse and Maryam Babangida Girls Science College, Minna, was allegedly set ablaze by her biological son, Steven Jiya last Monday.
    The tragic incident happened in Minna, Niger State capital.
    Steven, who was described as a drug addict, reportedly returned from Suleja, still in Niger, on Monday and poured petrol on his mother while she was in her kitchen at her residence in Darusalam Area of Minna.
    A family source revealed that she died at about 3 pm on Friday at Minna General Hospital where she was receiving treatment.
    Another source also confirmed that Steven had made several attempts to harm his mother but had his way when he poured petrol on her.
    The Niger State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, could not be reached for comments as of the time this report was filed.
    Steven has already been remanded by a Minna high court. The GRA Police division, Minna, had arraigned him in court.
  • Subsidy removal: N350 per litre petrol price will plunge Nigeria into another crisis, Afenifere warns FG

    Subsidy removal: N350 per litre petrol price will plunge Nigeria into another crisis, Afenifere warns FG

    The Federal Government’s plan to remove fuel subsidy, which would make Nigerians buy a litre of petrol do N350 would plunge the country into unimaginable crisis, capable of paralysing socio.-economic and industrial sectors, the Pan Yoruba Socio-political organisation, Afenifere has said.

    Reacting to the development in a press release signed by its national publicity secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, the organisation maintained that “the plan to increase the prices of fuel is “another indication of how insensitive the present administration is as far as the welfare of Nigerians is concerned.”

    According to the release, “the plan by the Federal Government to get a litre of motor fuel to sell for between ₦320 and ₦350 in 2022, if carried out, may plunge the country into an avoidable social, economic and industrial crisis.”

    It reads: “The resultant effect may snowball into a very serious logjam as the ignited labour crises may adversely affect the political trajectory of the country.”

    Besides calling on the government to rescind its decision on the planned price increase, Afenifere said that “Nigerians have reasons to no longer trust the government on the tokens it promises to provide as palliatives to cushion the effect of the price increase. The mistrust is a product of similar promises made in the past but that was not kept accordingly.

    “Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, talked about the reactivation of the four petroleum refineries along with the coming on stream of the ones being built by private investors. Why is government unwilling to wait for the refineries to start full production before removing the phantom fuel subsidy?

    “Fuel subsidy mantra has been on for a long time. It has been proven to be an avenue to siphon public funds. But then, the government should stop using it as an excuse to inflict pain on the people. It should fix the refineries, ensure that they are in full swing production before talking about fuel price of any sort,” Afenifere concluded.

  • Science & Technology: Minister espouses how methanol fuel can rapidly transform Nigerian economy

    Science & Technology: Minister espouses how methanol fuel can rapidly transform Nigerian economy

    …kick starts sensitization in Abuja

    By Emman Ovuakporie

    The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has espoused how methanol fuel can rapidly help to rapidly transform the Nigerian economy.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports that to this effect the minister Kick started a program to sensitize the public on the benefits of adopting methanol fuel for the over all development of Nigeria.

    Onu formally kick-started the sensitization exercise in Abuja on Tuesday.

    He noted that for so long the country mostly relied on commodities which initially was agricultural products and later crude oil and now natural gas which the country never added value to thereby limiting sources of revenue for the country and adversely affecting job creation.

    Onu said the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation is set to add value to the natural resources by the use of Technology like other developed countries of the world who are gradually reducing their reliance on crude oil with greater emphasis placed on cleaner renewable sources of energy.

    He said electronic cars have been introduced in many countries of the world in line with the initiative and fulfilment of the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) of countries of which Nigeria is a part under the 2015 climate change Paris agreement which impact today is a reduction in global demand for crude oil.

    The minister explained that the ministry is set to utilize Science and Technology and Innovation as a catalyst to achieve sustainable economic development stating that a Methanol driven economy is beneficial in the following areas, job creation, technology development and domestication, electricity generation, clean household energy services, chemical industry value chain and reduction of pulmonary diseases among women and children amongst others.

    He said “today our mothers, sisters, wives, daughters and others who cook use wood, charcoal and kerosene to a large extent and these pose a serious threat to their health, forest and vegetation leading to deforestation which is not good for the health and wellbeing of the people.

    Onu emphasized that methanol being a cheaper and cleaner fuel will help solve these problems as he called for partnership between the ministry and entrepreneurs and investors in the private sector to invest in methanol production.

    On his part the director of environmental services in the ministry, Mr. Peter Ekwezor says the policy will create an enabling environment for more investment in the oil and gas sector particularly in the downstream sub-sector .

    He said it is expected that more industries will be established to convert the gas flared on daily basis in the process of crude oil exploration into useful purposes.

  • Troops eliminate 11 terrorists, recover arms, fuel

    Troops eliminate 11 terrorists, recover arms, fuel

    Troops of the Joint Task Force in the North-East have eliminated 11 terrorists and recovered a cache of arms, ammunition and a truck laden with petroleum products during fierce encounters in Borno.

    The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed in a statement he issued on Sunday in Abuja that the troops belonged to “Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK)“

    Nwachukwu said that the toops of 82 Task Force Battalion who were on patrol along Ngoshe –Ashigashiya Road, about 12km from the unit’s location, had an encounter with Boko Haram terrorists at Daushe.

    He said the fierce encounter led to the killing of five terrorists, compelling the remaining terrorists to retreat in disarray into Mandara mountains with several gun shot wounds.

    According to him, during further exploitation after the gun battle, the gallant troops recovered one AK 47 Rifle, one Magazine containing 13 rounds of fabricated 7.62mm (Special), a bandolier of 44 rounds of 7.62mm (NATO) and a bag containing 52 rounds of 7.62mm (Special).

    The army spokesperson also disclosed that troops of 212 Battalion had on July 1 launched an offensive against some terrorists along Gadayi-Kareto-Gubio axis, Magumeri, Tungushe villages and areas around Kerenoa.

    He said that the troops recovered one AK 47 Rifle and one Baufeng communication radio set abandoned by the fleeing terrorists.

    Nwachukwu further disclosed that troops had on July 2 intercepted terrorists belonging to Boko Haram and the Islamic State of West African Province while they (terrorists) were crossing through an identified supply route along Auno – Jakana axis with a truck laden with petroleum products..

    According to him, vigilant troops deployed at Garin Kuturu checkpoint swiftly engaged the terrorists in a fierce battle forcing them to flee abandoning the truck and the petroleum products.

    “Following the attack on the terrorists, reinforcement by troops of Sectors 1 and 2 gave the fleeing terrorists a hot pursuit with close air support from the Nigerian Air Force component of OPHK.

    “During the encounter, six terrorists were neutralised, three AK 47 rifles and one rocket propelled grenade were captured, while one gun truck was destroyed.

    “Two other gun trucks abandoned by the terrorists were also recovered,” he said.

    According to Nwachukwu, the Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, has commended the tremendous efforts made by the land troops and the air component of OPHK.

    “He charged them to deny the terrorists freedom of action by conducting regular patrols and projecting aggressive offensives to completely flush out the terrorists from their hideouts.

    “He further called on members of the public to collaborate with the military and other security agencies in the fight against the enemies of the nation,” Nwachukwu said.

  • Three killed as explosion rocks Benue community

    Three killed as explosion rocks Benue community

    Three people were killed on Monday when a fuel tanker exploded at the Amoke village of Apa Local Government Area in Benue State.

    The incident occurred when the vehicle conveying petroleum product went up in flame in the area.

    An eyewitness, Godfrey Idede told newsmen that the number of casualties could not be ascertained yet.

    He revealed that the incident led to panic in the area as economic activities came to an abrupt halt.

    However, the Corps Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in Benue State, Yakubu Mohammed, while confirming the incident to journalists, said only three persons were killed.

    Mohammed who attributed the unfortunate incident to brakes failure said aside from the three victims, no other person sustained injury.

    He stated that the fire was put out after some hours, noting that there was no fire service station close to the scene of the incident.

  • No fuel price increase in June – FG

    No fuel price increase in June – FG

    There will be no increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as fuel or petrol, the federal government has said.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipre Sylva made this known in a statement on Friday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The statement reads: “Once again, it has become necessary to assure Nigerians that despite the huge burden of under-recovery, the Federal Government is not in a hurry to increase the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to reflect current market realities.

    “The current price of petrol will be retained in the month of June until the ongoing engagement with organized labour is concluded.

    “This clarification becomes necessary in the light of recent reports regarding the resolution of the Nigeria Governors Forum to increase the pump price of petrol.

    “In this regard, I would like to strongly urge petroleum products marketers not to engage in any activity that could jeopardize the seamless supply and distribution system in place.

    “I also urge members of the public to avoid panic buying because the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has enough stock of petroleum products to keep the nation wet”.

  • Fresh fuel scarcity looms as NUPENG directs members to withdraw service in Kaduna

    Fresh fuel scarcity looms as NUPENG directs members to withdraw service in Kaduna

    The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) has directed its members to shut down services in Kaduna State with effect from May 16.

    The directive was in compliance to Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) five days warning strike over the sack of workers in the state.

    NUPENG’s General Secretary, Mr Afolabi Olawale gave the directive in a letter addressed to Petroleum Tanker Drivers branch of NUPENG on Wednesday.

    Olawale said compliance to the directive was necessary for the successful execution of the campaign against alleged anti-labour practices of Kaduna state governor.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the NLC had directed workers in the state to totally withdraw services for five days with effect from May 16, 2021.

    The directive was given following the sack of over 4,000 workers in the state.

    Kaduna State NLC Chairman, Mr Ayuba Suleiman had said that the decision was taken during an emergency meeting in Kaduna with a delegation from the NLC national headquarters.

    The union had accused the state government of ignoring due process in the recent disengagement of over 4,000 workers from local governments, state basic education board and Primary Health Care Agency.