The Federal Government has been urged to “save Nigerians” from the current “agony” of scarcity of petroleum products.
The Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Enugu Depot, Chinedu Anyaso made the appeal in an exclusive with Radio Nigeria on the high cost of fuel in the zone.
According to Mr Anyaso, there is the need to resuscitate all the refineries across the country. Also, the Federal Government “should come out clear” on the issue of oil subsidy, so as to enable Nigerians to “plan their activities”.
He accused the NNPC of failing to supply fuel to independent marketers “for a long time”, forcing them to source for the product from private tank Farm owners who sell at exorbitant prices.
He said as at December 31, marketers were buying the product at the cost of N237 per litre, in addition to paying N3 loading cost and N15 for transportation, which brings the landing cost to about N260 per litre, depending on location.
He said it was regrettable that despite the high cost, getting the product was becoming “very difficult” as most private tank Farm owners were not selling to marketers.
The IPMAN Chairman blamed the latest development on the NNPC, which, according to him, “has the monopoly” of refining and importing the product into the country but “has not lived up to expectations”.
Mr Anyaso insisted that had the NNPC been importing enough products as it always claimed, petrol would be available and the price of the commodity would invariably be forced down.
He hinted that almost all the 21 federal government-owned depots across the country have become moribund, including that of Enugu, which has not been operational for more than 20 years.
He, however, expressed the hope that with promises from the new Managing Director, NNPC Retail, the narrative will change within the shortest period.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has forecasted a period of sunshine and haziness from Sunday to Tuesday across the country. According to the weather outlook released on Sunday in Abuja, NiMet predicts sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere over the northern region during this forecast period. The North Central region is also expected to experience sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere.
In the Inland states of the South, NiMet anticipates cloudy skies with spells of sunshine. Coastal cities are expected to have cloudy skies with the possibility of thunderstorms over parts of Edo, Ondo, Imo, Ebonyi, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states during the afternoon and evening hours.
Dust haze is foreseen over the northern region on Monday, while the North Central region is expected to experience sunny skies in a hazy atmosphere. The Inland states of the South and coastal cities are predicted to have cloudy skies with spells of sunshine, along with the likelihood of morning mist over Delta, Bayelsa, Lagos, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom. Thunderstorms are expected later in the day over parts of Rivers, Bayelsa, and Akwa Ibom states.
On Tuesday, NiMet forecasts dust haze with a visibility range of 2km to 5 km over the northern region. The North Central region is expected to experience dust haze as well. In the Inland states of the South and coastal cities, cloudy skies with spells of sunshine are anticipated.
NiMet issues a cautionary note about dust particles in suspension and advises the public, especially individuals with respiratory issues, to take necessary precautions. The agency also warns of the potential for moderate to heavy rainfall leading to flash floods and advises the public to exercise caution. Strong winds are likely to precede and accompany thunderstorms, and disaster risk managers, agencies, and individuals are advised to be proactive during the rainy season.
Finally, NiMet advises airline operators to obtain updated weather reports from its office for effective planning in their operations.
Each of the 109 senators in the Federal Republic of Nigeria has contributed their December salaries to assist the victims of the recent bombing incident in Kaduna that occurred last Sunday. The Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin, made this announcement on Sunday during a visit to the Kaduna State Government House, leading a prominent delegation of Senate members. The delegation was welcomed at the Government House by Governor Uba Sani. Further information will be provided soon.
The 64th Ordinary Session of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Heads of State and Government is currently taking place in Abuja, Nigeria. President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria is set to chair the session, which is being attended by leaders from the 15-member block.
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), countries such as Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone have already gathered at the venue, the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Other member states present include Benin, Gambia, Togo, Cape Verde, and Senegal.
In addition to the Heads of State and Government, the meeting is being attended by the ECOWAS Commission and other stakeholders, including former President Goodluck Jonathan, the U.S. Lead diplomat for Africa, Molly Phee, the African Union (AU), and the UN Secretary-General Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Simao.
The agenda for the end-of-year meeting includes a comprehensive review of decisions and agreements previously made by the body. This encompasses topics such as the adoption of the ECO as a common currency for the region. The regional body will also deliberate on issues such as the recent coup d’etats in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea.
Furthermore, the meeting will address concerns related to climate change, democracy, bilateral relations, and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
