Key political figures drawn from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) have been over the moon with news of Nigeria being selected to host the headquarters of the African Energy Bank.

Notable figures, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri have vented their joy through their verified social media handles, including micro-blogging site, X.

Lokpobiri in statement on Thursday 4 June, 2024, declared, “I am delighted to share that Nigeria has been selected to host the headquarters of the African Energy Bank! This prestigious honor is a testament to our country’s leadership and commitment in the energy sector.

NNPC Storms 2024 Energy Week, Abuja

“As the Minister for Petroleum Resources[Oil], I am incredibly proud of this achievement. The African Energy Bank will be a cornerstone for financing and advancing energy projects across Africa, promoting innovation, sustainability, and economic growth.

“This is a remarkable victory for Nigeria and the entire African continent. It symbolizes our collective efforts to harness and develop our rich energy resources for a brighter, more sustainable future.

“Thank you to everyone who made this possible. Together, we are shaping the future of energy in Africa, starting right here in Nigeria!”

Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has reported that Nigerians annually spend N16.5 trillion on fuel and generator servicing.

Adelabu disclosed this information on Tuesday at the ongoing NOG Energy Week in Abuja.

The Minister attributed his claim to 2023 research but did not provide specifics, instead comparing the figure to the 225% increase in electricity tariffs implemented on April 3, 2024.

Adelabu also highlighted significant foreign investments exceeding $1 billion in renewable energy sources.

He said “What Nigerians spend on self-generation of power—on fueling and servicing their generators—is N16.5 trillion, according to research that was carried out in 2023.

“Looking at this, you will see that what Band A customers pay is still cheaper compared to this, despite having 24-hour uninterrupted supply.

“over $1 billion in investments have been placed into renewable energy sources by foreign lenders and institutions.”

He added that his ministry, guided and supported by President Tinubu, is making significant progress in energy and gas developments.

. . . Launches Probe Into Incident, Vows To Deal With Culprits

The attention of NNPC Retail Limited has been drawn to a recent video clip making rounds on social media (X to be precise) concerning a fuel pump attendant in one of the NNPC filling stations.

In the said video, customers were coerced to purchase lubricants or engine oil as a prerequisite for purchasing or dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol. Still in the video, the attendant alleged that this was a directive from the NNPC Retail’s Management.

The NNPC Retail wishes to state unequivocally that the allegation is entirely false and does not represent the company’s customer service charter.

It declared in a statement, :At all NNPC Retail filling stations, customers are not obligated to purchase lubricants or engine oil or other products as a precursor to buying PMS (petrol).”

On the incident, Managing Director of NNPC Retail Ltd, Huub Stokman, said, “We are dedicated to providing clear, transparent and quality service to all our customers, guaranteeing that their needs are met without any recourse to unnecessary and unscrupulous conditionalities.”

The public is hereby advised to disregard the information in its entirety and report any such occurrences to the appropriate authority, the statement added.

It was gathered that the NNPC Retail Limited has launched an investigation into the unfortunate incident and assured that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against the culprit(s).