NEWS
Fuel Scarcity: IPMAN Blames Private Depot Owners
Nigerians have continued to groan over the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as fuel in Lagos, Abuja, Akwa Ibom, Cross River and other cities in Nigeria.
This is as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, disclosed that the private depot owners should be blamed for the ravaging fuel scarcity.
It is gathered that citizens now resort to buying fuel at a whopping black market price of N500-700/Per litre because of the unending fuel unavailability.
The situation, newsmen gathered, was heightened over the weekend in Lagos and some major cities of the country, such as Calabar, capital of Akwa Ibom, where pump price has risen to N500 per litre.
In Calabar city, black market sellers have taken advantage of the scarcity selling for up to N700 per litre.
For instance, a keg of 5 litres of petrol is sold for at least N2500 in Maryland and Ajah of the State during the weekend.
In Abuja, along the Kubwa Expressway, only two of the over seven filling stations were seen dispensing fuel.
It is learnt that some filling stations have stock but refused to dispense the product. But black market sellers were seen with fuel on major roads in Abuja.
The development has caused untold hardship to Nigerians as transport fares, and prices of goods and services have been hiked in some cities.
However, the situation worsened in the last two days as commuters have trekked the distance to their destination in Lagos and Calabar.
Mrs Linda Iheanacho, a resident of Calabar, stated that she bought fuel at the price of N500/per litre on Sunday after spending hours on queue.
Similarly, Okon Mfon disclosed that for the past 3 days, getting fuel has been hell for most residents of Lagos.
He said life has been difficult for commuters and motorists in Lagos and its environs due to fuel scarcity.
Similarly, Emeka Ogenyi stated that his major fear has been on getting fuel for days now.
“You have the money but you can’t get fuel without staying on the queue for hours. This problem has been reoccurring for months. I call on the relevant authority to do the needful and save Nigerians from the avoidable stress and difficulties”, he said.
Reacting to the development in a chat with journalists on Sunday, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) President, Elder Chinedu Okoronkwo, revealed that the Private Depot Owners are to be blamed for the scarcity.
He urged that the petrol distribution should be left in the hands of IPMAN, which will solve the issue of scarcity.
“There is enough product (fuel), but the distribution is the problem, it shouldn’t be left in the hands of private depot owners. Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, should deal directly with product distribution.
“Private Depot owners are the ones putting the country in this problem. The moment they say the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, do the distribution directly, it will solve the problem and the price”, he said.
However, the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) has said that it is working with the Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Ltd. to boost the distribution of petrol across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of MOMAN, Mr Clement Isong said this in an interview with journalists during the weekend in a bid to address the current scarcity of petrol and long queues at filling stations.
Isong said the association had had a daily logistic emergency meeting with the downstream management of NNPCL on improving the supply of petrol.
He explained that the collaboration with NNPCL will enhance the distribution of petroleum products in the country.
“We are doing depot-to-depot check-in and check-out to enhance efficiency, and also have logistic supply meetings with NNPCL.
“There is also collaboration among our members to cushion supply to various MOMAN’s stations”, he stated.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Sunday, January 26, 2025, to participate in the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The two-day summit, scheduled for January 27-28, 2025, is aimed at advancing “Mission 300,” a pan-African initiative to provide electricity to 300 million people across the continent by 2030.
Hosted by the Tanzanian government in collaboration with the African Development Bank Group and the World Bank, the summit will bring together African leaders, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and civil society organizations.
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The goal is to develop strategies for accelerating energy access in underserved regions, increasing renewable energy adoption, and mobilizing private sector investment.
According to a statement released on Saturday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President, the summit will serve as a platform for sharing expertise, knowledge, and resources to address Africa’s energy challenges.
The first day of the summit will feature ministerial-level discussions, during which participating nations, including Nigeria, will present their national energy strategies, or “compacts,” detailing their plans to achieve universal energy access within five years.
On the second day, African Heads of State will sign the Dar es Salaam Energy Declaration, a unified roadmap for achieving the goals of Mission 300.
President Tinubu is expected to deliver a national statement reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to universal energy access and its leadership role in the continent’s energy sector.
He will also highlight Nigeria’s ongoing clean energy initiatives and integrated energy delivery strategies aimed at fostering sustainable development across Africa.
Accompanying the president will be key government officials, including Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, and Special Adviser to the President on Energy Olu Verheijen.
President Tinubu is set to return to Abuja immediately after the summit concludes.
The menace of illegal migration is getting diplomatic attention from the Italian authorities and the Edo State Government.
The Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua divulged this in a government house statement issued in Benin City on Saturday.
He explained that the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Edesili Anani had expressed the readiness of the Governor, Monday Okpebholo-led administration to tackle the menace of irregular migration among youths in the state.
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It was gathered that Anani made the stance public on Friday in Government House, Benin City, when Dr. Alberto Cilala, a consultant to the European Union and President of Mattei Africa for Humanitarian Aids Initiative in Italy, led a delegation to her office.
Welcoming the delegation, she highlighted the importance of collaboration to address the challenges posed by irregular migration.
The Coordinator expressed her gratitude to the delegation, and emphasized the transformative impact the partnership will bring to Edo State.
In her words, “This initiative will reduce unemployment, create job opportunities, and address human trafficking and irregular migration. It will also enhance education, skills acquisition, agricultural investment, and infrastructural development for our people.”
On his part, Dr. Cilala emphasized that the Mattei Plan would provide valuable skills to Edo State residents, including tailoring, furniture-making, shoemaking, and more.
“The Mattei Plan was launched by the Italian Government with a focus on six key sectors: education and training, health, security, agriculture, and renewable energy. The goal is to promote integrated development and improve living conditions, particularly in rural areas.
“These projects will be fully funded by the Italian Government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Labour,” he stated.
Former Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Government on Anti-Human Trafficking and Irregular Migration, Solomon Okoduwa, in his remarks, said the Mattei Plan prioritizes practical measures to reduce irregular migration and human trafficking.
“Although nine African countries are involved in this initiative, Edo State is a crucial partner for Italy. This partnership will strengthen bilateral relations under the leadership of His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo,” he said.
Brand Ambassador of the Mattei Plan, Olorogun John Paul, popularly known as Daddy Showkey was at the event and lauded the initiative.
He noted, “This program provides an opportunity for Edo State beneficiaries to gain training in various skills, equipping them for sustainable livelihoods.”
Supporters of the impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, on Saturday morning stormed the Speaker’s Lodge located at 47 Joel Ogunnaike Street, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
The supporters, dressed in pro-Obasa vests and caps, arrived in large numbers at the premises.
According to multiple sources, the group was planning a “heroic welcome” for the former Speaker, who was recently removed from office by a majority of lawmakers in the House.
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Obasa, who was out of the country at the time of his impeachment, was replaced by the former deputy speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Since her emergence as Speaker, Meranda has presided over two sittings, with Obasa absent from both.
The choice of the Speaker’s Lodge as the location for Obasa’s supposed welcome sparked controversy, as he is no longer officially entitled to the property following his removal.
A resident in the area expressed surprise over the situation, saying, “I didn’t expect that the lodge would be opened for them.”
Armed security personnel, including police officers, were deployed to the area to maintain order and prevent any potential disruption.
As of the time of filing this report, Obasa had yet to arrive at the lodge.
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