Energy
Petrol’s Pump Price Skyrockets From 6 Kobo To 61,700 Kobo
The astronomical increment of the pump prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as, petrol has seen it rise from 6 Kobo/litre in 1970 to 61,700/litre as at August 27, 2023.
Data sourced from various online sources by Biztellers indicate that the pump price of petrol has been increased a record 29 times since the Gen Yakubu Gowon regime fixed the price at 6 kobo in 1970.
It stood at that rate for three years before the same government adjusted it to 8 Kobo in 1973.
And by 1978, when the then Gen Olusegun Obasanjo adjusted the pump price to 15 Kobo, Nigerians cried out in anguish.
The first civilian government to tinker with the pump price of petrol was the President Shehu Shagari regime, which adjusted it to 20 Kobo/litre.
That was in 1983 after Shagari had managed the 15 Kobo price it inherited from Obasanjo for more than four years, dating back to 1978.
The price stability was maintained during the tenure of the Gen Muhammadu Buhari military regime of 1984. Even his successor, Gen Ibrahim Bagandiga didn’t adjust the price until 1986, when it was adjusted to 39 Kobo/litre.
Two years down the line, Gen Babangida increased it again to 42 Kobo, before adjusting it to 68 Kobo in 1990 and 70 Kobo in 1991.
Increases in pump price of petrol had always attracted public outcry with civil society rising in one accord against the move by government.
The Interim Government led by Ernest Shonekan jerked it up from 70 Kobo to N5/litre in 1992 with the attendant public uprising enough to consume the government.
Gen Sanni Abacha shoved Shonekan aside and reduced the pump price to N3 25 Kobo, only to jerk it up to N15 in 1994 amidst fuel scarcity that threatened the economy.
When the masses rose up against the move, Gen Abacha reduced it to N11/litre in 1995, before Gen Adulsalam Abubakar who took over after the demise of Gen Abacha pegged the pump price of petrol at N25 in 1998.
The level of public outcry that greeted the move, compelled Gen Abubakar to reduce it to N20/litre 1999.
When Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was elected President in 1999, he tinkered with the pump price of petrol six times in his eight-year tenure.
He first adjusted it to N50/liter in 2002, the back to N22/litre and up to N26/litre the same year, before moving it up to N42/litre in 2003, N65/lite in 2004 and N75/litre in 2007.
Obasanjo’s successor, President Umar Yaradua, in an apparent response to public lamentation, reduced the pump price of petrol to N65/litre.
Yaradua’s tenure was short-lived, and his success, President Goodluck Jonathan, who was in office for about six years, tinkered with the pump price of petrol for three times.
Under Jonathan, Nigerians saw the pump price of petrol move to N141/litre in 2010, back to N97/litre the same year, and down to N87/litre in 2011.
The pump price of petrol had become a tool in the hands of politicians and those desperate to hang on to power had to pander to popular sentiments, hence, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under President Jonathan’s leadership had to toy with the idea of reducing pump price of petrol.
Then came the All Progressives Congress (APC) with President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.
The former military ruler was in power for eight years, taking his two four-year terms as President, within which period he tinkered with the pump price of petrol several times in a fluctuating manner that tended to reflect his government’s negotiating power with restive civil society groups.
In 2015, President Buhari increased the petrol to N141/litre and in 2016 to N165/litre, before pegging it at N180/litre in 2020, where it was until he left office in May 2023.
N180/litre was where the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration met it and on May 29, 2023, before the popular ‘subsidy is gone’ anchor mounted pressure on the prices and saw it hit the roof.
President Tinubu’s less than three-month tenure has seen pump price of petrol adjusted twice from N180 where he met it to N480/litre in June to N617/litre where it is hovering at the moment.
Sadly, it does appear that the current price per litre is a mere suggestion around which marketers could weave their profit, though some do so unscrupulously.
Recall that Commissioner for Special Duties, Enugu State, Emeka Ajogwu, on Friday, while on an unscheduled visit to some petrol stations in the Enugu metropolis to ascertain the alleged metre manipulation by filling station owners, cautioned them against ‘sharp practices’.
According to him, “Over 20 filing stations visited adjusted their metres and sold between N600- N620 per litre, respectively.
“It was confirmed that for every 20 litres of petrol bought, consumers were shortchanged to the tune of N768.60, N702, N682.00, N575.00, N441.60, N480.00, and N256.20 respectively.”
Sadly, this situation is replicated across Nigeria, and the pressure on the Foreign Exchange Market in addition to fluctuating global crude prices tend to guarantee that these incessant increment would continue in the domestic market.
Energy
Dangote Partnership: MRS Urges Nigerians To Insist On N935/Litre Petrol Price Nationwide
MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, a prominent player in the Nigerian downstream oil industry, has implemented a new petrol price of N935 per litre across all its retail service stations nationwide.
The company has also called on Nigerians to monitor and report any outlets that fail to adhere to the new price structure.
Biztellers reports that this is consequent upon an announcement by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to offer petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets, following a reduction in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre.
ALSO READ: Dangote Slashes PMS Price To N899.50k
It was gathered that MRS Oil Nigeria Plc has instructed all its outlets to implement the new price immediately, setting up a digital platform and monitoring team to ensure full compliance.
In a statement on Monday night, the company declared, “Petrol is now being sold at N935 at MRS Filling Stations nationwide. If you find any station not following this price, please report it. Call 08009447853 or email: NG-FMKPMGWHISTLEBLOWING@NG.KPMG.COM”
Emphasising the eco-friendly nature of its products, MRS Oil added, “We call on all petrol station owners to join MRS Oil Nigeria Plc in improving the supply chain of our beloved country, ensuring product quality and availability in every corner of Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians.”
In Lagos, commuters were seen queuing at MRS filling stations to purchase petrol, with many expressing their gratitude to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil and Gas, urging other marketers to support the indigenous refinery rather than import off-spec products into the country.
A commuter at the MRS station at Alapere on the Lagos Ibadan Express way, Ibukun Phillips, could not hide her joy as her husband filled up their car.
“I am very happy today. This is a victory for Nigeria,” she said. “The price reduction is the best gift of the season. But beyond just the reduction, we are buying standard, eco-friendly petrol at a lower rate. My husband and I have decided we will only be using MRS from now on because we are confident in the quality of the product and supporting the economy.”
A commercial bus driver, Adio Ajibade described the price reduction as a great relief, especially during the festive season.
“The reduction is a great relief. It will reduce transportation costs and benefit Nigerians. God will continue to bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” he said.
A public affairs analyst and university lecturer, Dr. Tunde Akanni, said the collaboration between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil represents a significant step towards improving the affordability, quality, and sustainability of petroleum products in Nigeria.
According to Dr. Akanni, “this move will not only help ease the financial burden on Nigerians but also promote a more environmentally conscious approach to fuel consumption, benefitting both the economy and public health in the long term.”
Energy
FDI: Shell To Invest Billions Of Dollars On Nigeria’s Bonga North Oil Field
As a direct implication of the Federal Government’s Foreign Direct Investment drive, the Royal Dutch Shell has completed the final investment decision on the deep offshore Bonga North project in Nigeria.
Biztellers reports that the Bonga North will be a subsea tie-back to the Shell-operated Bonga Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility which Shell operates with a 55% interest.
Shell’s Integrated Gas and Upstream Director, Zoë Yujnovich, said, “This is another significant investment, which will help us to maintain stable liquids production from our advantaged Upstream portfolio”.
ALSO READ: OGUNCCIMA Commends Dangote Refinery’s Impact
It was gathered that the Bonga North project involves drilling, completing, and starting up 16 wells (8 production and 8 water injection wells), modifications to the existing Bonga Main FPSO and the installation of new subsea hardware tied back to the FPSO.
The company is optimistic that the project will sustain oil and gas production at the Bonga facility.
The Bonga North currently has an estimated recoverable resource volume of more than 300 million barrels of oil equivalent (boe) and will reach a peak production of 110,000 barrels of oil a day, with first oil anticipated by the end of the decade.
In addition, the Bonga North will help ensure Shell’s leading Integrated Gas and Upstream business continues to drive cash generation into the next decade.
Energy
Chevron Nigeria Bags ‘Energy Company Of The Year For Environmental Sustainability And CSR
Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), has received an award as “Energy company of the year (2024)” for its Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Responsibility accomplishments.
The award presented by the Nigerian News Direct newspaper, on Friday December 6, 2024, and was received by Manager Communications, Chevron Nigeria and Mid-Africa Business Unit, Victor Anyaegbudike, at a colourful event at the Grand Ballroom of the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
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The organizers of the award noted that Chevron has implemented the “Protecting People and the Environment” policy, which aims at preventing injuries, illnesses, and environmental incidents. They also referenced that the company has achieved 97% gas flaring reduction in its operations in Nigeria, while implementing waste management and environmental conservation programs.
According to the media organization, Chevron Nigeria has also invested millions of dollars in community development programs, supporting education, health and economic development initiatives that have benefited thousands of people, while ensuring diversity, inclusion, and employee engagement in its business operations.
Receiving the award from the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, Anyaegbudike thanked the organizers for the honour, and reiterated Chevron’s commitment to continue to develop, affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy that enables human progress around the world.