Headline

Buhari Mum As Fuel Crises Cripple Nigerians, Businesses

Published

8 months ago

January 22, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Nigerians, for the umpteenth time in the life of the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, have come under the excruciating pains of unending fuel scarcity, with the president yet to address the issue even as government officials continually make promises that have not seen the light of the day. Like a curse, the last parts of the year have remained an albatross when it comes to fuel scarcity as it has become a norm that Christmas seasons and scarcity of fuel products have become synonymous. But the life of the present administration has ensured that scarcity is not only a December issue, but an all year round crisis.

Rising from the delay of ministerial appointment six months after he assumed office in May 2015, Buhari made himself the Minister of Petroleum, with Mr. Ibe Kachikwu as the Minister of State for Petroleum. Nigerians have rejoiced at the prospect, believing that whatever crises witnessed in the sector over the years have come to an end. But that was not to be. For the three years and counting, Kachikwu held sway as Deputy Minister in the oil and gas industry, he grappled unsuccessfully to keep in check the lingering issue, even as Mr President maintained an undignified silence over the matter.

In January 2016, the country launched into a dire fuel crisis, which set the stage for the subsequent after effects still experienced till date. The crisis which lasted for about three months, was without the voice of Buhari, who was battling to save his life in a London hospital.

“I share the pains of Nigerians, I feel that pain everyday when I walk the streets: on Easter day, I was in Lagos monitoring fuel distribution and the depots, I had given 24 hours attention to the problems.

“I have continued to work with one sole purpose, which is that every problem must have a solution and I think that is the reason I was picked.

“I do apologise for the comment that I made jocularly with my friends in the press about being a magician and it offended Nigerians; it was not meant to be, it was a side jocular issue. I did go on to explain what needed to be done, I did not know that it would create the kind of hyperbole (exaggeration) that it did.

“Let me first admit that I am not a typically experienced politician, I am a technocrat: I come to work.” Kachikwu said while defending his position as the scarcity lasted.

In December 2017, another scarcity hit the nation spiraling deep into 2018. This was how it continued until Kachikwu was removed in August 2019, and replaced by former Bayelsa State governor, Timipre Sylva. However, the trend has remained the same, and growing worse. Yet, Buhari’s undignified silence remaining deafening.

Worse it in the scheme of things is the Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol. Its scarcity has grown worse across the country as massive queues were witnessed in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Nasarawa, Minna, among other places, according to The Punch reports.

A typical excuse by oil marketers remains that dealers could hardly access the product from the only two depots that were dispensing the commodity in Lagos State.

The few filling stations, particularly those of independent marketers, that dispensed the commodity sold it at between N250/litre and N300/litre, depending on area of purchase.

Oil marketers told The Punch that over 1,000 tickets, belonging to marketers which had paid for products, remained unattended to, at the few depots that dispense the commodity in Lagos. It was gathered that the tickets, which were for over 1,000 tankers, had continued to pile up due to the pressure on the two depots, namely MRS and Pinnacle.

It was also gathered that the cost of petrol could have been increased quietly by the Federal Government, as stations that used to sell the approved price of N179 – N180/litre had raised their prices to between N185 – N190/litre. The government has however, denied increasing prices.

While Lagos residents still managing to buy at 300 naira per litre, most residents of other parts of the country, notably the Southeastern parts, have lamented the total scarcity of the product, saying that when seen, a customer must have to part with as much as 400 to 450 naira for one litre.

Most motorists have packed their vehicles for want of the product while commercial drivers, who managed to still ply the roads, are charging exorbitantly to make up for the high cost of the fuel purchase. As a result, some commuters, especially in Lagos and major metropolitan cities have resolved to trekking to their destinations.

In the same vein, market women and men have hiked the price of their goods to reflect the huge cost incurred while transporting the said goods from one point to another. Even service providers, who have to shop for the high priced commodities have also increased the prices of your services to stay afloat of the situation. The situation has turned to a round robin affair with cost of both goods and services hitting roof top.

“Petrol has remained the pivot on which the economy of the nation revolves. As a result, whatever happens to the price or availability of the petroleum products with special emphasis to petrol, will sure have a reverberating effect on every other sector. It is just the way we have succeeded in wiring the country,” a motorists on a petrol queue told The Boss

Also commenting on the issue, the Secretary, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, (IPMAN) Abuja-Suleja, Mohammed Shuaibu, told The Punch that the concerns in the downstream sector would continue to linger as long as the government remained the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria.

“The Federal Government, through NNPC, is the only one importing this product and it is subsidising it. And they don’t have the facility to store the product.

“Some time ago we complained about this because when they store in private depots, the price is hiked and some of the depots continue to exploit the masses arbitrarily.

“However, as it is now, the government is bringing in products. But the issue now is that virtually all the depots that belong to major marketers in Apapa axis of Lagos are empty. So there is now pressure on MRS and Pinnacle depots where NNPC drop products.

“So, there are over 1,000 tickets of marketers who have paid to have their trucks loaded, but we don’t know what is happening. Today they will tell you that they are upgrading the system, tomorrow you will hear that the system did not capture.

“You know that it takes much time to transport this product from the South to the North. Some trucks spend one month, especially when they have problems on the road, others spend two to three weeks,” he said.

He lamented that the Buhari-led Federal Government has so far not done anything about the situation, which must be done fast, and the situation is deteriorating. He also added that pipeline vandalism, depot upgrade among other issues reasons the reasons other depots in Apapa and in other locations not selling products.

He said, “Last time we complained that some depots were exploiting us, and the depots argued that the cost of moving products from one end of their facility to another had Increased, as well as other issues. So we can’t tell whether that is another reason why NNPC stopped supplying some of these depots.

“Things were not worse like this before. As I’m talking to you now, some of our tickets have been there for close to a month. I did payment since but I can’t load. And the story is the same across their 21 depots. We can’t load.”

Meanwhile, Shuabu stated that unconfirmed information on the official pump price of PMS that filtered in on Thursday evening was that the government had quietly raised the cost of petrol.

“I cannot confirm it yet, but we are hearing that they have quietly increased the pump price of petrol, because major marketers in Lagos who used to sell at N179 – N180/litre, are now selling at N185 – N190/litre,” he stated.

The Public Relations Officer, IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, blamed the scarcity on the changes being done by NNPC in terms of payment for products by marketers.

“NNPC has moved independent marketers from PPMC Marketers Express to the NNPC Retail portal. That NNPC Retail portal is where marketers will be able to buy their products. However, they told us that the portal is in place now.

“Another concern is that they (NNPC) are also having an issue with the remittance, which, according to them, has been resolved. But the impact of these issues will definitely be felt and it will take some time to clear.

“Marketers are calling on NNPC to supply products to some of the depots where independent marketers can access them since most NNPC depots are not functional because of pipeline vandalism,” he said.

The government has insisted on removing subsidy by May even as the signing of the Petroleum Industry Bill in August 2021 has not helped to ease petroleum crises over the years. Nigerians await to see if the removal of the subsidy or emergence of a new president in May will bring to an end the perennial fuel issues.

But before then, the problems of Nigerians continue even as feelers reveal that an early resolution of the problem is a mirage as supply hitches may not end any time soon. The Punch quoted a senior official in the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as saying that the fuel scarcity might get worse in the days and weeks to come as there were many issues affecting the smooth supply of the product across the country including the inability of the NNPC Limited to import sufficient volume of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).

The source also explained that the inability of the country to produce enough crude oil to meet its Organisation of Petroleum Export Countries’ quota was another problem, noting that insecurity and crude theft had significantly affected the production capacity.

He added, “Another issue is the failure of the crude swap for refined products deal that the NNPCL had with major international oil firms and traders. The inability of the NNPCL to meet its own side of the deal by supplying the required quantity of crude has frustrated the arrangement.

“While Nigeria has been taking refined products from the partners, it has not been able to supply the crude equivalent and the international firms and traders have stopped shipping products to the country.”

Oil marketers has also alluded to the problems in the downstream sector and predicted that the current scarcity would not abate until the government comes out with a clear position on subsidy removal, full deregulation and price determination.

It still remains to be seen when the fuel issue will be settled.

Headline

Tinubu’s ‘Lagosnisation’ of Nigeria

Published

16 hours ago

September 23, 2023

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

While Nigerians had bargained a clear departure from former President Muhammadu Buhari’s subtle agenda of cronyism, nepotism and fulanisation, the present crop of administration is replete with something worse than that, considering the policies and appointment decisions of the substantive President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

While a large chunk of the president’s appointment has concentrated on the South West, his native Yoruba origin, observers have said that though the appointees ear Yoruba names, but their their appointments do not reflect the region but favours a certain group known as the Lagos Boys, a clear indication that Tinubu is on a short run to create a theory of Lagosnisation of Nigeria.

The agenda, which has become so obvious even as Nigerians have started to complain, has in its wake men and women with whom a respondent says Tinubu had used to hold bound Lagos in over 24 years of return to democratic rule.

“The intention of this Lagosnisation principle is not far from caging the country as he did Lagos since 1999. Nithing good is coming out of it. The administration is just a transfer of the Lagos boys to Aso Rock, Abuja,” the respondent told The Boss.

Another noted that apart from.the mandatory one state per minister althea constitution prescribed, other appointments have tilted to the South West, notably the cronies from Lagos.

It is important to note that all the juicy ministerial, agencies and parastatal positions, especially as refers to revenue and economy have gone to the boys from Lagos.

Among the cronies are:

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff

The immediate past Speaker of the House of Representatives, Gbajabiamila has been with Tinubu since the days of Alliance for Democracy, and has been elected for six consecutive terms to represent the people of Surulere 1 Federal Constituency of Lagos in the National Assembly.

Under Tinubu’s tutelage, he contested and lost the speakership of the 8th assembly, but was elected on his next try as the 9th assembly speaker.

Olayemi Michael Cardoso, Givernor, Central Bank of Nigeria

Cardoso served as the first commissioner/cabinet member for Economic Planning and Budget for Lagos State when Tinu was the governor. He has also served on the board of several leading companies including Texaco and Chevron Oil Plc.

Dr. Yemi Cardoso is a financial and development expert with over thirty years of experience in the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors.

He is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Citibank Nigeria.

Dele Alake, Minister of Solid Minerals

Alake served as Commissioner for Information and Strategy of Lagos State between 1999 and 2007 when under the administration of Tinubu as governor.

Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy

Edun was appointed the Lagos State Commissioner for Finance in 1999 by then governor, Bola Tinubu. He was in office till 2004.

Hakeem Muri Okuola, PPS Personal Physician to Tinubu

In the run off to the 2023 general elections, speculations were rife that Muri-Okunola, a one time Personal Assistant to Tinubu (2003 – 2005) during his governor days in Lagos State, would be replacing Sanwo-Olu as Lagos State Governor. However, rumors had it that Tinubu, as the Lagos kingmaker, later changed his mind after considering some variables.

He was later made the Executive Secretary to the Governor, Land Use and Allocation Committee, and afterwards, promoted to the position of Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Public Service in 2011. He resigned as Lagos State Head of Service a few days ago.

Tunde Rahman, Special Assistant to the President on Media Affairs

Rahman was appointed the media adviser to Tinubu In 2016 to replace Sunday Dare, who was appointed commissioner in the Nigerian Communications Commission. He has since remained in the shadows of Tinubu, and today merits a mention as he relocates to Aso Rock to continue his stewardship.

Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, SA, Sustainable Development Goals

A former deputy governor of Lagos State from 2011 to 2015, Orelope-Adefulire was appointed the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation of Lagos State from 2003 to 2011 by Tinubu. She retained the post even after Tinubu left.

A loyalist of Tinubu to the core, she was known to have abandoned his principal, former governor Adewunmi Ambode, when it rumored that Tinubu was no longer in supported of his administration. In 2016, Buhari appointed her Senior Special Assistant on Sustainable Development Goals.

Gboyega Oyetola, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy

Oyetola has always been touted as a crony of Tinubu, and that paved the way for him to rise to the governorship position of Osun State after serving as Chief of Staff to Rauf Aregbesola, a former Commissioner for Works under Tinubu in Lagos State. He may not have served directly in Lagos, but is believed to have the flow from the Tinubu, especially as his former immediate boss, Aregbesola, was supposedly taking orders from Lagos.

Observers are also of the opinion that Tinubu also had the same level of stranglehold on Osun as he has of Lagos, prior to the emergence of the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke.

This is not forgetting the fact that Oyetola is Tinubu’s nephew.

Lola Ade-John, Minister of Tourism

Having spent all her career in finance and technology sector, Lola was appointed Tourism Minister. She had worked with Shell Petroleum as a systems analyst. Then she proceeded to work with Magnum Trust bank, Access Bank, United Bank for Africa and Ecobank.

After her stinct at the banking sector, she founded Novateur Business Tecchnology Consultants in 2013.

On 16 August 2023, she was appointed minister of Tourism by President Bola Tinubu. She assumed office on 21 August 2023

Mutiu Are – Member Of North-East Devt Commission

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Secretary of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Mutiu Are is one of the eyes if Tinubu watching over the governor(s) of Lagos.

Toyin Subair – Senior Special Assistant (Domestic) to President

According to a report, Toyin’s relationship with Tinubu dates back to early 2000s, as both operate a father-and-son relationship.

Toyin Subair founded the now-rested HiTV, a digital satellite TV channel in 2007. It was created to rival the DSTV monopoly and was the first television platform in Africa to deploy Hypercable, a terrestrial pay-per-view TV decoder system. The collapse of the project made him.leave the country, it was reported that Tinubu was there for him, and nursed him back to life

Kayode Egbetokun – Inspector General of Police

The present IGP is another crony of Tinubu, who served as his Chief Security Officer as Deputy Superintendent of Police in 1999.

In that capacity, he coordinated the security of the entire state while reporting to the governor. Observers say that rewarding his with the highest office in the Police Force is a testament of favoritism.

Others with similar affiliations are:

Adekunle Tinubu – Personal Physician

Damilotun Aderemi – Senior Special Assistant (Private Secretary)

Toyin Subair – Senior Special Assistant (Domestic).

Demola Oshodi – Senior Special Assistant (protocol)

Tope Ajayi – Senior Special Assistant (Media & Public Affairs)

Jide obanikoro – Special Assistant, Education

Tunji Alausa – Minister of State for Health

Observers and the Nigerian public have complained aloud that the sustaining of cronyism in the Tinubu administration is akin to monarchical system where government is run by family, and gradually leading to what is obtainable in Lagos, which Tinubu is accused of holding captive for 24 years and counting.

Nigerians are hoping that the fulanisation of Nigeria, which Buhari was accused for eight years does not transcend to Lagosnisation of Nigeria as is gradually unfolding.

Headline

Just In: Tribunal Nullifies Kano Gov’s Election, Declares APC Candidate Winner

Published

4 days ago

September 20, 2023

Eric

The Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has sacked Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, declaring the All Progressives Congress (APC) winner of the March 18 election.

Yusuf, who contested on the platform of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), was declared winner of the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While Nasir Gawuna, his APC rival congratulated him, the party proceeded to court.

On Wednesday, the three-man panel ordered withdrawal of certificate of return which INEC presented to Governor Yusuf and directed a certificate of return to be issued to Gawuna.

The court deducted 165,663 votes from Gov Yusuf total as invalid votes, stating that the ballot papers (165,663) were not stamped or signed and therefore declared invalid.

Daily Trust

Headline

Tinubu Addresses 78th UNGA (Full Text of Speech)

Published

4 days ago

September 20, 2023

Eric

Nigeria’s president, Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, ongoing in New York.

Read full speech below:

STATEMENT DELIVERED BY HIS EXCELLENCY, BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR PRESIDENT, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE GENERAL DEBATE OF THE 78TH SESSION OF UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, 18TH SEPTEMBER 2023

Mr. President,

Heads of State and Government, Secretary-General,

Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mr. President,

On behalf of the people of Nigeria, I congratulate you on your well-deserved election as President of this Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

We commend your predecessor, His Excellency, Mr. Csaba Korosi for his able stewardship of the Assembly.

We also commend His Excellency, Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, for his work seeking to forge solutions to humanity’s common challenges.

This is my first address before the General Assembly. Permit me to say a few words on behalf of Nigeria, on behalf of Africa, regarding this year’s theme.

Many proclamations have been made, yet our troubles remain close at hand. Failures in good governance have hindered Africa. But broken promises, unfair treatment and outright exploitation from abroad have also exacted a heavy toll on our ability to progress.

Given this long history, if this year’s theme is to mean anything at all, it must mean something special and particular to Africa.

In the aftermath of the Second World War, nations gathered in an attempt to rebuild their war- torn societies. A new global system was born and this great body, the United Nations, was established as a symbol and protector of the aspirations and finest ideals of humankind.

Nations saw that it was in their own interests to help others exit the rubble and wasteland of war. Reliable and significant assistance allowed countries emaciated by war to grow into strong and productive societies.

The period was a highwater mark for trust in global institutions and the belief that humanity had learned the necessary lessons to move forward in global solidarity and harmony.

Today and for several decades, Africa has been asking for the same level of political commitment and devotion of resource that described the Marshall Plan.

We realize that underlying conditions and causes of the economic challenges facing today’s Africa are significantly different from those of post war Europe.

We are not asking for identical programs and actions. What we seek is an equally firm commitment to partnership. We seek enhanced international cooperation with African nations to achieve the 2030 agenda and Sustainable Development Goals.

There are five important points I want to highlight.

First, if this year’s theme is to have any impact at all, global institutions, other nations and their private sector actors must see African development as a priority, not just for Africa but in their interests as well.

Due to both longstanding internal and external factors, Nigeria’s and Africa’s economic structures have been skewed to impede development, industrial expansion, job creation, and the equitable distribution of wealth.

If Nigeria is to fulfil its duty to its people and the rest of Africa, we must create jobs and the belief in a better future for our people.

We must also lead by example.

To foster economic growth and investor confidence in Nigeria, I removed the costly and corrupt fuel subsidy while also discarding a noxious exchange rate system in my first days in office. Other growth and job oriented reforms are in the wings.

I am mindful of the transient hardship that reform can cause. However, it is necessary to go through this phase in order to establish a foundation for durable growth and investment to build the economy our people deserve.

We welcome partnerships with those who do not mind seeing Nigeria and Africa assume larger roles in the global community.

The question is not whether Nigeria is open for business. The question is how much of the world is truly open to doing business with Nigeria and Africa in an equal, mutually beneficial manner.

Direct investment in critical industries, opening their ports to a wider range and larger quantity of African exports and meaningful debt relief are important aspects of the cooperation we seek.

Second, we must affirm democratic governance as the best guarantor of the sovereign will and well-being of the people. Military coups are wrong, as is any tilted civilian political arrangement that perpetuates injustice.

The wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favour towards coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems.

Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders. As Chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region. I extend a hand of friendship to all who genuinely support this mission.

This brings me to my third crucial point. Our entire region is locked in protracted battle against violent extremists. In the turmoil, a dark channel of inhumane commerce has formed. Along the route, everything is for sale. Men, women and children are seen as chattel.

Yet, thousands risk the Sahara’s hot sand and the Mediterranean’s cold depths in search of a better life. At the same time, mercenaries and extremists with their lethal weapons and vile ideologies invade our region from the north.

This harmful traffic undermines the peace and stability of an entire region. African nations will improve our economies so that our people do not risk their lives to sweep the floors and streets of other nations. We also shall devote ourselves to disbanding extremist groups on our turf.

Yet, to fully corral this threat, the international community must strengthen its commitment to arrest the flow of arms and violent people into West Africa.

The fourth important aspect of global trust and solidarity is to secure the continent’s mineral rich areas from pilfering and conflict. Many such areas have become catacombs of misery and exploitation. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has suffered this for decades, despite the strong UN presence there. The world economy owes the DRC much but gives her very little.

The mayhem visited on resource rich areas does not respect national boundaries. Sudan, Mali, Burkina Faso, CAR, the list grows.

The problems also knocks Nigeria’s door.

Foreign entities abetted by local criminals who aspire to be petty warlords have drafted thousands of people into servitude to illegally mine gold and other resources. Billions of dollars meant to improve the nation now fuel violent enterprises. If left unchecked, they will threaten peace and place national security at grave risk.

Given the extent of this injustice and the high stakes involved, many Africans are asking whether this phenomenon is by accident or by design.

Member nations must reply by working with us to deter their firms and nationals from this 21st century pillage of the continent’s riches.

Fifth, climate change severely impacts Nigeria and Africa. Northern Nigeria is hounded by desert encroachment on once arable land. Our south is pounded by the rising tide of coastal flooding and erosion. In the middle, the rainy season brings floods that kill and displace multitudes.

As I lament deaths at home, I also lament the grave loss of life in Morocco and Libya. The Nigerian people are with you.

African nations will fight climate change but must do so on our own terms. To achieve the needed popular consensus, this campaign must accord with overall economic efforts.

In Nigeria, we shall build political consensus by highlighting remedial actions which also promote economic good. Projects such as a Green Wall to stop desert encroachment, halting the destruction of our forests by mass production and distribution of gas burning stoves, and providing employment in local water management and irrigation projects are examples of efforts that equally advance both economic and climate change objectives.

Continental efforts regarding climate change will register important victories if established economies were more forthcoming with public and private sector investment for Africa’s preferred initiatives.

Again, this would go far in demonstrating that global solidarity is real and working.

CONCLUSION

As I close, let me emphasize that Nigeria’s objectives accord with the guiding principles of this world body: peace, security, human rights and development.

In fundamental ways, nature has been kind to Africa, giving abundant land, resources and creative and industrious people. Yet, man has too often been unkind to his fellow man and this sad tendency has brought sustained hardship to Africa’s doorstep.

To keep faith with the tenets of this world body and the theme of this year’s Assembly, the poverty of nations must end. The pillage of one nation’s resources by the overreach of firms and people of stronger nations must end. The will of the people must be respected. This beauty, generous and forgiving planet must be protected.

As for Africa, we seek to be neither appendage nor patron. We do not wish to replace old shackles with new ones.

Instead, we hope to walk the rich African soil and live under the magnificent African sky free of the wrongs of the past and clear of their associated encumbrances. We desire a prosperous, vibrant democratic living space for our people.

To the rest of the world, I say walk with us as true friends and partners. Africa is not a problem to be avoided nor is it to be pitied. Africa is nothing less than the key to the world’s future.