Tag Archives: Kerosene

One Dead, 16 Others Severely Burnt In Calabar Kerosene Explosion.

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One person has died while 16 others are being treated for severe burns  in Calabar the Cross River state capital.

The death and injuries occurred following an explosion linked to kerosene adulteration.

The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Asibong Inyang, who visited the victims at the hospital said the government is investigating the incident to find the root cause of the explosions.

She said the Ministry of Health would also educate residents on the dangers of using adulterated products, and promised to donate medical accessories to the ward in support of their treatment.

Also, while speaking to journalists, the State Commissioner for Petroleum, Itaya Asuquo Nyong, gave the assurance that his ministry would investigate those behind the adulteration and bring the culprits to book.

kero-explosion
Other victims admitted to the hospital – (All females and one male)

“We will set up an investigative panel cos we want to get to the root cause of the matter and find out where this product is bought and I intend to involve the services of the operative agencies in this operation, because we intend to ensure that adequate punishment is given. We should never experience such in the state”.

Some of the victims who spoke to Journalists, expressed that they were in deep pains as a result of the burns from the explosion.

 

Source: Channels TV

Dealers raise the alarm over adulterated kerosene in Delta

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Kerosene dealers in Delta have raised the alarm over the prevalence of adulterated product in the state. Marketers, who spoke yesterday in Asaba, alleged that illegally refined sample was in circulation in all major markets statewide. They added that the fake sold cheaper than the ones from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

 

It was gathered that the suspected substandard goods were being produced in the creeks of the Niger Delta by operators of illegal refineries. The products, believed to emanate from Warri-South West, Warri South and Warri North, are yellowish, smell badly and go for N250 as against the prevailing N300 and N350 price tag of the original one.

 

A customer said: “I often buy kerosene from the creek. They are cheaper and sell for N250 against NNPC’s N350.”Several traders in Asaba, Warri, Ughelli and Agbor who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity, said the adulterated products had flooded the markets with unsuspecting consumers flocking for them.

 

He assured the people that the force would soon bring the operators to book. NNPC officials, who pleaded not to be mentioned because they were not authorised to speak on the issue, blamed the illegality on desperation from the jobless youths, adding that efforts were being made to arrest the situation.

NAN: Abuja Residents resort to Charcoal, Wood amidst Gas, Kerosene Price Hike.

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Some Abuja residents are now using firewood and charcoal for cooking following the astronomical increase in the price of kerosene and cooking gas.

A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, in the Nigerian capital on Wednesday revealed that the residents resorted to seeking other options because they could not afford the cost of kerosene and cooking gas.

NAN gathered that some residents have abandoned their gas cookers and opted for charcoal pots, whose prices have also been increased as a result of high demand.

A 12.5kg of gas initially sold for between N3,500 and N4,000 now goes for N6000 to N7000, while 5kg initially sold for between N1,700 and N1800 now goes for N3000.

Also, the price of kerosene per litre has risen to as much as N400 in many markets and other retailers’ outlets.

A resident of Gwagwalada, Juliet Uzoagba , said that with the high price of gas, she could no longer afford the product, adding that she has opted for the use of coal.

She said that she has a large family and cannot cope with buying the gas at N7, 000 which would not last for 2 months.

“I cannot cope with the recent price of gas; the product keeps increasing on daily basis. I have resorted to the use of charcoal and firewood.

“I have enough space in my compound where I can use them. Although it is not convenient for me, I have to manage in order to attend to other family needs’’ she said.

Nelson Odega, a civil servant, said that since January, he has moved from the use of gas to charcoal as a result of increase in price of the product.

He said that initially he was using gas and electric cooker but with the poor state of electricity in the county, he had no choice but to resort to the use of charcoal.

Mr. Odega, also complained that the price of charcoal is gradually increasing as a result of high demand for the product by the residents.

Maryam Abubakar, a house wife, said that the economy of the country has pushed her to the use of charcoal which she would not ordinarily ever think of using.

She lamented the time and energy spent in making the charcoal, adding that it was not convenient and healthy for her.

“I do not like the use of charcoal; it is too stressful and can make the house dirty. But I have no choice because of the economic situation in the county.

“I pray things get better; life has become so hard for many people in recent times. I pray our Government look at the sufferings of the masses and find a lasting solution to it,” she said.

Meanwhile, a check on the price of charcoal shows that the price is still very high as result of high demand.

Pius Ofoegbu, who sells dried fish, said that the price of charcoal has increased tremendously compared to what it was in 2016.

He complained that the increase in the price of charcoal has affected the price of his commodity.

Mr. Ofoegbu said that a bag of charcoal which was sold for between N1400 and N1500 as at 2016 now sells above N2, 500.

 

Source: NAN

Presidency orders immediate payment of N150 billion subsidy claims to marketers

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The presidency on Tuesday ordered the immediate payment of the N150 billion outstanding subsidy claims owed petroleum products marketers.

The order is coming amid speculations that government was considering increasing fuel price in the country in the face of rising fuel importation and distribution costs.

The speculations were fuelled by reports ahead of the scheduled meeting of the Board of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, on Thursday to review the existing petroleum products pricing template fundamentals, among other issues.

Since May 2016, when the template was adjusted, raising petrol price from N86 per litre to between N135 and N145 per litre, prevailing market conditions have fuelled calls for further review of the retail pump price.

Global crude oil price, which rose from below $30 per barrels then to the current price of $52 per barrel, and the Central Bank of Nigeria foreign exchange policy have resulted in the scarcity of funds for petroleum marketers.

The rising cost of fuel importation had caused major and independent petroleum marketers to abandon importation of petroleum products for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, which accounts for more than 60 per cent of the total national stock.

A senior NNPC official told PREMIUM TIMES on Tuesday in Abuja that the corporation was bearing the bulk of the almost N90 billion cost incurred as subsidy on importation of petroleum products.

The official, who requested that his identity should not be revealed as he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said the cost was as a result of high landing cost, distribution margins and port charges by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

Ahead of the meeting of the PPPRA Board, close watchers of the market said the regulatory authority could be considering a review in the pricing template to allow for adequate accommodation of the costs to sustain importation of products.

But, the Nigeria Labour Congress President, Ayuba Wabba, in a telephone interview on Wednesday allayed fears by Nigerians about any plan by government to increase fuel prices, describing any such decision as a ‘no go area.’

“It is not true,” Mr. Wabba said of alleged plans by the PPPRA to take a decision during its meeting to raise fuel price.

“Nobody would dare go to that area. We have just finished a meeting this evening at the (Presidential) Villa on the issue, and it was very clear and emphatic that nobody would make any attempt to touch that issue.

“The meeting of the PPPRA Board would dare not include that on its agenda. It was clear at the meeting at the Villa that fuel price increase is a no go area. Even the petroleum products marketers are aware of this.

“Government knows that fuel price increase is a very sensitive issue at this time and therefore nobody should take Nigerians for a ride. It is commitment given by the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, on behalf of the federal government.

“Every marketer, both major and independent, NNPC, PPMC (Pipelines and Petroleum Products Marketing, Company) were there at the meeting.

Mr. Wabba said the meeting, called to address the challenges in the shortage of diesel, kerosene and other products, also resolved to ensure that products were available across the country, particularly in the rural areas.

The meeting attended by all the relevant ministers, including those in charge of petroleum resources, labour and productivity as well as the Central Bank governor, resolved to take steps to encourage more involvement of other marketers in fuel importation.

“Government was very emphatic during the meeting that nobody should contemplate anything about increment in price of petroleum products,” the labour leader said.

Oil workers have said they would not accept another increase in petrol price at this time.

PENGASSAN President, Francis Johnson, said all the participants at the meeting would not like to go back on their pledge, describing any attempt to increase fuel price as “suicidal.”

Part of government’s efforts to encourage marketers to resume the importation of petroleum products includes the approval for the payment of the N150 billion Petroleum Equalisation Fund debt owed petroleum marketers.

The National Secretary of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Zarma Mustapha, said the money was part of the subsidy refund on the cost of distribution of petroleum products across the country.

NBS Report: Residents of Abia, Osun, Ondo paid highest price for kerosene in December

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Abia, Osun and Ondo states recorded the highest average prices per litre of kerosene in December 2016, the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, has said.

A report tagged the National Household Kerosene Price Watch for December 2016 stated that Abia recorded an average price of N211 per litre, while Osun and Ondo recorded N210 per litre.

The report, the NBS stated, presented the average monthly price paid by households for kerosene (HHK) across the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

According to the report, states with the lowest average prices per litre include Benue, Gombe and Kogi, which recorded N185. Others are Abuja and Sokoto with N183 and N180 respectively.

For the prices per gallon watch, states that recorded the highest average prices are Lagos, Ekiti and Rivers states with record of N1153, N1142 and N1141 respectively.

Kwara, Niger and Ebonyi recorded the lowest average price per gallon with records of N969, N940 and N938 respectively.

In the past week, scarcity of kerosene, used by millions of largely poor Nigerians for cooking, hit major cities in Nigeria, causing huge increase in price.

Reports had it that the situation caused some residents to turn to alternatives such as firewood and cooking gas.

Three of the most affected cities are Kaduna and Zaria in Kaduna State and Calabar in Cross River State. The scarcity also crept into some parts of Lagos and Ogun states.

NNPC resumes loading of petroleum products as kerosene scarcity continues

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, says loading of petroleum products has resumed in its depots across Nigeria.

Ndu Ughamadu, the corporation’s spokesman, said resumption of activities at the depots followed the suspension of a strike action by the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that scarcity of kerosene, a product used by millions of largely poor Nigerians for cooking, hit major cities in Nigeria, causing huge increase in price.

The situation caused some residents to turn to alternatives such as firewood and cooking gas.
Three of the most affected cities are Kaduna and Zaria in Kaduna State and Calabar in Cross River State.

But NNPC in its statement on Saturday noted that with the resumption in production of diesel and kerosene by the nation’s three refineries located in Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri, Nigerians should expect the seamless flow of petroleum products to resume.

While pledging its commitment to sustaining harmonious relations with industry unions, the NNPC urged Nigerians not to engage in panic buying as there is adequate supply of white products to meet their needs nationwide.

The corporation, according to the statement, also called on members of the public and other stakeholders to refrain from any act that could impede the supply and distribution of petroleum products in the country.

Meanwhile, checks by PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday revealed that the scarcity of kerosene has crept into some parts of Lagos State.

When our correspondent visited filling stations at Surulere, Yaba and Ikeja areas, none of the stations had kerosene. There were long queues at the gas sections of the stations, as consumers resorted to available alternatives.

Many consumers lamented the scarcity of the product, calling on government to find lasting solutions to the problem.

“This queue is terrible, and the cost of refilling gas too is now slightly increased. A 3kg gas is now refilled at N1,300 as against the N1,000 it used to be. This is not okay,” Yinka Adebajo, a buyer at one of the filling stations in Ikeja, said.

A resident of Surulere, Anne James, said, “There is no kerosene anywhere around here; some of us cannot afford to buy gas. This is unacceptable.”

Earlier, in an interview, Mr. Ughamadu had said that ‘unscrupulous’ oil marketers were responsible for the scarcity and the hike in the prices of kerosene and cooking gas.

Efforts to speak with Chinedu Okonkwo, President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, was futile as his phone number was not reachable. He did not respond to repeated messages sent to the number either.

GUARDIAN: Petrol price template crumbles as PPPRA is in disarray.

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The Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), which controls the cost of petrol in the country, is in disarray and this is disrupting the implementation of the existing pricing template.

The Guardian learnt in Abuja yesterday that the disruption in the system is caused by a lack of mechanism for a quarterly price adjustment, absence of a board and failure by government to appoint a substantive executive secretary. It was learnt that these factors have contributed more to the collapse of the pricing template than the lack of forex for fuel imports. The current open market price of petrol is above the N145 per litre.

The rising cost of crude oil in the international market has renewed pressure on government to increase the pump price as subsidy is staging a gradual comeback. The Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has almost become the last resort in the supply chain following the inability of independent marketers to access foreign exchange for fuel imports.

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said a lack of a properly instituted modulation scheme would continually lead to price increase.

“Any modulation scheme that is based on import will always lead to consistent price increment,” he said, urging government to build fund from crude oil savings to ensure that modulation is done.

He said the Ibrahim Mantu committee indeed recommended the modulation scheme in 2005 and how it should be operated but that the Olusegun Obasanjo government opted for Petroleum Support Fund.

While a board has been announced for the agency, it is yet to be inaugurated which has made the review of petrol price modulation for the sector impossible.

This has also rendered the Acting Executive Secretary of the Agency, Victor Shidok confused as he has not appointed a substantive general manager, operations, because he is not sure whether he will return to the position or not.

This development has led Mr. Olasupo Agbaje to combine both Operations and Corporate Services Departments, which is seen as detrimental to the functionality of the organisation.

The Chairman, Petroleum Downstream Sector, Ken Abazie, said though PPPRA may not have released another guide for the industry, the available template, which was released in May last year, had made provision for variance and movement that may affect petrol price.

According to Abazie, the current template for petrol would still allow marketers to import and make profit. “But if marketers continue to get forex either from the parallel market or black market, the price of petrol may soon be above the common man,” he added.

The Executive Secretary of Major Oil Marketers Association, Thomas Olawore, said that many marketers were no longer working on the template as they had stopped the importation of petroleum product for a long time.

“What we do now is to rely on NNPC for product due to the high cost of sourcing foreign exchange. It is true there is a major difference between the landing cost of petrol and the regulated price; we don’t know how NNPC is coping with the difference. For now, we depend on NNPC,” he said.

The NNPC yesterday said its Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries were expected to pump about 5.3 million litres of kerosene into the market as the three refineries resumed operations.

In an exclusive interview with The Guardian in Abuja, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Product Marketing Company (NPMC), Farouk Ahmed, said the Warri and Port Harcourt refineries had resumed production while Kaduna refinery was also expected to come on stream.

“Port Harcourt refinery is producing between 2.2 and 2.3 million litres per day, Warri is also producing the same while Kaduna is producing 700,000 litres per day,” he said.

Confirming the resumption, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Ndu Ngamadu, in a statement quoted the Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company (WRPC), Solomon Ladenegan, as saying Warri Refinery had been doing well since the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) was revved up last Saturday.

According to him, the plant now refines two million litres of kerosene and three million litres of diesel daily.

“This morning, we have pumped the products to PPMC and they have started loading. They are going to load up to one million litres of DPK and AGO. The products are there in the tank and we are doing everything to get them to the market,” Ladenegan disclosed.

Also, the Managing Director of the Paort Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), Dr. Bafred Enjugu, said Port Harcourt Refinery was producing three million litres of AGO daily, in addition to millions of DPK being churned out by the refinery daily.

While the question of potential scarcity rages, the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), which began a three-day warning, strike called it off the same day.

At the end of the emergency National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, the President of NUPENG, Igwe Achese, said the warning strike was intended to draw government attention to the massive termination of appointments of workers in the oil and gas sector as a result of divestment of assets and disobedience to labour laws by International Oil Companies (IOCs).

 

Source: Guardian

REPORT: Kerosene scarcity bites harder across Nigeria

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The scarcity of kerosene, used by millions of largely poor Nigerians for cooking, has hit major cities causing huge increase in price.

The situation has also caused some residents to turn to alternatives such as firewood and cooking gas.

Three of the most affected cities are Kaduna and Zaria in Kaduna State and Calabar in Cross River State.

In Kaduna, none of the filling stations visited by PREMIUM TIMES in the state capital on Saturday had kerosene (DPK) for sale.

In one of the stations, the attendants said the scarcity began on January 2 as they got no supply from Lagos and Kaduna Refinery.

“We have no supply of DPK since the 2nd of this month. The one you see our vendors selling they bought since Christmas,” the attendant said.

In Calabar, the scarcity has led to an increase in price to between N350 and N400 per litre from less than N300 per litre.

A News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, survey on Sunday showed that the product was not available in any filling station in the Cross River capital and its suburbs.

However, the product was available only in surface tanks in parts of the city, where dealers sold it at N350 per litre.

The survey revealed also that the itinerant retailers sold the commodity between N380 and N400 per litre, depending on the area.

Grace Nja, who resides in Ikot Efanga area of the city, said that she bought the product at N280 at a filling station early last week.

Ms. Nja alleged that petrol product marketers in the state sold their consignments wholly to some middlemen from neighbouring states, instead of the consumers within the state.

“I went to buy kerosene and I saw some women from outside the state carrying big cans and buying the product in large quantity.

“So, they are the ones that buy up the entire supply in the state,” she said.

Another resident, Elizabeth Sunday, decried the situation and described it as greed on the part of the product marketers.

“This is bad for us the poor people of this country. I am a widow and I don’t have money to buy gas cooker.

“Now the price of kerosene is out of my reach and it is hard to feed nowadays.

“My appeal is that government should do something to change the situation in the interest of the masses,” she said

Ekpenyong Lazarus, a resident of Akamkpa in Akamkpa Local Government Area, said that the product sold for N400 per litre in the area.

“That is only when you are able to find it at all,” he added.

CONSUMERS TURN TO ALTERNATIVES

In Kaduna, the kerosene scarcity has led to a 30 per cent increase in price of cooking gas.

At the popular gas vendor station on Ali Akilu Road Kaduna, a seller attributed the price hike to the scarcity of kerosene.

“From yesterday, we started noticing more people coming to buy gas. And because of the sudden demand, some of us started to increase the prices and yet people are buying.

“Before this morning to be precise, we used to refill the 12kg cylinder for N3,500, but now some people refill it for N4,200. So it goes for all the other cylinders,” the trader told PREMIUM TIMES.

Ummi Dalhat, a mother and resident of Unguwan Dosa in Kaduna, said she was unlucky to get caught up in the Saturday cooking gas price rise.

“It is unfortunate that my cooking gas finished yesterday and I sent for refill this morning. When I was told about the rise, I had no option than to buy. Who knows what it will cost tomorrow?”

Maryam Malam, a bean cake (akara) seller at Unguwan Yero, Kaduna, said that the kerosene scarcity has led to a reduction in the volume of firewood sold per price.

“I bought N100 firewood this afternoon and the quantity has reduced because everybody around is buying,” the akara seller who uses firewood for her cooking said.

Chibuzor Clement, a cooking gas stove seller at the Gumi Market told PREMIUM TIMES that he had sold six stove at the time our reporter visited his shop on Saturday.

“Normally, I sell one or two, and some days none. You know the economy is hard on people now. But because of this sudden lack of kerosene, people who can afford the small cooking gas stove are buying it as an alternative. And some are buying electric stove. But you cannot guarantee (electricity) light.

“The cooking gas stove goes for between N4000 and N6000, depending on the size and refilling it (with gas) will cost you about N1700, before the hike I am hearing about,” Mr. Clement said.

OIL UNIONS, OFFICIALS SPEAK

In its reaction to the scarcity, the Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) on Saturday said there was no drop of kerosene in the private and NNPC depots in Lagos.

Rotimi Benjamin, National Chairman of Surface Tank Kerosene Peddlers (SUTAKEP) branch of NUPENG told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the product was last brought to the depot on December 27, 2016.

He urged the government to come to the aid of the masses who could not afford cooking gas, by supplying kerosene to the depots so that it would be available in filling stations.

A member of NUPENG in Kaduna, Abdullahi Kaka, told PREMIUM TIMES that the product was not available even at the refinery depot in Kaduna.

“Dealers used to come to the depot in KRPC to buy the product which basically is transported from Lagos, and some dealers used to buy it direct. But for weeks now, we do not have new supplies.  I hope the authorities involved will quickly come to the rescue of Nigerians,” Mr. Kaka said.

In Calabar, Esue Obi, Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Calabar Depot, attributed the scarcity to lack of supply.

“As I speak, there is no kerosene in Calabar depot and all the tank farms in the state, Akwa Ibom and Rivers. Those having the product now travelled to Lagos to buy it.

“So, when they add the cost of transportation and other sundry expenses, the price must be high; that is the situation now.

“Importers are complaining of lack of foreign exchange. So, we don’t know when the product will be available,” Mr. Esue said.

When contacted, Ndu Ughamadu, Group General Manager, Public Affairs, NNPC said most marketers have refused to import kerosene due to the scarcity of dollars and the fluctuating crude oil prices.

He said NNPC had no control over marketers as that is responsibility of PPPRA and DPR.

He said NNPC Mega stations sell at controlled price, but refused to give the exact official price

Kerosene was, however, not available at NNPC Mega station, Mando, Kaduna as at the time of this report.

Two dead, three injured in Akwa Ibom kerosene explosion.

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Kerosene explosion in Ikono Ibom Clan, Uyo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom has left two children of one Mr. Nsikak Michael dead, with three others injured.

The incident was said to have occurred when Mr. Michael, who operates a small poultry farm near his residence in Ikot Enyingne Ikono, was trying to light up a lantern to keep the birds warm in their cage.

The Nation quoted the victim as saying: “I bought kerosene from a filling station along Idoro road as I closed from my Keke business.

“Upon getting home, I decided to lit up the lantern in my poultry farm to keep my birds warm but needed to top up the kerosene in the lamp as it was soon going off.

“So I came out of the poultry farm just as my kids followed. As I attempted to light up the lantern there was a loud explosion with a big flame of fire which left me unconscious.”

The report had it that one of the two children died few hours after, while the other died the next day at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, UUTH, where they were receiving treatments.

Meanwhile, Nsikak is still receiving treatment at the hospital.

Marketers Accused Of Raking In Profits Selling Aviation Fuel As Kerosene

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As the price of kerosene continues to soar because of inadequate supply, marketers have been accused of selling Jet A1, better known as aviation fuel, as kerosene, in the process making a kill of N50-N100 per litre.
The diversion of the product to fuel outlets where it is sold as household kerosene has also been blamed for the scarcity of Jet A1 and several flight cancellations and delays in the aviation sector in the last one month, according to reports..
Kerosene and jet fuel are nearly identical in every way except for a few additives in modern jet fuel, with industry experts describing the latter as nothing other than cleaner kerosene with no sulphur content.
However, the scarcity of foreign exchange in the country has made it very difficult for oil marketers to import and supply petroleum products that would sufficiently meet the needs of consumers.
As such, several marketers have started diverting Jet A1 to fuel outlets where it is sold as kerosene at a higher price than aviation fuel.
Aviation fuel sells for between N198 and N200 in Lagos while kerosene goes for N200 to N300 per litre.
Investigations revealed that marketers now prefer to sell Jet A1 as kerosene after degrading it and that explains the scarcity of aviation fuel in the past one month, leading to flight cancellations and delays.
Informed sources confirmed that aviation fuel is highly refined kerosene with zero sulphur, which when used for cooking leaves the pot without soot.
But instead of importing kerosene, oil marketers import aviation fuel because almost all modern refineries in the world no longer refine kerosene owing to the low demand for the product as a heating oil in several countries.
However, Nigeria’s refineries, which were built between the 1960s and 1980s still produce kerosene and unlike refining plants in other parts of the world, the Nigerian plants have not been upgraded to refine only diesel, petrol and Jet A1.
A seasoned aeronautical engineer and pilot, who operates a non-scheduled flight out of Lagos, said at the weekend that the current scarcity of aviation fuel would persist until marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) begin to import sufficient kerosene to meet consumers’ demands.
The source said that every jet engine can use kerosene, but Jet A1 is of higher quality because it has no sulphur.
Credit: Thisday

NNPC Set To Import 1billion Litres Of Petrol In March

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The Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Monday began fresh measures to halt what it described as artificially induced petrol scarcity noticeable in some parts of the country.

To this end, the corporation said it planned to import more than one billion litres of petrol in March to address short fall in supply.

NAN reports that the Group Managing Director (GMD), NNPC Dr Joseph Dawha, in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officers of the NNPC subsidiaries, began detailed monitoring of fuel stations in Abuja.

Others in the exercise are the Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, and the Managing Director of Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Mr Haruna Momoh,

Also in the team was the Director of Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Mr George Osahon.

Dawha said the exercise was to checkmate hoarding and panic buying of petrol, particularly in Abuja, Lagos and its environs.

The GMD said there was enough petrol in the nation’s stock to take care of the need of motorists.

He said as the supplier of last resort, the corporation was doing everything within its mandate to alleviate the avoidable hardship caused by the situation.

The Executive Secretary, PPPRA, said the problem was more of artificial because there were enough products.

“ The problem we have is not really with the supply because there is enough supply .

“The PPMC has almost more than 800,000 metric tones that will be arriving in the month of March which is over a billion litres in terms of our daily consumption.

“Other marketers are also bringing in their cargo so by the end of the week, hopefully, everything will be clear.

“I think we should just encourage the people to desist from panic buying; things are going to be very okay,” Ahmed said.

The Managing Director of PPMC said the corporation had more than enough of the products in the stock for the entire nation.

Momoh explained that there was a good build up till April and with this build up, “we are very confident that we will not have any problem in terms of supply.

“There are challenges with distributions; we will continue to handle those challenges and we try everything possible to make it seamless, smooth and as stable as possible beyond April,” he said.

He said the agency was putting in measures place to address other challenges beyond April.

He said that the other challenges which other marketers, who happened to be the other half in the chains of supply, would be addressed by the PPPRA.

The Director of DPR said the agency had measures to address hoarding and hiking of pump price above official price.

Osahon said the agency would collaborate with the security agencies to force marketers to sell products at the regulated price.

“We are going to get the law enforcement agencies to force them to sell and at the regulated price.

“We are doing that at several filling stations around the country; we are doing that to support PPMC and PPPRA and make sure that these things ease off as soon as possible,” he said.

Senate Slashes Subsidies on Petrol & Kerosene

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The Senate on Wednesday, slashed the allocation for petrol and kerosene subsidies presented by the Ministry of Finance in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2015 – 2017.

The upper chamber, while approving the MTEF, slashed petrol subsidy from N200 billion to N100 billion. It also reduced the subsidy allocated to kerosene from N91.08 billion to N45.52 billion.

Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance and National Planning; Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi, said the reduction was due to the fall in oil prices at the international market. “The joint committee recommends a downward review of subsidy payment for PMS from N200 billion to N100 billion and kerosene from N91.08 billion to N45.52 billion.

“This is as a result of the current low prices in crude oil prices at the international oil market.

“The relevant committees of the National Assembly should through oversight, ensure the full implementation of the proposed kerosene subsidy and the availability and of the product’’, he said.

Makarfi also said the reduction in the subsidy allocations to petrol reflected government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the entire oil and gas sector. In his remarks, the Senate President, David Mark said there was need for a budget cut across the three arms of government in view of the current economic reality.

Mark said the government must continue with it reform policy in order to promote the growth of the non-oil sector. He expressed delight on the expeditious passage of the MTEF.

Credit: NAN

PDP Steals N100 from Every Litre of Kerosene – Oshiomhole

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Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, accused the Peoples Democratic Party-led Federal Government of duping Nigerians by selling kerosene N150 per litre instead of N50.

Oshiomhole, who said this while receiving defectors from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress in Benin, the Edo State capital, also said that Nigerians had been suffering since the PDP assumed power 16 years ago. This, he said, was because of the PDP’s dedication “to preserve the privileges of the few.”

Oshiomhole said the Federal Government had been doing this by not allowing the masses to enjoy the benefits of the natural resources bestowed on the country by God through shady subsidy deals on petroleum products.

Credit: Punch