Tag Archives: Petroleum Products

EFCC disowns ‘auctioneer’ of seized petroleum products.

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dissociated itself from one Messrs Pinnacle Trading and Investment Nig. Ltd. allegedly parading itself as its authorised auctioneers.

The spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren, issued the disclaimer in a statement in Abuja on Friday.

Mr. Uwujaren said the company was claiming to have been appointed by the commission to auction impounded petroleum products aboard the MT Good Success and MT Asteris.

He stated that the letters of engagement being paraded by Messrs Pinnacle Trading and Investment Nig. Ltd were fraudulent.

According to him, the commission is currently investigating the origin of the alleged spurious letters with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.

He said the commission had not authorised anyone to act on its behalf in respect of the MT Good Success and MT Asteris vessels, warning members of the public to refrain from any related activity.

“It would be recalled that the vessels and their operators were arrested by the Nigerian Navy for engaging in illegal activities and handed over to the EFCC.

“By virtue of two judgments of Justice I.N. Buba of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on Dec. 15, 2015, their operators were convicted.

“The vessels and their contents totaling 4,882.097 metric ton of Premium Motor Spirit and Crude oil, were forfeited to the Federal Government,’’ Mr. Uwujaren said.

He emphasised that the EFCC had neither entered into any contract with, nor appointed Messrs Pinnacle Trading and Investment Nig. Ltd., to act on its behalf on any matter.

The EFCC spokesman urged the public to report anyone parading himself as an auctioneer or agent regarding the MT Good Success and MT Asteris vessels and their contents to the commission or the nearest police station.

 

Source: NAN

Nigerian Navy seized N420 billion petroleum products in 2016 – Official

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The Nigerian Navy on Wednesday said it seized 810,725 metric tonnes of stolen crude in 2016.

It also seized 1,078,104 metric tonnes of illegally-refined diesel and destroyed 181 illegal refineries during the same period.

The Navy put the financial worth of the seized crude oil and diesel at N420.1billion, excluding the value of vessels, boats and vehicles it seized.

The Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe-Ibas, disclosed the figures in Abuja when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Navy to defend its 2017 budget proposals.

Mr. Ekwe-Ibas, giving further details of the 2016 operations, said that 38 barges and 263 wooden boats were destroyed.

He added that his officials also impounded 53 boats, arrested 784 suspects, confiscated 145 outboard engines and 135 speedboats.

Other seizures and arrests were, 2,97 drums; 4,753 jerry cans; 27 trucks; 47 vehicles; 15 motorcycles; 139 geepee tanks; and 224 surface tanks.

In addition, the navy chief said that 468 arms and 1,659 ammunition were seized.

Mr. Ekwe-Ibas, a vice admiral, told the committee that the service recorded the achievements from an overhead budget of only N2.5 billion.

“The implication of this is that with improved overhead funding, the service will be able to enhance its operational profile, while proactively deterring, interdicting criminality in the nation’s maritime domain,” he said.

Mr. Ekwe-Ibas, stressing on the poor funding of the Navy, cited the case of the N225 billion voted as capital budget in 2016, out of which only N10billion had been released as of January 31.

For 2017, he said, while the initial capital estimates of the service was N317.6 billion, it was asked to review it downward to N26.7billion being the ceiling given by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.

He explained that the service proposed to spend N15 billion on fleet renewal this year and another N4.2billion to upgrade infrastructure.

Earlier, in his remarks, Chairman of the committee, Abdussamad Dasuki, disclosed that inadequate funding of Nigerian Navy had resulted in an annual economic loss of N3 trillion by the country.

Mr. Dasuki noted that from the committee ‘s findings, the country lost about $10 billion annually or N3 trillion due to the poor funding of the service.

“The loss of revenue from the inability of the Navy to carry out its duties is enormous and has been estimated to be over $10 billion or N3 trillion annually.

“There is therefore an urgent need to ensure that budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Navy is realistic and allows it function effectively.

“It is in our national interest to do so,” he said.

 

Source: NAN

Nigerian Customs Intercepts Trucks Smuggling Foreign Rice, Cannabis, Petroleum Products

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The Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit Zone C Owerri has interecepted trucks loaded with smuggled foreign rice, adulterated petroleum products, cannabis among other prohibited items.

Confirming the development at a media briefing, the Customs Area Controller, Mohammed Uba Garba said a trailer truck with registration number GBB 85 XA suspected to be carrying adulterated diesel petroleum product was intercepted by the Nigeria Customs along Aba-Owerri road.

He said: “The exhibit was discovered to have been hidden in a specially constructed tank for illegal bunkering and also concealed with 256 sacks of expired animal feeds to evade arrest.

“The seized adulterated petroleum product causes blockages of heavy duty machines and generators, which equally emit hazardous carbon monoxide, that are detrimental to the health.”

Comptroller Mohammed said that a suspect who gave his name as Chibuzor Njoku was arrested in connection with the crime and would be handed over to the Nigeria Security and Civil defense corps for prosecution.

Comptroller Mohammed also disclosed that a 1 X 40” container with marks numbers MRKU 254564 loaded with 1,017 sacks of 50kg cannabis (Indian hemp) estimated at over #16,000,000 was intercepted on the Benin-Shagamu road.

According to him, the only suspect – James idoko who claimed to be a student upon interrogation attempted to deceive the Customs men by fraudulently presenting copies of suspected fake customs processed document on importation which was contrary to what was contained in the container.

The controller added that “the suspect offered a bribe of #350,000.00 in an attempt to avoid arrest. He is currently in custody with the bribe money which now serves as an exhibit along with the container load of cannabis awaiting the estimated value from the relevant agency – NDLEA.”

“The increasing tempo of criminality, violence and juvenile delinquency among the youth is traceable to the rampant consumption of hard drugs such as marijuana hence the clamp down on those involved in the illicit business.

“Consumption of cannabis also affects family relationship and we must fight it to the last so as to have a better society,” he stated.

The Customs Controller who subsequently handed over the seized items and the suspect to the Principal Staff Officer (Operation and Intelligence) of the NDLEA Edo State Command Timothy Adewole for further investigation assured that the NCS would continue to collaborate and work in synergy with sister organizations such as NDLEA, NSCDC, NAFDAC to smoothen its operations.

Furthermore, Comptroller Mohammed said that a MAN diesel truck with registration number KRV 238 XB carrying 725 different brand of 50 kg foreign rice with Duty Paid Value of #24,650,000. 00 suspected to have been smuggled into the country through the numerous creeks in Calabar/Cameroun border was similarly intercepted by his men this month.

He said that a suspect who gave his name as Mr. Fredrick Eze and claimed to be a representative of the owners of the exhibit was arrested.

The Customs Area Controller regretted that the penchant for foreign products by some Nigerians has continued to deal a devastating blow to the nation and her economy while many families have been thrown into agony as a result of the ceaseless unpatriotic activities of smugglers.

He noted that while the nation has continued to lose huge revenue, many lives have been lost consequent upon the unabated practice of smuggling.

He therefore advised Nigerians to imbibe a greater sense of patriotism in line with “the change begins with me” mantra recently launched by Mr. President by eschewing all acts and conducts inimical to the nation.

Ifeoma Onuigbo
Public Relations Officer
Federal Operations Unit
Zone C,  Owerri

We Do Not Divert Petroleum Products – PTD

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Petroleum Tankers Drivers (PTD) said their members were not involved in diversion of petroleum products to neighboring countries.

 

This is contained in a statement signed by Abdulkadir Garba, Head, PTD Media Relations, on Monday in Abuja.

 

It said the PTD had been working tirelessly to ensure an end to the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.

 

The Chairman of the association, Mr Salimon Oladiti, in the statement, said that an allegation against its members of diverting products was false.

He said the association would sanction any of its members if found wanting.

 

“We condemned diversion, vandalism and all forms of criminal activities and should any of our members be found wanting, the union as a rule would not hesitate to sanction such member.’’

 

(NAN)

5 Ships With Petroleum Products, Foods Arrive At Lagos

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Five ships laden with petroleum products and foods have arrived Lagos ports, waiting to berth, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Tuesday in Lagos.

NPA stated this in a document, a copy of which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The document stated that the contents of the ships were petrol, diesel, crude palm oil and rice.

NPA noted that 36 other ships would sail into the ports with various consignments from Nov. 24 to Dec. 18.

The consignments are petrol, diesel, crude palm oil, rice, bulk gypsum, general cargo, containers, bulk salt, bulk sugar, steel products and buck wheat.

NAN reports that 14 other ships are at the ports, discharging buck wheat, bulk fertilizer, general cargo, soda ash, containers, bulk gypsum, bulk sugar, petrol and bulk gas.

Credit: NAN

36 Ships Laden With Petroleum Products, Foods To Arrive Lagos Ports

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Thirty six ships laden with petroleum products, food items and other goods, are expected to arrive Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports in Lagos between Oct. 26 and Nov.14.

The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) stated this in its daily publication – `Shipping Position’ – made available to newsmen in Lagos on Monday.

The document indicated that the expected ships were laden with general cargo, containers, base oil and bulk salt.

Others were bulk sugar, buckwheat, bulk fertilizer, crude palm oil, steel product and petrol.

NPA also stated that 13 other ships had arrived at the ports, waiting to berth with petrol and diesel.

NAN reports that 21 other ships are in the ports discharging bulk rice, fertilizers, containers, empty containers, truck heads and repaired vessel.

According to the publication, other ships are discharging petrol, containers, general cargo, steam coal, soya corn, buthane, buckwheat, bulk gas, frozen fish and soda ash.

Credit: NAN

Nigeria Exports N2.1tr Petroleum Products In Second Quarter

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The Federal Government exported ?2.1 trillion worth of petroleum products during the second quarter of this year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.

This represents a 73.7 per cent of the value of the country’s total exports in the quarter under review.

Besides, the country imported N140.5 billion worth of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, during the same period.

NBS in its second quarter trade statistics released at the weekend, stated that PMS remained the product with the greatest import value at ?140.5 billion, or 9.4 per cent of the total second quarter 2015 bill.

Read More: ngrguardiannews

Nigeria Earns N2.5trn From Petroleum Products Export In 3 Months- NBS

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Nigeria earned N2.512 trillion from the export of petroleum products in three months, between April and June 2015, according to data released Wednesday, by the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS.

The NBS, in its Foreign Trade Statistics for the Second Quarter of 2015, also stated that Nigeria recorded total merchandise trade of N4.372 trillion and a trade surplus of N1.4 trillion in the month under review.

It is instructive to noted that the amount the country earned from petroleum products sale in the second quarter of 2015, was 56.8 per cent of the country’s N4.49 trillion 2015 budget.

Read More: vanguardngr

10 Ships Arrive Lagos Ports With Petroleum Products

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Ten ships have arrived the Lagos ports with petroleum products, waiting to berth, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Thursday in Lagos. This is contained in NPA’s daily publication, `Shipping Position’ made available to newsmen in Lagos.

It said that eight of the ships arrived the ports with petrol, while the remaining two sailed in with diesel and aviation fuel. The document indicated that 34 other ships were expected in the ports from Aug. 6 to Aug. 28.

NPA noted that 11 of the ships would arrive with containers, while five others were expected with general cargo. It said that eight ships would sail in with petrol, diesel, kerosine and bulk gas; while 10 other ships would sail in with rice, frozen fish, buck wheat and soya beans.

Credit: NAN

PENGASSAN Faults Revenue Drain On Importation Of Petroleum Products

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The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on President Muhamadu Buhari to increase local refining capacity before embarking on any deregulation process.

This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by PENGASSAN National Public Relations Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ojugbana.

The union called on the president to ensure that the focus of deregulation policy was based on local production rather than importation.

It said that if local refining was not increased to meet local demand for petroleum products, especially the premium motor spirit (petrol), removing subsidy on petroleum products would bring more hardship on Nigeria.

It stated that removing subsidy while the country depended on importation of refined products would make prices of refined products to be out of the reach of the masses and would cause inflation.
It said that importation of refined petroleum products was a major drain on the nation’s revenue, adding that it created jobs for the refining nations in spite of the high unemployment rate confronting Nigeria.

“Importation of refined petroleum products is also putting the Naira under undue pressure and creating social problems for the economy. This is unacceptable to PENGASSAN.

“Abrupt removal of fuel subsidy will create chaos that may ground the economy.
“PENGASSAN calls for well-coordinated measures with timeline to achieve self-sufficiency in local refining as a means of proffering acceptable steps to end fuel subsidy.

“This should be combined with such other measures for effective optimisation of gas, especially for domestic, industrial, electricity and automotive energy. Such will create other affordable and friendly sources for energy needs” it stated.

Credit: Vanguard