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Reps move to investigate petrol scarcity
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The House of Representatives has mandated its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) to investigate the return of fuel queues in the nation’s service stations and proffer lasting solutions to the oil sector’s challenges.
The decision of the House was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved at Tuesday’s plenary by the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency, Edo State, Mr Bill Osawaru.
The motion titled, “Urgent need to carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the challenges affecting the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors in Nigeria and other related matters to find out a lasting solution to all challenges being experienced in the sectors and reposition them for efficiency and productivity,” was overwhelmingly endorsed by the lawmakers during plenary.
Leading the debate, Osawaru noted that there has been a resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, with allegations of high cost of petrol and non-availability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries in Nigeria as well as disruption of distribution of the product.
Consequently, the House mandated the Committees Mandate to “Carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the resurgence of fuel queues in petrol stations, allegations of high cost of PMS, unavailability of fuel stock for downstream domestic refineries, disruption of distribution of PMS products, unfair subsidization of PMS and other petroleum products racketeering and favouritism in the Pro Forma Invoice System regime.”
The mandate of the committees also includes probing “The indiscriminate issuance of licenses and importation of refined petroleum products, alleged return of PMS price intervention, allegation of product unavailability to marketers from NNPC Retail, endless shifting of timelines for refinery rehabilitation and the nefarious activities at petrol depots.”
The committee will also conduct “A legislative forensic investigation into the presence of middlemen in trading, indiscriminate issuance of licenses, unavailability of laboratories to check adulterated products, influx of contaminated products into the country, the allegation of non-domestication of profits realized from crude marketing sales in local banks, abuse of the PFI regime, importation of products already being produced in Nigeria and use of international trading companies to resell fuel stock to local refineries.
The two committees were also mandated to “Carry out a legislative forensic investigation into the allegation of importation of substandard products and high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, sale of petroleum products below fair market value and its impact on downstream and local refineries as well as the source of funds for such interventions, the failure of the regulators such as NMDPRA, NUPRC to enforce compliance with standards; the lack of support to local crude refiners, issuance of import license, despite local production, and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.”
Justifying the relevance of the motion, Osawru noted that “There is an allegation of unfair subsidisation of the Petroleum Motor Spirit and other petroleum products which negatively affects competitiveness in the sector. There are also allegations of racketeering and favouritism in the Pro Forma Invoice System regime, indiscriminate issuance of licenses and importation of refined petroleum products.
‘The House is informed of the alleged return of PMS price intervention with its impact on the domestic market, as well as the allegation of product unavailability to marketers from NNPCL Retail. This is in addition to the endless shifting of timelines for refinery rehabilitation, and the nefarious activities at petrol depots which have affected product distribution and caused scarcity. There is also the use of middlemen in trading which has negatively affected domestic crude supply.”
According to the lawmaker, there are claims that subsidy has returned on petrol, including lack of clarity about the exact landing cost of PMS, reduction in retail price and its impact on downstream operations, allegation of importation of substandard products and high-sulphur diesel into Nigeria, among others.
That said, Osawaru blamed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission for failing in their regulatory roles, which he said, is partly responsible for the current scarcity.”
The refinery announced the increase on Wednesday, hiking the the price from N1,200 to N1,275 per litre.
In the same way, coastal prices have gone up to N1,215 per litre.
This adjustment amid Brent crude trading at $114.80 per barrel marks a 3.15% increase.
Recall that the Brent crude has increased to $115 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate rose to $103 per barrel on Wednesday.
News
Unbelievable: Police say officer who publicly executed handcuffed Delta man was under “spiritual attack”
The Nigeria Police Force has claimed that the extrajudicial killing of a handcuffed suspect by Officer Usman Nuhu in Delta State to potential spiritual forces, a statement that has sparked widespread outrage and disbelief across the country.
“I will start with the issue at hand, which is a very sad issue.
” There is no explanation for this. I don’t just get what was wrong with that policeman (Mr Nuhu),” Bright Edafe, the spokesperson for the Delta State Police Command, said in an interview with Channels TV on Wednesday.
“Police cannot attribute problems to spirituality, but that may not be far from it. Because that’s the only explanation one can give to what he did,” Edafe added.
The shocking statement comes days after a viral video sighted showed Officer Usman Nuhu executing a handcuffed suspect in broad daylight along the Warri–Sapele Expressway in Effurun, Delta State.
The victim has been identified as Mene Ogidi, a young man who had been apprehended for allegedly attempting to waybill a parcel containing a Beretta pistol with four rounds of ammunition.
In the graphic video, the handcuffed suspect was seen begging for his life, shouting, “I will talk! I will take you to the person who gave me the waybill!”
Despite his pleas, Officer Nuhu was seen taking a magazine from a fellow policeman, inserting it into his AK-47 rifle, and shooting the suspect at close range. The victim died instantly.
The police spokesperson’s suggestion of a spiritual explanation has been met with widespread condemnation from human rights activists, legal experts, and ordinary Nigerians who view it as an attempt to deflect responsibility from the officer’s actions.
Many have pointed out that the police force had already condemned the killing and transferred Officer Nuhu to Force Headquarters in Abuja to face the Force Disciplinary Committee for summary disciplinary measures and prosecution.
The Inspector-General of Police had also extended condolences to the family of the deceased and assured them that justice would be served.
However, the latest statement from the Delta Command appears to contradict the earlier stance of the Force Headquarters, raising questions about whether the police are seriously pursuing accountability or seeking supernatural excuses for extrajudicial killings.
The police have nabbed two suspected human trafficking operatives in connection with the alleged removal of the womb of a 19-year-old girl in a disturbing case of gender-based violence and organ trafficking.
Commissioner of Police, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, made the disclosure on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, during the Command’s first quarter press briefing, where he outlined operational achievements from February to date.
According to a report filed on April 3, 2026, at about 5:30pm., a woman from Ekpan community in Uvwie local government area raised alarm after her teenage daughter returned home in a visibly deteriorated state of health.
The victim, who had been residing with her father in Okpaka, reportedly visited her mother in Ekpan, where concerns about her condition prompted questioning.
In her account, the 19-year-old disclosed that in September 2025, she and two friends were introduced to a woman identified as Blessing Mongo, 47, who allegedly linked them to another suspect, Esther, 32.
The suspects reportedly facilitated their movement under the pretext of travelling to Ivory Coast.
The victim alleged that shortly after arriving in Ivory Coast, she was injected with an unknown substance and subsequently taken to a hospital.
Upon regaining consciousness, she discovered that her abdomen had been surgically treated.
She further claimed that she was later returned to Nigeria and abandoned in Lagos before finding her way back to Delta State.
Following the report, police operatives arrested two suspects, Blessing Mongo and Esther, while investigations commenced.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more detailed probe.
Medical examination conducted as part of the investigation reportedly confirmed that the victim’s womb had been removed without her consent, raising serious concerns over an alleged organ trafficking operation.
Police authorities confirmed that the two suspects remain in custody as investigations continue, with efforts ongoing to apprehend other individuals linked to the case.
The police assured the public that justice would be pursued and urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, particularly those involving human trafficking and exploitation.
Just in: Dangote Refinery jerks up price of fuel
Unbelievable: Police say officer who publicly executed handcuffed Delta man was under “spiritual attack”
Police nab suspects over alleged removal of 19-yr-old girl’s womb
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