News

Fuel Scarcity: Over 1.5bn litres of PMS Available To last for 30 days – Reps

Published

7 months ago

May 1, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

…condemn activities of middlemen, vow to investigate root causes

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has revealed that there are about 1.5 billion litres of petrol that can last for 30 days available in the nation’s storage facilities.

The House further disclosed that the emergence of queues at filing stations across the country was as a result of logistics challenge, which is been resolved.

The Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Midstream, Rep. Ikenga Ugochinyere and Chairman Committee on Downstream Petroleum, Rep. Odianose Okojie disclosed this at a media briefing on Wednesday in Abuja.

Rep. Ugochinyere addressing newsmen stated: “On the Issue of the return of fuel queues, We have in the last few days reached out to the stakeholders in the petroleum distribution value chain; the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) to mention a few. We have engaged extensively with them, with a view to ascertaining the cause of the resurgence of the fuel queues in petrol stations across the country.

“We hereby express our concerns over the temporary presence of fuel queues in petrol stations across the country. However, we are convinced that this is temporary based on our investigation and in a couple of days, we shall get over it.

“From our investigations, we have discovered that there is availability of petrol products. We have on good authority that we have in our storage facilities, at least, about 1.5 billion litres of petrol that can last for 30 days. It is however saddening to note that it is as a result of logistics challenge that the queues have resurfaced. These logistic issues range from difficulty experinced in transporting products from the mother vessels to onshore. Movement of products with marine shuttle vessels, disruption in the Escravos channels, etc”.

According to him, the House has resolved that going forward and in order to avert a recurrence of this temporary challenge of distribution disruption which have attendant economic pains and spiral effect on the general welfare of the Nigerian people.

The lawmaker strongly frowned at the activities of middlemen who have taken advantage of the short disruption of supply, to maximize profit and generate inordinate gain for themselves, and vowed that the House shall investigate the remote and immediate causes of the temporary disruption.

“As House of Representatives Committees which oversights activities of regulators and operators in the downstream and midstream petroleum sectors, We shall work with the NNPCL, NMDPRA, PETROAN, NARTO and other key stakeholders in the distribution chain, towards finding a sustainable solution in ensuring that we do not run into such avoidable disruption in the near future, which can hamper economic activities.

“We have gotten the assurances from the regulators in the distribution value chain that these bottlenecks have been cleared. In the course of this public holiday, more grounds will be covered. From our findings, the issues that necessitated the disruptions which led to the appearance of fuel queues in petrol stations have been cleared. Obviously, it will take a few more days for things to return back to normalcy. Therefore, we call on Nigerians not to panic over this development.

“It will require more time, like two to three days, for products to be distributed to all stations nationwide. As a Committee that is charged with downstream and midstream oversight, we have been monitoring this development. Also, in line with our legislative duties of over-sighting the downstream and midstream petroleum sector, we have been in touch with the key stakeholders, the regulatory bodies and the transport unions, with a view to ensuring that the products get to our people timeously and without further delay.

“At this juncture, we strongly frown at the activities of middlemen who have taken advantage of the short disruption of supply, to maximize profit and generate inordinate gain for themselves, at the detriment of our people. We hereby call on security forces to support the NNPCL, NMDPRA, PETROAN, NARTO and other key stakeholders in the distribution value chain, so as to ensure that such acts of economic sabotage that has to do with hoarding, arbitrary increment in price, products diversion and smuggling are detected and dealt with. Our people have been through a lot in the last few days and we must not plunge them into further pains. We appeal to all traders and those rendering services, not to unduly take advantage of this temporary challenge, which will be cleared in the next few days”, he added.

Hon Okojie who is the Chairman Midstream Petroleum Resources, also assured that the committee has engaged sufficiently with the appropriate authorities in terms of fuel distribution and as at today the report received suggest that the fuel queues have started reducing and products have started arriving the petrol stations.

He said: “We urge Nigerians not to engage in panic buying and being enmeshed in unnecessary rush to buy products. As a country we have a storage of over 1.5 billion litres which can last for over 30 days. Now products are arriving and more products are on the high sea. The challenges that caused the disruption was the logistics issues and that has been handled with the maritime shuttle vessels as we speak, which will move products to marketers who are on standby waiting to serve the people. The logistics issues has been resolved completely and hopefully supply to stations would increase in a few days. There is no need to panic. Fuel is available and soon distribution would begin. In another day or two, there would not be fuel queues anymore in the country”.

The committee Chairmen therefore wished all Nigerians and workers, a happy workers day, even as they assured that there is no cause for alarm.

“Products are available and will in few days be circulated across the country. As the people’s parliament and as a Committee of Midstream and Downstream, we would be awake to our legislative duties and ensure that all the timelines are met and kept. We shall also work with the stakeholders to ensure that the issues are fixed. Happy workers day”.

News

Reps Urge FG To Make Available Reliable Data On Housing Deficit

Published

6 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to provide scientific, verifiable data on the housing deficit and improve access to affordable housing in the Nigeria.

This resolution was sequel to the adopting of a motion by Rep. Emmanuel Ukpong-Udo, member representing Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State, on the “Provision of affordable housing in Nigeria,” Tuesday at plenary.

Rep. Ukpong-Udo who noted that data is considered an important factor in the planning and execution of projects across all tiers of government, said the housing sector in Nigeria, with a huge deficit, lacks veritable data for planning and execution of housing policies and strategies.

He stated: “The House is aware that according to the world population review, over 24 million people in Nigeria are homeless, with no appropriate access to proper dwelling with some basic social amenities.

“The House is worried that Nigeria is among the top 10 countries with homeless populations, leading with 24 million, followed by Pakistan, Egypt, Syria, and Congo.”

The House also expressed displeasure that the country relies on the World Bank report for housing data, and that for a nation to grow and enjoy stability, there is the need to have its housing data as well as a market that works efficiently and provides decent shelter for its citizens.

The House unanimously adopted the motion and mandated its Committee on Housing and Habitat to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to address the lack of credible, scientific, and verifiable data on the state of housing in the country and ensure access to decent and affordable housing.

News

Provide Adequate Security For Transmission Towers Across Nigeria – Reps Tell FG

Published

6 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Gloria Ikibah

By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives has charge the Federal Government through the Ministry of Interior, to urgently provide adequate security for Transmission Towers across the country to avoid future occurrences of vandalism.

This was sequel to the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Rep Oboku Oforji, lawmaker representing Yenagoa/Kolokoma-Opokuma federal constituency of Bayelsa State on Tuesday at plenary.

In his lead debate, Rep. Oforji noted that on July 29, 2024, residents of Yenagoa and Bayelsa State in general woke up to a total blackout occasioned by the collapse of a Transmission Station between Emezhi and Mbaima in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State and three others between Igbogene and Nedugo Agbia in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.

According to him, the Bayelsa State Government in collaboration with the Transmission Company of Nigeria, swiftly swung into action to address the challenges that has culminated in dwindling of socio-economic activities in the state.

He further noted that saddened that on the 19th of November, 2024, just as the work was nearing completion, at Ula-Akpata, in Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, some hoodlums went and vandalised a section of the lines.

The motion reads in part: “By this development, the woes of the residents of Bayelsa State still subsist for one or two days, because as we speak the people of the State are in total blackout, this has been the situation for over 4 months.

“The efforts of the Bayelsa State Government in mobilizing financial and material resources to support the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is highly commended. However, proactive measures must be taken to forestall future occurrences of vandalism of these Transmission Towers.

“As a representative of my people this brings to mind the provisions of Chapter II of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) which talks about our economic and social rights as citizens, which I believe should not be taken for granted by the government”.

The House adopted the motion and mandated its Committees on Interior and Power to ensure compliance.

News

JUST IN: Tinubu Heading For France

Published

8 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Naijablitznews

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for a state visit to France.

According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, President Emmanuel Macron invited his Nigerian counterpart to the European country.

Onanuga said the three-day visit will focus “on strengthening political, economic, and cultural relations and establishing more opportunities for partnership, particularly in agriculture, security, education, health, youth engagement and employment, innovation among others”.

“President Tinubu who will be traveling with the First Lady Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, will be received on Thursday at the 350-year-old French military museum, Les Invalides and Palais de l’Élysée, by Macron and his spouse, Brigitte, for initial ceremonies that will dovetail into bilateral meetings.”

“During the visit, President Tinubu and President Macron will harmonise positions on stimulating more interest in exchange programmes that focus on skill development for youths and improving their competencies in automation, entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership.

“Both leaders will participate in political and diplomatic meetings highlighting shared values on finance, solid minerals, trade and investments, and communication. They will also witness a session by the France-Nigeria Business Council, which oversees private sector participation in economic development.

“Brigitte and Nigeria’s First Lady will discuss the latter’s passion for empowering women, children, and the most vulnerable through the Renewed Hope Initiative,” the statement read.

Tinubu and his wife who will be hosted to a state dinner by the French leader before their departure, will be accompanied by top government officials.