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Fear of protest:Fuel scarcity looming in FCT as fuel stations shut down operations
Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, noted that some stations might be closed due to product unavailability.
Amid growing concerns over a planned nationwide protest, oil marketers in Abuja and neighbouring states of Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi states shut down their filling stations on Friday.
Retail outlets, including those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) in Kubwa, Salbas Oil, Eterna, and Gegu Oil, stopped dispensing fuel along the Kubwa-Zuba expressway.
According to PUNCH, similar scenes unfolded inside Abuja and parts of Niger and Nasarawa states, causing significant disruption.
Oil marketers confirmed that filling stations in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, were also closed.
This development led to the reappearance of fuel queues at outlets like AYM Shafa in Dei-Dei and NNPC in Zuba, Niger State.
In Lagos, several filling stations were shut down, creating fears of an impending fuel scarcity. Observations by correspondents indicated that most stations were not dispensing fuel, while the few operational ones sold at N800 per liter.
Some marketers attributed the closures to fuel unavailability, while others blamed the apprehension over the planned protest.
In Ogun State, the situation reached a crisis point as long queues formed at filling stations. In Magboro and Ibafo areas along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, vehicles, including motorcycles, cars, and buses, lined up chaotically for fuel.
At Quest Filling Station in Magboro, motorists struggled in a queue over a hundred meters long, with only one of three petrol pumps operational.
Saheed, a commercial bus driver heading to Ibadan, expressed frustration after spending over an hour in line. “I didn’t expect such a long queue,” he lamented. “My passengers are complaining, but there’s nothing I can do.” At NIPCO Filling Station in Magboro, diesel was priced at N1,200 per liter, while petrol cost N675 per liter, with four out of five petrol pumps operational.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri called for calm and urged Nigerians to avoid participating in the proposed protest.
Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, noted that some stations might be closed due to product unavailability.
He emphasized that the fear of the protest led many marketers to take preventive measures, causing fuel queues as fewer stations remained operational.
Lokpobiri, in a statement issued by his media aide Nneamaka Okafor, urged Nigerians to shelve the planned protest.
He highlighted the need for unity and patience as the government works to address the country’s issues. Lokpobiri stressed the importance of constructive engagement and warned against those who might exploit the protest for malicious purposes.
In Kwara State, no fuel queues were reported, with petrol sold between N600 and N800 per liter. Various filling stations in Ilorin, the state capital, sold fuel at varying prices, indicating no immediate shortage.
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See Photos of World’s Tallest and Shortest Women Meet for Afternoon Tea in London
The world’s tallest woman and the world’s shortest woman met for the first time this week, sipping tea from china cups — and bonding over what they have in common while celebrating their differences.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Rumeysa Gelgi, from Turkey, stands at 7 feet and 0.7 inches, while Jyoti Amge, from India, is 2 feet and 0.7 inches.
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
Jyoti Amge, shortest woman, and Rumeysa Gelgi, tallest woman, meet for the first time and share afternoon tea
“You’re so beautiful,” said Gelgi, 27. “Thank you — you too,” replied Amge, 30.
Their meeting, over afternoon tea at London’s Savoy Hotel on Tuesday, came ahead of Guinness World Records Day, which is held annually in November to mark record-breaking achievements and encourage people to attempt records. The pair have been honored as “World Record icons” in the 70th anniversary edition of the Guinness World Records book.
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“Meeting Jyoti for the first time was wonderful,” Gelgi said in a release Wednesday. “She’s the most gorgeous lady. I was waiting to meet her for a long time.”
Gelgi said the pair bonded over their love for makeup, jewelry and doing their nails.
Video footage showed them sitting down for tea, cakes and sandwiches stacked next to them, with the London Eye visible from the window.
Amge said in the release that she was “so happy to look up” and see the world’s tallest woman, whom she called “good-natured.” She added that it was difficult at times for the pair to make eye contact “due to our height difference.”
“Guinness World Records is all about celebrating differences,” its editor in chief, Craig Glenday, said in a statement ahead of Guinness World Record Day, which is on Thursday.
“By bringing together these two amazing, iconic women, they can share their perspectives on life with each other and, also, with us,” Glenday said.
Gelgi’s record-breaking height is due to a rare genetic condition called Weaver syndrome, which causes rapid growth, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.
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The primary symptom is growth and bone development that occurs faster than usual, making those affected taller than average. People with Weaver syndrome may have rigid muscles and difficulty extending their elbows or knees.
Gelgi used a walking aid for support during the pair’s meeting. Her case of Weaver syndrome was the 27th ever diagnosed and the first in Turkey, according to Guinness World Records.
Weaver syndrome is generally caused by changes in the EZH2 gene, according to the NORD, though the organization notes that some people with Weaver syndrome do not have a mutation in the gene.
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Amge, an actor who played the character of Ma Petite in the television series “American Horror Story,” has a genetic growth disorder that occurs in the early stages of fetal development, known as achondroplasia.
According to Johns Hopkins, the condition causes shorter bones, abnormally shaped bones and shorter stature. While the genetic defect can be passed from parent to child, in about 80 percent of cases, achondroplasia results from a spontaneous mutation that occurs in the developing embryo.
On Thursday, Gelgi shared photos on Instagram of the two exploring London despite the cold weather, posing side by side in front of Tower Bridge.
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