News

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

Published

8 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

BLACKOUT as TCN Announces Power Outage In Abuja

Published

3 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced planned power outages in certain areas this weekend to allow for maintenance work on its transmission equipment.

According to a statement by the General Manager of Public Affairs, Mrs. Ndidi Mbah, the exercise is aimed at ensuring better service delivery.

On Saturday, December 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Gwagwalada and nearby communities will experience a temporary power outage. This is to allow engineers to perform maintenance on a 60MVA transformer and related switchgear at the Gwagwalada Transmission Substation.

Similarly, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, power will be interrupted in several areas, including Wuye, EFCC, Federal Medical Centre, Coca-Cola, Idu Railway Station, Citec, and Life Camp. The outage will occur from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as engineers carry out work on another 60MVA transformer at the Kukwaba Transmission Substation.

In the statement, TCN apologized for the inconvenience caused by the outages and sought the understanding of affected customers. It emphasized the importance of the maintenance work to ensure the power equipment functions optimally. “TCN apologizes for the inconvenience this may cause, especially during the end-of-year season. However, it is important that maintenance is carried out as scheduled for optimal performance of power equipment,” the statement read.

News

BREAKING! Confusion trails free train ride, hundreds of passengers stranded(PHOTOS)

Published

3 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Naijablitznews

* As train is delayed, NRC officials demand tickets

By Emmanuel Agaji

The much publicised tree train ride for passengers travelling to different destinations along the Itakpe/ Warri route may be a hoax as officials of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) at Itakpe, Kogi State, demand e-tickets and other evidence of payment for the trip.

Naojablitznews observed that upon arrival at the train station, travellers are accosted by the train operators to show their tickets to confirm their booking for the ride.

When a passenger shows his ticket, he is allowed to move into the Departure Lounge while those who had arrived on the assumption that the train ride was free are shoved aside , told to write down their names on a sheet of paper and stay under a canopy until those who paid for the trip have been allocated seats on the train.

The Federal Government had, a few days ago announced that Nigerians will enjoy free train rides during the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

The government also announced that transportation by road would be subsidised up to fifty per cent. However, these promises appear to have been mere propaganda.

The situation has left many travellers confused and stranded especially as
the train which ought to take off from Itakpe at t 2 pm on Saturday has not shown up at the station as at 3.16 pm.

Hundreds of passengers are currently stranded and waiting under the scorching heat of the sun as officials continue their discriminatory admission of passengers into the Departure Lounge.

There are fears that the train may not hit the station until about 4 pm and many passengers may not have space on it because of the perceived underhand dealings by the train officials.

While the officials of the Itakpe Train Station continue to plead for understanding over the delay of the train, their emphasis has been on how to cater for those who booked online for the trip and very little or no emphasis is made to reassure those who came for the free ride announced by the Federal Government that they were at the right place.

More details later

News

IGP mourns retired senior officers, Jitoboh, Longe

Published

3 hours ago

December 28, 2024

Naijablitznews

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has expressed profound shock and sadness over the recent passing of two retired senior officers of the Nigeria Police Force [NPF].

Egbetokun’s message was contained in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, announcing that the retired Deputy Inspector-General Moses Ambakina Jitoboh and retired Assistant Inspector-General Pastor Bola Longe, have both passed away.

Adejobi stated that Jitoboh, who previously served as the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in the Department of Information & Communications Technology (ICT) at Force Headquarters, died in a brief illness early on Friday, December 27, 2024.

He added that Pastor Bola Longe, formerly the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Federal Operations at Force Headquarters Abuja, and previously the Commissioner of Police in Nasarawa State, passed on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

“Their contributions to the Nigeria Police Force, dedication to service, and integrity will never be forgotten,” Egbetokun stated.

“The passing of these officers is a great loss, not only to their families but to the entire Nigeria Police Force.”

Extending his condolences on behalf of all officers of the Nigeria Police Force, IGP Egbetokun offered prayers and solace to the families, friends, and colleagues of the late officers, wishing them strength during this difficult time.

“May their souls rest in peace,” he stated.