Connect with us

News

Anambra motorists lament as petrol price hits N900

Published

on

Motorists and commuters are feeling the pains of moving from one place to another due to the daily increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol.

The price of petrol has been fluctuating at various petrol stations across the state on a daily basis as of Friday, the price has suddenly rose to N900 at various petrol stations and N1,300 at black market.

Most petrol stations visited in the major cities of Onitsha, Ekwulobia, Nnewi and Awka, sold the product between N880 to N900 per litre while only NNPCL were seen selling below the N880, although with long queue of vehicles.

As a result of the development, transportation fares have remained unstable as it continued to soar increase, as commuters now pay far higher.

Advertisement

This, it was gathered has impacted negatively on the prices of communities especially foodstuffs as food vendors have also continued to hike their prices on the excuse of “high cost of transportation”.

Checks by our correspondent showed that in most cases, commuters were always stranded at the bus stops and motor parks as commercial drivers have resorted to only operate during peak hours in order to recoup the high amount of money they spent on fuel faster.

Speaking to our correspondent in separate interviews, some commercial drivers said that the current price of petrol has forced them to jerk up prices and also operate only peak hours of the day.

A commercial bus driver, Chinedu Obinwa, who plies the ever busy Upper Iweka-Nnewi routes, said “The situation is currently making life difficult for us, as we spend most of our earnings in repairing of vehicles and purchasing of fuel.

Advertisement

“As a result of this, most of us have resorted to operating only during peak hours so as to quickly recoup the money we spend on fuel. Drivers are now working for filling stations owners and spare parts dealers, from the little we make a day.

“The bulk of this money goes into into fixing of our vehicles and buying of petrol. Passengers no longer used to be much on the road as people are now restricting their movements due to high cost of transportation. There is no more money in transportation business, I hope government finds solution to tame this regular increment of petrol.”

A mini-bus driver, Ike Ebuka, also appealed to Federal Government to immediately fix its refineries, adding that if the refineries were working, the product will be more affordable by the common man.

“If we stop importing fuel and fix our refinery, buying fuel will be more affordable, better than what what we are currently buying it.

Advertisement

“We are now struggling with paying of our bills and up keep, passengers are no longer on the road as it’s used to be, the few ones will price life out of you.

“I don’t blame these set of passengers, the current economic hardship is telling on everyone, government should please, do something to help the masses.”

Also, a manager at a petrol station in Onitsha(name withheld) said, “We received a call from a sister petrol station yesterday (Thursday), informing us to suspend operations temporarily and be ready to adjust our meter to reflect the new price that the pump price has been quietly increased by the NNPCL.

“We did not sell fuel on Thursday because of the directive but by today(Friday), we were selling at N920 as we were instructed to do. Our action depends on the signals we get, it is not by our making.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading
Advertisement
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

Access Bank (UK) Limited to Acquire AfrAsia Bank Limited

Published

on

By Gloria Ikibah
Access Holdings PLC has announced that its subsidiary, The Access Bank UK Limited (“Access UK”), has signed a binding agreement to acquire a majority stake in AfrAsia Bank Limited, the third-largest bank in Mauritius by total assets.
Mauritius, known for its strong financial sector, which contributes 13.4 per cent to its GDP, offers Access UK a strategic base to grow its personal and corporate banking services.
This was contained in a statement by its Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, made available to Naijablitznews.com on Thursday.
According to Ekwochi, the acquisition will also position Mauritius as a hub for Access Bank’s trade finance operations, enhancing its ability to manage cross-border transactions across Africa and internationally.
AfrAsia Bank, as of June 30, 2024, reported total assets of over $5.7 billion and a net profit after tax of $152.4 million, underlining its solid financial position.
**Key statements on the acquisition:**
– Managing Director/CEO of Access Bank Plc, Roosevelt Ogbonna, speaking on the acquisition said:  “This acquisition is a crucial step in our African growth strategy, strengthening our position as a top Pan-African financial institution. Mauritius’ role as a financial hub aligns with our vision to unlock opportunities that drive trade, support businesses, and promote economic inclusion across the region.”
Also Managing Director of Access Bank UK, Jamie Simmonds, stated: “AfrAsia Bank’s strong balance sheet and established brand in Mauritius give us a solid platform for sustainable growth. This deal supports our strategy to diversify earnings and provide clients with seamless access to global markets.”
Access Bank UK aims to promote sustainable growth, deliver innovative financial solutions, and support trade between Africa and the world.
The acquisition process will be finalized in the coming months, with updates provided as needed.
Continue Reading

News

FEC approves ₦47.9tn 2025 budget

Published

on

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal Executive Council, FEC, has approved a proposed national budget of ₦47.9 trillion for the 2025 fiscal year.

Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu.

This was part of the Medium-Term Expenditures Framework, MTEF, for 2025 to 2027 and in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007.

Advertisement

“And equally, the fiscal objectives were conservative, because we want to ensure that we study the course much as we believe the projections will be exceeded.

“The budget size that was approved for presentation to the National Assembly in the MTEP is ₦47.9 trillion, with new borrowings of ₦9.2 trillion to finance the budget deficit in 2025,” Bagudu said.

“We need to sustain the market deregulation, commendable market deregulation of petroleum prices and exchange rate, and to compel the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited to lower its oil and gas production cost significantly, and even to consider the need to amend the relevant sections of the petroleum industry act 2021 to address the significant risk to Federation.

“The Federal Executive Council approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the physical strategy paper, and it will be submitted to the National Assembly.

Advertisement

“This is in addition to bills that are already at the National Assembly, the economic stabilization bills and tax reform bills, which we believe we will have a very, very strong growth in 2025.”

During the meeting, the FEC approved its submission to the National Assembly as required by the 2007 Fiscal Responsibility Act.

The framework projected a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 4.6 percent, an exchange rate of $75 to the naira, and oil production of 2.06 million barrels per day. [Channels TV]

Advertisement
Continue Reading

News

Nigeria to get 6,000 power generation by December-Power Minister vows

Published

on

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has expressed his unwavering optimism that the government will successfully meet its ambitious target of generating 6,000 megawatts of electricity by December 2024, despite the numerous challenges currently affecting the power sector.

The Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, conveyed this assurance at the fourth edition of the Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria’s annual workshop, themed “Ending the Talk, Moving the Action,” held on Thursday in Abuja.

Nigeria’s power generation currently ranges between 3,500 and 4,000 MW for a population of approximately 200 million people. For instance, on Thursday, the country’s power generation was 3,556.38 MW as of 8 am.

Advertisement

Earlier this year, Adelabu pledged that power generation in Nigeria would reach 6,000 MW by the end of the year, citing improvements in the sector over the past year.

However, the frequent collapse of the nation’s electricity grid and the vandalisation of towers have raised concerns about the stability of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry and its ability to achieve the target.

In his goodwill address, the Special Adviser emphasised that the minister’s primary focus remains on achieving the goal of increasing generation and ensuring its efficient distribution to consumers.

Tunji said, “The minister aims to achieve what seems to be an intractable goal—improving generation and ensuring that what is generated reaches the final consumers. There are challenges, but they are surmountable.

Advertisement

“The minister has promised that by December this year, we will reach 6,000 megawatts; yes, we still hope to get there.

“We are confident that we will get there, but we are aware of the current issues with grid collapse. Efforts are being made to resolve these problems. Day and night, teams are being dispatched to address the various issues, and we remain hopeful that we will achieve the 6,000 MW target by December.”

The Director of Renewable Energy, Sunday Owolabi, also reiterated that the government is committed to ensuring 24-hour power supply for Nigerians.

Owolabi, another representative of the minister, stressed that the government’s policies are focused on resolving the challenges facing the country’s electricity transmission, distribution, and generation sub-sectors.

Advertisement

“We are fully committed to transforming the country’s power sector. We are focused on ensuring that our policies are practical and sustainable. We are resolute in ensuring power supply for every Nigerian.

“The government remains fully committed to transforming Nigeria’s power sector through meaningful and actionable reforms.

“We are focused on ensuring that our policies are not only visionary but also practical, impactful, and sustainable. From the ongoing efforts to address infrastructure gaps, enhance power generation, and improve transmission networks, to vital reforms in distribution and the full implementation of the electricity market, we are resolute in our mission to improve power supply for every Nigerian.”

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Naija Blitz News