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Black market, queuing boom, as NNPC battles deepening fuel scarcity

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has vowed to end the queues for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, by Wednesday, as the black market for PMS boomed on Sunday.

NNPC also declared that it did not owe international oil traders $6.8bn as claimed in some quarters, a development which some industry watchers described as a major reason for the widespread PMS scarcity in Nigeria.

But despite the national oil firm’s assurance that the queues for petrol would clear this week, oil marketers said on Sunday that the loading of products at depots had yet to improve.

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Black marketers of petrol who sold the commodity in jerrycans took advantage of the situation, as they dispensed PMS for as high as N1,200 to N1,500/litre, depending on the area of purchase.

Day 5 – Hunger protesters take to the street as they continue to express their grievances. | Punch0.00 / 0.00

This came as the sole importer of the commodity (NNPC) blamed the petrol scarcity on evacuation challenges at PMS vessels.

NNPC is Nigeria’s only importer of petrol. Other dealers stopped importing the commodity due to their inability to access the United States dollar required for petrol imports.

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The Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, Olufemi Soneye, told one of our correspondents that the oil firm was working hard to tackle the fuel supply challenges, stressing that the queues should clear by mid-week.

“It’s just an evacuation challenge out of Apapa (ports in Lagos) from the vessel. But we are working on it. It should be resolved. I’m very sure that fuel scarcity will be cleared out by Wednesday,” Soneye stated on Sunday.

He later issued a press statement on the matter, saying, “The NNPC Ltd regrets the tightness in fuel supply witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT (Federal Capital Territory), which is as a result of distribution challenges.

“The company further urges motorists to shun panic buying as it is working round the clock with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy.”

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“The company further urges motorists to shun panic buying as it is working round the clock with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy.”

But operators told The PUNCH that the fuel supply situation at the depots had yet to improve as of Sunday.

An official of one of the top petroleum companies in Nigeria said the company was out of stock.

“We don’t have supply yet. For us and many depots in Apapa, it’s nil stock,” the official, who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, stated.

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An oil marketer disclosed that the scarcity might get worse in Lagos during the week as there was no improvement in supply.

The scarcity may get worse in Lagos during the week. Nothing is changing yet. Though motorists still get the product to buy although at very high rates,” the marketer disclosed.

A depot operator revealed that “depots will still get supplies this week, but definitely it will not be enough to meet desired demand to bring down the fuel crisis.”

The manager of a filling station in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, said a litre of petrol was N880 as of Friday.

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The manager, who identified himself simply as Adeyanju, said his principal had not been able to get fuel since Friday, adding that the private depots were hiking the price of petrol.

On his part, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, said the challenges in the downstream oil sector were compounded by the recent nationwide hunger protests.

“Aside from the fact that there is not enough supply, the recent protests disrupted activities in the downstream oil sector. We are still struggling to sort that one out and there is also the challenge of low supply of petrol,” he stated.

NNPC denies indebtedness

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In a similar development, the national oil firm said on Sunday that it does not owe international oil traders $6.8bn.

The company also denied claims that it has not remitted funds into the federation account since January.

Soneye, in a statement, reacted to different allegations against the state-owned energy firm.

It was alleged that NNPC owed some of its suppliers, being the sole importer of petrol into Nigeria, though Soneye acknowledged that such transactions were done on credit.

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“NNPC Ltd does not owe the sum of $6.8bn to any international trader(s). In the oil trading business, transactions are carried out on credit, so it is normal to owe at one point or the other.

“But NNPC Ltd through its subsidiary, NNPC Trading, has many open trade credit lines from several traders. The company is paying its obligations of related invoices on a first-in-first-out basis,” Soneye stated.

However, he did not state the financial obligations NNPC is currently attending to

On remittances, he said, “It is not correct to say that NNPC Ltd has not remitted any money to the federation account since January. NNPC Ltd. and all its subsidiaries remit their taxes to the Federal Inland Revenue Service regularly.

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“This is in addition to payments of CIT (company income tax) to road contractors under the Road Investment Tax Credit Scheme. In all, NNPC Ltd is the largest contributor to the tax revenue shared every month at the Federation Account Allocation Committee.”

Soneye maintained that the NNPC is not a regulator and has nothing to do with the quality of imported fuel.

“On the issue of quality/quantity fiscalisation of imported petroleum products, NNPC Ltd has no role whatsoever as it is not a regulator. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, which is the relevant regulatory agency in charge of such issues, is an independent body and does not report to the NNPC Ltd,” he noted.

He explained that the NNPC is not averse to inquiries by the media into issues on and around its operations before dissemination to the public either through the print or electronic channels of communication.

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“The company will, always, gladly take the opportunity to state the facts of the subject matter(s). This is in line with the company’s commitment to the Transparency, Accountability, and Performance Excellence philosophy as emplaced by the Mele Kyari-led management since stepping into the saddle in 2019,” Soneye said.

Queues in states

Despite NNPC’s assurance and defense, the queues for petrol lingered in many states and Abuja, while the cost of the commodity crossed N1,000/litre in some locations.

Fuel scarcity persisted in Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger, and neighbouring states. It resurfaced in Lagos on Sunday. The PUNCH observed that the queues to the Northwest filling station inward Gbagada stretched to the West End bus stop along the Gbagada-Oworonshoki Expressway.

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The queues at the NNPC filling station at Ogudu stretched across the nearby bridge. It was the same scene at the MRS filling station at the Estate bus stop.

In Osogbo, Osun State, petrol was unavailable in most filling stations observed in Ayetoro, Old Garage, and Ota Efun Area, while a handful of independent marketers dispensing fuel sold the product for N800/litre.

Motorists and commuters decried the increase in petrol prices in Edo State. Independent marketers sold it for between N830 and N890/litre in the state capital while the outlets owned by major marketers sold for between N680 and N688/litre.

The cost of transportation worsened in Uyo as petrol sold for between N900 and N950/litre in the metropolis.

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Residents of Gombe State lamented the increase in the cost of PMS across most filling stations in the state.

Petrol scarcity in Bauchi State did not change as customers stayed in long queues to buy the product on Sunday.

Residents of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, lamented the hike in the price of PMA and the scarcity of the product.

The scarcity was also pronounced in Sokoto State as many residents expressed frustration over the development.

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The fuel scarcity in the Kaduna metropolis and its environs continued unabated on Sunday, causing untold hardship to motorists and other road users.

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Attempted suicide: OAU considers waiver for extra-year students

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The management of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, has disclosed its commitment to assist extra-year students struggling with their studies by considering a waiver for them.

The move is in response to a recent suicide attempt by a 200-level student who attempted suicide following academic struggles.

PUNCH Metro exclusively obtained an internal memo on Wednesday, dated November 1, 2024, from the university’s Senate Division.

The memo revealed that a special Committee of Deans meeting was convened to address the case of the affected student and thereafter came up with compassionate measures.

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The memo, signed by the Deputy Registrar, M.S. Oluwajoba, revealed that the student, whose name was not stated, had transferred from the Faculty of Pharmacy to the Department of Biology Education, and reportedly attempted suicide on October 16.

The incident prompted the Dean of the Faculty to take up the matter to the higher authorities.

The memo seen by our correspondent was titled, “Decision Extract: Re: Special Meeting of Committee of Deans held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024,” and directed to all deans.

It partly read, “The Dean, Faculty of Education reported a case of a suicide attempt by a Part II student who transferred from the Faculty of Pharmacy to the Department of Biology Education on Wednesday, October 16, 2024. After due deliberation on the matter, the Committee decided that: Members of staff should continue as usual to offer support to our students.

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“The departmental and the Faculty Boards of Examiners are advised and encouraged to provide an enabling environment for students’ support.

“Staff and Part Advisers should kindly cooperate in this regard.

“The above information supersedes the earlier circulated decision extract.”

An earlier circular from the office, dated October 17, 2024, had said any student who had only one or two courses to pass to graduate, having attempted those courses in the previous semesters, “should be considered to graduate on compassionate grounds provided such assistance SHALL NOT change the candidate’s class of degree.”

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When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the university, Abiodun Olanrewaju, confirmed the decision of the institution, noting this was to prevent further suicide attempts.

In an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, the varsity spokesperson said, “We want to reduce to the barest minimum the commission of suicide due to academic stress or rigour especially by those in the final year who are repeating one or two courses and they are being delayed by that.

“So, the human face there is, given the situation and circumstance of the country, we should just let them go. It doesn’t cost the university anything, and so that it will not be that somebody commits suicide because of extra academic years.”

Our correspondent however gathered from a top official that the decision “is not official” but considered “in the wisdom of the university” given the sensitivity of the situation.

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Okpebholo fires perm secs, dissolves boards

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Twenty-four hours after his swearing-in, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Wednesday, approved the dissolution of the executive of all boards, agencies and parastatals in the state public service with immediate effect.

The directive affected all permanent secretaries appointed outside the civil service.

The governor also ordered contractors in the state to return to sites, asking them to immediately fix all failed portions within the Benin metropolis.

In the same vein, he ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of the collection of all revenues in the state, especially in motor parks, until further notice.

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In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor ordered all affected appointees to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior public officers in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.

The statement read, “It is hereby announced for the information of the general public that the Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the dissolution of executives of all boards, agencies and parastatals in Edo State Public Service with immediate effect.

“In addition, all permanent secretaries appointed from outside the state public/civil service and all political appointees are hereby relieved of their appointments.

“Accordingly, all affected appointees are to hand over all government properties in their possession to the most senior public officer in their respective ministries, departments and agencies.”

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In another statement, the governor ordered the state Commissioner of Police to arrest anyone who flouted the order on revenue collection suspension.

The statement read, “The Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has ordered the immediate and indefinite suspension of the collection of all revenues in Edo, especially in motor parks and others, until further notice.

“The governor said he would review the issues surrounding the collections soon and decide on the way forward.

“The collection of revenues in the state has been suspended indefinitely. Anyone seen collecting revenues on behalf of the state government will be arrested.

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“The Commissioner of Police is hereby ordered to arrest anyone who flouts the order and collects any kind of revenues on behalf of the state government.

“The governor will soon address the issues and concerns raised. He will issue new directives soon. Until then, no one is authorised to collect revenues on behalf of the state government.”

Speaking during an inspection tour of the Upper Mission Extension Road by Aduwawa junction and the Ramat Park Axis in Benin City, Okpebholo said his administration, in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu, remained committed to restoring the hope of Edo people.

Decrying the bad state of the roads, the governor assured residents that work would commence immediately.

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He said he was in a hurry to bring the dividends of democracy to the people, by providing motorable roads.

He added, “During the campaigns, I promised that I am going to hit the ground running. Today, I ordered contractors back to the sites. We have no time to waste.

“We promised our people that we would fix and construct the roads. There is only one dry season in a year. This is the time to immediately move to sites and fix the roads.

“So, Edo people should expect good things to happen. We will fix our roads and ensure that our people enjoy the dividends of democracy.”

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Some of the areas work is expected to commence immediately include the 7.5km Temboga Road, Lucky Way Junction by Aduwawa, and Ramat Park/Slope Axis.

Similarly, other parts of the state capital to experience immediate mobilisation of contractors are Eyaen Road and Obadan Junction, along the Benin/Auchi road.

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Shettima, Ganduje, Other APC Leaders Campaign For Aiyedatiwa In Ondo

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Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Gnaduje and other leaders of the party including state governors were all in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Wednesday to campaign for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa ahead of the governorship election in the state on Saturday.

Shettima, who stood in for President Bola Tinubu at the rally, appealed to electorates in Ondo State to cast their votes en masse for the APC on Saturday to allow continuity of progressive governance.

Asides Vice President Shettima and Ganduje; governors of Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti states; minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; minister of youths development, Ayodele Olawande, senate leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele are among the party leaders present at this rally.

The chairman of APC National Campaign Council, Ondo Governorship Election, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu appreciated the people of Ondo State, appealing to them to vote for the party in Saturday’s election.

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Ganduje on his part also wants Ondo people to vote for continuity and political uniformity in the South-West region.

The contestant, Governor Aiyedatiwa promised to continue in the footsteps of development laid down by past eminent leaders of the state.

He expressed assurance that the APC will win the election in all the 18 local government areas of the state.

The highpoint of the rally was the presentation of the APC flag to Governor Aiyedatiwa and his running mate, Olayide Adelami by the national chairman.

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Governor Aiyedatiwa has been to all the 18 local government areas of Ondo State to campaign before concluding it in Akure, the state capital.

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