News
Petrol price may hit N1,800/litre over Dangote’s subsidy removal call in Nigeria
By Mario Deepromoter
Dangote Petroleum Refinery, the sole producer of petrol being off taken and distributed for Nigerians, has declared that the government should end subsidy, a move that would cause an imminent surge in the prices of the product to as high as N1,800 litre.
The Founder of the 650,000 barrels per day capacity refinery, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who threw his full weight behind subsidy removal just nine days after his facility started production of petrol, said in an interview with Bloomberg that this is the right time for the federal government to stop petrol subsidy.
The product, which sold for N650 per litre at the NNPCL outlets before September 15, skyrocketed to as high as N1,010 per litre in the same outlets on the day the private refinery began production. With the call for full subsidy removal, the prices could be as high as N1,800 per litre.
“I think it is the right time to (take away subsidy) because all countries have gotten rid of subsidy,” he said.
Statistics showed that the price of the product would go up to the market price which is higher than the subsidised price any time the subsidy is removed, but Dangote maintained that what actually increases a product’s price is the subsidy.
Subsidy, according to him, is a sensitive issue, adding that once a country subsidises the product, people would increase the price.
To Dangote, the subsidy would lead to the government “paying what they are not supposed to be paying.” Dangote said petrol subsidy is not sustainable and the government cannot afford to keep subsidising.
“Our price of gasoline is about 60 per cent the price of our neighbouring countries and we have porous borders, so it is not sustainable. Government cannot afford the amount of subsidies we are paying,” he said.
Speaking further on the viability of petrol subsidy, Dangote said it is the government’s decision to either continue with or halt the payments.
“We have a choice of exporting when we produce and we sell locally. We are a private company and it is true we have to make a profit,” he said.
We built something worth $20 billion, and definitely we have to make money.
“The removal of subsidy is totally dependent on the government, not on us.
“We cannot change the price but I think the government would have to give up something for something.”
Dangote said eventually, the subsidy would have to go, adding that the petrol sold locally by his refinery will be tracked to ensure the consumption rate is accounted for.
“But this refinery will bring quite a lot of issues out there. It would show the real consumption of Nigeria because nobody can tell. Some people say it is 60 million litres per day, some say it is less,” the billionaire said.
“But right now, by us producing, everything can be counted and accounted for. Most of the trucks or ships that will load from us, we will put a track on them to be sure they are going to take the oil within Nigeria and that can help the government to save a lot of money.
“For example, in Saudi, citizens believe that oil is our god-given gift and should not charge for it. The government was selling it at a very low price. But today, as we speak, gasoline is about 40 per cent cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia, which I think does not make sense.”
On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu said the petrol subsidy regime was over.
Almost three months later, TheCable reported that Tinubu was considering a “temporary subsidy” on petrol as crude oil prices and foreign exchange rates soared.
However, Ajuri Ngelale, former presidential spokesperson, said there was no reintroduction of subsidy.
Also, on January 3, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited denied the return of the petrol subsidy, saying it had been removed entirely.
However, on April 15, Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna state, said the federal government is spending more on petrol subsidy than before.
TheCable also reported on August 19 that Tinubu approved a request by NNPC to utilise the 2023 final dividends due to the federation to pay for the petrol subsidy — but NNPC denied the existence of petrol subsidy, only to admit hours later that the federal government owes it N7.8 trillion for subsidising petrol.
Almost a month later, Tinubu said Nigeria’s daily consumption of petrol was reduced to about 30 million litres after subsidy removal.
News
Stop importation of fake fuel to Nigeria, professionals in Europe tell Tinubu
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE), has asked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to, as a matter of urgent national importance, stop the dumping of tainted Petroleum Products, otherwise known as fake fuel, being imported into the country.
Tinubu is the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces, who doubles as the Minister of Petroleum Resources of the most populous African country, Nigeria, and a major player in oil production in the world.
Despite being major oil producer, Nigeria still battles with importation of refined products, which over 150m end users largely depend on. The nation’s refineries – Kaduna, Warri and Port Harcourt have remain in comatose, despite the many interventions of the present administration in billions of dollars.
Aside the allegation of frustrating the only viable local refinery, Dangote, the oil cabals have also been accused of encouraging importation of off-spec and adulterated products into the country, the allegations National Assembly Joint Committee is currently investigating.
In a press statement signed on Wednesday by the Global President of ANPE, Mr. Solomon Ola, the Nigerian Professionals in Europe are calling on President Tinubu to cause an urgent investigation of the recent trend of infiltrating the Nigeria’s market with product capable of putting lives of the people in great jeopardy.
The group warned that, “Importation of the sanctioned-tainted petrol into Nigeria would no doubt have diplomatic consequences, bearing in mind the sanctions that the Price Cap Coalition, comprising the European Union, the United States, the G7, and Australia, imposed on Russian-sourced crude and petroleum products”.
The statement read, “The Association of Nigerian Professionals in Europe (ANPE) has followed developments in Nigeria’s petroleum industry with concern, given the absurd positions being canvassed by some stakeholders regarding the safety of the country and citizens regarding the quality of products being retailed.
“ANPE has consequently decided to urge President Bola Tinubu, as a matter of national interest, to use his mandate as the country’s chief executive to halt the designation of Nigeria as a dumping ground for foreign-sourced tainted, adulterated, and questionable petroleum products.
“We are sad and alarmed by recent developments in Europe, from Russia to Malta and every part of Europe, our home country has become a lucrative destination for the dumping of adulterated petroleum products such as PMS popularly known as petrol, which industry experts have tagged as fake fuel.
“Our association is concerned that the petroleum products in question are still being dumped in Nigeria even after industry experts have warned about their substandard nature, which poses material and economic risks to Nigerians whose vehicles and equipment could be damaged by dirty fuel.
“Fake fuel also has negative implications for the environment in addition to the associated dangers that the fumes from these products pose to public health, a situation that the Nigerian government would find exceptionally challenging since such a health burden would further stretch already lean public finances.
“Importation of the sanctioned-tainted petrol into Nigeria would no doubt have diplomatic consequences, bearing in mind the sanctions that the Price Cap Coalition, comprising the European Union, the United States, the G7, and Australia, imposed on Russian-sourced crude and petroleum products. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Price Cap Coalition forbids transactions on crude oil and petroleum products of Russian Federation origin unless they are transacted at or below $60, a price band that the products imported into Nigeria routinely violate even when the products are of Russian origin.
“A third concern for our association is the absurdity of importing relatively pricier petrol into Nigeria when more affordable and quality options are available from local refineries. This insistence on flooding Nigeria with bad petrol is equally bad for the economy. It is actively sabotaging President Tinubu’s economic policy.
“Things have gone so awry that Nigeria has become the toast of European companies peddling these products, which cannot be sold in other African countries such as Ghana, Benin Republic, Togo, South Africa, Angola, Kenya and others. The collaborators of these European firms back in Nigeria collude to force these products on citizens of our dear nation for the sole purpose of profit-making.
“ANPE is consequently alerting Mr President and calling for caution while demanding that he directs the relevant authorities to urgently investigate and stop this illegal trade that places the nation and citizens in jeopardy”.
News
Indicators of hunger: N200 Sachets Of Rice Now In Nigerian Markets As Bag Hits Over N90k
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
In a bid to make rice more affordable for Nigerians, sachets of rice have been reintroduced into the market, following the surge in prices of the staple food.
The media learned that a 50kg bag of local rice now costs between N78,000 to N90,000 in the country, depending on the location and brand.
These values are higher than the average Nigerian’s monthly earnings.
The country’s minimum wage is now set at N70,000, and many institutions, both private and public, have yet to adopt it.
This situation, among other reasons, is why eating rice has been a luxury in many Nigerian households.
The media has further learnt that an indigenous rice producing company, Big Bull, has started manufacturing sachets of their products to enable Nigerian populations to eat rice.
The company fixed the price at N200 per sachet.
In July, a publication by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed continual increase in prices of food items.
According to the release, as of June 2024 , the average price of 1kg beans brown (sold loose) stood at N2,292.76.
This represents a rise of 252.13% in price on a year-on-year basis from N651.12 recorded in June 2023 and a 14.11% rise in price on a month-on-month basis from N2,009.23 in May 2024.
Also the price of Tomatoes (1kg) increased on a year by year basis, with a significant price of 320.67% from N547.28 in June of last year (2023) to N 2,302.26 in June 2024.
295.79% from N 510.77 in June 2023 to N 2,021.55 in May 2024.
On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 52.87% from N 1,322.36 in May 2024 to N 2,021.55 in June 2024.
The highest average price of 1kg of Tomato was recorded in Abuja at N3992.61 while the lowest was in Kebbi State at N1200.
Also 1kg of yam tuber sold highest in Lagos state at N 3,376.54, while Adamawa recorded the lowest price at N1100.
Gombe recorded the highest average price of 1kg Garri white sold loose at N 1,619.27, while the lowest was reported in Taraba at N900.
News
Army Checkpoint attacked by armed men in Abia, Claiming Lives of Two Soldiers
By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
Gunmen attacked an army checkpoint early on Wednesday at Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area, killing two soldiers.
A military source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the attack occurred around 6:18 am. The gunmen arrived in a white Lexus (350/400) model, although the exact number of attackers could not be confirmed.
Confirming the incident in a press release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA said: “In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia – Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by the irredentist group Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network.
During the attack, the gallant troops were able to repel the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray with gunshot wounds, abandoning one Sienna and one Lexus Jeep used in the attack. However, in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price.”
The Joint Task Force appealed to residents of the South East, particularly those in Abia State, for credible information to help track down the fleeing attackers and combat criminal elements in the region.
The force reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property in line with global best practices and the rules of engagement.
(PUNCH)
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