Mohammed Shosanya

Ethnic Youth Leaders have commended the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari and the Executive Vice-president, Downstream of the company, Adedapo Segun for their relentless efforts towards clearing fuel supply disruption.

The leaders in a statement signed by their spokesperson, Malam kabiru, and deputy acting president NG Emmanuel also said Kyari is committed to ensuring downstream energy stability in line with ‘Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

They faulted National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) for calling for the resignation of the the NNPCL GCEO, saying he has not relaxed but working round the clock to ensure adequate supply and availability of fuel despite daunting challenges, urging the students who are future leaders to appreciate and support his efforts in addressing the energy challenges.

They reminded NANS that the Kyari -led NNPCL is resting on its oars to address the situation and has already assured Nigerians that the ongoing fuel scarcity and queues will be cleared out by Wednesday.

“Just when NANS is threatening mass protest NNPCL under Kyari has given Nigerians its words that the company currently has an availability of products exceeding 1.5 billion litres, which can last for at least 30 days.

“Like we and other Nigerians already know, the three-day disruption in distribution being experienced is due to logistical issues, which has since been resolved by resolved by NNPLC but doing that ideally requires more time to return to normalcy. And unfortunately, however, some persons in the business are taking advantage of this situation to maximise profits.

“And fortunate enough, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (lPMAN) concurred that with intervention of the NNPCL, the queues will disappear from filling stations as more products will be available for lifting by marketers and the supply will be stabilised.”

Mohammed Shosanya

The Chairmen of the House of Representatives Committees on Petroleum Resources, (Downstream, and Midstream), Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon. Odianosen Henry Okojie, confirmed the arrival of petroleum products in the country.

At a press conference in Abuja,they noted disruptions in supply and distribution to marketers due to logistical challenges with marine shuttle vessels. They assured the public that these challenges have been addressed, and product distribution has resumed, emphasizing that fuel queues will diminish in a matter of days.

They advised against panic buying, assuring the public of product availability.

They also expressed concerns over the temporary fuel queues affecting Nigerians’ lives and businesses but remained optimistic that normalcy would soon be restored.

Ugochinyere, representing Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, highlighted recent efforts by the downstream and midstream committees to address the resurgence of fuel queues nationwide.

Through extensive engagement with stakeholders in the distribution value chain, including NNPC, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, and NARTO, investigations revealed an availability of approximately 1.5 billion litres of petrol, sufficient for 30 days.

But,logistics challenges, such as difficulties in transporting products from mother vessels to petrol stations, have contributed to the queues’ resurgence.

The lawmaker has assured that they’ve received assurances from regulators across the value chain that bottlenecks are being addressed.

Ugochinyere expressed regret over the recent scarcity of petroleum products, highlighting the hardship faced by Nigerians.

He said, “As representatives of the people, they have engaged with sector regulators to identify the causes and propose solutions to alleviate this situation.

“We have recently engaged with key stakeholders in the distribution value chain, including the NNPCL, NMDPRA, PETROAN, and NARTO, to understand the resurgence of fuel queues across Nigeria. We share concerns over its impact on Nigerians’ lives and businesses, but we’re optimistic it’s temporary.

“Our investigations reveal sufficient petrol stocks of about 1.5 billion litres, lasting 30 days. However, logistical challenges caused the queues. Regulators assure us these bottlenecks are being addressed, with progress expected over the public holiday.

“We urge Nigerians not to worry; regulators and unions assure us of resolution within the next two to three days. Restoring normalcy may take a bit longer as products are distributed nationwide. As a Committee dedicated to alleviating people’s suffering, we’re closely monitoring the situation.”

“At this critical juncture, we strongly condemn the actions of middlemen exploiting the supply disruption to profit at the expense of our citizens. We call upon the security forces to collaborate with NNPCL, NMDPRA, PETROAN, NARTO, and other vital stakeholders in the distribution chain to detect and address acts of economic sabotage, including hoarding, price gouging, product diversion, and smuggling.

“We extend our appreciation to Speaker Abbas Tajudeen for his proactive stance and the diligent efforts of our Committees in liaising with regulators and industry stakeholders.

Beside,the Chairman of the Midstream Committee, Okojie, urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying and unnecessary rushes, reassuring the public that the country’s storage capacity of over 1.5 billion litres can sustain us for over 30 days.

Providing update on the current situation,he said:”Our committee has extensively engaged with relevant authorities regarding fuel distribution. As of today, reports indicate a reduction in fuel queues, and products are steadily arriving at petrol stations.”

“We are appealing to Nigerians to refrain from panic buying and unnecessary rushes to purchase products. Our country currently has a storage capacity of over 1.5 billion litres, which is sufficient for over 30 days. Moreover, additional products are arriving, with more en route via the high seas.

“The recent disruption was primarily due to logistical challenges, which have since been addressed with the implementation of maritime shuttle vessels. These vessels are now transporting products to awaiting marketers, who are ready to serve the public. The logistical issues have been fully resolved, and we anticipate an increase in supply to stations in the coming days.

“There is no cause for alarm. Fuel is readily available, and distribution will commence shortly. We expect that within the next day or two, fuel queues will be a thing of the past in our country.”

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has approved an increase of between 25% and 35% in salary increase for civil servants on the remaining six consolidated salary structures .

The Salary Structure is the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS), Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS), Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS), Consolidated Para-military Salary Structure (CONPASS), Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICCS) and Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS).

It will be recalled that those in the tertiary education and health sectors had already received their increases which involved Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS)
for universities.

For Polytechnics and Colleges of Education, it involved the
Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Staff Salary Structure (CONPCASS) and Consolidated Tertiary Educational Institutions Salary Structure (CONTEDISS).

The health sector also benefitted through the Consolidated Medical
Salary Structure (CONMESS) and Consolidated Health Sector Salary Structure (CONHESS).

A statement signed by the Head of Press, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), Emmanuel Njoku, said the increases take effect from 1st January 2024.

The Federal Government has also approved increases In pension of between 20% and 28% for pensioners on the Defined Benefits Scheme in respect to the above-mentioned six consolidated salary structures with effect from 1st January 2024.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Navy (NN) personnel of Naval Security Station (NSS) 023 deployed along Cawthorne Channel in Rivers State has rescued over 250 passengers who were onboard a capsized passenger boat at about 10pm local time on 28 April 2024.

A statement from the Director Naval Information, Commodore Adams- Aliu indicated that, “The ill-fated boat, MV PRECIOUS EMMANUEL cast off from a local market in Sangana area of Bayelsa State and was making way to Rivers State when it encountered stormy waters and hit a wreck which damaged its hull causing it to capsize.

“Notably, the locally made, 3-deck wooden vessel popularly known as “Large Cotonou Boat” was overborne, had no lifesaving equipment onboard and none of its passengers wore a lifejacket.

“It was the vigilant eyes and professional response of NN personnel who swiftly undertook a rescue mission that ensured no life was lost. This rescue effort is in line with the Strategic Directive of the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla which states that “the strategic end state of NN operations is a safe and secure maritime environment in Nigeria and the Gulf of Guinea.”

“The NN wishes to reiterate the importance of lifejackets, life buoys and other life-saving equipment to local maritime operators. Provision and proper utilisation of such equipment is imperative to safety of lives at sea. The NN, wishes to assure the general public that it remains committed to securing Nigeria’s maritime space from the backwaters to the outermost limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone for legitimate businesses to thrive.”