Metro

Economic Activities Crippled In FCT As Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2022

Editor

Amid the economic hardship ravaging the entire nation, sources of livelihood in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, seem to be threatened following the incessant scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly called petrol.

A check by DAILY POST on Saturday revealed that while some fuel stations remain shut for lack of the product, some of the stations along Zuba are selling above N250 per litre, a development that has made transportation difficult for residents.

The long queue in most fuel stations in the territory are worrisome as motorists continue to lament the difficulty in getting the product.

According to the Federal Government, the queue which resurfaced two weeks ago, was birthed by the flooding situation which made roads in Lokoja, Kogi State, impassable.

DAILY POST reports that several civil servants and other commuters were stranded on Friday as there was no vehicle to board.

The development also led to an obvious hike in fare, worsening the hardship already imposed on residents by the economic reality of the Giant of Africa.

Mary Achingwa, who works with the Federal Radio Corporation, told our correspondent that she spends triple of her usual fare to go to her work place everyday since the queue resurfaced early this month.

She said, “Things are just getting harder every day. We were complaining that transport fare is very expensive in Abuja not knowing that the worst was coming.

“Since this fuel crisis started, we spend triple of what we used to spend before reaching our places of work and this is so discouraging. The worst is that the price of everything increases day by day while salary remains the same”.

DAILY POST’s findings revealed that from Dutse Alhaji to Area 1 which was hitherto N300, is currently N500 and above, while Dei-Dei to Berger and Wuse which used to be N300 and N400 is now from N500 and above.

A town service driver, Mr Olawale told our correspondent that most of the drivers buy fuel from black market at the rate of N500 per litre, stressing that it is impossible to maintain normal prices after buying the product for such an amount.

He said, “The thing is, how much are we making? It is affecting all of us. When I buy fuel at the rate of N500 per litre instead N150, you should know that the transport fare cannot be the same”.

It was also gathered that many shops situated mostly in the satellite areas of the territory are beginning to fold up over lack of petrol to generate power for their various business activities.

Barber shops, computer centres, shoe factories and other private establishments which rely majorly on generators for service to customers, are beginning to pack up in Dutse Alhaji, Dei-Dei, Kubwa, Lugbe and other parts of the city.

A resident who operates Cyber Cafe in Kubwa, Mr Chinedu Peters said he decided to lock up his shop as he is unable to buy fuel.

He said, “In this part of the city, we don’t trust public power supply so we operate with generators and now we can’t power it anymore because of fuel issues. I was in line yesterday from morning until night, yet I came home without fuel.

“If I say let me buy this black market, how much are we making that we can afford that? I just told my workers to rest for some days, maybe it will subside soon”.

However, it could be recalled that the group executive director, Downstream, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPC Ltd, Engr Adeyemi Adetunji had during a media briefing a few days ago announced the arrival of the 146 truckloads of petrol into the capital.

“146 petroleum tanker trucks have arrived at the depot for dispatch into Abuja and the environs.

“Trucks have continued to arrive at the depot for onward dispatches. Product delivery to other parts of the country are also continuing with the improved vehicular movements northwards,” Adetunji had said.

Metro

Four Die, Three Injured In Delta Crash

Published

23 hours ago

August 25, 2025

Editor

Four persons have lost their lives while three others sustained injuries following a road accident that occurred at the Second Niger bridge in Asaba, the Delta State capital.

According to The PUNCH, the victims were rushed to St. Rebecca’s hospital on Monday.

Eyewitnesses said that the accident involved a truck and two other vehicles along the Second Niger Bridge.

“We saw a truck carrying cement and was at it speed trying to navigate through the bridge but couldn’t control it and it eventually fell.

“The truck crushed two other vehicles and many people died, others sustained serious injuries and were rushed to St Rebecca’s hospital along Nnebisi road,” an eyewitness narrated

Confirming the crash, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corp, Delta State Command, Frederick Ogidan, blamed the truck driver for being overly speedy.

Ogidan said, “They were trapped in the vehicle because the vehicle broke down, so our toll truck was there to rescue them.

“Four persons confirmed dead, the vehicle involved is not Dangote but a Bua truck that carried cement.

“It’s unfortunate that a crash will happen on that very good road, it shows that the driver was probably over speedy and lost control.”

Ogidan called on drivers to be more careful, especially during the ‘Ember months’.

He also urged them to obey simple traffic rules.

Metro

Youths Uncover Man Chained By Father For Five Years In Anambra

Published

2 days ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

There was panic in Igboukwu community, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, when members of the community discovered a young man who was chained and locked up for about five years by his father.

According to eyewitnesses near the scene, the man in his mid-20s, identified as Chogbo, popularly called “Agudo,” believed to have travelled to Europe, was found chained and locked up in a hut since 2021 after a search by some youths of the community on Saturday.

One of the eyewitnesses, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said, “We were passing by near the hut yesterday (Saturday), when we started hearing some strange sounds coming out from the direction of the hut.

“A search was conducted, and when we got there, we found our brother with both hands and legs tied in chains.

“On interrogation, he told us that he had been chained and locked up in that place since 2021. We ordered for the keys to open the chains, and when they brought them, the keys could not open anymore because they have become rusted. We had to forcefully break the keys.

“The victim has been rescued and is receiving necessary medical care. The father told us he travelled to Europe, not knowing that our brother was locked up in a hut for five years without taking his bath. This is barbaric.”

A video currently circulating on social media also corroborates the claims. The viral video showed when the victim was discovered in a hut and being interrogated by the angry youths.

Confirming the development in a press statement on Sunday, the Anambra State Police spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the victim has been rescued and is receiving necessary medical attention at the hospital.

Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has commended the youths of the community for the proactive role they played in uncovering the incident, describing their action as a clear example of community partnership in policing.

The statement read in part, “Commissioner of Police, Anambra State Command, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has directed Police operatives to immediately investigate a disturbing report circulating in the media regarding a young man identified as Chogbo (popularly known as Agudo) from Igboukwu, who was allegedly kept in chains for five years by his father with claims that he had travelled abroad.

“Preliminary inquiries are ongoing to establish the facts, safeguard the victim’s well-being, and the Command assures that where culpability is established, those responsible will be held accountable in accordance with the law.

“Meanwhile, the victim has been rescued and is receiving necessary care.

“The Command commends the youths of the community for the proactive role they played in uncovering the incident, describing their action as a clear example of community partnership in policing.

“Further development shall be communicated, please.”

Metro

UNIZIK Suspends Doctors, Nurses, Security Personnel Over 100-level Student’s Death

Published

2 days ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

The authorities at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, have suspended doctors, nurses and the security personnel on duty at the university’s medical centre following the death of a 100-level Law student of the institution, Miss Isabella Ajana.

The suspension was communicated to them in a statement signed by the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi and made available to journalists on Sunday.

Recall that Isabella, reportedly died on July 8, after being denied urgent access to her insulin medication due to an alleged demand for payment by her hostel manager.

The deceased, who was diabetic and a resident of Elmada Hostel, was said to have suffered a medical crisis after she and her roommates lost their room key, which contained her life-saving insulin.

In a desperate attempt to retrieve her medication, the students approached the hostel mistress, identified as “Madam Bright”, and requested the spare key.

However, according to multiple student accounts, “Madam Bright” allegedly refused to release the key unless the three roommates paid ₦120,000 — ₦40,000 each — in line with a purported hostel policy.

Despite explaining the urgency of Isabella’s health condition and their inability to raise the money immediately, their pleas were reportedly ignored.

Her condition quickly worsened, and she was rushed to the hospital, where she was confirmed dead.

The development triggered a series of reactions, public condemnation and online buzz that compelled the University authorities to constitute a committee to investigate the incident and the circumstances surrounding the student’s death.

The Committee, chaired by Prof. Mike Oddih, was mandated to thoroughly conduct their investigations and submit its report within one week.

However, giving an update on the incident about six weeks after, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Carol Arinze-Umobi, in the statement released on Sunday, announced the immediate suspension of the doctors, nurses, and security personnel on duty at the University’s Medical Centre on the day Isabella died.

Arinze-Umobi said the suspension will last for three months in the first instance, pending the conclusion and the outcome of the ongoing investigations.

The Vice-Chancellor further directed the Management of Elmada Hostel, which is a jointly owned, but privately-managed facility located within the university premises where the Isabella resided, to immediately sack the Supervisor on duty at the time of the incident.

The statement read in part, “Following the submission of the investigation committee’s report into the unfortunate death of Miss Isabella Chioma Ajana, a 100-level student in the Faculty of Law, I have taken decisive action to address the matter.

“Arising from the report of the panel, I hereby suspend the doctors, nurses and the security personnel on duty at the University’s Medical Centre on the day the student was rushed there, for three-months in the first instance, during which all investigations would have been completed.

“The University demands the management of Elmada Hostel which is jointly owned, but privately managed, as a matter of urgency, to sack the Supervisar on duty who was in custody of the spare key and could not return it after repented calls on her.

“UNIZIK will re-evaluate relationship with the Elmada hostel, demanding International best practices in students accommodation facilities.

“I wish to assure the University Community and general public that we are committed to upholding the highest standard of care and safety for our students in line with my vision, ‘feeling the pulse of the students, staff and finding solutions’.

“I extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased and assure them that we will do everything possible to prevent such incidents in the future.”
(PUNCH)