News

Fuel Price May Fall As Petrol Vessels Berth At Port

Published

2 years ago

November 19, 2023

The pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, may be reduced in filling stations operated by independent marketers this week, following the massive imports of PMS by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, oil dealers stated on Saturday.

It was gathered that the recent hike in petrol prices at retail outlets operated by independent marketers was due to the short supply of the commodity, which led to acts of profiteering by both depot owners and filling stations.

But operators in the downstream oil sector confirmed to The PUNCH on Saturday night that several cargoes imported by NNPCL had arrived in Nigeria, as some of them were currently discharging at the ports.

“Once the products start hitting filling stations, fuel price will reduce, because the recent high cost was due to supply drop,” the National Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, The PUNCH.

On Thursday, oil marketers blamed the emergence of queues for petrol at filling stations in Abuja and neighbouring Nasarawa and Niger states on the low supply of PMS by its sole importer – NNPCL.

However, the national oil company refuted the position of marketers, as it argued that the queues in the affected areas were due to a “price war.”

But going by the latest development concerning the imports by NNPCL, operators in the sector stated that the queues would not only disappear but there would be a reduction in price at independent filling stations.

Currently, petrol is mostly sold at between N580 and N613/litre at filling stations operated by NNPCL. Most other marketers dispense the commodity at higher rates, with some selling PMS for as high as N670/litre.

“The most important thing now is that cargoes carrying PMS ordered by NNPCL have arrived, some of them have berthed and they are discharging. So the partial scarcity we are experiencing now will be gone,” Ukadike said.

He noted that the inflow of foreign exchange during the Yuletide would not necessarily impact petrol prices, rather the increased imports by NNPCL should warrant a reduction in price.

He said the large PMS imports were confirmed to marketers by NNPCL.

On whether marketers had started receiving the products, Ukadike replied, “By Monday we will start receiving from Port Harcourt and Warri, based on my last discussion with the NNPC management.”

Another major marketer also confirmed the position of IPMAN, as he stated that “when you wet the market with products, there’ll be no room for profiteering.”

Earlier, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, stated that the position of oil marketers as regards the re-emergence of fuel queues was not true, as he insisted that the oil firm had enough products.

“That is not true. The recent tightness in Abuja is essentially a price war which is typical of any competitive market. Motorists would rather queue at filling stations that offer lower prices than others.

“While NNPC retail is selling at N613/litre in Abuja, other marketers’ prices range from N625-N650/litre,” Soneye said.

News

Fubara Names New Rivers SSG

Published

16 seconds ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved the appointment of Benibo Anabraba as the new Secretary to the State Government.

The appointment was confirmed on Monday in a statement signed by Dr. Honour Sirawoo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communications.

According to the release, Anabraba is scheduled to be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.

The statement said, “His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, Governor of Rivers State, has approved the appointment of Hon. Benibo Anabraba as Secretary to the Rivers State Government.

“The new SSG will be sworn in today, Monday, October 13, 2025, by 4:00 PM at the State Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Port Harcourt.”

The appointment follows Fubara’s recent reinstatement to office after a period of political and legal turbulence that led to his suspension under emergency rule declared by President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu had, on March 18, 2025, declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending the governor, his deputy, and members of the House of Assembly. He cited the prolonged political crisis between Fubara and his predecessor and political benefactor, Nyesom Wike, as the reason.

In Fubara’s place, Tinubu appointed retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas as Sole Administrator, with a mandate to restore political stability.

Recall that the immediate past administrator, upon assumption of office during the emergency rule imposed suspended all commissioners, special advisers, and assistants appointed by Fubara.

Ibas also dissolved boards and suspended heads of parastatals he met in office.

Since Ibas exited the state on September 18, the fate of Fubara’s appointees had remained uncertain. The Rivers State House of Assembly, at its first sitting after the lifting of the emergency rule, had called on the governor to submit a fresh list of commissioner-nominees for screening, alongside the 2025 budget for passage.

His return to the governorship has coincided with a flurry of administrative changes as the governor consolidates his team.

News

FG To Disburse ₦6.3bn Interest-free Loans To 21,000 Flood Victims

Published

6 minutes ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government is set to disburse ₦6.3 billion in interest-free loans to 21,000 Nigerians affected by recent flood disasters across the country.

Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Sununu, made this known on Monday in Abuja during a roundtable marking the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Sununu said the initiative aims to cushion the impact of flooding and enhance food security nationwide, Channels reports.

“In the next few weeks, 21,000 Nigerians will receive interest-free, collateral-free loans of ₦300,000 each.

“This intervention is designed to support farmers and strengthen communities affected by flooding,” he said.

The minister further revealed that the Federal Government, through the National Social Investment Programme, has reached over 8.1 million households with more than ₦300 billion in Conditional Cash Transfers.

“This support has improved the resilience, health, and education of many vulnerable households. The process will continue under the Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” Sununu added.

He also announced plans to empower internally displaced persons through a scheme that guarantees a market for their produce.

“Under our new collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, IDPs will retain 30% of their produce while the government will off-take 70%, providing direct cash payments to the participants,” he explained.

In her remarks, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, Zubaida Umar, highlighted the growing threat of climate-related disasters and called for stronger preventive measures.

Umar noted that Nigeria faces increasing risks from climate change, conflicts, pandemics, and technological hazards, stressing that disaster management must shift from reactive to proactive approaches.

She also announced the launch of two key policy frameworks — the NEMA Strategic Plan (2025–2029) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy (2025–2030) to guide future disaster preparedness and resilience-building efforts.

“These frameworks promote innovation in financing, institutional collaboration, and risk-informed development,” she said, adding that NEMA is developing a National Risk Monitoring and Information Platform to enhance early warning and data-driven decision-making.

She further called for innovative financing options, including catastrophe bonds, climate funds, and blended finance models, to sustain disaster prevention and recovery initiatives.

The event, which focused on building resilience against climate-related disasters, was attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, lawmakers, and international partners.

The PUNCH reports that 238 persons have lost their lives, while 135,764 others have been displaced following floods that swept through parts of the country as of October 10, 2025, according to figures obtained from the National Emergency Management Agency’s 2025 Flood Dashboard on Saturday.

NEMA reports that at least 409,714 people have been affected so far, with 826 sustaining various degrees of injuries and 115 reported missing across the country.

Flood-related deaths were recorded in multiple states, bringing the nationwide death toll to 238.

News

NAF Begins Recruitment Of Airmen, Airwomen

Published

12 minutes ago

October 13, 2025

Editor

The Nigerian Air Force on Monday announced the opening of applications for its Airmen/Airwomen Basic Military Training Course 46/2025.

In an advertisement on its X handle, the Force said online registration is free and will start on October 14 and end on November 25, 2025.

It urged interested candidates to apply via the recruitment portal at http://nafrecruitment.airforce.mil.ng.

On completion of the application forms, NAF said applicants must print out the acknowledgement, parent and guardians consent, and local government area attestation forms.

The forms are to be signed as required by a military officer from the applicant’s state, not below the rank of wing commander in the Nigerian Air Force or equivalent in the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy; a police officer of the rank of chief superintendent of police and above; a substantive local government chairman or secretary; and magistrates from the applicant’s state of origin.

It explained further that the Local Government Area Attestation Form must be accompanied by the passport photograph and photocopy of the signee’s driver’s licence or national ID card, or international passport.

Eligibility

Applicants must be Nigerian citizens.

Applicants must not be less than 1.66m tall for males and not less than 1.63m tall for females.

Applicants must be medically, physically and psychologically fit and must meet the Nigerian Air Force medical and employment standards.

British Airways flight
For candidates applying for non-tradesmen/women, they must be between the ages of 18 and 22 years at the time of application.

Applicants must possess a minimum of five credits, including Mathematics and English Language, in not more than 2 sittings in WAEC/NECO/GCE/NABTEB/NBAIS.

In addition, applicants are required to possess their secondary school’ testimonials.

For tradesmen/women, applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 27 years at the time of application.

Applicants with ND/NCE must possess at least lower credit from accredited institutions and must possess a minimum of five credits, including Mathematics and English, in not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECO/GCE/NABTEB/NBAIS.

Applicants applying as drivers and other trades that require a trade test must possess a minimum of five credits, including Mathematics and English, in not more than 2 sittings in WAEC/NECO/GCE/NABTEB/NBAIS, in addition to their trade test certificate and a valid driving licence for drivers.

In addition to the five credits requirement in SSCE, applicants applying as sportsmen/women are to present evidence of their professional experience, which should include certificates and medals.

NAF said applicants must be free of any previous conviction(s) on criminal grounds by a court of law.

It added that the zonal general aptitude test for successful candidates will be held on a date to be conveyed on its recruitment portal.