The Department of State Service (DSS) says its operatives are not involved in the arrest of the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore.

The secret police stressed that the clarifications became imperative because of the “erroneous” reports in some sections of the media that had since gone viral that its operatives were involved.

A highly-placed official of the service, who spoke to Daily Trust on Sunday, explained that they would not hesitate to use all legal means in their operations if they have any axe to grind with any individual.

Daily Trust reports that Sowore was arrested on Sunday morning at Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos State by Nigerian Immigration officials but later released.

“I had just arrived in Nigeria from the USA at MMIA in Lagos; upon reaching Nigerian Immigration, my passport was seized, and they told me they had orders to detain me,” Sowore had written.

However, in a post via his official handle after a few hours, Sowore revealed that he had been released by the Nigerian Immigration Service and his passport had been released.

“I have just been released by the Nigerian Immigration after a brief detention and my passport released back to me”, the activist-turned-politician had disclosed.

But the senior officer at the DSS headquarters confided in our correspondent that Sowore’s name, which was on the secret police watchlist before, had since been removed.

“See, what I can tell you is that the name of the man in question was on our watchlist before, but we had since removed it.

“Our new DG is determined to reform and reposition the Department of State Service (DSS) as a responsible and responsive organisation.

“In that case, I want to state categorically that our officers were not involved in his arrest, so, Nigerians should discard the fake news of the DSS’ involvement,” the source said.

Efforts to formally hear from the secret police proved abortive as several calls pulled across to the service number provided to journalists did not connect.

An email sent to the official address of the service was yet to be responded to as at when filing this report.

Nigerians’ quest to purchase cheaper Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) may be realised after all as facts emerged that Dangote petrol may sell for N857 to N865 per litre.

Already, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) will start lifting the product from Dangote Refinery today barring any unforeseen circumstances after NNPCL agreed to lift petrol product at N960/N980 per litre and sell to marketers at N840/N850 even though it is unclear if uniform product prices would apply at filling stations nationwide

Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd., Olufemi Soneye, who confirmed the readiness of the company to start lifting petrol today, told Sunday Vanguard, yesterday: “NNPC Ltd has started deploying our trucks and vessels to the Dangote Refinery to lift PMS in preparation for the scheduled lifting date of September 15th, as set by the refinery.

“Our trucks and personnel are already on-site, ready to begin lifting. We expect more trucks, and the deployment will continue throughout the weekend so we can start loading as soon as the refinery begins operations on September 15, 2024.”

Soneye hinted that at least 100 trucks had already arrived at the refinery for the petrol lifting, adding that the number of trucks could increase to 300 by Saturday evening.

On his part, Executive Secretary, of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN), Olufemi Adewole, said: “We have been lifting diesel (AGO) and aviation fuel (jet fuel) and we look forward to lifting petrol (PMS).”

“We await clarity in respect of the pricing mode, and once that is clarified, we’ll do the needful towards meeting the energy needs of Nigerians.”

Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, yesterday, said the structuring of the NNPCL, Dangote Refinery deal in Naira would assist in reducing pressure on the local currency.

A statement by the Director of information and Public Relations in the ministry, Mohammed Manga, stated: “In a landmark move towards reducing pressure on the Naira, eliminating unnecessary transaction costs, and improving availability of petroleum products, the Federal Government has successfully initiated the sale of crude to local refineries as well as corresponding purchase of petroleum products in Naira.

“The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, disclosed this today in his office in Abuja shortly after the Technical Sub-Committee meeting on the sale of crude oil to local refineries in Naira.

“Represented by the Executive Chairman, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, the Minister announced the completion of all agreements and modalities for the implementation of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval on the sale of crude to local refineries in Naira and corresponding purchase of petroleum products in Naira.

by Adam Mosadioluwa


Sixteen months into President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, sworn in May 29, 2023, the hope of Nigeria’s refineries returning to life, as promised, is fast becoming a mirage.

Before the 2023 general elections, the president had, among other things, promised to make the state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna operational. Not only that, the then Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) also allayed the fear of Nigerians over possible hikes in fuel prices, assuring that his government, if elected, would ‘bring it down’.

While none of these has been achieved, the Group Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, threw a subtle jab at the Nigerian government on Tuesday, September 3rd, 2024, when he described the official rollout of PMS, also known as petrol, from his refinery as history made for the country after decades of not producing a single litre of gasoline.

Before Dangote’s announcement of his company’s milestone, NNPCL had earlier quashed the fading hope of Nigerians buying petrol below N500 per litre again since President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in May 2023. Amidst scarcity and persistent long queues, Tribune Online reports that the nation’s oil company increased the pump price from N617 to N865 per litre nationwide.

The joy of an Indigenous refinery, Dangote, commencing production of petroleum products was shortlived. Nigerians’ hope, seemingly resting on the shoulders of the billionaire businessman, was clouded by uncertainties, especially on pricing and the back-and-forth that trailed the announcement of the NNPCL as the sole off-taker from the private refinery.

Many had expected that, with an indigenous refinery now operational, the price of petrol would drop, given that the cost of exporting crude oil abroad for refining would no longer be a factor. However, this is far from the reality, as there is no guarantee that the commencement of the Dangote refinery will reduce fuel prices.

Bearing this in mind, conversations are beginning to shift back to the nation’s oil refineries. Many Nigerians are asking questions about the state of things after many assurances of bringing the national assets back to life. Don’t forget the NNPCL recently announced its readiness to hand over Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries to private companies to run.

In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at five different times Tinubu’s government has promised to kickstart the Port Harcourt refinery to no avail.


During Tinubu’s Meeting with Labour Leaders in August 2023

On 2nd August 2023, President Bola Tinubu assured that the Port Harcourt refinery would start production by December 2023, following the completion of the ongoing rehabilitation contract between the NNPCL and the Italian firm, Maire Tecnimont SpA.

According to a statement by Dele Alake, the then Special Adviser to the President on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, the assurance was given after Tinubu’s discussions with Joe Ajaero, President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Festus Osifo, President of the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

The promise was part of the President’s efforts to end nationwide protests by the unions following the government’s removal of the petrol subsidy.


Minister of State for Petroleum’s Visit to the Refinery in August 2023

On 25th August 2023, during a visit to the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) Ltd. plant in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, announced that the refinery would commence operations by December 2023.

He noted that the $1.5 billion rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery was part of Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to end the importation of petroleum products. He added that the Warri and Kaduna refineries would also be operational by 2024.


After Mele Kyari’s Meeting with the Senate Ad-hoc Committee in March 2024
On 14th March 2024,

The Tinubu administration again promised to kickstart the refinery. The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, gave the assurance during a meeting with the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Turnaround Maintenance of the country’s four refineries.

Kyari stated that the refinery had already been completed at the time and would begin producing refined petroleum by the end of March 2024.


During the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Petroleum’s Visit to Gov. Siminalayi Fubara in April 2024

On 19th April 2024, during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, the Senate Ad-hoc Committee to Investigate the Turnaround Maintenance of Nigeria’s Refineries revealed that the Port Harcourt refinery was 90 per cent complete and expected to commence operations before the end of the year.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, stated that the rehabilitation of the refinery was in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He added, “We are pleased to note that what we saw is most encouraging as the refinery upgrade and full rehabilitation is almost at 90 percent completed. We are confident that the refinery will soon be operational before the end of the year”.


During an Emergency Session on the State of the Economy in July 2024

In the most recent promise regarding the refinery’s commencement date, on 15th July 2024, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, set a new date of August 2024 for the Port Harcourt refinery to begin production.

Kyari provided this assurance during an emergency session on the state of the economy with the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Finance. He added that Nigeria would become a net exporter of petrol by the end of the year, noting that the Kaduna refinery would also be ready for petrol production by December 2024.

Despite these numerous promises, as of the time of this report, the Port Harcourt refinery, like its counterparts in Warri and Kaduna, has yet to commence petrol production.

Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo, has declared the upcoming governorship election in the state “a do-or-die affair”.

The Edo state off-cycle gubernatorial election is slated to be held on September 21.

Asue Ighodalo, candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP) are the main contenders in the election.

Speaking at the PDP grand finale rally in the Ekenwan area of Benin City, the state capital, Obaseki berated Adams Oshiomhole, his predecessor, for performing below par during his tenure.

“The person I took over from had no respect for our people, had no respect for women, encouraged prostitution and women’s trafficking,” Obaseki said.

“When I took over office, our pensioners wore black on Labor Day, but today they wear white.

“When I took office, our youths had no jobs, but today don’t they have jobs? After eight years, is Edo not one of the safest in Nigeria?

“This election is do or die; if they do, we will die. Next week Saturday by this time, vote for the PDP to become the next governor.”

On Thursday, political parties and their candidates in Edo signed the peace accord to allow for a free and fair election in the state, although the PDP declined to sign the agreement.

Experts have said that the commencement of operations at Dangote Refinery will not lead to a significant drop in petrol prices in Nigeria.

The experts, who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES in an interview on Thursday, said the refinery’s operations will lead to a more stable and predictable supply of petroleum products, reducing the volatility in prices caused by importation and supply chain disruptions.

However, they cautioned Nigerians against expecting a sudden and drastic drop in pump prices.

Last Monday, Devakumar Edwin, vice president at Dangote Industries Limited, said the 650,000 barrels per day Dangote Refinery has begun the processing of petrol.

Mr Edwin explained that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), Nigeria’s sole importer, would buy its product exclusively.

Speaking to reporters, the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, said the petrol refined from the refinery would hit filling stations across the country within 48 hours, depending on the NNPC Ltd.

Speaking on the latest development with PREMIUM TIMES on Thursday, Dan Kunle, an energy expert, emphasised that the narrative of price crashing is “wrong”, noting that the pricing of petroleum products will still be determined by global market forces and other factors.

“This narrative of price crashing is a wrong narrative. Let me take you back to basic economics. Production capacity and supply capacity are the most important aspects of any goods or commodity or services that citizens enjoy. If the production capacity and the supply system is weak, you can never enjoy steady supply and steady price.

“The circumstance in which this country is today, the first thing Nigerians should look out for is the production capacity of petroleum products and the supply chain guarantee; it is then you can begin to see whether price can be stable and not be jumping every day and then you can begin to say, since the production capacity have scaled up so much, prices may begin to fall or to remain stable,” Mr Kunle said.

He explained that the stability of supply and production capacity will lead to a stable price, not necessarily a cheap one.

“So, when MTN came to market, MTN and Airtel, was the price of the telephone cheap? No it wasn’t because it was at an entry level, it was a take off period, so for now, people should not carry this wrong narrative that because Dangote is refining crude oil locally, it means the price will be cheap. No, the price can be stable because there is something we call production capacity and supply capacity,” he said.

Mr Kunle said if Dangote refinery has production capacity but does not have guaranteed supply of crude, the raw material, at a reasonable price, the output will hardly translate to cheaper petrol.

“It’s not possible in pragmatic economics,” he said.

According to him, if the cost of the crude is very high, the output of the products from crude will also be relatively high.

“If Dangote gets crude at international price and they translate it to naira, sufficient crude, 700,000 barrels per day and they translate it to naira, and they give him every day unfailingly, and he refines it, that gives Nigeria a stable source of supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and if that continues like that, you can now say, supply of PMS locally is now more than even excess, then the price may adjust reasonably down, depending on the cost of production of the crude, so the cost of PMS is a derivative of the cost of the crude.

“If crude oil is $100 per barrel and it costs Nigeria $48 to produce, that means when you give that crude oil to Dangote to refine, or to any refinery to refine, $100 multiplied by the exchange rate, because you’re selling to him in naira, so when he adds his refining cost and everything, so how can the petrol per litre be cheaper than what it is now? It will be high. But if crude oil is $50 multiplied by the exchange rate you give it to him, plus his refining cost, the price again also will reflect the cost input of crude,” he said.

He said what Nigerians should be looking at henceforth, is that for the first time in history, the nation is going to have steady supply of petroleum products.

“That steady supply and stability will make you and me to plan because we will no longer go and spend one hour, two hours in petrol station, so you can now adjust your income, what we call income allocation, you can reallocate your income and say oh, this week, I will not spend more than N2,000 on petrol, this is what I will spend. Why? You could now plan. So the one hour you used to waste in the petrol station, you could now go and use it to do other things productively,” he added.

Also speaking, Muda Yusuf, director of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), noted that the pricing issue will depend on various factors, including the cost at which Dangote gets the crude.

He stated that if the cost of crude is low, there may be a reduction in price, but if the cost is high, the price of the product will also be high.

“The pricing issue will depend on a number of factors. First it depends on the cost Dangote gets the crude. If the cost at which Dangote refinery get the crude is low, may be by virtue of concession given by NNPC or the condition given by the government then we are likely to see a reduction in price as a result of the coming on board of Dangote.

“That’s the principal factor because if crude oil is selling at $80 and Dangote has to buy crude at that maybe $80 or more, there is no way that can bring down the price of his product. Even the social environment at which we are, the NNPC at the current prices still subsidise fuel. So, unless the government is trying to subsidise the product for Dangote as well,” Mr Yusuf said.

He explained that the fact around Dangote is not enough to change the price; it depends on the condition under which he is able to get the crude.

“Government has offered NNPC to sell the crude in Naira, but we don’t know at what exchange rate they are using, we don’t know how much they are going to sell it per barrel. So, the major determinant will be the cost of the crude that will determine what will happen,” he said.

On Friday, the Nigerian government announced that loading of petrol from Dangote Refinery will begin on Sunday.

The Dangote Refinery is set to begin polypropylene production by the end of October 2024, effectively curbing Nigeria’s imports of the product which is a crucial raw material in various industries, including packaging, textiles, and automotive parts.

Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, announced that as the refinery edges closer to full operational status, it will meet the local demand for polypropylene, previously reliant on imports valued at approximately $267.7 million annually.

This shift is expected to significantly benefit various industries, including packaging, textiles, and automotive manufacturing, which have faced challenges due to foreign exchange issues and long shipping times.

Dangote emphasised that the refinery is prepared to supply the market fully, alleviating the struggles of local manufacturers who have had to stockpile due to import delays.

The production of polypropylene will not only reduce costs associated with importation but also enhance the stability of the Nigerian economy by decreasing reliance on foreign products. With this development, Nigeria aims to become self-sufficient in polypropylene production, marking a significant milestone in its industrialisation efforts.

“Let me assure you of one thing, Nigeria from October will not import any more polypropylene, which used to be about a quarter of a million tons,” he said. “No more imports of polypropylene.”

Polypropylene, a versatile plastic used in a wide range of applications from packaging and textiles to automotive parts and medical equipment, is currently imported in large quantities by Nigerian manufacturers.

Annual polypropylene import into Nigeria is estimated at $267.7 million, according to TradeMap, which peaked at $407 million in 2022.

The latest data by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) revealed that the country brought in the product valued at N99.6 billion in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, placing it at number 12 on the top 15 products imported by Nigeria from the rest of the world.

“We will satisfy the market 100 percent,” said Dangote. “This is so because these industries that are struggling and having to go and look for FX that they will not get and still have to keep stock for four or five months because it’s not easy shipping, clearing, and whatever, can buy as they need.”

He noted that the refinery is determined to do this because it will reduce the cost of importation and scramble for foreign exchange.

“We are also in the business. And our demand also as Dangote is huge. We have Dangote Packaging and are one of the biggest demand users of polypropylene,” he added.

Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, China, and Vietnam were the top importers of polypropylene into Nigeria in the first quarter of 2024, covering 90 percent of Nigeria’s demand.

Polypropylene is a versatile plastic used in a wide range of packaging applications. It’s often preferred over materials like cellophane, metal, and paper due to its flexibility, durability, and cost-effectiveness.

It is used in food and confectionery, tobacco, and clothing industries in flexible form while in rigid form, polypropylene can be found in caps, closures, pallets, crates, bottles, JIT storage solutions, and containers for products like condiments, detergents, toiletries, and yoghourt.

Polypropylene’s versatility and benefits make it a popular choice for packaging across many industries.

“The polypropylene market is growing rapidly owing to the rising demand from the packaging industry. This high demand is associated with the increasing consumption of packaged food and beverages,” said Fortune Business Insights, a research firm.

“It also helps in reducing the possibility of food deterioration and quality loss.”

Air Peace, Nigeria’s flag carrier, has corroborated TheCable’s report that Joe Ajaero, president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), was arrested over a petition by the airline in 2023.

On Monday, Ajaero was arrested by security operatives suspected to be personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS).

Following his arrest, sources told TheCable that the arrest was due to his failure to honour police invitation over a petition by Air Peace.

Also, Ajaero was said to have failed to honour an invitation by the DSS over an alleged case of extortion.

In a statement on Monday by Omotade Makinwa, Air Peace spokesperson, the airline said the police acted on the petition a year after it was withdrawn.

“Air Peace Airline expresses deep concern over recent media reports regarding the arrest of the President of the NLC in connection to a petition filed by the airline in September 2023,” the company said.

“This development, which has led to negative publicity, does not reflect the current relationship between Air Peace and the NLC.

“It is important to clarify the events leading up to the petition. On May 3, 2023, the NLC disrupted Air Peace operations as part of a broader conflict with the Imo State government.

“Although Air Peace had no involvement in the dispute between the NLC and the Imo State government, our airline was unfortunately used as a tool to exert pressure on the government.

“This unlawful disruption of our services caused significant financial losses and impacted the travel plans of many Nigerians across multiple states.

“In response to this disruption, Air Peace’s legal team submitted a formal petition against the NLC to the Nigerian Police. Despite our repeated efforts to follow up on the petition, the Police failed to take prompt action.”

However, Makinwa said, over a year later, the police have chosen to act on the original petition, “which has now led to the alleged arrest of the NLC president”.

“Before this arrest, the airline and the NLC had already reached an amicable resolution, and Air Peace had withdrawn its petition, allowing a positive working relationship to resume between the two organisations,” he added.

On August 19, the police invited Ajaero for questioning over“ a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime”.

Oil marketers are concerned about the delay in announcing the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, being produced by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, as they noted that the landing cost of imported PMS is now about N1,120/litre.

Dealers stated that a high PMS price from the Dangote refinery would lead to the importation of the commodity by marketers since the government has opened up the market for competition.

In July this year, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria revealed that the landing cost of PMS was N1,117/litre. The landing cost is simply the price at which the commodity lands on Nigeria’s shores.

While the pump prices of petrol ranged between N600 and N700/litre in July, the cost was raised last week to between N855 and N897/litre by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, while some independent dealers hiked their prices to above N1,000/litre.

It was also gathered on Monday that the delay in the release of the price of Dangote petrol had further made oil marketers deepen discussions with their foreign partners in a bid to start petrol imports.

The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abubakar Maigandi, stated that IPMAN was speaking with its partners abroad while awaiting Dangote petrol price, but noted that a high cost from Dangote would lead to massive PMS importation.

“On the landing cost of petrol, we are waiting for our foreign partners to calculate how much it will cost to bring the product to Nigeria. This is so that independent marketers will also see how to import the commodity. So we are waiting to get the data from them.

“I’ll tell you the actual landing cost once we get the data from our foreign partners. So if the landing cost is cheaper than what the Dangote refinery will sell, then we will see how to bring in the product.

“You know, it is now an open market, so anywhere we see a cheaper rate with good quality, we will buy from there. We don’t know the price of Dangote PMS. We are waiting for the refinery to release the price. However, we are discussing it with our foreign partners,” he said.

Maigandi explained that allowing multiple importers of the PMS would ensure availability and competition.

“One advantage of allowing everyone to bring in the product is that there will be guaranteed availability of products.

“There is also going to be competition. Once this happens, everybody will try to see how they can sell their products and buy another one. It is only when you sell what you have that you can generate profit,” he stated.


Dangote petrol price

An official of the Dangote Group said the President of the group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, will do everything possible to beat down the price of petrol.

The official who preferred not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said Dangote would sell PMS in Nigeria whether or not the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited agrees to be its off-taker or not.

According to the source, Aliko Dangote is a nationalistic man who loves the country, and he is ready to make sacrifices for the sake of the masses.

He recalled how the refinery brought down the price of diesel from about N1,600 to N950 before it started hovering around N1,100 and N1,200 due to foreign exchange fluctuations.

“When we started diesel, the product was around N1,700. We crashed the price to N1,200 and later, N950, before it now hovers around N1,100 and N1,200. Those who were milking the nation with dirty diesel saw it and they reduced their cost too. We will do it again,” the source stated.

Asked if Dangote can sell his PMS locally in the face of the seeming refusal of the NNPC to work with the refinery, the source replied, “Why not? We are going to sell locally; Alhaji Aliko Dangote is a nationalistic Nigerian; he loves this nation, and he is ready to make sacrifices.

‘We will bend for the country. We have high-quality PMS for the country. Some people who are importing fuel and some owners of refineries and blending plants in foreign countries don’t want this to happen. Their $117bn shipping business to West Africa is at stake.”

When the official was asked to disclose when the PMS will be out, he said, “Don’t worry, we are on course. We are ‘talk and do’. When we talk, we make it happen.”

The official, however, mentioned that the Dangote Group is still waiting to hear from the NNPC, but will take its decision if the state-owned company refuses to work with it.

The PUNCH reports that the NNPC and the Dangote refinery have yet to agree on the modalities for the sale of the latter’s PMS.

The NNPC, in a statement by its spokesman, Olufemi Soneye, said on Saturday that it would not buy Dangote PMS unless it is cheaper than that of the international market.

This is contrary to claims by Aliko Dangote that the refinery was waiting for the NNPC to roll out its product.

The NNPC also declared that Dangote and any other domestic refineries are free to sell directly to any marketer on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, saying it has no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment.

“The recent changes in PMS prices have no impact on the DRL or any other domestic refinery’s access to the Nigerian market. In fact, if current prices are perceived as high, it presents an ideal opportunity for the refinery to sell its products at lower prices in the Nigerian market.

Soneye stated that the Dangote refinery could lower its price if it felt the new prices were too high.

“We emphasise that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by the DRL. The NNPC Ltd will only fully off-take PMS from the DRL if the market prices of PMS are higher than the pump prices in Nigeria,” the NNPC said.

Our correspondent reports that this statement from the NNPC is an indication that the NNPC is not ready to stop importation, especially as its refineries have yet to become operational.

Since the unveiling of its PMS, the NNPC appeared to have turned its back against the Dangote refinery.

While unveiling the 650,000-capacity refinery, Aliko Dangote, stated that the facility would roll out petrol whenever the NNPC was ready.

Dangote disclosed that the petrol would get to the filling stations in the next 48 hours (from Tuesday) after all arrangements with the NNPC were concluded, saying the queues will be over soon.

The group president emphasised that the NNPC is the company that would sell and distribute the product, under the current naira crude sale arrangement.

“Once the NNPC is ready, we roll,” Dangote emphasised.

But it seems the talks between the two companies have collapsed and this means fuel importation will continue to gulp N2tn every month, perhaps until the government refineries are fixed.

In the past few days, the NNPC has in different statements denied that it would fix the price for Dangote or be its sole distributor.

This was after the state-owned energy firm said it was given a September 15 timeline by the refinery to lift its petrol, a claim the Dangote official denied.

The main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has disclosed that they know the sponsors of the #EndBadGovernance protests that rocked the country in August.

Some Nigerians and groups took to the streets in many cities between August 1 and 10 to protest against the prevailing hardship in the country.

Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in Abuja on Monday, Debo Ologunagba, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, while noting that hunger was the sponsor of the protest, urged the federal government to arrest hunger and not Nigerians.

Ologunagba was speaking on the backdrop of arrest of the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajearo.

The PDP Spokesman said: “There is need for caution. There was a protest in this country, the government did not do anything. You arrest some people and said they were terrorists and you charge them to court. You say some people were the sponsors of the protest.

“We know those who sponsored the protest. The sponsor is hunger. The President and his people should arrest hunger and there will be no problem. Let your policies that are draconian, that are bringing people to their knees. This is the season schools are resuming, we know what people are going through.”

THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has confirmed the arrest of its President, Joe Ajaero, who was on his way to the United Kingdom.

Head of Information and Public Affairs of the NLC, Benson Upah, in a statement on Monday, said Ajaero is billed to address workers under auspices of the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK.

He said: “This morning, the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was seized and whisked away by agents of the Nigerian State while on his way to the United Kingdom on the invitation of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) of Britain.

“Ajaero was set to attend and address the global gathering of workers on behalf of Nigerian workers at the Congress of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the UK, a platform where critical discussions on workers’ rights, social justice, and economic fairness are discussed. We are yet to ascertain his whereabouts or his state of health as all efforts we have made to get in touch with him have proved abortive.”

NLC disclosed that Ajaero is detained without any legal warrant or formal instrument, noting that the NLC president’s detention was “unjustified” and a “brazen act of lawlessness.”

The statement added, ‘Joe Ajaero is not a fugitive. His detention is therefore a brazen act of lawlessness and intimidation as he has not been declared wanted by any law enforcement body. His detention is a brazen act of intimidation and completely unjustified under the laws of our nation. The mere contemplation of not just stopping a lawful citizen from travelling but also sequestering his freedom is an affront to our democratic and natural rights as a people and as workers.”

The Nigerian central labour body observed that the action is an unmistakable demonstration of the height of lawlessness being perpetuated by the Nigerian government and its agencies in their bid to silence every voice of dissent and opposition in the country as the economic policies of the government continues to afflict the people with monumental suffering and hardship.

As a result of the situation, NLC stated that the labour movement and its allies are on red alert.

The statement, “In light of this troubling development, the Congress puts all its affiliates, State Councils, Civil society allies and all patriotic Nigerians on the highest state of alert. The Congress will not stand idly by while the rights of its leaders and members are trampled upon. Accordingly, we demand for the immediate and unconditional release of comrade Joe Ajaero.”

NLC called on the international community, human rights organisations, and all advocates of democracy to take note of this rising wave of authoritarianism in Nigeria.

It added: “The NLC remains resolute in its commitment to protecting workers’ rights and will not be cowed by the oppressive tactics of the state. Once again, we demand the immediate and unconditional release of Comrade Joe Ajaero and the cessation of all forms of harassment against labour leaders and the Nigerian working class including innocent citizens who hold dissenting opinions. We equally demand that the state frees all Nigerians languishing in various prisons around the country for exercising their democratic rights to protest in the #EndBadGovernance rallies around the country.”

It also disclosed organs of the Congress are in a closed door meeting whose outcome will be made available to the public.

By Daily Trust


Governor Dikko Radda of Katsina State says bandits cannot operate freely without the connivance of some persons in the society.

Speaking at a town hall meeting which held in Daura at the weekend, Radda said his government is ready to support people to assist security agents in protecting communities against attacks by bandits, kidnappers and other criminals.

The programme had as its theme, ‘Public Engagement: 2025 Citizens’ Budget Participation Process’.

“We have come up with an initiative that for any community ready to defend itself, we will give them necessary support and training to engage criminals before the arrival of the security agents.”

“I went to a village, Tsamiyar-jino, where it took me two hours inside a jeep before I reached the village from the main road. So, if bandits attack such areas, from the time you inform the security, it will take them over two hours before they can respond to the distress call. By then, whatever is going to happen will have happened. They will have killed people and kidnapped others.

“I have said several times that the security agents cannot do this work alone. We don’t even have enough of them. I am surprised at the way we are dying in such a humiliating manner. We were told that anyone who died in defence of his family would enter paradise.

“You see five criminals attacking a community of 2,000 to 3,000 people, rape daughters, women and abducting others without any confrontation from the people of that community. If there are 100 youths in the community who confront them, they will not shoot more than three times without being captured with bare hands.

“Paying ransom doesn’t even prevent a hostage from being killed by abductors. Sometimes they collect the money and kill the victim.”

The governor said even community leaders connive with bandits to attack communities for monetary gains.

“There was a representative of the village head who collected N700,000 from bandits and allowed them to enter his area and killed about 30 people,” the governor said.

“There were women arrested, and a teacher serving as their informant, in fact, almost all the segments of people are involved in this act.”

Radda said his government has created a community security watch corps to protect residents.

“We trained them and attached them with the police and the army to work in synergy after providing them rifles, bulletproof vests, umbrellas, three sets of uniforms and shoes, among others,” he added.

The governor said the security operatives were equipped with 700 motorcycles, 65 Hilux cars and 10 armoured personnel carriers (APC).

“We pay N3 million for fuelling and maintenance of those vehicles to front-line local governments, and N1.5 million for vulnerable local governments and N750,000 for the remaining LGAs,” he said.

“We also purchased surveillance gadgets that you cannot find anywhere in the country. Our own is 5G and not the normal 3G.”

Katsina is one of the North-West states where bandits have been wreaking havocs, subjecting residents to untold hardship.

Fresh facts have emerged as to why the special adviser to the President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, resigned.

On Saturday, Mr Ngelale announced that he had taken an indefinite leave of absence to attend to health challenge in his family.

“On Friday, I submitted a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.

“While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home,” Mr Ngelale said.

Although Mr Ngelale had cited “medical matters” as the reason for his “leave of absence”, insiders told DAILY NIGERIAN that Mr Ngele was only given a soft-landing to quit as presidential spokesman but he chose to quit all the positions he was occupying.

Since Mr Ngelale’s appointment, which was influenced by the first family, there has been internal pressure to replace him with “someone better media relations” among the campaign spokespersons or “someone the president is more pleased with”.

DAILY NIGERIAN also gathered that Mr Ngelale was also on collision course with other media aides working for the president for allegedly sidelining them in the running of the affairs of the office.

According to sources, Mr Ngelale had also chewed more than he could bite, taking a number of roles that affected his primary media relations role.

The sources said the tasks of being a Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen, has created a role strain and gave the cabal a reason to convince the president to replace him.

The sources said Mr Ngelale had stepped on some toes as he expanded the scope of the Special Presidential Envoy role to garner more influence in the power circle.

“When the powers around the president realised that he has too many irons in the fire, they asked him to choose between being a presidential spokesman and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action.

“They thought Ajuri would choose the climate role because of his passion for climate campaign, but he chose to remain as presidential spokesman.

“Dissatisfied with Ajuri’s choice, the presidential cabal therefore directed him to completely quit the media role and become a full-time climate ambassador.

“So when Ajuri realised that the cabal does not want him as spokesman for the president, he decided to quit the roles altogether,” said a source familiar with the power play.

DAILY NIGERIAN gathered that the president may pick his former chief of staff, Sunday Dare, as Mr Ngelale’s replacement.

Efforts to get the reaction of Mr Ngelale on the issue were unsuccessful as his known phone number was switched off at the time of filing this report.

He has also yet to respond to SMS sent to his phone line.

The Presidency has disassociated itself from a yacht seen flying the Nigerian flag in St. Tropez, a coastal town in France.

PUNCH Online reported that a video of the yacht, which displayed the Nigerian flag during a vacation in the French town, went viral on social media, sparking reactions from netizens.

In response to the video, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Digital and New Media, Otega Ogra, clarified via his social media page on Saturday that the yacht in question belongs to a private individual.

Ogra explained that flags used by the President or the Armed Forces do not feature a coat of arms, stressing that the official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without any additional symbols.

He wrote, “There have been false claims circulating that a private individual’s yacht spotted in St. Tropez is a Nigerian government yacht. Here are some points to consider in order to discern the truth.

“The 42-metre Benetti yacht currently being circulated online has been privately owned for around five years since its construction.

“It is important to note that this specific yacht has no connection or ownership ties to the Nigerian government, President, or Armed Forces. Any claims or assertions suggesting otherwise are simply untrue and inaccurate. It is not uncommon for luxury yachts to fly the flag of the owner’s country as well as the flag of the country in which they are registered.

“The official Nigerian flag is Green-White-Green without a coat of arms in the middle. Flags representing the Nigerian President or the Armed Forces do not contain a coat of arms in the centre. Placing anything in the centre of the flag is a clear deviation.”

The latest hike in the price of petrol has pushed up transport fares by over 50 percent in major cities across Nigeria, findings by Daily Trust have revealed.

The newest price hikes, implemented by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPCL) Retail Management, range from N855 to N897 per litre, depending on the location, from the previous N568-N617.

Independent marketers have adjusted their prices to between N930 and N1,200 per litre of petrol.

The price hike has had a widespread impact, with some Nigerians resorting to long-distance trekking and others missing work due to the higher transportation costs.

2027: We are working to bring Kwankwaso, Obi back into our fold – PDP
Doyin Okupe: Why I dumped Obi for Tinubu
The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday joined the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in demanding reversal of the increase in the petrol pump price.

This is even as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) warned that the price hike could lead to higher inflation.

Also yesterday, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) announced plans to protest and shut down major cities from 15th of this month.


Abuja, Lagos commuters express frustration

Commuters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lagos and other states yesterday expressed frustration over the hike in the price of petrol which, according to them, has constrained their living conditions.

Many of them, who spoke to our correspondents, said the unaffordability of transportation cost had forced them to trek to work.

Adeolu Segun, a civil servant residing in Zuba, Abuja, said the fare from his area to Berger had risen from N1,000 to N1,500.

Mrs. Zainab Ibrahim, a mother of six living in Kubwa, said she paid N1,000 as fare as against the previous N500 for the same route.

Ismaila Danjuma, the Secretary of the Zuba branch of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), explained that the rise in transport fares was due to the fuel price hike.

A passenger, Murjanatu Shehu, who was travelling to Kano from Abuja, said the fare rose from N8,000 to N11,000.

Haruna Yakubu, a driver on the Abuja-Lokoja route, confirmed fare increase from N4, 500 to N6,000; and Abuja-Okene routes fare rose from N6,500-N10,000.

Lagos bus drivers, Ojo Jamiu and Chukwuka Ogwu, said they now charge more than double as fares.


Kano, Rivers residents trek

In Kano and Port Harcourt, residents resorted to trekking.

Yakubu Isa, who said he used to pay N200 to go to Kano Guest Inn from Kwana Hudu, could not afford the new N400 fare, but had to trek. A teacher in Kano, Maikudi Haliru, also said he trekked to school to avoid the higher tricycle fares.

Our correspondent observed a low turnout of passengers at the Kano Line Motor Park yesterday as fares for the Kano-Kaduna and Kano-Abuja routes had risen to N6,000 and N12,000 respectively.

Some residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, also said the latest increase in transport fares had forced them to trek.

In Ondo State where transport fares have also doubled, residents said it would be better to trek a few distances to their workplaces.

In Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, tricycle fares have been increased by 50 percent; while same rose in Borno and Yobe states by 30 per cent.


Inflation figures may go up – MAN

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has said that the new price of petrol might push inflation figures high, impacting household budgets. It also said Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (SMEs), which often operate on thin margins, could be hard hit by the development.

The MAN, in a statement by its Director-General, Segun Ajayi-Kadir yesterday, enumerated the impacts of the petrol price hike.

“So, in terms of what the impact might be and judging from what we have witnessed in the past, the cost of transportation may increase, and so would the prices of goods and services. As the cost of petrol rises, consumers will spend more on transportation and energy, leaving them with less disposable income.

“This decrease in purchasing power may lead to reduced demand for non-essential goods and services, affecting businesses across various sectors. These are pointers to the high possibility of a rise in inflation figures, impacting household budgets,” the DG said.

We’ll shut down major cities – Students

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans for a “large-scale” shutdown of all major cities in Nigeria over the fuel price hike, starting from September 15, 2024.

In a notification sent to students yesterday, Okunomo Henry Adewumi, President of the NANS’ Senate, demanded immediate reversal of the fuel price hike and the removal of Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the NNPCL.

The statement said that the protest will be conducted peacefully and in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, another faction of the NAN yesterday debunked the claim that the student union was planning a nationwide shutdown of major cities.

Akinteye Babatunde, the association’s factional Senate President, in a statement, said NANS did not announce nor endorse any such protest, describing the claim as baseless.


Afenifere, PDP demand pump price hike reversal

The pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, yesterday urged the federal government to direct the NNPCL to reverse the increase in fuel pump price.

Afenifere asked the government to stick to the claim by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, that it did not instruct the increase.

In a statement signed by Jare Ajayi, the spokesman of the Afenifere’s faction loyal to Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the group, said that Nigerians are currently going through a lot of challenges as a result of biting socio-economic crunch and the attendant hardships.

“It is therefore a wrong time to come up with any policy that will increase the undesirable challenges Nigerians are going through presently. Failure by the NNPCL to reverse the latest increment in fuel price will rub off negatively on some policies of Tinubu administration to ease things for the citizens. Policies such as the Students Loan Scheme and Consumer Credit Scheme that are just taking off”, it said.

Afenifere said with the latest increase in petrol price, the cost of fuel in Nigeria had risen by 460 per cent in 15 months.

It was curious that an organisation that declared a profit running into trillions of Naira could, almost in the same breath, claim indebtedness to the tune of nearly $7 billion. “Why not pay off the debt from the available fund before declaring it as profit?

“It is a common knowledge that the cost and availability of energy such as petrol, gas, electricity, diesel and kerosine are major factors not only in production and services but also on the quality of well-being that Nigerians can enjoy. Hikes in prices of these energy sources have astronomically increased the costs of services and commodities, reduced the disposal incomes of average Nigerians and heighten their health risk. The combination of all these are making a daily living an onerous task for the majority of the citizens. Considering the fact that millions of the Nigerians had been described as being ‘multi-dimensionally poor’, the recent hike in costs of fuel and electricity are uploading the number of people in that category phenomenally”, it said.

Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday condemned the hike in fuel price, alleging that it was a “brutal assault” on Nigerians by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP said the increase is a “recipe for crisis,” particularly during a time of severe economic hardship under President Tinubu’s administration.

Debo Ologunagba, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, in a statement, urged President Tinubu to reverse the fuel price increase and reconsider other policies negatively impacting the nation.

He said with proper management, petrol should not cost more than N250 per litre.

He said the continuous rise in fuel prices, without consideration for the people’s welfare, was exacerbating the already dire economic situation, pushing millions of Nigerians further into poverty.

The PDP also alleged that over 150 million Nigerians had fallen below the poverty line, with businesses collapsing due to the high cost of living, a weakened naira and rising unemployment.

Tricycle riders protest fuel price hike in Delta

Tricycle riders in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday protested the petrol price hike, disrupting business activities and vehicular movements.

They blocked the Deco Road Junction, the First-Marine Gate Junction and the popular Hausa Quarters, Igbudu.

TUC asks govt to rescind decision

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) on Wednesday criticized the federal government for the recent hike in the pump price of petrol, demanding its immediate reversal.

TUC President Festus Osifo, in a statement, said the union expressed deep concern that the sudden increase in fuel and electricity costs would exacerbate poverty levels, worsen the suffering of citizens and potentially lead to social unrest.

Osifo criticized the government for implementing the price increase without consulting key stakeholders, calling it a blatant disregard for the welfare of the Nigerian people, particularly the working class who are most affected by such decisions.

“The news of the PMS price hike has sent a wave of apprehension and depression across the nation, especially as it comes on top of existing hardships faced by citizens,” he said.

He said the TUC was also concerned about the recent 250% increase in electricity tariffs, labelling it as an additional burden on the poorest in society and a sign of the government’s lack of empathy for ordinary Nigerians.


Tinubu didn’t bargain fuel price for minimum wage-Presidency

The Senior Special Assistant to the President of Media (Print), Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Wednesday on his X, said Tinubu never bargained with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) not to increase the price of petrol before arriving at N70,000 as the new minimum wage.

He was reacting to the allegation by the NLC’s president, Joe Ajaero, that Tinubu asked them to accept N70,000 as minimum wage for the petrol price to remain N617/litre.

Abdulaziz said: “I sat through the two meetings President @officialABAT had with labour leaders on minimum wage. At neither of the meetings was an offer made in exchange for a fuel price hike. Ajaero is once again playing his dirty politics with the emotions of Nigerians.”

In his reaction yesterday, Ajaero, through the NLC’s spokesman, Benson Upah, said, “As for Abdulaziz’s side-dig, he should stop insulting the intelligence of Nigerians as they do not need Comrade Joe Ajaero to know they have been taken for a ride and that life has never been this mean, all due to the policies of government.”

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says it has supplied 30 million barrels of crude to the Dangote refinery so far.

The Executive Vice President of NNPCL Downstream, Adedapo Segun, who disclosed thi[/b]s on Thursday on Arise Television, said plans were underway to supply an additional 17 million barrels to the refinery soon.

He said the company would supply 6.3 million barrels of crude in September and 11.3 million barrels in October.

“[b]We have supplied about 30 million barrels to Dangote so far—6.3 million this month, and we will supply 11.3 million in October,” Segun stated.

He stated that the development was part of the Federal Government’s decision to sell crude to local refineries, adding that the 6.3 million barrels would be delivered in seven cargoes.

“The pump price today is not reflective of the market. NNPCL is the sole importer of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in the country, which is abnormal. We should be moving towards a situation where the free market determines prices,” he added.

He explained that the NNPCL’s role as the sole importer of petrol was not deliberate, but rather a response to market conditions.

“Let me put it into proper perspective. NNPC is not a regulator. We didn’t choose to be the sole importer. We don’t determine who participates in the market. We stepped in when others reduced their participation. It is not about us wanting to be monopolists,” Segun stated.

According to him, achieving a stable fuel supply and price requires ideal market conditions, including a more liquid foreign exchange market.

“Market conditions need to be ideal, and there needs to be FX liquidity,” he added, suggesting that broader economic reforms may be needed to address the fuel pricing issue,” he said.

Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, says the price of petrol from his refinery will be determined by the federal executive council (FEC).

Dangote spoke on Tuesday after a press conference in Lagos.

The billionaire’s response follows the official announcement of the commencement of petrol production.

“On pricing, it is an arrangement which is designed and approved by the federal executive council (FEC) led by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he said.

“As soon as it is finalised, which he (Tinubu) is pushing, once we finish with NNPC, it can be today, it can be tomorrow, we are ready to roll into the market.”

Also, Dangote said the petrol from the plant, in terms of quality, can compete with products from other refineries across the world.

Regarding the timeframe for the petrol supply, the billionaire said an announcement would be made after meeting with the NNPC today or Wednesday.

According to Dangote, as soon as this is finalised, “our products will start going to the market”.

“Our gasoline can be in filling stations in the next 48 hours depending on NNPC,” he said.

Following the commencement of petrol production in Dangote refinery, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said the refinery is expected to supply 25 million litres of petrol daily in September and will subsequently increase this amount to 30 million litres daily from October.

The 650,000 bpd capacity refinery began operations in January with the production of diesel and aviation fuel.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has branded President Bola Tinubu a betrayer following the recent significant hike in fuel prices.

In a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, and made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Tuesday, the Labour Centre expressed shock and dismay at the clandestine increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), describing it as a “deep sense of betrayal.”

The NLC recalled that one of the reasons for accepting the N70,000 national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased.

The Congress accused the government of reneging on its promises and implementing “ferocious right-wing market policies” that have driven Nigerians to their “all-time low.”

The NLC also condemned the government’s crackdown on protesters, the arrest and detention of citizens on trumped-up charges, and the encroachment on the duties of the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

“We are filled with a deep sense of betrayal as the federal government clandestinely increases the pump price of PMS. One of the reasons for accepting N70,000 as the national minimum wage was the understanding that the pump price of PMS would not be increased, even though we knew that N70,000 was not sufficient,” the Congress stated.

The Congress further demanded the “immediate reversal of the fuel price increase; the release of incarcerated protesters; an end to indiscriminate arrests and detentions; reversal of the 250% electricity tariff hike; a stop to the encroachment on the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s duties; an end to policies that engender hunger and insecurity; and a halt to the government’s culture of terror, fear, and deceit.”

The NLC vowed to stand resolute with the people and not be intimidated by the government or its security agencies, warning that appropriate decisions would be taken in the coming days.

“In the coming days, the appropriate organs of the Congress will be meeting to take appropriate decisions which will be made public.”

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) says the Dangote refinery is expected to supply 25 million litres of petrol daily this month.

Speaking in a social media post on Tuesday, the authority said The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has agreed to supply crude oil to the refinery in naira.

“At the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja, NNPCL reach an agreement to commence crude oil sale and supply to Dangote Refinery in local currency,” the authority said.

“The refinery is now poised to supply an initial 25 million litres of PMS into the domestic market this September. And will subsequently increase this amount to 30 million liters daily from October 2024.”

The Dangote refinery officially began petrol production on September 3.

This is comes months after its initial announcement to begin production of the commodity, also known as premium motor spirits (PMS).

On May 18, Aliko Dangote, chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), had said the refinery would begin to produce petrol from June, adding that Nigeria would not have to import the product again.

However, in June, the business mogul said due to a minor delay, the refinery would commence petrol supply in July.

Still, production did kick off in July as planned, as Dangote refinery announced a shift to August.

On August 14, reports had claimed that the delivery date of the petrol supply had been postponed, but Anthony Chiejina, chief branding and communications officer of Dangote Group, denied the reports.

On July 29, the federal executive council (FEC) had approved a proposal by President Bola Tinubu directing the NNPC to sell crude oil to Dangote refinery and other refineries in naira.

The development followed several disputes between the refinery, the NNPCL, NMDPRA and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has said that its Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, will be exported if the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and other petroleum dealers in the country refuse to patronise it.

The Vice President of Oil and Gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, stated this on Monday while featuring on Brekete Family live show.

Edwin, who confirmed a report by The PUNCH that the refinery has started the production of petrol, said local oil traders have resorted to importing diesel and aviation fuel, blocking local sales of Dangote fuel.

“We have been exporting aviation fuel, we have been producing kerosene, we have been producing diesel, but yesterday, we started the production of PMS. So, that was the last stage. The only thing now left out is petrochemicals.

“So, the good news for the country is we have started producing PMS from our refinery since yesterday (Sunday),” he confirmed.

Asked if the petrol would be sold locally, Edwin replied, “Well, I explained how there has been a kind of a blockade from lifting our products within the country. The traders have been trying to block (it), and so now we have been exporting our petroleum products. PMS, we are ready to pump in as much as possible to the country.

“But if the traders or NNPC are not buying the product, obviously, we will end up exporting the PMS as we are doing with the aviation jet and diesel,” he declared.

Edwin expressed surprise that the company started facing different challenges it never expected when the refinery was set to commence operations.

He recalled that the philosophy initially was to add value to the raw materials available in the country, regretting that Nigeria is still exporting crude and importing refined petroleum products after over three decades.

“The philosophy is to take the crude, and instead of exporting the crude, refine it, add value; export the finished products, and supply the finished products locally. But unfortunately for us, we started facing challenges with the crude supply.

“What is happening today? We are struggling to get the crude. We are now importing the crude from the US, we are importing from Brazil, and from other parts of the world. So, the whole philosophy has gone upside down. After all these decades, we are exporting crude, importing products,” he added.

He stated further, “The same thing is continuing. We are not getting enough crude allocation, and the crude is still being exported. We are forced to import crude from outside. Yes, we are getting some crude locally, but it’s not adequate.”

Commenting on the laws governing domestic crude supply obligations, he said, “As per the laws, no crude can be exported, unless all the local refineries requirements are met. That is specified in the Petroleum Industry Act. But we are struggling to get the crude.”

He revealed that the company has started the construction of four crude tanks of 120 million litres capacity each to store imported crude due to low local supply.

“In fact, if you see the refinery, we are building four new crude tanks, each of the tanks has 120 million litres capacity. We have to construct the tanks because we are not getting the local crude. We import from overseas, which means we should have enough stocks due to the shipping time,” he maintained.


Lack of local patronage

Despite having a gantry that can load 2,900 tankers per day, Edwin disclosed that the refinery has not loaded up to 5 per cent of the gantry’s capacity owing to low local patronage.

“Go and see our product gantry, we can load 86 tankers at any given time. We can load 2,900 tankers of petroleum products every day, but we are not even loading five per cent, because those who are interested in the trading business, feel that probably this local production is going to affect their established interest, so they are not allowing our products to be sold locally.

“They are not coming to lift our products. So, what are we doing? We are exporting the products.

“Yes, the refinery can survive, we can import the crude, we can export petroleum products, and we can survive. But is that why he invested in the refinery?” he queried.

On fuel quality, Edwin noted that the refinery has the best laboratory in the world, boasting “No refinery can come and challenge that they have more equipment than us,” he stated.

He added that the petroleum refinery has adopted what he called the Euro 5 grade, saying this is the grade which is acceptable in Europe or the US.

“Our product can be exported to any part of the world, the best in quality, the lowest in sulphur. In terms of pollution, we have no pollution. So, we are producing the best quality products. That is how we are already exporting our product.

“Our aviation jet fuel has gone to Europe, and we are exporting our diesel. So, the refinery has been successfully launched and producing the products,” he added.

The Dangote boss disclosed that one of the philosophies of the business is that wherever it is going to operate, the business should be highly environmentally friendly.

And then, also, every business we go in, we focus on the cost of production and the energy efficiency. And the same thing, philosophy, has been adopted here. So, as we start producing, we find that the energy costs are the lowest.


‘Dangote not monopolist’

The vice president expressed concern that some people still accuse the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, of being a monopolist, saying the founder was in business to create wealth and job opportunities, even while making profits.

He disclosed that the money being made by Dangote is being reinvested into the country, creating more wealth in the country, and adding to the Gross Domestic Product.

“So, we invest our profits and borrow, and we are investing. This is how Alhaji Aliko has been investing in businesses.

“We are making money, yes, but where is the money going? It is not going to Dubai, it is not going to Switzerland, to some bank accounts. It is not going to buy properties. When I joined him in 1991, Alhaji Aliko had a house in the United States, he had a house in the United Kingdom; everything is sold today, and he is still living in his 35-year-old house.

“He has not even added more houses within the country. Everything he’s putting into manufacturing, creating employment and creating wealth, and yet he is being called a monopolist,” he stated.

Industry sources confirmed to our correspondent on Sunday that the Dangote PMS would hit the market soon.

The sources, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the government and the Dangote Group are working out modalities for the circulation of the product.

A government source hinted that the sale and distribution of the PMS is being sorted out with the Federal Government.

The source added that only the NNPC would be authorised to sell the Dangote fuel at the moment.

Recall that the Dangote petrol was supposed to have been out since June, but the refinery battled crude shortage and entered into a brawl with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority, which accused the refinery of producing substandard diesel.

The intervention of the Federal Government that crude oil should be supplied to the refinery in the local currency seems to be yielding the desired result.

The PUNCH also recalls that Dangote and other local refineries have repeatedly accused international oil companies of not selling crude to them.

Recently, the Federal Government announced that the crude deal would commence in October.

The management of Dangote Group also alleged that the IOCs insisted on selling crude oil to its refinery through their foreign agents, saying the local price of crude oil will continue to increase because the trading arms offer cargoes at $2 to $4 per barrel, above Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission official price.

The group also alleged that the foreign oil producers seem to be prioritising Asian countries in selling the crude they produce in Nigeria.

The PUNCH reported last month that the Dangote refinery engaged in an exchange of words with the NUPRC over the alleged supply of 29 million barrels of crude oil to the refinery.

The Dangote Group had accused the NUPRC of failing to effectively enforce the domestic crude supply obligations regulations, saying the refinery had yet to get enough crude locally.

Reacting, the NUPRC debunked the claim, stating that it facilitated the supply of over 29 million barrels of crude oil to Dangote from January to June 2024.

The NUPRC argued that it had facilitated the domestic supply of crude oil to Dangote refinery and other refineries using the monthly production curtailment platform.

However, in a swift response, the company denied receiving 29 million barrels of crude from any source.

Devakumar Edwin, the Vice President of Dangote Industries Limited, has announced that the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) will become the sole buyer of products from Dangote Refinery as it begins production.

According to Edwin, the NNPC is prepared to purchase all refinery outputs to meet the nation’s local demand for petroleum products.

“We are currently testing the gasoline, and soon, it will start flowing into the tanks,” Edwin stated. He also noted, “If no one buys it locally, we will export it, just as we’ve been doing with our aviation jet fuel and diesel.”

This development comes amid ongoing financial challenges for the NNPC. Tribune Online previously reported that the NNPC Limited admitted to owing a substantial debt to international oil traders, which has resulted in a fuel supply shortage for local distributors.

Recent reports reveal that the NNPC owes these traders approximately $6 billion in unpaid subsidies, prompting them to halt petrol supplies to the national oil company.

Although the NNPC initially denied these claims, it later acknowledged that its outstanding debts to suppliers have been a major contributor to the ongoing fuel scarcity across the country.

With the NNPC now positioned as the sole buyer of products from Dangote Refinery, this arrangement offers some relief to the national oil company as it continues to navigate its international financial obligations.

By Abbas Jimoh


ndukwe

Presidential Candidate of Labour Party (LP) in last year’s election, Peter Obi, has reacted to the appointment of Nigerian-born Kelechi Ndukwe as commander of a United States Navy warship.

Daily Trust reports that Kelechi Ndukwe’s feat followed his promotion to the rank of Captain in the US Navy.

Commenting on this via his X handle, on Saturday, Obi said the development reinforced his stand that every Nigerian, irrespective of tribe or religion, can attain great heights in life when given the right support.

“The delightful news of the recent promotion of Nigerian-born Kelechi Ndukwe, to the rank of Captain in the US Navy, reinforces my stand that every Nigerian, irrespective of tribe or religion, can attain great heights in life when given the right support.

“Through his firm determination, resilience and strength of character, Ndukwe rose through the ranks in the US Navy, where today, he is celebrated as a US Navy Captain.

“To Nigerians, especially the youths, Ndukwe now stands as a reference point for hard work and determination. And as the saying goes, “There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.

“To us the leaders, Ndukwe’s story should inspire us to commit sincerely to the development of our dear nation, by building a conducive nation for our many talented youths to grow, compete and excel on the global stage,” Obi said.

He said this can be achieved by investing aggressively in the critical areas of education, and health and pulling people out of poverty.

He also congratulated Ndukwe on what he called very admirable and enviable feat which has again, brought honour to the nation.

“I wish him greater heights in service, even as he contributes to the development of our nation. The New Nigeria will focus on building a safe and conducive nation for our youths to thrive and excel in different areas for the greater good, growth and development of the nation,” Obi said.

Daily Trust also reports that the chairman, Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, shared the news on her X on Friday, congratulating Ndukwe on his achievement.

The Federal Government has directed the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Matawalle and other military chiefs to move to Sokoto State to rid the North-West of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Henshaw Ogubike, Director of Information and Public Relations, Ministry of Defence.

The directive, the government said, is part of an intensified effort to rid the North West of the menace of banditry, kidnapping and terrorism.

The federal government expressed sadness over the activities of terrorists and bandits in the states and its environs, explaining that the strategic move underscored the unwavering commitment of the government to restoring peace and security in the region.

Matawalle said that while in the North West, they would supervise operations and ensure that Bello Turji and his Bandits gang were flushed out.

“These criminal bandits have been circulating videos of a Nigerian military Armoured vehicle that was stuck in a water-logged area.

“And late in the night the officers were asked to withdraw to avoid being ambushed by bandits, later in the night the bandits went to the water-logged area, recording video of the Armoured vehicle that was stuck and celebrating it.

“This incident happened in kwashabawa, Zurmi Local Government Area in Zamfara.

“This is not acceptable as President Bola Tinubu has been giving great support to the Armed Forces of Nigeria.

“The Federal Government is deeply concerned about the persistent threat posed by banditry and terrorism in the North West particularly.

“And so we are ready to deploy all necessary assets to ensure that these criminal elements are flushed out and peace is restored to our communities,” Matawalle said.

He added that there was an urgent need to move against the terrorists to enable people to move freely.

“The time is up for these bandits and terrorists as increased and consistent operations will weaken all their bases.

“I believe my presence in the North West will ginger our armed forces,” he also said.

Matawalle further assured the people of Sokoto, Katsina, Zamfara and Kebbi states and the entire North West region that the security forces would leave no stone unturned in flushing out the bandits.

“I will be on the ground in the North West with the CDS and other military chiefs, leading our brave men and women in uniform.

“I also call on residents of these states to remain vigilant and cooperate with the security forces as the Federal Government has resolved to protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians.

“The security and well-being of the people remain the government’s top priority,” the minister added. (NAN)

Sule Lamido, a former governor of Jigawa State, has described President Bola Tinubu as a very daring and self-made man, who owes his emergence to nobody, including his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.

He said Tinubu “was adept at studying the system, manipulating it. He exploited it and he did it well”.

Lamido, a chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said this during an interview with the Nigerian Tribune.

He said: Prior to the convention, he (Tinubu) was in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where he boasted that it was his turn to rule Nigeria. And Buhari, very naive, was watching. He never liked Tinubu. There was somebody he wanted.

“He didn’t even trust his own vice president, Professor (Yemi) Osinbajo; he wanted Ahmed Lawan, but his calculation was absurd. You have done eight years for the North and you wanted another Northerner for another eight years?! No. Maybe later but there are some dynamics which you can’t alter, not in Nigeria of today.

“The president of Nigeria, after being in office for eight years, lacked the courage to push through his anointed choice. He was there at the convention and Tinubu that he never liked, he never believed in emerged. Tinubu knows that his victory wasn’t from Buhari, therefore, he owes him nothing.

“He wasn’t the choice of Afenifere, Obasanjo never liked him, but he became president. All the other groups, including the governors, were there but he won. He was determined to demolish all obstacles and he crushed them.”

He said the PDP is working towards winning the 2027 elections, despite the challenges facing the party.

“We are working hard, but it is a huge task. It is going to be difficult with Tinubu, with his hold on the country, on the economy, and his audacity to say this is where I stand against Nigeria’s interest. It is something else. Tinubu is very daring; he is his own creation, he is a self-made man, right from Chicago, what he went through on the streets.

“Look at how he was able to fight the Alliance for Democracy and Afenifere and then Obasanjo. At the APC convention, Buhari was against him but he defeated Buhari. What are you talking about? Don’t underestimate a man like that. Look at how he made it in life. He confronted all obstacles to get to where he is today, at the apex.

“There is no Nigerian like Tinubu who has been there on his own. Every established political arrangement, every institution, he demolished them. Now that he is in charge, he is not going to be easy to deal with. With Tinubu, Nigeria is a fiefdom, Tinubu is the emperor. And if you watch him closely, he doesn’t care.”

Written by Leadership


Contrary to the claim of the director-general of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar, that he resigned from office for family reasons, there are indications that he may have been forced to go.

In a seemingly rare act of personal conviction, Abubakar told the press on Saturday night that he decided to resign due to “some personal issues, but nothing serious.”

Security sources, however, told our correspondent that following the former DG’s visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu he was asked to resign due to “severe intelligence lapses” during the recent #EndBadGovernance protests across the country.

“It was not just about the hunger protests,” one source said, “it was also about how the protests evolved and escalated, with Russian flags flying in some states and protesters openly calling for military take-over. The thing looked so well-coordinated it is difficult to understand how the Intel agency missed it.”

Another source said even though Abubakar had done his job the best he could in the last six years, he may have fallen out of favour with the national security adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, whose office supervises the agency.

“In light of the serious security challenges that the country faces, inter-agency cooperation is key, and Ribadu needs to have a firm grip,” the source said. “Abubakar was asked to resign on Saturday night. The story about family issues was an afterthought.”

The source added that Abubakar had planned to travel on Saturday night and had gone to inform President Tinubu when he advised to resign immediately.

As of press time, it was not clear if Abubakar or the powerbroker and former Secretary to the Government of the Federation Babagana Kingibe, who was influential in his appointment in 2018, saw the resignation coming.

Abubakar, whose tenure as the DG of NIA was extended by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021, told the press at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Saturday night that he was bowing to family pressure to leave.

“I tendered my resignation, and Mr. President graciously approved and accepted it,” Abubakar said.

Our correspondent made several efforts on Sunday to contact the former NIA DG, but he couldn’t be reached.

“You’re not allowed to call this number” was the response from the mobile operator when his line was dialled.

by Mohammed Taoheed


Nigeria has been identified as one of the countries standing the risk of facing war crimes probes for supplying crude oil and refined fuels to Israel amid the ongoing Gaza war.

The Guardian reported that legal experts warned that Nigeria and the other countries, which are signatories to the Genocide Convention and Geneva Conventions, are contravening the 26 January landmark ruling of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The ruling ordered Israel to prevent genocidal acts in Gaza and reminded state parties to the genocide convention of their “common interest to ensure the prevention, suppression and punishment of genocide”.

After the ICJ ruling, Israeli tanks, fighter jets, military vehicles and bulldozers continue to bombard Gaza and raze Palestinian homes in the occupied West Bank using shipments from foreign countries to power them, The Guardian reported.

The newspaper referenced an investigative research which was commissioned by Oil Change International (OCI), a global nonprofit, showing that some countries, including Nigeria, continued to supply crude oil and fuels to Israel to fuel its bombardments and further destruction of Gaza after the ICJ ruling.


Energy supplies

According to the news platform, the research analysed shipping logs, satellite images and other open-source industry data. It tracked 65 crude oil and fuel shipments to Israel between 21 October last year and 12 July.

It identifies Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Gabon, Nigeria, Brazil and recently, Republic of the Congo and Italy as the major suppliers of crude oil to Israel. According to the research, the countries have supplied 4.1 million tons of crude oil to Israel, with almost half of the supply coming after the January ruling of the ICJ.

The research also estimated two-thirds of crude came from investor-owned and private oil companies.

It also found that the United States has supplied jet fuel, diesel and other refined petroleum products to Israel before and after the ICJ ruling. Almost 80 per cent of the supply to Israel in the last nine months was said to be shipped after the January ruling.


Warnings, call for embargo

“UN and other international law experts called for an energy embargo to prevent further human rights violations against the Palestinian people – and an investigation into any oil and fuels shipped to Israel that have been used to aid acts of alleged genocide and other serious international crimes,” the newspaper reported.

The ICJ ruled that countries must cooperate to ensure an end to Israel’s illegal presence in the occupied Palestinian territory and must not render aid or assistance in maintaining the unlawful situation created by Israel. Israel rejected the ruling.

“After the 26 January ICJ ruling, states cannot claim they did not know what they were risking to partake in,” Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territory told The Guardian.

“In the case of the US jet-fuel shipments, there are serious grounds to believe that there is a breach of the genocide convention for failure to prevent and disavowal of the ICJ January ruling and provisional measures,” said Albanese. “Other countries supplying oil and other fuels absolutely also warrant further investigation.”

Omar Barghouti, co-founder of the boycott, divestment, sanctions (BDS) movement, which has called for an energy embargo on Israel, also told The Guardia, “Palestinians appreciate the diplomatic and rhetorical support of states such as Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Kazakhstan, among others. However, this cannot exonerate their direct complicity in literally fueling Israel’s genocide and underlying system of settler-colonial apartheid.”

The governments of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Nigeria, Gabon and the Republic of the Congo did not respond to the Guardian’s requests for comment, and neither did Greece or Albania.

The President Joe Biden administration did not respond to the newspaper’s requests for comment, nor did Vice-President Kamala Harris’s presidential election campaign team.


Corporate involvement

Also, the research also highlighted the role of corporations in supplying fuel to Israel since the ruling, finding that just six major international fossil-fuel companies – BP, Chevron, Eni, ExxonMobil, Shell and TotalEnergies – could be responsible for 35 percent of crude oil supplied to Israel since October.

David Tong, industry campaign manager at Oil Change International, told The Guardian, “Every day that oil companies provide fuel to Israel these companies expose themselves to potential legal action for their complicity in genocidal acts against civilians in Gaza.”

Lydia de Leeuw, researcher and co-author of Fuelling the Flames in Gaza at the Dutch non-profit Somo, similarly told the newspaper, “Given the well-documented ongoing war crimes and warnings of a genocide, these oil corporations have the responsibility to identify and prevent any contribution to violations by the Israeli army.”

Shell and Total declined The Guardian’s request to comment. BP and Exxon did not respond.

A spokesperson for Chevron, which owns stakes in oil production in Kazakhstan, Nigeria and the Congo, denied any wrongdoing, “Chevron operates in compliance with all applicable laws,” the company told The Guardian.

Also denying any wrong doing, Eni said, “In general, oil supplies primarily support the functioning of social, economic, and industrial systems in countries.”

The research work, reported exclusively by The Guardian, indicates that African countries contributed a total of 37 percent crude oil exports to Israel. Of this figure, 9 per cent came from Nigeria, six per cent from the Republic of the Congo and 22 per cent from Gabon.

While Azerbaijan remains the leading supplier of crude oil to Israel, Italy, Albania and Greece also supplied unrefined oil to the warring country.


Devastating war

In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported that an Israeli attack on a designated humanitarian zone claimed the lives of about 90 people and injured 300 others, according to Palestinian health officials.

Authorities in Palestine said that Israel’s ground and air campaign in Gaza has killed more than 40,000 people, mostly civilians.

Health officials feared the devastating war had driven most of the enclave’s 2.3 million people from their homes.

The war began on 7 October after Hamas militants stormed across the border into Israeli communities. Israel said the militants killed more than 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 253 into captivity in Gaza.

As of 15 August, the Palestinian Health Ministry said 40,005 Palestinians were dead and 92,401 wounded.

The federal government has approved the dismissal of workers in the public and private sectors with fake degree certificates obtained from Benin and Togo Republics.

The minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, who disclosed this during a press conference to celebrate his one year in office in Abuja on Friday, said the measures were approved during a recent federal executive council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu.

He said the decision is part of the recommendations of an inter-ministerial committee set up by the federal government to investigate an undercover report published by DAILY NIGERIAN in December.

The report exposed how how degree certificates from Ecole Superieure de Gestion et de Technologies, ESGT, Cotonou, Benin Republic, were obtained by a DAILY NIGERIAN undercover reporter, Umar Audu, in less than two months.

He also used the certificate to participate in the National Youth Service Scheme, NYSC, despite having participated in the scheme legitimately almost five years earlier.
Mr Mamman, however, said most of the institutions attended by Nigerian students from the two countries are not licensed to offer degree programs.

The minister said, “One of the things we did in the course of the year was — remember when information broke out about some of our students going to neighbouring countries —some not even going at all — to obtain certificates.

“The ministry set up a committee to look into that; the committee came up with a detailed review; that review was sent to the federal executive council about a month ago, which approved some of the recommendations from the ministry.

“Now the recommendations will be implemented along with other ministries and agencies affected, including NYSC, Immigration.

“Because we have to take some major decisions here, some staff who are affected faced disciplinary measures, and that the whole unit went through some kind of review.

“But by and large, we can’t have in our midst people who procure fake certificates and to compete with our students who graduated from our universities and polytechnics through their sweat, some spent four, five, six, or more years going out to compete with people who procure certificates right here without going anywhere, for a lot of them.

“So what the FEC now approves is that, through the data, that NYSC has, about 21,684 students that are parading fake certificates from Benin Republic, obtained between 2019 to 2023.

“Togo is about 1,105. How did that happen? They simply attend schools, which are not recognised in those countries.

“Remember, this point is extremely important. The non-recognition itself is in those countries. They are not institutions recognised to offer degree programs in those countries.

“Instead, some of our parents, take their wards to these institutions, and of course there is no way we would recognise qualifications which are not recognised in those countries.

“In the case of Togo, we have three universities that are officially approved and licensed to offer degrees, and in Benin, there are about five of them.

“So anyone who didn’t attend these universities is parading a fake certificate.
“And from 2017, anybody who attended a university solely run in English is wasting his time because it’s not an approved university. That is their policy.

“But a lot of our countrymen went there—some didn’t go anyway; remember, these numbers are just what we have, a lot of them didn’t even bother to go to NYSC.

“The number may be more Some who attempted to but couldn’t succeed in the screening process disappeared into thin air.
“So in the final analysis, what the federal government approved is that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, will issue a circular to all employers, whether public or private, to fish out anybody with a certificate from these institutions—that circular probably would have been out by now.
“And the Head of Service, has also been mandated to fish out from the public service anybody who is parading certificate from these institutions.

“So this is the decision of the federal government on this matter”.

By Peter Moses, Lagos


Had Ladi Adebutu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Ogun State, emerged as the winner, it would have been a sad and devastating period for the state, his running-mate, Adekunle Akinlade, said on Saturday.

Adebutu and Akinlade ran on a joint ticket in the March 18, 2023 election, but lost to the incumbent, Governor Dapo Abiodun, who was candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Not satisfied with the result declared by the electoral body, the PDP candidate dragged Abiodun to the tribunal, but lost the legal battle up to the Supreme Court.

Daily Trust reports that shortly after the apex court laid the 2023 election’s legal battle to rest, Adebutu and his running-mate fell apart.

Speaking to newsmen in Abeokuta, Akinlade described Adebutu’s defeat in the controversial election as a “calamity averted” on the people of the state.

In his address tagged “Divine Power of Prayers That Averts Calamity,” Akinlade narrated how an imam had prayed for the PDP campaign team that God should not grant the opposition party a victory in 2023 if it would bring sorrow and backwardness to the state.

“We all said ‘Aameena'”, Akinlade, who was the candidate of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in 2019 governorship, said in the scathing address.

He said, “In hindsight, I say, Alhamdulillahi that Allah averted that calamity from befalling Ogun State. Had Ladi emerged as the winner, it would have been a sad and devastating time for us as a people.

“In His glory and majesty, Allah grants a woman the grace to conceive keeps her in good health all through the nine months, sets His face upon her to deliver the child, then takes the infant’s life a minute after.

“As mortals, we will cry with anguish and ask what sin did the child commit to deserve such? We forget that He that gives, takes for a purpose.”

Akinlade, popularly called Triple A, accused Adebutu, his colleague in the 8th Assembly of the House of Representatives, of lacking in mental capacity and temperament
to run the office of a governor.

“In fact, Ladi is a 2-year-old child in a 62 year-old man’s body. I guess this explains why he acts on impulse like a child without caring about the consequences of his actions. In his delusion of self-grandeur, he lies effortlessly, sheds tears at will and induces self-pity.

“Come to think of it, why does his almost 90-year-old father still give him weekly feeding allowance? At first, I thought that it was the old man’s way of expressing his affection, but as I observed them closely, it became clear that even the old man knows that his 62-year old man- child lacks the capacity and ability to manage a monthly or annual handout,” he alleged.

Akinlade told newsmen that Adebutu announced his intention to re-contest for governorship come 2027 the same day Supreme Court quashed his case against Abiodun.

He insisted that Adebutu, who hails from the same hometown with Abiodun in Iperu-Remo should not vie for the seat which his kinsman will be vacating in 2023 after eight years.

“I sincerely draw these conclusions on his state of mind, because no rational thinking adult at age 62 will contemplate to aspire for the same office that his kinsman and brother, H.E Prince Dapo Abiodun, who is from the same compound, town, ward, local government and senatorial district, serving his second term of 4 years in office which ends in 2027. A man that lacks character, lacks honour,” he said.

In a swift reaction, Adebutu’s Media Aide, Afolabi Orekoya, described Akinlade as a “petty and terrible ingrate.”

He likened the former PDP deputy governorship candidate to a “drowning man” who will clutch at a straw.

“We will not engage in his pettiness. But one thing I can assure you is, anything that he feels he can use to blackmail us, he should please go ahead. At the appropriate time, we will give him proper attention and respond.

“Akinlade is the most unfortunate thing that happened to PDP. And we were warned but we didn’t listen,” Orekoya said.

The day was 1 August 2023. Christian Uwaezuoke, one of Nigeria’s notorious drug traffickers, arrived at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos to board his Ethiopian Airline flight to India. Of average height, nothing about the 43-year-old businessman stood out from the rest of the passengers, but a body scan would reveal something different.

Checks by airport security showed that Mr Uwaezuoke had ingested 1.822 kilogrammes of cocaine. Further investigations revealed that not only had he used a passport reflecting a false identity, but he was also on the police wanted list after jumping bail more than a year before.

Earlier in March 2022, Mr Uwaezuoke had been arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) during the inward clearance of another Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He was found to have ingested cocaine weighing 2.243 kilogrammes.

He was later granted bail but jumped bail.

Following his arrest in August 2023, he was re-arraigned on March 20 at the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik. After considering his lack of remorse, the gravity of the drug-related offences, and his status as a repeat offender, Justice Abdulmalik delivered a guilty verdict and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

Mr Uwaezuoke’s arrest and conviction is one of thousands documented in press releases and published by the NDLEA on its official website.

The press releases contain details such as the names and nationalities of the suspected drug traffickers, the type and weight of the narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, the drug concealment strategy, as well as the airline and airport used by the inbound or outbound trafficker.

PREMIUM TIMES examined these press statements for the year between June 2023 and June 2024. We curated the data on every arrest announced by the agency and found some interesting patterns.

Analysis of the data showed that Ethiopian Airlines and Qatar Airways were the most commonly used airlines among arrested drug traffickers. Notably, out of 36 drug suspects arrested at airports by NDLEA during the review period, 11 (30.5 per cent) had tickets for Ethiopian Airlines, same for Qatar Airways, indicating a significant presence of drug trafficking activity on these carriers.

Ethiopian Airlines operates from Addis Ababa and is the largest airline in Africa, operating more than 125 destinations, while Qatar Airways flies to over 170 international destinations across five continents.

Interestingly, this is not the first time this trend has been observed. NDLEA’s annual report for 2015 to 2022 shows Ethiopian Airlines among the top four airlines used by drug traffickers at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. Further analysis indicates that in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022, the airline topped the list of airlines used by drug traffickers at the Lagos airport.

Questions have been raised regarding the frequency at which drug traffickers use certain international operators. Nigeria’s rising influence in the illicit drug trade has also fueled a national concern. Why do drug traffickers prefer to fly certain airlines, what can an airline do to mitigate drug trafficking, and are airlines liable when drug traffickers use their flights?

The Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, explained that drug barons patronise airlines that regularly fly on their drug routes and provide connecting flights to their final destinations.

He said these connecting flights are crucial due to the trafficking strategy used by drug barons to avoid detection by drug enforcement agencies.

“These traffickers move in Zig-Zag; they don’t move straight. For instance, a consignment may come from Brazil to Nigeria and ultimately still find its way to Europe, Asia, or even the Americas. So it’s the route that they are likely going to use,” he stated.

The Global Report on Cocaine 2023, released by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), explained this phenomenon better. The report states that large airlines with direct connectivity to a large number of destinations play a crucial role as transit points for drug trafficking on passenger flights.

“In the case of trafficking into and out of Nigeria, one interviewee indicated that these hubs include airports in Ethiopia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, corresponding to hubs of airlines offering connectivity between South America and Africa.

“Based on analysis of the itinerary of 150 mules on passenger flights who were arrested during August 2020-May 2021 while trafficking drugs into, or out of, Nigeria or Benin, (respectively from Brazil, or to Europe) Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) emerged as a particularly frequent transit airport,” the report stated.

Between airlines, staff and drug traffickers
But there is more.

In a bare-it-all interview with PREMIUM TIMES, a former drug trafficker, Felix Johnson (not real name), disclosed that while traffickers often undertake feasibility studies on the best route, airline, and airport that guarantee a successful trip, some international carriers are drug traffickers’ favourite because of their perceived slack security measures.

“The route determines the airline we board. We choose a flight route that gives at least a 90 to 95 per cent guarantee that any drug we traffic will not be detected. We also prefer to board transit flights that board and leave immediately. Keeping luggage containing illicit drugs around the airport for days could be dangerous.

“Some airlines know what is going on. Because the airline brings a lot of income, they train their workers to relax the security protocol. Their security check-in are very free. As long as the drug is not obvious, they allow you to go,” Mr Johnson claimed.

Asked why drug trafficking is thriving despite several arrests by the NDLEA, Mr Johnson explained that deep-seated corruption and the country’s deteriorating economy have pushed many into crime.

“The problem is that everyone is corrupt. Even airline officials, air hosts and hostesses and even pilots are corrupt, but you will not know. We have pilots that will take the drugs into the airplane and we will pick it up from them after boarding.

“Many Nigerians still go into drug trafficking because of desperation to get wealth at any cost. The bad economy does not make the situation better,” he added.

Mr Johnson regularly trafficked illicit drugs like heroin to the Asia-Pacific region. For more than a decade, he carefully managed his illegal business and maintained a home front with his wives and children. Everything went smoothly until his arrest in 1998 by the police in Thailand.

“We were four in a house in Bangkok when we were busted by authorities. In the process of flushing the heroin, the toilet overflowed and blew up all over my body. I plead guilty because there was evidence on me,” the former trafficker told PREMIUM TIMES.

In 2007, Mr Johnson was repatriated to Nigeria under the Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA). In 2002, Nigeria signed a treaty on the transfer of offenders and cooperation in enforcing penal sentences with Thailand.

Mr Johnson was incarcerated for 22 years, including nine years in a Thai prison and 13 years at the Kirikiri Maximum Security prison until his release in December 2020. Since then, the 65-year-old said he has left the life of crime and rebuilt his life.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Mr Babafemi, confirmed that some airlines have been reprimanded for recording a high number of drug traffickers on their flights.

Although he did not mention the name of any airline, he said his agency had issued a warning to international carriers regularly flown by drug traffickers.

“Two years ago, we wrote one of the airlines, warning them that they have the responsibility to also ensure that they put the necessary checks in place at the point of their departure. Otherwise, we will be compelled to enforce some aspect of the law. The airline wrote back and made some commitment and there was some kind of improvement thereafter,” Mr Babafemi told PREMIUM TIMES.

What the law says

Mr Babafemi was referring to section 25 of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, 2004, which states, “It shall be the duty of every commercial carrier to take reasonable precaution to: (a) ensure that its means of transport are not used in commission of offences under this Act; (b) Comply with appropriate security measures at points of entry and exit in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other Customs control areas to prevent unauthorised cargo in its means of transportation.

“Such precautions as are referred to in subsection (1) of this Section shall include (a) the training of personnel to identify suspicious consignment or persons. (b) promotion of integrity of their personnel; (c) submission of cargo manifest advance; (d) use of tamper-resistant individually verifiable seal or containers. (e) reporting to the agency at earliest opportunity all suspicious circumstances relating to drug trafficking,” the Act added.

The Act prescribes a fine not exceeding N100,000 for airlines that infringe this law.

We shared our findings with the management of Ethiopia Airlines and Qatar Airways.

Qatar Airways did not respond to our requests for comments.

The area manager for Ethiopian Airlines in Lagos, Wondwossen Beyene, explained that if the airline recorded the highest number of drug traffickers on its flight, it was due to its higher passenger traffic than other airlines.

Mr Beyene is right in terms of absolute numbers of passenger traffic. In its Q1 2023 executive summary, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) reported that Ethiopian Airlines led the way in international and domestic flight operations, with the highest number of air passenger movements between January and March 2023. The airline recorded a total of 127,247 passengers, which is 14.6 per cent of the total 870,776 international passengers over that period. The Ethiopian airline figures comprise 51,320 inbound and 75,927 outbound travellers, making it the top carrier for the quarter.

The airline also refuted the claim that it was complicit in the drug trafficking trade in Nigeria. It stated that “Ethiopian Airlines performs rigorous training to its staff and adheres to strict ethical standards to ensure compliance with all laws and regulations. We have strict policies in place to prevent any such behaviour. These are the reasons why the Airline believes that this is a mere allegation.”

In a previous interview with ICIR, the general manager of Ethiopia Airlines in Nigeria, Shimeles Arage, explained that airlines are not responsible for airport security and so should not be blamed when drug traffickers choose to fly with them.

“This can happen to any airline and (has) nothing to do with the airline. Rather, we are working hand in hand with (the) authorities to curb such activities. Security and bag screening is not controlled by airlines. The security and scanning of passengers are not done by the airline.

“The airline does not own the scanning machines and only passengers that have been screened are allowed to board the airline. The airline only carries passengers that have been screened and cleared by other agencies,” he added.

But an aviation expert, John Ojikutu, holds a different opinion. He says both the airport and the airline share the responsibility of ensuring that hard drugs are not trafficked in or out of the country.

“The airlines have their security programme just like the airport has their security programme. If the airline has confidence in the airport security, fine, but if they do not, the regulation allows them to do secondary screening because the final responsibility is still on the airline.

“So what is the security programme of these airlines? Did the NCAA approve it? Are they doing something contrary to what they submitted to the NCAA? That’s the question we should be asking now, and when they violate it, what do we do, especially when they carry drug traffickers into Nigeria?” he queried.

In 2019, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, who was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, accused two foreign airlines of enabling drug cartels at Nigeria’s international airports.

Mrs Dabiri-Erewa made the allegations when she appeared before a Senate ad-hoc committee set up to look into circumstances that led to the arrest of Zainab Aliyu in Saudi Arabia over alleged possession of a banned substance, Tramadol.

We are withholding the names of the airlines because Mrs Dabiri-Erewa did not pprovide empirical evidence to back her allegations.


Drug traffickers and cocaine trafficking in Nigeria

Further analysis of NDLEA’s press statements indicates that cocaine is the most trafficked narcotic drug in Nigeria. At 34.2 per cent, cocaine topped the list of drugs trafficked in and out of the country during the period. Tramadol, Cannabis, and Methamphetamine followed.

Based on UNODC’s report, drug traffickers are giving Nigeria a bad name

Although the operation of Nigerian drug traffickers is limited to mid-level and dealer levels rather than large-scale trafficking, Nigerians account for the most arrests for individual cocaine seizures in Europe between 2018 and 2020.

A large chunk of the cocaine comes in from Brazil in small quantities through mules on passenger flights. It is then distributed to sub-regional countries like Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Ghana, Senegal, and Liberia. The transit countries are Algeria, Ethiopia and Morocco.

The drug routes also extend to the Asia-Pacific region. The destinations are Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. In the Near and Middle East/South-West Asia, the destinations are Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and in Europe, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.

“Seizures made at destination (outside of Nigeria) were predominantly cases of trafficking by air, while seizures made in Nigeria itself included predominantly trafficking by mail or express parcel as well as commercial flights, aside from a minority of cases involving vehicles,” the report stated.

Preferred destination of drug traffickers
Analysis of NDLEA data shows that within the period under review, more drugs were trafficked into the country than were trafficked out. At 24.8 per cent, Nigeria emerged as the top final destination of drug traffickers arrested by officers of the agency, closely followed by Paris, Oman and Qatar.

Unsurprisingly, Nigeria’s busiest airport, the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, is the preferred departure airport of choice in Nigeria. It was closely followed by Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano.

Meanwhile, Brazil and Pakistan are the top countries Nigerian drug traffickers fly in from.


Curbing drug trafficking

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is leading Nigeria’s fight against drug trafficking and drug use. While the agency has made commendable efforts, experts say more must be done.

Patrick Agbambu, a security expert, said drug couriers are always devising new means of trafficking drugs in and outside the country.

“Unfortunately, it seems like all the efforts of the government through the NDLEA have not yielded much result. So, the government must intensify efforts at social orientation. Also, enforcement has to be backed up with speedy prosecution of those caught in the Act. This is because many Nigerians believe that how you make the money does not matter,” he stated.

In May, the Senate proposed the death penalty for persons convicted for manufacturing and processing dangerous drugs as well as drug trafficking. The move, according to the lawmakers, will strengthen the fight against drug trafficking and drug use in Nigeria.

Electricity distribution companies in Nigeria have lamented that no fewer than 20 of the 36 state governments in the country have refused to pay their electricity bills.

The Discos said some states owe electricity bills consumed by the state house or the secretariat.

The Executive Director of Research and Advocacy, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, Sunday Oduntan, while speaking with our correspondent in a telephone conversation on Monday, said most government agencies were used to free electricity before privatisation, saying they have refused to adjust since the sector was privatised.

Oduntan, the spokesman of the Discos, recalled that the Aso Rock villa owed electricity bills before President Bola Tinubu ordered that it be paid.

“But does it have to get to the President for people that work there to know that they have to pay their bill? We shouldn’t get to the point where we have to threaten a state government or a state house, a ministry, a department or an agency with disconnection,” he stated

Oduntan declared, “If you look at all our states right now, at least 20 states are seen to be owing electricity bills in either the government house or MDAs.”

Oduntan regretted that when the Discos attempted to recover the debts from the state governments, they would have their offices sealed over claims of unpaid taxes to the states.

“When the Discos now go to demand for money to be paid, the next day they (government agents) will go and seal off the Discos’ offices, saying they’re owing them some taxes,” he noted.

The spokesman advised Discos to always pay their taxes, but warned that states should not be mischievous.

“The Discos should pay their taxes, but the states should not be mischievous and be blackmailing the Discos every time we ask them to pay us.

“There is a state governor who is known for that kind of act. And one day, I hope to be able to come forward face-to-face with him and say, ‘Your Excellency, you have not been excellent. Paying your bill is something that you should know that you should do because when you run your generator in your government house, it costs you a lot more,” he asserted.

He refused to mention the governor but promised to make the list of indebted states public as soon as possible

“I don’t want to mention the name of that governor or the state. But I will get outstanding debts from all states. I will need to get the information from the Discos. I will not waste time on it,” he stated

He mentioned that some states owe much while some states do not delay the payment of their electricity bills.

He appealed to the states and all Nigerians to pay their bills regularly as that is the only way the sector could be transformed.

“We have a lot of issues when it comes to paying for electricity. Things are getting better now than it was in the past. But I’m still appealing to the states and Nigerians in general to please put the nation first,” he pleaded.

Our correspondent recall that the Kaduna Disco had its office sealed after it disconnected the power supply to the Kaduna State Government House and other state government offices over unpaid bills amounting to N2.9bn. The Kaduna Electric headquarters was sealed off by the Kaduna Internal Revenue Service over what it called unpaid taxes of over N600m.

Similarly, the Federal Inland Revenue Service in July sealed the headquarters of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, barely a month after the AEDC last published the FIRS as one of its debtors. Its debt was put at N362m as of January.

In 2022, the offices of the Oyo State Government were disconnected by the Ibadan Disco over N450m debt. The government, in return, sealed off IBEDC offices, saying the power company was owing N400m in debt – N139.44m in harmonised bills, N122.59m in infrastructure bills, N116.51m in tax audit bills, and N22m in signage bills.

Last month, the IBEDC said the Ayede transmission station was locked down by the Oyo State Government, impacting its ability to supply power to some areas in the state. The PUNCH learned that some government facilities were earlier disconnected over debts.

A few days after it issued disconnection notices over unpaid electricity debt, the corporate headquarters of the Enugu Disco and its offices were sealed off in June by the Enugu State Government. EEDC said the Enugu government alone was indebted to it to the tune of N1bn, out of a total of N1.8bn unpaid electricity debt in the region.

The Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, in a letter forwarded to the EEDC, said that the company earlier issued a notice of disconnection and subsequently disconnected power supply to some of the government’s offices and institutions in the state

Onyia, a professor, accused the EEDC of relying on estimated billing methodology instead of meter billing methodology, which he described as “unlawful, malicious, callous and vexatious.”

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on Wednesday received the family members of Kashim Imam led by Nasir el-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna, at his Asokoro residence in Abuja.

Imam’s family was at Atiku’s residence to seek the hand of Hafsat, his daughter, in marriage.

AbdulRasheed Shehu, the media aide to the former vice-president, announced the visit in a statement.

“Prominent dignitaries at the event include the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, and former governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, among others,” the statement reads.

“The mini gathering was a testament to the esteem in which His Excellency Atiku Abubakar is held and the significance of the occasion.”

Oil producers in Nigeria, under the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), have expressed opposition to being compelled to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries.

The group warned against any move to mandate such sales, calling instead for the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) to redirect its allocated crude volumes to local refiners in order to address the ongoing crude supply shortages affecting local product availability across Nigeria.

In a letter dated August 16, 2024, addressed to the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, IPPG Chairman Abdulrazak Isa urged the NNPC to utilize its allocated 445,000 barrels per day intervention volume to mitigate the shortfall, a strategy it has employed in the past. Isa noted that while some IPPG members already supply local refineries, the NNPC is best positioned to meet domestic supply needs through its statutory crude allocation.

Historically, the NNPC has used this allocation to satisfy domestic consumption by importing refined products through various swap mechanisms. With the increase in domestic refining capacity, Isa suggested the NNPC should reserve this volume for local refineries under a price hedge mechanism that could be facilitated by financial institutions like Afrexim Bank.

However, the IPPG insists that any national crude production above the allocated volume should remain for export, adhering to a “willing buyer, willing seller” framework, in line with international market practices. This, Isa argued, would allow refiners to export excess products, boosting Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

“While we fully support and commend the efforts of Nigerian entrepreneurs to enhance domestic refining capacity, it is important that no private sector business is unduly pressured into arrangements that may effectively subsidise another within the oil and gas value chain under any guise whatsoever.

“Under this willing-buyer, willing-seller framework, it is essential for refiners to negotiate and execute long-term crude oil Sales and Purchase Agreements with producers and their marketing agents. These agreements should follow industry best practices, with typical tenures ranging from one to five years,’’ the IPPG chairman said.

The group raised concerns about recent developments, including the domestic crude refining requirements and crude production forecast for the second half of 2024 announced by NUPRC. They also criticized the request for monthly crude supply quotations from producers for local refineries, labeling it as a departure from the Petroleum Industry Act’s market-oriented principles.

Isa called for transparency in how crude oil allocations are determined and sought input from IPPG into production forecasts, ensuring they reflect actual operational realities. The group stressed the importance of respecting existing commercial agreements and business models in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

While the IPPG expressed support for enhancing domestic refining capacity, it firmly opposed any undue pressure on private sector businesses to subsidize other segments of the value chain. The group reiterated the need for long-term crude oil sales agreements, negotiated on fair terms, between producers and refiners, to ensure a stable and transparent supply of crude oil within the domestic market.

This comes amidst ongoing tensions between local refineries and international oil companies (IOCs), with Dangote Group accusing IOCs of prioritizing foreign markets and frustrating crude supply to its 650,000-barrel capacity refinery.

Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu recently directed the NNPC to begin selling crude to local refineries in naira, a move expected to commence in October.