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SportsRe: NPFL: Lobi Stars Vs Enyimba FC (1 - 1) On 18th March 2015 by Empredboy(op): 4:59pm On Mar 18, 2015
Idris Aloma scores for Enyimba, while Uche levels
for the host from the spot.
SportsRe: NPFL: Lobi Stars Vs Enyimba FC (1 - 1) On 18th March 2015 by Empredboy(op): 4:53pm On Mar 18, 2015
match update in makurdi ,first half Lobi
stars 1 Enyimba int 1
SportsRe: NPFL: Lobi Stars Vs Enyimba FC (1 - 1) On 18th March 2015 by Empredboy(op): 4:51pm On Mar 18, 2015
update 44mins Enyimba player handed ball
inside 18yard box
SportsRe: NPFL: Lobi Stars Vs Enyimba FC (1 - 1) On 18th March 2015 by Empredboy(op): 4:48pm On Mar 18, 2015
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!
update 41 mins Lobi 0 Enyimba 1
SportsRe: NPFL: Lobi Stars Vs Enyimba FC (1 - 1) On 18th March 2015 by Empredboy(op): 3:55pm On Mar 18, 2015
League Management Company Lobi Stars vs
Enyimba XI #lobeny Chijoke Ejiogu 1 Bright
Esieme 28 Aloma Idris 27 Babatunde
Solomon 16 Chinedu Udoji 26 Emmanuel
Anyanwu 14 Ezekiel Bassey 6 Rafael
Boumsong 18 Chinonso Okonkwo 8 Nzube
Anaezemba 4 Etor Daniel 13 Sub Femi
Thomas 21 Bala Zakka 29 Ifeanyi George 24
Chibuzor Madu 25 Chima Uluocha 20
Chimezie Amanfor 31 Bashar Abdulrahman
7
SportsRe: NPFL: Warri Wolves Vs Giwa FC (3 - 0) On 18th march 2015 by Empredboy(m): 3:10pm On Mar 18, 2015
Warri Wolves Starting XI GK: Akpeyi Daniel,
CB: Semiu Liadi CB: Egwuekwe Azubuike, RB:
Onamado Goodluck LB: Eyimofe Joseph DM:
Ichull Lordson RW: Gift Atuliwa, LW: Osadiaye
Joseph AM: Egbeta Michael FW: Sikiru
Adewale FW: Gbolahan Salami.
Reserves : Odah Okiemute, Osagie Monday,
Akpojuvwewo Bright, Itoya Kelvin, Okafor
Onyekachi, Okoyoh Micheal, Dimgba Stanley.
SportsNPFL: Lobi Stars Vs Enyimba FC (1 - 1) On 18th March 2015 by Empredboy(op): 2:18pm On Mar 18, 2015
Its a reschdule week 2 match between lobi stars and enyimba. This is as a result of enyimba caf champions league engagement over the weekend. Enyimba parading some top stars like Ejiogu, bright esieme, chinedu udoji, Anyanwu, uwadiagu,illocha, nzabe,etor daniel, chinoso, busong. Players like mfoh udoh will not be on duty because of family issues he went to settle, sokari the midfield 'chairman' will also miss the match because of u-23 assignment.
Well with the improvment recorded in the league so far, my prediction for the match is a sound victory for enyimba. Till 4pm
SportsRe: NPFL: Shooting Stars Vs Heartland (1 - 2) On 14th March, 2015 by Empredboy(m): 4:22pm On Mar 14, 2015
GOAL!!!!!!!heartland(odichie scorer)
SportsRe: NPFL: Kano Pillars Vs Bayelsa United (2 - 0) On 14th March, 2015 by Empredboy(m): 4:16pm On Mar 14, 2015
which station?
SportsRe: Warri Wolves Vs Dedebit: CAF Confederation Cup: (2 - 0 ) On 14th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 4:07pm On Mar 14, 2015
who scored?
SportsRe: Official NPFL Thread. (nigerian Professional Football League) by Empredboy(m): 3:58pm On Mar 14, 2015
Evestar200:
first time Kano Pillars home game will be broadcast
which station?
PoliticsOPINION: Buhari Will Make Nigeria Better If He Wins Elections by Empredboy(op): 5:09pm On Mar 13, 2015
Writing from Ilorin, Naij.com’s guest
author Emmanuel A. Akinkunmi carries
out a thorough historical analysis and
comes to the conclusion that
Muhammadu Buhari might just be the
right person to bring Nigeria forward.
I am not a politician but I take silent
interest in what happens around me. I am
one of the “silent majority” (if I may
borrow these words from President
Richard Nixon), whose voices are never
heard, but who silently bear the brunt of
bad governance and for whose well being
all politicians pretend to work.
I am one of the concerned older
generation of Nigerians who were living
witnesses to the 1984/85 regime of Gen.
Mohammed Buhari (GMB). I am writing in
the hope that it might assist our younger
ones to place in proper perspective his
actions and inactions during his 20
months as head of state, and what he
might do if he is voted into office.
Here’s a bit of history.
In 1975, Gen. Murtala Mohammed and
company overthrew Gen. Yakubu Gowon,
mainly because Gen. Gowon had become
so immersed in power that he did not see
the need to return power to civilians five
years after the war ended. His excuse
was, in his words, “our politicians have
learnt nothing.”
The military government of Gen. Murtala/
Obasanjo drew up a four-year program of
action that was to end, and indeed so
ended, in handing over to a government
democratically elected in 1979. That
Murtala/Obasanjo government made
Nigerians proud, stood up to America and
United Kingdom in foreign affairs,
especially African affairs. Those were the
days when one could raise one’s head
anywhere in the world and say with pride
“I am a Nigerian”. Nigeria’s influence in
African affairs was rising.
Gen. Buhari was part of that regime as
Petroleum Minister, Chairman of NNPC,
member of the Supreme Military Council,
etc. Under his watch, our refineries
and oil depots were built all over the
country, and pipelines were laid to pump
crude oil to the refineries and refined
products to those depots directly from the
refineries. Fuel prices became uniform
throughout the country. No long queues
for fuel, and fuel was cheaper than Coca-
Cola.
The state of the nation handed over to the
civilian government of Shehu Shagari in
1979 was healthy. Steel mills had been
built all over the country. Trains moved.
Nigerian airways flew. In short, Nigeria
worked. You could sleep outside with
your two eyes closed. There was security.
There was peace of mind.
Within four years of that civilian
government, things had changed. The
civilian government of Shagari
squandered economic resources and
goodwill of Nigerians by myopic
economic management, placing most
essential commodities (essenco, as we
called it then), like rice, soap, etc., under
import license. Such licences were issued
only on party or narrow parochial
cleavages. Long-established and
respected businesses were denied
licences. Those who couldn’t buy licenses
at exorbitant prices from middle men or
compromise their ethical business
standards closed down or relocated to
other countries.
Essenco like rice, flour, detergent, milk,
soap, toiletries, etc., disappeared from the
open market. Local production dropped
for lack of raw materials. Businessmen
resorted to hoarding. Prices skyrocketed.
Smuggling thrived. Rationing of essenco
became the order of the day. You worked
hard for your money but you spent much
more time queuing for one essenco or
the other. The queue was often longer
than the type you see nowadays at filling
stations in times of fuel scarcity. In the far
North, where I lived then, hunger loomed
as drought further compounded the
situation.
I experienced the hardship of those days.
Virtually everything, including rice,
became political instruments. Prosperity
circulated within a small circle while :the
silent majority” – the masses – were
helplessly suffocating. It was “a tale of
two nations”. You need to experience it to
understand the pains, the frustrations, the
despair of that time.
Yet, we waited patiently for the 1983
elections to effect a change… but that was
not to be. The ruling party at the federal
level “conjured” landslide “victories” even
in the traditional strongholds of the
opposition. The members of the National
Party of Nigeria, exemplified by Alhaji
Umaru Dikko, carried themselves about
with the arrogance of the “victor” in an
overbearing manner. The spontaneous
reaction was violence, arsons, murders,
general disillusionment. The nation was
surely vexed and longed for intervention.
Therefore, when the military struck again
on 31st December, 1983, there was
jubilation all over the country, even before
Buhari was named as the Head of State. It
was the fourth and most popular coup. It
was more popular than the overthrow of
Abacha. The only people who did not like
it were corrupt politicians.
It was a necessary coup to salvage
Nigeria. It was well-received. It was a
coup for the masses. Those who make
peaceful change impossible beckon to
forced, even bloody, change. Besides,
military coups were common and
acceptable internationally in those days,
unlike now.
I recently heard Buhari saying, “People
have asked me why I am seeking office
again, and I ask them, ‘What has changed
since then?’“ Indeed, nothing has
changed, only the gladiators. We have
turned full circle. 1983 has returned.
Frustration is back. Despair has returned.
Corruption is high. Security has taken
flight. As it was then so it is now. We
earnestly yearn for change in our
circumstances and once again we put our
hope in the elections.
But who will bring this change, GEJ or
GMB? Is it by some uncommon
coincidence or some divine arrangement
that Buhari is again the man being
positioned to rescue Nigeria from the
brink? Or is there some business divinely
earmarked for Buhari which was
truncated by his ouster by IBB in 1985,
but which he is now being returned
democratically to complete?
Talking about age, Nigeria has not derived
any special benefit from our young
leaders. It was our young inexperienced
leaders that led us to civil war.
Ronald Reagan was the oldest American
president but one of the most effective
and strong ones. He defeated Jimmy
Carter who was younger. Ironically, when
Carter first sought election, he was
relatively unknown, like our own GEJ. He
was young, new on the scene – his gentle
Christian mien appealed to many. He was
“not one of the pack”. He was one of the
masses, a farmer. So they voted for him.
But in four short years, all the goodwill
had evaporated and he was defeated by
older Reagan. His failure to rescue
American hostages (like our Chibok girls)
held in Iran took a heavy toll on his
presidency. Reagan was strong and
decisive. Old age did not deter him from
connecting very well with the American
spirit. The dismantling of the USSR and,
consequently, ending the Cold War started
in his time. American pride and influence
returned.
Nigerians, just as Americans, like them a
strong and decisive leader who is able to
provide security and pride anywhere,
anytime. Is the Reagan/Carter scenario
about to play out in our country? If it is,
will it make Nigeria better? Can it make
future governments more responsive? I
believe so.
SportsRe: Sharks FC Vs Sunshine Stars (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 4:12pm On Mar 07, 2015
Mutiu adegoke the free kick specialist, i hope to say him play one
SportsRe: Sharks FC Vs Sunshine Stars (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 4:08pm On Mar 07, 2015
the game i av been waiting for has started!
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 2:18pm On Mar 07, 2015
Both team playing 4-4-2 formation
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 2:14pm On Mar 07, 2015
Kwara utd feeling intimidated by dolphins
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 2:12pm On Mar 07, 2015
5" weak shot frm isiaka olawale, coner kick to dolphins.
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 2:09pm On Mar 07, 2015
3" rotimi saved a shot against kwarautd
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 2:01pm On Mar 07, 2015
Watch out for kwara utd No10 Obadaki haliru.
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 1:23pm On Mar 07, 2015
Op dolphins vs kwara utd is 2pm while sharks vs sunshine is 4pm. Plz change it
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 1:15pm On Mar 07, 2015
Sunday Rotimi will make his 218th
appearance for Dolphins today against Kwara
United. Rotimi played 26 times for the club
last srason and got two yellow cards
He joined Dolphins in 2004 and was away for
two years in the Israeli league before
returning in 2007.
Tobins Zikalla will make his first start for
Dolphins today. He had come on as a
substitute on October 22, 2014 against
Nembe City in Port Harcourt. He played for
amateur side, Ambassadors FC previously
Victor Ezuruike played 34 times for the club
last season, got three yellow cards, one red
card and scored one goal, a penalty against
Kogi United in the FA Cup Round of 32 in
Benin.
Emeka Atuloma played thirty nine times for
the club last season, got 7 yellow cards and
scored one goal, in Umuahia against Abia
Warriors
Tijani Adamu played 37 times last season, got
eight yellow cards and one red card. He
scored four goals
Isiaka Olawale played 33 times for Dolphins
last season
Chidiebere Okolie played 28 games for
Dolphins last season and scored twice
Omoh Johnson played 30 games for Dolphins
and score three goals
Ifeanyi Egwim played 26 times for Dolphins
last season, got four yellow cards, one red
card and scored nine goals
Hope Fiberseima had 17 goals for Dolphins
last season, got three yellow cards, one red
and scored one goal
Chigozie Ihunda managed three games for
the club all of last season
Victor Alegbe played thirty three times for
Dolphins last season, got one yellow card, one
red card and scored three goals
SportsRe: Dolphins FC Vs Kwara United (0 - 0) On 7th March 2015 by Empredboy(m): 1:08pm On Mar 07, 2015
Dolphins start list v Kwara United
Kingsley Ashu and Cyril Oriakhu will get their
Dolphins’ debuts today as they have been
listed in Stanley Eguma’s starting line up for
the 2014/15 Glo Nigeria Premier League
opener in Port Harcourt against Kwara
United.
Left Full Back, Ashu, who is Ghanaian by birth
played for Lobi Stars last season and replaces
Jonathan Zikiye who is being rested for next
week’s CAF Confederation Cup 1st round
match in Tunisia against Club Africain.
Cyril Oriakhu, who was a member of the
Dolphins fedder team for a few years moved
to Rangers four years ago, became the club’s
captain and has now returned to the club
who taught him the basics of football.
Four other players, Joseph Onwuga from
Kano Pillars, Onyekachi Akakem from SC Sirte
in Libya, Ayo Saka from Enyimba and
Chiwendu Ali from Go Round FC could get
their debuts today if they eventually get off
the bench.
Stanley Eguma completely left out Joseph
Douhandi and Jonathan Zikiye from the
starting line up as the club has an important
CAF Confederation Cup game in Tunisia next
week while Christian Pyagbara is with the
National U20 team in Senegal for the Africa
Youth Championships.
Start list
Goalkeepers
22. Sunday Rotimi
Defenders
23. Tobins Zikala
12. Kingsley Ashu
31. Victor Ezuruike
4. Cyril Oriakhu
Midfielders
8. Emeka Atuloma
20. Tijani Adamu
7. Isiaka Olawale
3. Chidiebere Okolie
Attackers
32. Omoh Johnson
13. Ifeanyi Egwim
Substitutes
21. Joseph Onwuga
15. Hope Fiberesima
14. Chigozie Ihunda
18. Onyekachi Akakem
10. Victor Alegbe
11. Chiwendu Ali
17. Ayo Saka
SportsRe: Armed Robbers Attack Kano Pillars Players, Officials In Abuja by Empredboy(m): 6:27pm On Mar 05, 2015
pak:
So these people were planning to travel by road all the way from Kano to Owerri to play a first division league matchhuh?

No wonder our league is a joke, that's nothing less than a 20 hr return trip!!!
Guy i am very sure dat u are not a follower of naija league many of the go by air but at time they choose to travel by road. By d way is travelling by air safe in naija? So plz dont look at naija league from dat angle afterall togo national team was attack too at the nations cup in equitorial guinea n gabon (co host) in 2011.
SportsRe: Pic Of The After Arm Robbery Attack On Kano Pillars by Empredboy(op): 6:19pm On Mar 05, 2015
[quote author=Empredboy post=31334592][/quote]Those injured are "Gambo Mohammed, Otekpa Energy, Ekpai
Ubong, Rubuen Ogbonaya who just joined
Pillars from El-Kanemi Warriors, and then
Muritala were all hit by bullets.
SportsRe: Pic Of The After Arm Robbery Attack On Kano Pillars by Empredboy(op): 6:09pm On Mar 05, 2015
Empredboy:
more pics

SportsRe: Pic Of The After Arm Robbery Attack On Kano Pillars by Empredboy(op): 6:07pm On Mar 05, 2015
more pics
SportsPic Of The After Arm Robbery Attack On Kano Pillars by Empredboy(op): 6:02pm On Mar 05, 2015
more to follow.

SportsRe: Armed Robbers Attack Kano Pillars Players, Officials In Abuja by Empredboy(m): 5:35pm On Mar 05, 2015
victorazy:
How true is the information?
Gun men at Abaji in afternoon?

I think they looking for way to boycott the match.
Guy dont play with ppl feelings cos as a fan of kano pillars n lover of nigeria league i see it as an insult. For ur information
Kano pillars players that were
attacked by armed robbers are 5 players
shot Gambo,Ogbonaya, Otekpa,Muritala
,Ekpai.
Gambo Muhammed shot on his shoulder
among other players. All reciving
treatment at the Federal Medical Center
in Lokoja
PoliticsNigerian Reacts To Patience' Jonathan "We're Not Conductors" by Empredboy(op): 7:49am On Mar 05, 2015
Several days ago Nigeria’s First Lady, Dame
Patience Jonathan, urged Nigerians to
reject the All Progressives Congress (APC)
in next month’s general elections.
While addressing women at the PDP
Women for Change Initiative Presidential
Rally in Delta state, she said, “The PDP is a
party that talks less and does more, unlike
the APC that tells new lies every week.
When you catch them today, they will tell
another lie tomorrow. We (PDP) do not tell
you about change because we are not
bus conductors that ask for change.”
One of the “legitimate passengers” took
those words to heart and replied with a
whole lot of anger. Read his letter below.
READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathan Has
Brought Us So Many Agonizing And
Painful Experiences
“Dear Patience Faka Jonathan,
How is everything going for you and the
rest of the people in Aso Rock?
I write this letter in response to your
statement, “We are not conductors so we
don’t ask for change”. I just want to tell
you that in the real sense of it, bus
conductors do not ask for CHANGE. It is
usually the passengers who ask for
CHANGE.
Your husband, Goodluck Jonathan was
chosen as the driver to convey Nigerians
to their destination; PDP was appointed
the conductor; and the Nigerian masses
were and are still the passengers. As
passengers, we had paid our bus fares in
2011 using the vote currency and now,
we are asking, demanding for CHANGE as
we approach our destination, 2015.
READ ALSO: Elections 2015: Our Country’s
Survival Is In Your Hands (Open Letter To
GEJ)
Oftentimes, bus conductors do not agree
to give the passengers their CHANGE easily
(at least not without a fight or exchange
of words ). Like the bus conductors we
know, PDP does not intend to give us the
CHANGE that is due us even when they
know this is the right thing to do.
But we the Nigerian Masses (who live
without basic amenities; who are
unemployed; who do not feel secure at
home and in public places; who have
been designated as targets for shooting
practice etc.) have decided to get our
CHANGE from the conductor (PDP and
Cabals).
You see the wind of change has so
caught with you. This is why even you
ought to vote for CHANGE.
Thanks for gathering your things as you
prepare to quit Aso Rock back to Otuoke
or Okrika, the choice is yours.
Yours sincerely,
Lookman Alawaye Esq.
(A LEGITIMATE PASSENGER)”
PoliticsPresidency Gets Replacement For Jega, Guess Who? by Empredboy(op): 5:07pm On Mar 03, 2015
The lingering controversies surrounding
plot to remove the chairman of the
Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) Prof. Attahiru Jega may
have finally be put to rest as the
presidency has reportedly gotten a
replacement for the embattled INEC
chairman.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega
A reliable source within the presidency
who did not want to be named on
Tuesday disclosed to YNaija that the
presidency is planning on removing the
INEC chairman this week.
READ ALSO: Bishop Calls For Jega’s Sack
The information is coming despite
assurances from President Goodluck
Jonathan during February 11 presidential
media chat that he had no intention of
removing Jega from office.
The source further revealed that after a
long search, the INEC National
Commissioner, Amina Bala Zakari, has
finally been chosen to replace Prof. Jega.
It was gathered that President Jonathan
will force Jega to commence his terminal
leave in order to give way for a
replacement.
Meanwhile, Prof. Jega is scheduled to
meet with Resident Electoral
Commissioners on Wednesday, and it is
during that meeting that the removal plot
will be hatched.
“During Wednesday’s meeting, the RECs
will pass a no confidence vote on the
Chairman, and the FG will then step in and
declare that his position is untenable
since his own people don’t have
confidence in him. Once Prof. Jega is
removed, Mr. President will nominate a
new chairman who will declare that INEC
is not ready to use PVCs. And once PVCs
are removed, it will become easier to carry
out major rigging,” the source said.
READ ALSO: REVEALED: Why Jonathan, PDP
Are Angry With Jega
However, another source also revealed
that the Presidency was expecting a
storm that would accompany Jega’s
removal.
“They believe that the APC, the press, the
US and EU will make noise, but then
everybody will calm down after some
time. Many RECs are in the PDP’s pocket,
but Professor Jega has refused even to
pick up the phone calls of those
representing the president. That’s why
the decision has been reached to push
him out of the way,” the source said.
Recall that speculation on plot to oust
Prof. Jega from office have been
gathering momentum since the general
elections were postponed in February.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan in an
interview with Aljazeera, reassured
Nigerians and the international
community that he has no plan to sack
Professor Jega, ahead of Nigeria’s general
elections slated for March 28 and April 11.
But, the plot to remove the INEC chairman
have generated a lot of criticism and
reactions from political parties, concerned
Nigerians and groups.
The All Progressives Congress had earlier
alleged that the Federal Government,
through the office of the Head of Civil
Service of the Federation, is plotting to
send Mr. Jega on terminal leave before the
elections .
However, following reports last week, it
was gathered that the federal
government have shortlisted four possible
candidates to replace the INEC chairman.
PoliticsRe: Fuel Scarcity Hits Lagos, Worsens In Abuja, Others by Empredboy(op): 10:41am On Mar 02, 2015
Naija govt n their little brains making decision dat will make one think if they ever been to school to study at all. Any way my fellow naija citizens are CV crazy dat they belief if u av HND,Bsc,Msc,Phd,ACA,ACCA, and all the CV of the world then u are qualify to be a good manager.
My guys no b so cos oyinbo proverb said "Education is not and will never be a true test of knowledge".
My argument, market women will never manage our economy the way Phd holder, world bank vice president and OPEC president are managing it.
Do we need to be told that reducing the fuel price, devaluing our money, low or no foreign reserve will cost us this? When we are importing in dollars, u gave dollar strenght by devaluing d naira, selling in naira u reduced pump price. Does it make sense?
I beg u knw our poroblem? We are not taught money management in schools. So as to know how do protect d #10 in our hand even during d time of financial hardship.
Naija its well!!!
PoliticsFuel Scarcity Hits Lagos, Worsens In Abuja, Others by Empredboy(op): 10:18am On Mar 02, 2015
Entrances to many filling stations in Lagos
and other parts of the country remained
shut to motorists on Sunday following a
sharp drop in the supply of petrol to the
market.
Findings by The PUNCH revealed that oil
marketers were no longer interested in
importing the product mainly because of
the rising exchange rate of the dollar to the
Naira.
The other factors responsible for the
marketers’ action are delayed subsidy
payments and rising interests on loans
from banks.
An official of a major marketing firm, who
declined to have his name in print, said, “I
am afraid that we cannot continue to
import petrol because it costs more now to
do so owing to the recent devaluation of
the Naira. The rising amount of petrol
subsidy arrears payable to us coupled with
the high interests on loans from financial
institutions, are still major issues in our
hands.”
Another marketer told one of our
correspondents that an exchange rate of
N226 per dollar was demanded on import
duties contrary to the inter-bank exchange
rate of N198 posted on the website of the
Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory
Agency for the pricing template of PMS
approved on February 19, 2015.
The major marketers import close to 60 per
cent of petrol consumed in the country
while the Nigerian National Petroleum
Corporation imports the balance.
Our correspondents observed on Sunday
that the states hit badly by scarcity of petrol
were Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Bayelsa, Ondo, Ekiti,
Kaduna, Delta, Plateau, Akwa-Ibom. Abuja,
the nation’s capital, appeared to be the
worst hit by the shortage.
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Petroleum
and Natural Gas Workers, Lagos Zone, Alhaji
Tokunbo Korodo, said the depots did not
have enough products to serve filling
stations across the country.
“If there were enough to go round, tanker
drivers, of course, would move products to
the areas of need. Nigerians should not be
surprised that this is happening now. It is
really unfortunate,” he said.
In Lagos, many filling stations did not sell
petrol but those that were open for
business had long queues of motorists to
contend with.
Although their pump prices remained N87
per litre, black market operators sold 10
litres for N1,200, i.e N120 per litre.
Drivers of commercial buses capitalised on
the situation to increase their fares. For
instance, fare for Ojodu-Berger to Magboro,
which hitherto was N50, was N100 on
Sunday.
One motorist told one of our
correspondents in Lagos that, “If our fuel
finishes now, we will go and queue to get
another fuel. Now that we have fuel,
passengers would have to pay more until
the situation improves.
It was a Herculean task for motorists in
Sango-Ota, Ijebu Ode and Abeokuta in Ogun
State to purchase petrol from the stations.
Although most of the stations sold petrol at
the regulated price of N87 per litre, the
Oando Filling Station in Ijoko, Ota sold it for
N100.
A motorist, who bought from the said
station demanded for and was issued a
receipt which she forwarded to one of our
correspondents.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, one of our
correspondents had learnt on Friday that
the scarcity was due to unsubstantiated
information that petrol price would go
down to N65 per litre.
A manager at one of the stations in the
Mokola area of the city, said the rumour
seemed to be gaining ground and that the
marketers were studying the situation.
He said, “No businessman wants to run at a
loss. The product we have now was
purchased at the old price. We have not
added any price to the stipulated N87 per
litre of petrol but the queue is long because
many people are not sure of the availability
of the product in a few day’s time or why
some fuel stations are not selling.
“Those who are not selling must have
exhausted their product and are unwilling
to buy more at the old price because of the
fear that the rumour of a new price of N65
per litre could be true. If we buy today at
the current price and government slashes
price tomorrow, who pays for the deficit?”
The situation was the same in Ado Ekiti,
Ekiti State on Sunday as many filling stations
rationed the product.
A station along Adebayo Road which on
Saturday sold the product for only two
hours in the evening and did not on
Sunday.
Motorists and commercial transport
operators went to the hinterland where
petrol sold at a higher price but readily
available. The price ranged between N100
and N105 per litre.
The shortage which was noticeable in
Warri, Sapele, Ughelli and other parts of
Delta State thinned out on Sunday.
But the pump price of the product
remained high in Asaba as motorists paid
between N95 and N100 per litre.
The attendants said the directive to sell at
prices higher than N87 was given by
their bosses, who they said claimed to have
bought the product at a higher price .
The scarcity in Ondo State which began on
Thursday worsened on Sunday. Petrol also
sold for between N95 and N110 per litre
in filling stations that were operational.
Checks by our correspondent in the state
showed that most of the stations were still
locked .
The Chairman, Independent Marketers
Branch, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas Workers, Ore, Mr. Olakunle Ajulo,
attributed the scarcity to the failure of
government to pay subsidy claims.
He expressed hope that the matter would
soon be resolved as stakeholders were
already tackling the issue.
Ajulo blamed the shortage in Ondo and Ekiti
states on the fact that the Ore Depot was
not functioning.
There was also scarcity in Yenagoa,
Bayelsa State. Apart from a few filling
stations and the NNPC mega filling stations,
others did not sell the product.
Some motorists spoken to said it was only
the NNPC mega stations that sold petrol for
N87.
A motorist, who gave his name simply as
Femi, said he bought a litre for N90.
The product also sold for between N110
and N120 per litre in Jos, Bukuru and its
environs in Plateau State.
An attendant at one of the stations, who
identified herself as Yeni, said, “We have
product, but the manager asked us to lock
up the station.”
Many filling stations in Uyo, Akwa Ibom on
Sunday were selling petrol at N110 per litre
as against N140 to N150 per litre which
was prevalent price for a litre of fuel last
week.
Motorists and commuters in Kaduna State
continued to groan in pain in the wake of
fuel scarcity that hit the metropolis and its
environs since Friday.
The Group General Manager, Group Public
Affairs Division of the NNPC, Ohi Alegbe, told
our correspondent on the telephone that
the Federal Government had injected fresh
680 million litres of petrol to boost the
product supply base.
He said the effect of the injection which
was done at the weekend would be felt
from Monday(today).
He advised Nigerians to desist from panic
buying of petrol because there was no
need for such.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Campaign of
the All Progressives Congress has said that
the return of queues at filling stations is a
confirmation that the policies of the
Goodluck Jonathan administration are
founded on deceit and insincerity.
According to the APC campaign, it is now
evident that the recent reduction in cost of
petrol was borne out of political
expediency, rather than compassion.
It also condemned the poor electricity
supply across the country by power firms,
describing it as a sad reminder of the
failure of the PDP-led Federal Government.
The group, in a statement by its Director of
Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu,
wondered how a political party which has
been in power for 16 years, could still feel
confident to seek another term in office.
The statement partly read,“The issue is that
being unable to set up even one new
refinery in the past five years and unable to
get existing refineries to function up to 50
per cent capacity, the people of Nigeria
surely need another set of people to be in
charge of affairs.

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