News 6
Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, December 19, 2017
Relief as PENGASSAN suspends strike Continued from page 5 not buy now. But all things being equal, there will be enough fuel to sell tomorrow. We are expecting three trucks tonight.’’ At the NNPC filling station at the Ogunnusi area of Berger in Lagos, residents and motorists could not buy fuel as they were told that there was nothing to sell by fuel attendants. A barber, Adewole Afolabi , who was seen leaving the filling station told our correspondents that, “ They are only selling to the people they know. I need to try another place. I am tired of staying here. This
is not what we bargained for. This pain is too much.’’ But the story is different on Idiroko Road, Ota, Ogun State. Two filling stations, Conoil and Total didn’t have problems selling fuel as motorists were seen buying fuel without stress. Unllike other parts of the country where long queues were seen, the two stations had sufficient fuel for its customers as no queue was seen at about 10am when our correspondents visited. Most fuel stations at Airport Road axis were not selling the products and those that were selling sold
on one pump leaving other pumps just to delay the sale of the products. The attendants preferred to sell to buyers with gallons and jerry cans because they pay some money ranging from N100, N200 and N300, respectively. Some of the motorists also urged the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) to carry out a check to ascertain those who were involved in the hoarding of the products along Airport Road, Agege Motor Road in Oshodi and Ikeja areas. Despite assurances by the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs of NNPC, Ndu Ughamadu,
that all the corporation’s depots are awash with products, blaming the long queues of vehicles on panic buying, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Kano zone, had dismissed the claim, stating that inadequate supply was at the core of the crisis. Also, the scarcity became worsened in Calabar, Cross River State capital and environs before relief came, as passengers and other commuters are stranded. Several thousands of government and private workers, business men and women as well as traders could not meet official hours and ap-
L-R: Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone 2, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Shehu Zaki; Corp Marshal, FRSC, Dr. Boboye Oyeyemi; Football legend and Guinness Made of Black Ambassador, Thierry Henry; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc., (GNP), Mr. Peter Ndegwa; Corporate Relations Director, GNP, Mrs. Viola Graham-Douglas; Lagos State, Director of the Vehicle Inspection Service, Mr. Gbolahan Toriola and Corps’ Public Education Officer, FRSC, Mr. Bisi Kazeem, during the GNP/FRSC Ember Months Campaign in Ojota Park, Lagos…on Tuesday. PHOTO: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI.
Against expectations, Buhari extends tenure of Service Chiefs
Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
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President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday approved the extension of tenure of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lt-Gen Gabriel Olonisakin Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Gen Tukur Buratai Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas. But the President’s action is contrary to expectations by some Nigerians who assume that new officers would be appointed to bring about new tactics in the fight against insurgents in the country.
The Minister of Defence, Mansur Dan-Ali who confirmed the approval in a statement by his Public Relations Officer in Abuja, Colonel Tukur Gusau, said that the President extended the tenures of the service chiefs, having carefully reviewed the ongoing military operations across the country. Though Dan-Ali did not specify the duration of the extension, he stated that Olonisakin, Buratai, Abubakar, and Ete-Ibas will continue in office. This development has put to rest, expectations that the President would appoint new officers to take over from them since
their constitutionally recognized tenure had variously expired. The letter reads in part, “The President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Force of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, having carefully reviewed the ongoing military operations across the nation and the efforts of the CDS and the Service Chiefs in the counter insurgency operations in the North East, coupled with the security situation of the Niger Delta region, has graciously approved the extension of tenure of service of Olonisakin, Buratai, Ete-Ibas and Abuba-
kar. “This extension is pursuant of the powers conferred on the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by section 218 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and section 09.06 of the Harmonised Terms and Conditions for Service for officers (2012) Revised. “The Minister of Defence, Mansur Muhammad Dan-Ali therefore congratulate the CDS and Service Chiefs for earning the confidence of the President and the people of Nigeria leading to their extension of service.”
pointments on time due to inability to get vehicles to their destinations. One of our correspondents who visited filling stations in Cross River State capital observed that the gates of the stations remained closed as they have no fuel for customers. But the few stations that have the products recorded long queue with a litre of petrol going for over 200% increase. Fuel at some filling stations was sold between N200-N250 per litre while black marketers sold a litre at N300-N350. In Odukpani, Akpabuyo, Akamkpa, Biase and Yakurr local government areas no fuel was found in the areas. It was gathered that filling stations in these local government areas have fuel last on Friday. A customer, George Akpan said, “Last time I bought fuel was on Thursday at the cost of N145 a litre, but it’s now N300-N350 or more a litre. Black marketers sold it at N350-N400 a litre.” The scarcity of the product has already caused untold hardship on the residents of the city. “It has taken a more dangerous dimension now, especially at this Yuletide period.” Mr. Nakanda Udobong said that the increase has affected the economy of the state, as the prices of foodstuffs have increase tremendously. Transport cost, he said, had gone up by 150%. A distance of N50 now goes for N150 or more, “Already, the cost of transportation from one point to another has increase tremendously,” he added. Udobong, who resides in Calabar lamented, “The reason for the scarcity has not been known, but we called on Federal Government, Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige and President Buhari to intervene urgently so that Nigerians would have blissful Christmas.” Sadly, the prices of garri and rice, the most stable food for the people in the state have gone up by 100200 per cent. More importantly, the scarcity of the product not only hindered economic growth, but has caused inconveniences, as the long queues hindered traffic flow in the city making some streets impassable. Chief Eyo Okon said that the scarcity has affected economic activity in the state. This is especially so, as people were seen roaming various filling stations
in the state looking for the products that are no way to be found or available to buy. Again, the scarcity has spread to Central and Northern Districts of Cross River State. When contacted, on phone, the Chairman of NUPENG, Chief Akomaye said he was in Benue state; and do not know about the scarcity. Some concerned people also decried the scarcity of the products and blamed it on the rot in the system of governance in the country. Interestingly, the NNPC had waded into the situation which resulted in the suspension of the strike. The corporation also stated that this move was to ensure that it floods the entire country with petroleum products during the festive season. The NNPC has assured motorists and other petroleum products consumers not to engage in panic buying. The NNPC however, warns marketers not to hoard products as law enforcement agencies, working with industry regulators, have been detailed to take appropriate measures against any defaulter. The corporation further assures that there are enough petroleum products to keep the nation wet. Meanwhile, the NNPC had earlier announced that about 144 hoarded petroleum products-laden tankers were discovered in Kano last week. It said that the infamous act was uncovered by the security agencies and the NNPC monitoring team set up to rapidly end remnants of petroleum products supply gaps in parts of the country discovered 144 trucks that were not streamed by some marketers in Kano. The products, according to the NNPC, were meant to feed Kano and its environs. It said that sequel to the discovery, the resurfaced trucks had been sent to discharge their products at the designated locations. Of the 144 trucks discovered, 26 were scheduled for Katsina, while 118 trucks were made to discharge their products in Kano and its environs. NNPC warns marketers across the country to desist from acts that may heighten supply gaps noticeable in a few remaining parts of the country, as security agencies have been detailed to go on the trail of any marketer who may be hoarding products.