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Petrol Sale Resumes In Rivers …Cause Of Scarcity Resolved
The Rivers State Petroleum Products Monitoring Task Force has assured that normal sale of petrol has been restored in filling stations in the state.
Chairman of the task force, Fobo Fiberesima gave the assurance Monday while speaking to newsmen after three days of fuel scarcity in Port Harcourt.
Said he: “The present fuel situation in the state is due to power failure at the Port Harcourt Refinery, and I wish to inform the public that there is normalcy now and that there is power at the loading point at the moment. I have seen some movement of trucks.”
Fiberesima also said the task force would monitor the sale of petroleum products in all filling stations.
Similarly, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) noted that poor power supply at the Port Harcourt Refinery was responsible for the recent fuel scarcity in the state.
Its chairman, Sunny Mkpeh told The Tide that loading of petroleum products commenced last Monday after the issue was rectified.
“Apparently, what is causing the petroleum scarcity was have now is because in the past few days, there has been a fault at the Port Harcourt Refinery gas turbine, which has been rectified by yesterday (Sunday).
“As I talk to you now, full loading has commenced and the depot in working now, “so. May be, by the end of today and tomorrow (Monday and Tuesday), normal sales will resume,” he said.
The IPMAN chairman also advised the government to intervene in the situation at the Port Harcourt Refinery to ensure it works at optimum capacity.
“At this moment, we call on the state Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi to please intervene, talk to NNPC and the Federal Government to make crude oil available to the refinery so that we can run and put permanent end to this problem of perennial scarcity of petroleum products and have enough AGO, PMS and DPK.”
He also advised petroleum marketers against selling the product above the pump price of N97.00
Meanwhile, motorists in Port Harcourt have lamented the stress they have been passing through before buying fuel from filling stations since the last weekend.
Some of the motorists, who spoke to The Tide, said they were forced to remain in long queens at filling stations due to the scarcity of fuel in most filling stations.
Some filling station managers, interviewed, however, attributed the scarcity to panic buyers who speculated an increase in the pump price of petrol.
They said there was no increase in the pump price of fuel, adding that there was no plan to increase the pump price of fuel.
Corroborating the views of the petroleum products monitoring task force chairman and IPMAN, the managers said “the fuel scarcity at the weekend was due to power failure at the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The problem has been rectified and we have started normal loading today (Monday). We don’t know where they got their information that we are not loading and that there will be price increase, they said.
Corroborating the state government’s position, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), blamed the fuel scarcity in Port Harcourt on power failure at the Port Harcourt Refinery.
The IPMAN Chairman, Mr Sunny Nkpe, said in an interview in Port Harcourt yesterday, that the turbines at the refinery developed a fault, a development which led to the disruption of products loading.
Nkpe, however said the problem had been rectified and that the refinery had resumed loading of products.
“The depot is working now. I think, by end of today and tomorrow, these queues would disappear.
“We call on the state government to please intervene and talk to NNPC and Federal Government to make crude oil available to the refinery so that we can run and put permanent end to this perennial scarcity of all the products so that we can have AGO (Diesel), PMS (petrol).
“AGO is what drives the economy; DPK is what poor people use. So if there is no crude oil, the CDU plant would not run and when CDU plant does not run, there won’t be AGO, there won’t be DPK.”
Nkpe, however, condemned the arbitrary increase of the pump price of fuel, saying IPMAN was against it.
“We have compliant unit; this administration under me would not tolerate any member selling products above the approved pump price.
“So our members are well-briefed; they are well-packaged for this mission.
“Once all the products start coming out, of course, the public will see the delivery; it’s going to be efficient and effective.”
Shedie Okpara
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene