Oil & Energy
Petrol Scarcity: ‘Niger Gets Only A Truck In Two Days’
The lingering petrol scarcity continues across Niger State as only one truck was allocated to the state in two days.
Head of Department of Petroleum Resources operations (DPR), Mr Sunday Senchi disclosed this in an interview with newsmen shortly after inspecting some filling stations in Minna metropolis.
He said that only three filling stations dispensed petrol last Tuesday.
Senchi explained that as at 12 noon lastWednesday no allocation had been sent to the state.
The DPR official said that the state need an allocation of about 30 to 40 trucks daily to end the scarcity.
He explained that the department was monitoring filling stations to ensure that those with petroleum products dispense to motorists.
The Tide source reports that Niger State has two NNPC depots in Minna and Suleja towns.
Senchi warned that the department would not hesitate to dispense products free to motorists from any filling station caught hoarding.
According to him, the department will also ensure that no filling station sell above the government approved prices of N145 per litre.
At the Maitumbi area of Minna, stations such as Muhabat, First Ja’az Global Resources Limited and Mutmusa Nig Limited were selling above pump price when our correspondent visited the area on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, investigation indicates that motorists spend days at the NNPC Mega station, which is the only one selling at N145 per litre.
Kabiru Abdullahi, a resident of Sauka Kahuta, told NAN that he spent two nights to get the product at the NNPC Mega station.
He said that the scarcity was affecting the daily activities of residents.
Abdullahi called on the Federal Government to constitute a mobile courts to prosecute those found hoarding and selling the product above official pump price.
“If you go to Tunga, Bosso, Old Airport and Maitumbi in the metropolis, you see children selling the product openly.
“I just bought a four litres fuel for N2,500.
“Government should investigate how the product got to the hands of black marketers.”
Malam Bashir Musa of Maitumbi told NAN that “all the filling stations in Maitumbi have the product but are selling at N400 per litres.
“It’s really business for the black marketers as they are making brisk profit at the expense of motorists.”
Musa called on the task force set up by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) to investigate how the product was diverted to black markets.
Ishaku Idris, a commercial driver, said that he slept for two days at the NNPC filling station and pays extra money to petrol attendants to buy the product.
NAN reports that many petroleum marketers in Minna metropolis closed their stations, while the few that opened, sold the product at official pump price but collect extra money before selling.
Hawkers were seen around filling stations making brisk business as five litres of petrol was sold at N3,500 to N 4,000 depending on the location.
Abdulkarim Bello of Ahmadu Bello way told NAN that the task force set up by the NSCDC should redouble their efforts at ending scarcity.
He also called on the state government to continue to monitor the products distribution to end diversion by marketers.
Nigeria’s losses due to crude oil theft has been said to be more significant than those of some other members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC).
The Chairman, Senate Ad- hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft, Senator Ned Nwoko, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
Nwoko noted with dismay the detrimental impact of the issue, which, he said include economic damage, environmental destruction, and its impact on host communities.
According to him, the theft was not only weakening the Naira, but also depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education and social development.
The Senator representing Delta North Senatorial District described the scale of the theft as staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day.
Nwoko disclosed that the ad hoc committee on Crude Oil Theft, which he chairs, recently had a two-day public hearing on the rampant theft of crude oil through illegal bunkering, pipeline vandalism, and the systemic gaps in the regulation and surveillance of the nation’s petroleum resources.
According to him, the public hearing was a pivotal step in addressing one of the most pressing challenges facing the nation.
‘’Nigeria loses billions of dollars annually to crude oil theft. This is severely undermining our economy, weakening the Naira and depriving the nation of vital revenue needed for infrastructure, healthcare, education, and social development.
‘’The scale of this theft is staggering, with reports indicating losses of over 200,000 barrels per day more than some OPEC member nations produce.
‘’This criminal enterprise fuels corruption, funds illegal activities and devastates our environment through spills and pollution.
‘’The public hearing was not just another talk shop; it was a decisive platform to uncover the root causes of crude oil theft, bunkering and pipeline vandalism.
‘’It was a platform to evaluate the effectiveness of existing surveillance, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms; Identify regulatory and legislative gaps that enable these crimes to thrive.
‘’It was also to engage stakeholders, security agencies, host communities, oil companies, regulators, and experts to proffer actionable solutions; and strengthen legal frameworks to ensure stricter penalties and more efficient prosecution of offenders”, he said.
Nwoko noted that Nigeria’s survival depended
Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) has called on Nigerian companies to position themselves strategically to take full advantage of the growing opportunities in upcoming offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
The Managing Director, SNEPCO, Ronald Adams, made the call at the 5th Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF) Conference, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, last Thursday.
Adams highlighted the major projects, including Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North, and the Bonga Main Life Extension, as key areas where Nigerian businesses can grow their capacity and increase their involvement.
“Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd. (SNEPCo) says Nigerian companies have a lot to benefit if they are prepared to take advantage of more opportunities in its offshore and shallow water oil and gas projects.
“Projects such as Bonga Southwest Aparo, Bonga North and Bonga Main Life Extension could grow Nigerian businesses and improve their expertise if they applied themselves seriously to executing higher value contracts”, Adams stated.
Adams noted that SNEPCo pioneered Nigeria’s deepwater oil exploration with the Bonga development and has since played a key role in growing local industry capacity.
He emphasized that Nigerian businesses could expand in key areas like logistics, drilling, and the construction of vital equipment such as subsea systems, mooring units, and gas processing facilities.
The SNEPCO boss explained that since production began at the Bonga field in 2005, SNEPCo has worked closely with Nigerian contractors to build systems and develop a skilled workforce capable of delivering projects safely, on time, and within budget both in Nigeria and across West Africa.
According to him, this long-term support has enabled local firms to take on key roles in managing the Bonga Floating, Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) vessel, which reached a major milestone by producing its one-billion barrel of oil on February 3, 2023.
The Emohua Local Government Area Administrator, Franklin Ajinwo, has pledged to improve electricity distribution in Oduoha Ogbakiri and its environs.
Ajinwo made the pledge recently while playing host in a courtesy visit to the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, in his office in Rumuakunde.
He stated that arrangements are underway to enhance available power, reduce frequent outages, and promote steady electricity supply.
The move, he said, was aimed at boosting small and medium-scale businesses in the area.
“The essence of power is not just to have light at night. It’s for those who can use it to enhance their businesses”, he said.
The Administrator, who commended the peaceful nature of Ogbakiri people, urged the Chiefs to continue in promoting peace and stability, saying “meaningful development can only thrive in a peaceful environment”.
He also charged the Chiefs to protect existing infrastructure while promising to address the challenges faced by the community.
Earlier, the Oduoha Ogbakiri Wezina Council of Chiefs, led by HRH Eze Goodluck Mekwa Eleni Ekenta XV, expressed gratitude to the Administrator over his appointment and pledged their support to his administration.
The chiefs highlighted challenges facing the community to include incessant power outage, need for new transformers, and the completion of Community Secondary School, Oduoha.
The visit underscored the community’s expectations from the LGA administration.
With Ajinwo’s assurance of enhancing electricity distribution and promoting development, the people of Oduoha Ogbakiri said they look forward to a brighter future.
By: King Onunwor