Business

Kerosene Scarcity: IPMAN Wants Direct Supply From NNPC

Published

15 years ago

July 4, 2011

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has urged the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to ensure that kerosene is distributed through its members.

Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, the Chairman of IPMAN’s Products Allocation Committee, made the call shortly after an inaugural meeting of the committee in Lagos.

Okoronkwo said the meting was to ensure that NNPC’s kerosene allocations to IPMAN were given to genuine members to ensure effective distribution and availability.

“NNPC should allocate IPMAN products strictly to its members to avoid diversion by un-recognised marketers.

“The only time we can checkmate mischievous marketers is when all follow due process,’’ he said.

The chairman said that IPMAN was ready to partner with NNPC in addressing the scarcity of petroleum products.

The Secretary of the committee, Mr Olumide Ogunmade, expressed the hope that the committee would ensure equitable distribution of products to IPMAN members.

“We are not fighting the NNPC but want to set records straight so that our valued members who have invested their money in products will get them.

“If we are given 76 per cent allocation for our members, what we are witnessing today on kerosene won’t have occurred because we are widely spread in term of retail outlets and number,’’ he said.

Ogunmade said the committee desired that all petroleum products allocation by the NNPPC/PPMC should go to genuine marketers for effective distribution and monitoring.

Our correspondent reports that IPMAN on Wednesday set up a 22-man committee to oversee the union’s allocation of products from the NNPC.

The committee was mandated to recommend solutions to the lingering scarcity of kerosene.

Meanwhile, some major and independent marketers have alleged that the NNPC, and Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC) are under-supplying them kerosene.

Some of the marketers, who spoke with newsmen yesterday in Lagos on condition of anonymity, said the situation had resulted in the artificial scarcity and hike in the price of the commodity.

“The inability of NNPC and PPMC to flood the market with the commodity caused the scarcity, and hike in the price of the commodity,’’ one of them said.

The source said that less than five million litres of kerosene were being distributed to the marketers daily, as against 12 million litres the NNPC claimed were being supplied.

The marketers alleged that 30 of them were being allocated a truck of 33,000 litres daily.

They, however, suggested that they should be given licence to import the commodity as part of efforts to address the lingering scarcity of kerosene.

“We urge the government to put in place appropriate mechanisms to ensure that the product is available throughout the country.

“Importation of kerosene by NNPC alone cannot solve the problem of scarcity; government should give licence to independent marketers to fast-track the importation of the commodity to ease scarcity,’’ a marketer said.

A source in the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), who preferred anonymity, also advised the NNPC to flood the market with the commodity, and publish daily and monthly allocations to the marketers.

The source said NNPC should increase supply of kerosene to the marketers and other depot owners to ease scarcity as well as reduce the price of the commodity.

Dr Levi Ajunoma, Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division of NNPC, said about 50,000 metric tonnes of kerosene had been allocated to major and independent marketers, as well as depot owners within the last one month.

Our correspondent, however, reports that in spite of this, kerosene still sells at between N120 to N135 per litre in some filling stations.

In spite of announcements by the NNPC that it had distributed sufficient kerosene to oil marketers nationwide, the product has remained scarce and expensive in Asaba.

Our correspondent reports that between June 27 and yesterday, not more than five out of more than 40 petrol filling stations in Asaba had the product for sale to the public.

An investigation showed that the stations that sold the product were only those owned by independent oil marketers.

Not even NNPC Mega station or its grade B type, both in Asaba, had the product for sale.

For instance, out of the more than 15 filing stations on Onitsha high way, only two, King’s Petroleum and Emmy and Sons Oil Ltd, sold the product during the week at exorbitant rates.

Anioma Petroleum and Odims Global Resources Ltd., both oil dealers located on Anwai Road, sold the products too.

No major oil marketer in the city sold kerosene during the period in spite of allegation by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the state that greater percentage of kerosene allocation went to them (major marketers).

According to IPMAN Chairman in the state, Chief Akpos Edafevwotu, NNPC allocates about 70 per cent of kerosene to its mega station in Asaba and the smaller ones around the cities.

He said the corporation also gave greater share of the remaining 30 per cent to major marketers, leaving little for his association’s members.

Edafevwotu, however, said that kerosene allocation to IPMAN by NNPC during the period of scarcity was raised to 16 trucks daily as against seven previously but noted that the supply was still inadequate.

The situation in Asaba has again boosted black market operation in the sale of the product.

A litre of the product at such market costs between N200 and N240.

One of the operators who pleaded anonymity, told newsmen that the price of a litre at the “illegal” spots depended on the sources of the stock.

Automated Gas Oil (AGO), known as diesel, has also remained scarce in the Delta capital for a long time and has led to high price of the product.

Currently, a litre sells for between N155 and N165 at filling stations.

In a related development, the NNPC (Retail Products Section) is collaborating with the Capital Oil and Gas in a nationwide kerosene distribution in tankers.

The aim is to ease scarcity.

Our correspondent reports that the pilot scheme began on Saturday in Lagos with 200 tankers loaded with the product.

The vehicles are to be taken to all the nooks and crannies of Lagos State for kerosene sales to residents.

Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, the Chief Executive Officer of Capital Oil and Gas, said at the unveiling of the pilot scheme that the idea was to boost NNPC’s efforts to end kerosene scarcity.

Ubah said the distribution would eliminate long queues at NNPC fuel stations.

“Tankers will be stationed at some locations in the city and rural areas to sell to individuals who want to buy kerosene; the best method to address panic buying of kerosene.

“The product will be handled and sold to Nigerians by sub-dealers who must have paid for them through the banks to avoid sharp practices,’’ he said.

Ubah said the method would go a long way in addressing kerosene scarcity.

He said that the schemes would be conducted in Abuja, Kano and Port Harcourt.

Dr Levi Ajuonuma, the Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division in NNPC, said the corporation on Thursday allocated 25,000 metric tonnes of kerosene to major and independent marketers to ease the scarcity.

“Distribution bottlenecks have been our major challenge but we have finally addressed that, and we believe all marketers will ensure the circulation of the product across the country,’’ he said.

Ajuonuma also said that the truck distribution would effectively address the lingering scarcity.

“We implore both regulatory bodies and the media to assist in monitoring the distribution of the product at the official pump price of N50 per litre,’’ he said.

Mr Victor Enilama, the Operations Officer at the Department of Petroleum Resources, urged the NNPC to publish all kerosene allocations to marketers to guide the department in monitoring their sale.

Enilama said the DPR would not seal a fuel station or prosecute its owner when there was no product in the station.

“Kerosene is under-supplied; the NNPC should beef up supply to marketers and depot owners to ensure adequate distribution and sales at the normal pump price,’’ he said.

He urged the corporation to ensure sustainability of the kerosene distribution, warning that if not properly monitored, it would be mismanaged and abused.

Our correspondent reports that kerosene is still sold for between N120 and N135 per litre in some filling stations in Lagos State.

Business

RIVERS NUJ BACKS BONNY TOURISM, TASKS MEDIA ON DEVELOPMENT REPORTING

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State Council, has thrown its weight behind efforts to reposition Bonny Island as a major tourism destination, urging journalists to move beyond crisis reporting and deliberately promote the state’s investment, tourism and development potentials.

The Chairman of the NUJ Rivers State Council, Comrade Paul Bazia, said this at a press briefing held at the Ernest Ikoli Press Centre in Port Harcourt, recently.

Bazia said Rivers State was endowed with enormous natural and economic resources, stressing the media must gradually shift its attention from conflict-oriented reporting to development communication capable of attracting investors, tourists and other economic opportunities to the state.

He said the tourism potential of Bonny Local Government Area was enormous and could compete favourably with attractions found in Caribbean countries, urging journalists to tell the story of Bonny in a way that would attract global attention.

“If we don’t blow our own trumpet, people won’t know that we have our trumpets. Most of the people that travel to the Caribbean, Bonny is more than that. Bonny is more than just the hydrocarbon headquarters. Bonny is beautiful. Bonny environment is therapeutic,” he stated.

The NUJ chairman stressed that tourism could provide a sustainable source of income without the environmental consequences associated with some extractive economic activities, adding that the media must help to market the tourism products available in Rivers State.

“Our role is to ensure that our stories market the product that we have,” Bazia said, urging journalists across the state to consciously promote its tourism and investment opportunities.

He warned that failure to develop and promote tourism destinations such as Bonny could contribute to economic stagnation and insecurity, stressing that businesses and communities would ultimately suffer where legitimate economic opportunities were neglected.

“It is better for us now to get into it and sell the product that we have so that it will be a win-win for everybody,” he added.

Also speaking, the President of the Bonny Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Discover Bonny Initiative, Mrs. Constance Nwokejiobi, Ph.D., said the initiative was a three-year strategic programme designed to transform Bonny Island into a premier tourism destination.

Nwokejiobi disclosed that Bonny Island Tourism & Investment Summit 2026, scheduled for August 18 to 20, would feature a Tourism Concierge Platform, multi-tier partnership arrangements ranging from Platinum to Community Tourism levels, as well as a privately driven Tour

She stressed that sustainable tourism could not depend solely on government, but required entrepreneurship, private investment and strategic partnerships, noting that Bonny already contributes an estimated four per cent of Nigeria’s national GDP, largely through oil and gas, while efforts were underway to develop a second and more sustainable economy based on tourism, heritage and hospitality.

Nwokejiobi said the initiative enjoyed strong support from His Majesty King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, Perekule XI, Amanyanabo of Grand Bonny Kingdom, who, she noted, had consistently promoted the island’s rich heritage and hospitality potential alongside its energy and industrial strengths.

She called on Nigerians to embrace domestic tourism by visiting Bonny and also invited international visitors and investors to discover the island as an authentic West African destination.

By: King Onunwor

Business

Jonathan, Diri, Others Laud Firm’s Milestone in Bayelsa …Says Project Will Drive Industrialisation, Create Jobs

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria’s ex-First lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), Chief Samuel Ogbuku, have commended a Bayelsa-based firm, Azikel Group for its commitment towards industrialising the state and the Niger Delta region.

They spoke while inspecting the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU) and other facilities recently at the Azikel Refinery in Obunagha Community of Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state.

They pledged continued support for the successful completion of the multi-billion naira refinery project.

In his remarks, Governor Diri represented by his deputy, Dr Peter Akpe, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far by the company, describing the refinery project as a major step towards industrialising the state, creating employment and opening new economic opportunities for the people.

He congratulated the President of the Azikel Group, Dr Azibapu Eruani and his team on the successful procurement of the CDU, which is the most critical component of a refinery, describing the feat as a significant milestone towards completing the project.

He said industrialisation remains an integral part of his Prosperity Administration’s agenda, noting that government’s responsibility was to create an enabling environment for businesses and investments to thrive.

According to him, the state government’s ongoing road projects were designed to improve connectivity and provide easier access to industrial investments, including the refinery.

The governor urged Bayelsans to take advantage of the opportunities that would emerge from the project, particularly employment and skills development, and warned the people against commercialising opportunities meant for them.

“The Prosperity Government, which is the agenda that we propagate, has industry and industrialisation as one of the major things. As a government, our business is to provide or enhance ease of doing business.

“Our universities have got graduates that can fit into most of the levels that will be available”, he said.

The State Chief Executive urged the people of the local communities to develop the capacity to participate meaningfully in the investment.

Also speaking, former First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, applauded the Bayelsa State Government for supporting the project, particularly through infrastructure development and improved road access to the refinery.

She said the investment was significant because Bayelsa had traditionally depended heavily on government, stressing that sustainable development depended more on investments that create wealth than totally relying on monthly salaries and allocations.

Dame Jonathan described the refinery as an investment that should receive the collective support of government, communities and other stakeholders, saying its benefits would extend beyond the company to the wider economy.

According to her, “It is not the amount of money you get at the moment, but the investment you put on ground that matters.

What we are doing is not for you alone; it is for all of us.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, stressed that the refinery would have a multiplier effect on Bayelsa’s economy, particularly through job creation and increased business activities.

Dr. Ogbuku maintained the project could also boost traffic at the Bayelsa International Airport by attracting investors, contractors and other business interests into the state.

The NDDC helmsman stressed the need for Bayelsans, particularly young people not to be spectators to the investment but rather prepare and position themselves to benefit from the opportunities it would create.

He also lauded the state government for improving road access to the refinery, saying the infrastructure had helped to make the investment more accessible and demonstrated that the state was preparing for the economic opportunities associated with the project.

On his part, the President of Azikel Group, Dr. Azibapu Eruani, described the project as a major industrial milestone for Bayelsa and Nigeria, saying the refinery had reached a critical stage with the arrival of the CDU.

He disclosed that the refinery, with a capacity of 25,000 barrels per day and an investment value of about one billion dollars, would produce petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, kerosene, LPG, naphtha and heavy fuel oil.

Dr. Eruani said the arrival of the CDU represented the culmination of eight years of work and marked a significant step towards actualising the refinery project.

He explained that the CDU took more than three years to build in South Korea before being transported to Nigeria on a specially chartered vessel.

Chairman of the Bayelsa State Traditional Rulers Council, King Bubaraye Dakolo, former Chief Operating Officer, Refinery and Petrochemical of the NNPC, Mr. Mustapha Yakubu, among other dignitaries also delivered goodwill messages at the event.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa

Business

AKG To Purchase More Aircraft —-Targets 10 Fleets this Year

Published

3 days ago

August 17, 2026

The Tide

The Akwa Ibom State Government has announced plans to expand the fleet of its state-owned airline, Ibom Air, with the acquisition of an Airbus A220-300 aircraft.

The Commissioner for Information, Dr Aniekan Umanah, disclosed this to newsmen recently in Uyo, saying the state government would travel to Montreal, Canada, to finalise documentation for the purchase.

Umanah said the aircraft is expected to arrive at the Victor Attah International Airport on August 30, 2026, bringing Ibom Air’s fleet to 10 aircraft.

He described the planned acquisition as a milestone for the state’s aviation sector, adding that it supports the government’s ambition of positioning Akwa Ibom as a major aviation hub for business, tourism and investment under its ARISE Agenda.

The commissioner also identified tourism as a major driver of the state’s economy outside crude oil revenues, saying the government remained committed to developing the sector.

He said the expansion of Ibom Air would improve connectivity and create opportunities for young people seeking careers in aviation, while strengthening links for businesses and families.

According to him, the arrival of the Airbus A220-300 would further demonstrate the state government’s commitment to improving connectivity and supporting economic growth.

Apapa Customs Command Regs N323 Bn Revenue In July

(1)

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Apapa Area Command, has posted an unprecedented revenue collection of ?323 billion in July 2026, the highest monthly figure ever recorded by the Command.

The landmark performance further underscores the strong results achieved under the leadership of Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, who earlier guided the Command to another record haul of ?304 billion in October 2025.

Comptroller Oshoba disclosed this during the monthly meeting with Deputy Comptrollers of Terminals and Unit Heads held on Tuesday, 11 August 2026.

He attributed the record collection to the combined impact of policy support, operational reforms and improved compliance across the Command.

In a press statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Isah Sulaiman, the Customs Area Controller specially commended the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR PhD and the Service management team for their commitment to the ongoing modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service.

“We recognise and acknowledge the CGC’s devotion and dedication to the modernisation project of the Nigerian Customs Service.

“The management team has introduced several innovations that have streamlined our activities and given us clear direction,” he said.

Comptroller Oshoba noted that the reforms are already delivering measurable results. He highlighted the improved performance of the B’Odogwu system, which had earlier faced challenges but has since been enhanced and is now producing strong outcomes.

He also commended the One-Stop Shop (OSS) initiative for accelerating cargo delivery time and creating a more predictable business environment that encourages legitimate importation.

“Another important development is the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) framework, which currently has more than 200 beneficiaries. This has positively impacted the revenue profile of the Command,” he added.

Intelligence-driven enforcement operations, he said, have further strengthened compliance where officers and men of the Command have intensified interventions that detect false declarations and ensuring compliance with the Service valuation principles to protect national revenue.

The CAC also specifically credited the enabling business environment created by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly the relative stability in the foreign exchange mmarket.

He explained that a more predictable forex regime has allowed business operators to plan better, make informed decisions and conduct trade with greater confidence while challenging officers to examine their individual contributions beyond routine revenue generation.

“In your Area of Responsibility, you must ask yourself, apart from the normal revenue generated by your Unit, what is your own contribution in terms of intervention? What have I added?” he asked.

The CAC stressed the continued importance of trade facilitation and ease of doing business describing the current operating environment as more predictable and conducive to growth.

He directed that disputes should be resolved promptly where consignments require further scrutiny, officers must follow proper documentation and the Post Clearance Audit (PCA) process.

On stakeholder relations, Oshoba issued a clear directive, “When you interact with stakeholders, let them leave your office with hope rather than despair. As a leader, do not allow anyone who comes to you to depart feeling hopeless or depressed. Give people hope.”

He acknowledged the valuable cooperation of stakeholders and sister agencies, noting that their support has improved compliance and restored greater sanity to the business environment. Officers, he said, must continue to build trust through professionalism, respect and collaboration.

Comptroller Oshoba further urged personnel to uphold transparency and discipline, work smart, remain up to date with evolving digital processes and consult more experienced colleagues when necessary.

He described effective leadership as a collective responsibility, calling on Staff Officers to support Deputy Controllers in reinforcing discipline and fostering a healthy work environment rooted in compassion, empathy, teamwork and genuine concern for the welfare of subordinates.

The CAC called for heightened security consciousness, proper supervision, continuous in-house training and full compliance with approved procedures.

He charged all Units to sustain the current momentum, deepen professional development and remain focused on productivity and service delivery.

By: Enoch Epelle