Business
Stakeholder Wants Marketers To Import Fuel
The Chief Executive of Metib Oil and Gas Ltd. Mr Adewumi Ilori, on Tuesday advised the Federal Government to allow both the major and independent marketers to import petrol.
Ilori said that scarcity of petrol would persist if the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) remained the only importer of petrol into the country.
“‘Scarcity will continue in Nigeria because the NNPC alone cannot meet the demand for fuel in Nigeria,” he said in a telephone interview with newsmen.
“The time is ripe to bring to bear the full policy thrust behind government’s public-private partnership initiative to surmount our current petroleum products scarcity.
“It is clear now that it is such conscious collaboration that will make petrol readily available to Nigerians,“ he said.
Ilori said that the problems associated with distribution of the product across the country would reduce if petrol marketers were importing fuel too.
Ilori said that the strain on the depots would also reduce.
“The delay in lifting petrol from the depots contributes to the long queues of cars at filling stations,” he said.
Ilori said that early passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) would facilitate early lifting of crude oil from new oil wells discovered in some states.
He said that the PIB would encourage more business men to invest in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
“We hear that crude oil has been discovered in Niger, Sokoto, Lagos and Ondo States.
“For optimal enjoyment of such discoveries, the Federal Government should hasten the passage of PIB,“ he said.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.