News

Yuletide: Long Queues Return To Filling Stations In PH

Published

4 years ago

December 15, 2021

Barely a few days to the Christmas, filling stations in Port Harcourt and Obior/Akpor local government areas of Rivers State have begun to witness long queues.
The development, which began last Monday, entered the second day, yesterday, with long queues resurfacing in many filling stations in the two local government areas.
Our correspondents who went round Port Harcourt City and its environs, report that there were queues of vehicles at many filling stations along Port Harcourt-Aba Road, Peter Odili Road, Amadi-Ama, Abuloma, Ikwerre Road, Trans Amadi-Slaughter, Woji and Elelenwo on both Monday and yesterday.
Queues were recorded, yesterday, at filling stations such as Eterna Oil and Mobil at Peter Odili Road, Enyo at Amadi-Ama Roundabout while Linfox at Amadi-Ama and another filling station at Sasun Roundabout did not open to customers.
On Port Harcourt-Aba Road, Oando was seen dispensing fuel to customers who waited patiently on queues for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) while Eterna Oil did not open for business.
There were also short queues at Conoil Filling Station at Education Bus Stop, and a filling station at Igwuruta Roundabout as at the time of filing this report.
However, The Tide’s check around Rumuosi axis and Obiri Ikwerre-Airport Road revealed that almost all the filling stations were dispensing PMS to customers without queue, except two stations that were closed for business.
Within the Rumuosi area, 95percent of the stations were selling, including the NNPC, Whiz Oil and Mobil as at yesterday morning.
Also, filling stations along the Igwuruta-Airport Road were selling without queue.
Further enquiry on why those few filling stations were not attending to customers revealed that the stations were in short supply of fuel.
A filling station attendant in one of the filling stations, Mr Kennedy Obinna, said those stations that were not dispensing fuel did not have the product.
It was further learnt that a few filling stations have jerked up the pump price per litre to between N170 and N180.
For instance, Conoil at Education Bus Stop, Mile One, was dispensing fuel at N180 per litre.
At Iwofe area, the story is not different as only one filling station, Anele Oil, was dispensing fuel to customers.
Others around the area shut down operations with bold inscriptions: “No fuel”, conspicuously displayed at their entry gates.
The Tide further learnt that even the few stations that have the product sell in the night.
The Station Manager, Heritage Oil and Gas, Iwofe, Mr. Agbasi Hector, attributed the fuel scarcity in the area to challenges in sourcing the product.
According to him, “Our trucks have been at the Petrol Star Depot since Thursday, last week, and up till now, we have not loaded.
“Before now, many depots had and sold but now only Petrol Star Depot loads, and the queue cannot be imagined”.
He urged the Federal Government to empower the private depots to import petroleum products to reduce the pressure on NNPC.
Another filling station, Onava Oil, said they have not had fuel for two months now.
Enyo Filling Station also claimed that they did not have fuel, but a reliable source told The Tide that the station had NNPC product, and only sells in the night.
A customer, Mrs. Nkeruka Amadi, lamented the recent development, saying she had not been able to buy fuel because all the stations around her house were not selling the product to customers.
It was, however, a different ball game at Rukpokwu, an outskirt of Port Harcourt, as the PMS sold at the normal N163 as at yesterday.
The issue of panic buying and long queues was also not recorded in the area.
The Tide learnt that some commuters, fearing that the pump price of PMS might soon go up, rushed to Rukpokwu to buy fuel at N163.
However, a taxi driver, Mr Allwell Amadi, who spoke to The Tide on the development, said there was no scarcity of fuel in the state, explaining that he has been buying fuel freely.
Meanwhile, a business executive, Mr John Igwe, has attributed the resurfacing of queues in many filling stations in Port Harcourt and its environs to a mere sabotage ahead of Christmas season.
According to him, the rumour of likely increase in the pump price of PMS has made some dealers to hoard products so as to make more gain.
The Tide recalls that the Federal Government has consistently given assurances that this year’s Christmas period would be devoid of the usual Yuletide fuel scarcity.

By: Boye Salau, Collins Walter, Lilian Peters & King Onuwhor

News

Cleric Predicts Breakthrough, Warns of Political and Security Challenges in 2026

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Founder and Senior Pastor of Liberty Hour Ministry, Port Harcourt, Apostle Chikadibia John Wodo, has expressed optimism that 2026 will usher in uncommon breakthroughs and good fortune for Nigeria, particularly in the areas of political, economic, and spiritual development, with Rivers State playing a key role.

Apostle Wodo made this declaration in his special New Year message, where he stated that individuals and forces standing as obstacles to the manifestation of God’s will in the new year would face bitter consequences. He cautioned that corrupt political leaders risk backlash from the very people they govern if they fail to change their ways.

The cleric warned against the escalation of political tension in Rivers State and called on residents and religious leaders to intensify prayers for lasting peace. He also urged Governor Siminalayi Fubara to remain resolute in leadership, reminding him to uphold his vows to God by continually seeking divine guidance in decision-making and governance amid evolving challenges.

Assessing the broader national situation, Apostle Wodo called on Nigerian leaders to repent and govern with a heightened sense of responsibility, noting that the cries and supplications of the masses have drawn divine attention. He further warned of alleged plots to disrupt a smooth democratic transition in 2027 and appealed for prayers to avert such an agenda.

According to him, Nigerians are yearning for genuine socio-economic transformation and freedom from political oppression. He challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to redeem its credibility by ensuring free, fair, and credible elections devoid of undue political interference.

The cleric also predicted that insecurity could worsen in the coming year and warned of the possible emergence of a strange ailment, stressing that Nigeria’s political challenges can only be resolved through equity, fairness, and justice, especially in the treatment of minorities, the vulnerable, and the disadvantaged.

Apostle Wodo further claimed that some clerics and General Overseers have compromised their faith and incurred divine displeasure, calling for sincere repentance to restore their relationship with God. He also advised early preparedness to mitigate natural disasters such as fire outbreaks and flooding, particularly in rural communities.

He concluded by urging Nigerians to remain prayerful, vigilant, and united as the nation navigates the opportunities and challenges of 2026.

News

Ado Royal Family Disowns Alleged Installation of Amanyanabo of Okrika

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Ado Royal Family of Okrika has firmly disassociated itself from the alleged self-enthronement of Hon. Godknows Tam George as the Amanyanabo of Okrika and Clan Head, describing the action as unlawful, illegitimate, and a threat to the peace of the ancient kingdom.

The family, which described itself as the sole legitimate custodian of the history, traditions, and stool of the Amanyanabo of Okrika, stated that it has not installed any king and has not commenced the formal process for such installation.

This position was contained in a statement jointly signed by Prof. Sotonye Fyneface-Ogan (Ogan Ado Royal House), Alabo Engr. Henry Semenitari Abam (Abam Ado Royal House), and Alabo Prince Oriyeorikabo Fibika (Fibika Ado Royal House). The statement was presented to journalists on Friday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.

According to the statement, the purported action by Hon. Tam George amounts to “a blatant assault on the collective integrity of the Okrika people” and constitutes “a criminal act of impersonation with the potential to destabilize the peace and socio-political fabric of our ancient kingdom.”

The family stressed that Hon. Tam George was never presented as a candidate by the Ado Royal Family and did not undergo any of the mandatory rites, consultations, or confirmations required by Okrika customs.

“The Ado Royal Family has never presented him as a candidate, nor has he undergone any of the prerequisite rites, consultations, or confirmations. His actions are those of a lone interloper, operating in a vacuum of legitimacy,” the statement read.

It further emphasized that the stool of the Amanyanabo of Okrika and Clan Head is a sacred institution rooted in centuries-old traditions and spiritual heritage, not something to be claimed through academic qualifications, political ambition, or personal interest.

Speaking during the briefing, Prof. Sotonye Fyneface-Ogan reiterated that the process of crowning an Amanyanabo is clearly defined and has not yet begun.

“To crown a king, there is a process, and those processes have not taken place,” he said. “We are the chiefs; we are the ones that will be part of the selection. Honestly, we have not started the selection process; we have only begun discussions.”

He explained that during the proper selection process, chiefs supervise nominations from each constituent house, with each house expected to nominate two or three candidates—steps which, he noted, have not been carried out.

“I want to assure the public that none of the Ado family chiefs has given Hon. Tam George any sign of approval,” Prof. Fyneface-Ogan added.

Efforts to obtain the reaction of Hon. Godknows Tam George proved unsuccessful. Repeated attempts through phone calls, text messages, and WhatsApp messages were unsuccessful, as he did not respond as of the time of filing this report.

By: Tonye Orabere

News

PH Traders Laud RSG’s Fire Safety Sensitisation Campaign

Published

2 days ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

Traders in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have commended the Rivers State Government (RSG) for its ongoing fire emergency and safety sensitisation campaign across major markets in the state.

Speaking on behalf of traders at Nowa Market, Borikiri Old Port Harcourt Township, the market chairman, Mr. Innocent Chukwuma, praised Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara for initiating the awareness programme in designated markets and public places.

Chukwuma described the exercise as timely and impactful, noting that it was the first time the Rivers State Government had carried out such a campaign in Nowa Market. According to him, the sensitisation would educate traders on fire emergencies and the necessary precautions to prevent outbreaks.

He urged traders to strictly apply the safety measures taught during the campaign, both during business hours and after closing their shops.

“I want to thank the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, and the Ministry of Special Duties for coming to our aid, especially during this dry season,” Chukwuma said.

“This is the first time we are seeing government presence in our market in this manner. We lack words to thank our God-sent governor, particularly for providing us with fire extinguishers and other firefighting equipment.

“We will do exactly what we have been taught today to ensure there is no fire incident in our market. We will always switch off all electrical appliances before closing for the day,” he added.

Similarly, the Chairman of Mile 3 USTRE Modern Market, Mr. Gift Nkesi Benjamin, applauded the state government for the distribution of fire extinguishers and other fire safety equipment.

“We will adhere strictly to the safety guidelines and instructions given to us today to ensure there is no fire outbreak in our market,” Benjamin stated.

“On behalf of Mile 3 USTRE Modern Market, I sincerely thank the Rivers State Government and the Ministry of Special Duties for bringing this important campaign to our market.”

At Rumuwoji Market (popularly known as Mile 1 Market), the Chairman, Chief Hon. Godpower O. Wobo, also expressed gratitude to the state government for the sensitisation exercise. He assured that traders would comply fully with government directives to prevent future fire incidents.

Responding on behalf of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties, Mr. Sokari D. P. George, thanked the traders for their cooperation and warm reception.

He emphasised that safety remains paramount, especially during the dry season, and urged traders to be cautious in their daily activities.

Mr. George disclosed that the theme of the 2025 fire safety campaign is “Controlled Fire Is a Friend, Uncontrolled Fire Is an Enemy.”

He cautioned against refuse and bush burning around buildings and warned traders not to store fuel in unauthorized places such as homes, offices, markets, or public buildings.

“Follow all fire safety guidelines and instructions,” he urged.

The permanent secretary also noted that Governor Fubara prefers a zero-fireworks approach during festive periods to ensure public safety, stressing that the government has invested heavily in markets and expects traders to take responsibility for protecting them.

By: Kiadum Edookor