Business
Fuel Scarcity Persists In PH
The problem of high price
and scarcity of Petrol is still not over in Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State as some filling stations are still not selling the product while some of those selling, sell above the N87.00 officially announced pumps price of the product.
The Tide gathered that some marketers are still hoarding the product in anticipation of scarcity in the near future.
A taxi driver, Ebi Jackson, told The Tide that one hardly gets the product in many filling station and that a litre costs above N87.00 at the few stations where the product is available.
“I bought at the costs of N100.00 a litre yesterday afternoon and three days ago, I bought at the rate of N110.00 per litre.
He blamed the Directorate of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for not effectively monitoring the marketers. “DPR cannot tell Nigerians that they are not aware of the sales above official pump price unless they are not doing their official duties,” Jackson stated.
Another transporter, Udor said, “the price is still high. I don’t even go to filling stations, I buy from the road side black marketer at N130.00”, he said.
He explained, “that at the black market you are sure to get the product and when you buy it you are also sure of quantity you are buying because in some filling stations they manipulate the pump such that before you know it, you have run out of fuel.
“I bought ten litres from a black marketer at the slaughter axis of Port Harcourt and it took me to Uyo yesterday. If I had bought from the filling stations, the fear is that my fuel could finish on the way.
“It is not as if the government is not trying but there are a lot of sabotage amongst the markers”, he remarked.
He blamed the DPR for the poor state of things saying if DPR officials were doing their work, they would have sanctioned most of the stations who manipulate pumps and sell above N87.00 per litre and also those hoarding the products.
Chris Oluoh
Business
Western Marine Command Intensifies Anti-Smuggling Operations … Intercepts N8.75m Worth PMS
For officers and men of the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the battle is not over until smuggling is over.
In the wake of Wednesday May, 8, 2024, the ever vigilant officers, acting on a tip-off, intercepted 177 sacks and 61 kegs of 25 litres containing petroleum products, valued at about N8.750,000million.
The items were intercepted along Isalu Creek, Badagry Waterway en-route Benin Republic.
While briefing newsmen, the Command’s Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Paul Bamisaiye, said: “This seizure is most economically significant to the Command at this period of scarcity of Petroleum Products, especially Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in our cities, and shows the anticipatory posture in our response to economic saboteurs.
“At about 2:330hrs on Wednesday 8th May 2024, while on joint patrol by teams in the Command, credible intelligence was received of the movement of 2 boats laden with what was suspected to be petroleum products concealed in sacks. Upon receipt of the information, the team moved into Isalu creeks, Badagry waterway.
“On sighting the approach of the Officers, the smugglers took to their heels through the shore of the Creek. The loaded boats were then towed to the station at Badagry where preliminary examination was conducted and transferred to Western Marine Command Headquarters, Ibafon, Apapa, Lagos.
“Careful examination at the Command Headquarters revealed that the arrest was found to contain One Hundred and Seventy Seven (177) Sacks and Sixty One (61) Kegs of 25 Litres Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) containing Twelve Thousand Five Hundred (12,500) Liters with a total Duty Paid Value standing at Eight Million Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N8,750,000) only”.
Bamisaiye noted that the action of the smugglers is a contravention of Section 245 & 254 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act 2023 which the service, through Western Marine Command, is responsible for enforcing.
“The Command, under the leadership of Compt. PK Bamisaiye, is poised more than ever to rid the waterways of all acts of smuggling and economy sabotage for the benefit of the growth of economy of Nigeria”, he said
Bamisaiye said so far, no suspect was arrested in the Command’s anti-smuggling operations.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Business
Illegal PMS Trading Booms In Lagos
Petroleum products being sought by motorists have disappeared from virtually all filling stations within Lagos and its environs, but are now booming in business in retail outlets.
Investigations by our correspondent revealed that while the product could not be got at some of the petrol service stations, activities are in top gear in the local retail outlets where the price has gone beyond the reach of users.
It was also gathered that in some filling stations supplied with the products, preference are often given to retail outlet operators by petrol attendants against the consuming public.
A source, directly involved in the business, said some petrol dealers are cashing on the irregular supply to divert the products to retail outlets where they could easily make their gains.
It was also gathered that some sales representatives in the service of major oil marketing firms indulged in the diversion exercise because of their personal interest.
At the retail outlets a liter goes for N950,00 against the normal N760,to N800 at some stations.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
Business
Customs Board Appoints Five DCGs, Eight ACGs
The Nigeria Customs Service Board (NCSB) has confirmed the appointment of five Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCGs) and eight Assistant Comptrollers-General (ACGs) of Customs during its 59th regular meeting.
The meeting, chaired by the Honorable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, was held at the Nigeria Customs Service Headquarters in Abuja last Tuesday.
National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, who disclosed this in a statement yesterday, gave details of the confirmed appointments as: O.O. Peters (DCG /Commander, Training and Doctrine Command (rtd); B.M. Jibo (DCG Enforcement Inspection & Investigation); and B.U. Nwanfor (DCG Excise, Free Trade Zone & Industrial Incentives).
Others are: S.A. Bomia (DCG, Commander Training and Doctrine Command); and C.K. Niagwan (DCG, Tariff & Trade).
The Assistant Comptrollers General (ACGs) are: B. Imam (ACG Board); A.A.S. Oloyede (ACG, Trade & Tariff); S.K. Dangaldima (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘B’); A. Abdul Azeez (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘D’); S.A. Yusuf (ACG, Human Resource Development); N.P. Umoh (ACG, Training and Doctrine Command); C.O. Obih (ACG/Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘C’); and S. Chiroma (ACG, Strategic Research and Policy).
The new appointments, according to the statement, were made to fill the vacancies created by some senior officers who recently retired from the Service, noting that the principles of federal character, seniority and merit guided the appointments approved by the board.
“These appointments are a testament to the officers’ exemplary services and dedication to the Nigeria Customs Service. The NCSB remains committed to providing strategic leadership to ensure effective and efficient service delivery for optimum performance”, he said.
While thanking the retired members of the management for their meritorious services, the Comptroller General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, congratulated the newly confirmed officers and charged them to redouble their efforts to ensure the service attains greater heights in its mandates of revenue generation, suppression of smuggling, and trade facilitation amongst others.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic, Lagos
-
Business5 days ago
CBN Boss Assures On Inflation Decrease
-
News4 days ago
Tinubu Bows To Pressure, Suspends Cyber Security Levy
-
Social/Kiddies3 days ago
Need To Take Care Of Children Worldwide
-
News2 days ago
Call Wike To Order, MOSOP-USA Tells Tinubu …Gives Conditions For Resumption Of Oil Production In Ogoni
-
Ict/Telecom5 days ago
Banks Cut Borrowing From CBN By 44%
-
Features4 days ago
Malaria Burden And Public Health In Nigeria
-
Business3 days ago
Nigeria, Israel To Collaborate On Agriculture
-
Politics5 days ago
Obi Visits Atiku In Abuja Amidst 2027 Speculations