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FG Reads Riot Act To Fuel Marketers

Published

13 years ago

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The Ministry of Finance released a statement calling the
fuel marketers to order even as the Presidency has indicted more manipulators
of the petrol subsidy system.

The statement released by Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s office names
MRS, Capital Oil and ConOil as suspects in the fraud.

Other oil marketing companies implicated include Aluminnur
Resources Ltd., Brilla Energy Ltd., Caades Oil and Gas Ltd., Downstream Energy
Source Ltd., Eterna Plc and Eurafric Oil and Gas Ltd.

Also mentioned in the fraud that cost Nigeria untold
billions of Naira were Lumen Skies Ltd., Majope Investment Ltd., Matrix Energy
Ltd., Menon Oil and Gas Ltd., MOB International Services, Nasaman Oil Services
Ltd., Natacel Petroleum Ltd., Ocean Energy Trading and Services, Pinnacle
Contractors Ltd., Sifax Oil and Gas Company, Tonique Oil Services Ltd. and Top
Oil and Gas Development Company Ltd.

The statement from the Minister’s office said the fuel
shortages being experienced in parts of the ocuntry were likely being
orchestrated by some of the firms indicted in the Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede-led
Presidential Committee on fuel subsidy claims.

The statement reads, “There is a second group of companies
with infractions which are relatively minor. They are in discussion with the
government for a quick resolution of their issues. The government is prepared
to settle their claims under the following circumstances.

“For oil marketers under investigation for possible refunds
to the government, their 2012 outstanding claims will be netted out against
their expected refunds to the government and those with a positive net balance,
i.e. outstanding claims greater than expected refunds, will be processed and
paid.

“For marketers with a negative balance with the government,
i.e they owe the government more in refunds than the government owes them, the
Aig-Imoukhuede committee will accelerate the review of their documents after
the Sallah break so that their claims can be processed and settled, if cleared,
without further delay.

“It is clear that those behind the strikes are marketers
being investigated for possible fraud. These elements have now resorted to
hiding behind the unions to unnecessarily antagonise the government and create
hardship for Nigerians.

“We want to make it clear that the government will fully
investigate their activities and if found guilty, bring them to book and
recover all public funds fraudulently obtained in the guise of fuel subsidy
claims.

“No degree of blackmail will stop the government from doing
its work. The government will, therefore, pursue justice and ensure that those
who are found guilty are appropriately sanctioned.”

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Kenyan Runners Dominate Berlin Marathons

Published

3 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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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.

 

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NIS Ends Decentralised Passport Production After 62 Years

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4 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has officially ended passport production at multiple centres, transitioning to a single, centralised system for the first time in 62 years.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made the disclosure during an inspection of the Nigeria’s new Centralised Passport Personalisation Centre at the NIS Headquarters in Abuja, last Thursday.
He stated that since the establishment of NIS in 1963, Nigeria had never operated a central passport production centre, until now, marking a major reform milestone.
“The project is 100 per cent ready. Nigeria can now be more productive and efficient in delivering passport services,” Tunji-Ojo said.
He explained that old machines could only produce 250 to 300 passports daily, but the new system had a capacity of 4,500 to 5,000 passports every day.
“With this, NIS can now meet daily demands within just four to five hours of operation,” he added, describing it as a game-changer for passport processing in Nigeria.
“We promised two-week delivery, and we’re now pushing for one week.
“Automation and optimisation are crucial for keeping this promise to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He noted that centralisation, in line with global standards, would improve uniformity and enhance the overall integrity of Nigerian travel documents worldwide.
Tunji-Ojo described the development as a step toward bringing services closer to Nigerians while driving a culture of efficiency and total passport system reform.
According to him, the centralised production system aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s reform agenda, boosting NIS capacity and changing the narrative for improved service delivery.
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FG To Roll Out Digital Public Infrastructure, Data Exchange, Next Year 

Published

4 days ago

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September 22, 2025

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The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to roll out Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and the Nigerian Data Exchange (NGDX) platforms across key sectors of the economy, starting in early 2026.
Director of E-Government and Digital Economy at NITDA, Dr. Salisu Kaka, made the disclosure in Abuja during a stakeholder review session of the DPI and NGDX drafts at the Digital Public Infrastructure Live Event.
The forum, themed “Advancing Nigeria’s Digital Public Infrastructure through Standards, Data Exchange and e-Government Transformation,” brought together regulators, state governments, and private sector stakeholders to harmonise inputs for building inclusive, secure, and interoperable systems for governance and service delivery.
According to Kaka, Nigeria already has several foundational elements in place, including national identity systems and digital payment platforms.
What remains is the establishment of the data exchange framework, which he said would be finalised by the end of 2025.
“Before the end of this year and by next year we will be fully ready with the foundational element, and we start dropping the use cases across sectors,” Kaka explained.
He stressed that the federal government recognises the autonomy of states urging them to align with national standards.
“If the states can model and reflect what happens at the national level, then we can have a 360-degree view of the whole data exchange across the country and drive all-of-government processes,” he added.
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