Fuel Scarcity Looms As Nigerian Tanker Drivers Threaten To Stop Lifting Petrol

The Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners has threatened to stop lifting petroleum products nationwide from Monday due to the high cost of operations.

This was disclosed in a press statement issued by NARTO’s President, Yusuf Othman, dated February 15, 2024.

The statement said NARTO had repeatedly complained about the high cost of diesel required to power their trucks for the transportation of petroleum products to the retailing points across the country and sought the assistance of relevant authorities but no positive response from them.

The statement said: “Fraternal greetings from the leadership and members of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners to the leadership and members of your great Union.

We are deeply constrained to seek the support and understanding of your Union and members towards the excruciating challenges petroleum trucks owners are facing with the high operational costs in the industry.

“As you are already aware of several efforts we have made to secure negotiations for appropriate and commensurate Freight rates for our operations from all conceivable authorities concerned in the Industry, most especially the Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria but which have received no positive responses from them, we have no other options but write to inform you that the NARTO National Executive Council (NEC) has resolved to direct all our members not to make their Petroleum Trucks available for Petroleum Products loading activities with effect from Monday, 19th day of February 2024.

“In the light of this directive, we implore all our employees (Petroleum Truck Drivers), who are your members to show maximum cooperation, support and understanding to our collective efforts for continued sustainability of the Petroleum Haulage business and effective service delivery by ensuring adequate and immediate compliance.

“There is definitely no way we can continue in this business within the context of the current economic situation in the country.”

Catholic Bishops Slam Tinubu, Says He Is Inflicting More Pains On Nigerians

The Bishops lamented that there is increasing hunger in the country, unemployment, kidnapping, general insecurity and other crimes are on the increase, and there is a high cost of food and living.

Speaking on Sunday through the CBCN President, Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, the Bishops said the reforms initiated by President Tinubu have so far been counterproductive, with more Nigerians being plunged into poverty.

Ugorji made the position of the Bishops known when he delivered a speech at the opening session of the 2024 First Plenary Assembly of the CBCN held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria Resource Centre, Durumi Abuja.

The cleric said the fuel subsidy removal, coupled with the floating of the naira, has not yielded any positive result so far, and the government is only asking people to make sacrifices and exercise patience while no corresponding action on the part of the leaders is been seen.

He said: “Evidently, the reform agenda of President Tinubu has added to the plight of Nigerians. With the withdrawal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange market, there has been a sharp increase in the pump price of petroleum products, and a steady decline in the value of the Naira.

High spiralling inflation has made it difficult for the average Nigerian to access basic commodities, including food items and medication. Millions of Nigerians have been reduced to a life of grinding poverty, wanton suffering, and untold hardship as never before in our national history. In a bid to survive, an increasing number of poor people have resorted to begging. With more than 80 million Nigerians living under the poverty line of less than two dollars a day.”

Expressing further dissatisfaction with the policies of the Tinubu government, Ugorji added that: “If we have to be very frank with ourselves and not wallow in self-delusion, we must admit that we are faced with a case where therapy is worse than the disease. The government’s reform agenda is turning out to be counterproductive. Despite the efforts of the government to boost our economy, our nation has continued to sink economically deeper and deeper into a bottomless pit.

In withdrawing the fuel subsidy, the government assured Nigerians it would save a lot of money to be injected into other national development sectors. Rather than give evidence of money so far saved from the withdrawal of subsidies for which Nigerians are being afflicted with untold hardship, all we hear is the government’s accumulation of more and more foreign debts to balance its budgetary deficit, thereby mortgaging the future of our nation and generations yet unborn.

“We must also be frank to admit that government’s efforts to fight corruption have remained prostrate, and as a result, Nigeria is rated as one of the most corrupt nations in the world. The crusade against corruption needs to be more proactive. Adequate checks and balances need to be implemented in our public financial management to prevent dishonest and greedy public servants from stealing public money with case and impunity.

A financial management and accounting system that allows fraudulent government officials to freely loot huge sums of money from public coffers needs total overhauling. Though ICPC and EFCC have recovered billions of Naira from corrupt government officials, but it has failed to win most of its cases before the Court of Justice due to poor investigation and presentation of corruption cases.

“Until our anti-corruption institutions can successfully prosecute and jail corrupt government officials, corruption will continue to thrive in Nigeria. So, the government should rise to its primary responsibility of securing the lives and property of its citizens.

The government does not need to reinvent the wheel since it can easily learn from what other nations do to provide adequate security for its citizens. It goes without saying that there cannot be any meaningful development in any country without adequate security. It will be belabouring the obvious to state that security in our country will remain a tall dream if mass unemployment exists among our youths.”

Tragic: Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe Dies In Helicopter Crash In California

 

Herbert Wigwe, the co founder of Access bank and the founder, Wigwe University is dead.

An unconfirmed report indicated that a chopper transporting Herbert Wigwe, the CEO of Access Holdings crashed and killed him as well as about five others in California.

Sources said the chopper conveying Wigwe and his family was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.

The US government confirmed all onboard dead

He was also the CEO of Access holdings, the parent company of Access bank.

He died in a fatal helicopter crash in California.

The chopper was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night. The US government confirmed all on board dead.

Bandit Terrorising Abuja Shot Dead

 

Operatives of Nigeria Police Force attached with Department of Force Intelligence-Tactical Teams (DFI-IRT) have gunned down a “notorious kidnapper” terrorising the outskirt of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The notorious bandit, with the name Isa Dei-Dei, was neutralised during a gun duel with security personnel who had combed the hideouts of some kidnapping syndicate who had lives unbearable for residents of the suburbs.

Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the spokesman of the Nigerian Police, who revealed this Wednesday morning, disclosed that some members of the syndicate fled when they sighted the operatives but they escaped with gunshot wounds.

Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, begged members of the public, particularly medical practitioners, to call the attention of police operatives to anyone or patients seen with gunshot wounds for further investigation.

He said, “At about 10:15HRS on the 5^th of February 2024, operatives of the DFI-IRT, acting on intelligence, got information on the hideout of a notorious bandit group in the suburbs of the FCT, led by one Isa Dei-Dei and immediately proceeded to the location for possible arrest.

“Upon closing in on them, they sighted the police and fled. The operatives immediately went after them, which led to a fierce gun duel. In the process, the notorious Isa Dei-Dei was neutralized while other members of the syndicate managed to escape with gunshot injuries.

“We therefore urge members of the public, most especially medical practitioners, to call our attention to anyone or patients seen with gunshot wounds for further investigation.”

Daily Trust reports that some satellite towns in the nation’s capital including Bwari, Kuje and others became hotspots in recent time where the criminal bandits abducted some residents while some were killed during the attack. 

EFCC Drags Ex-Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello To Court Over Alleged N80bn Fraud

 

The anti-graft agency slammed the former Governor with the charges and dragged him to court just a few days after he handed over power on January 27, 2024.

It is understood that the allegation of corruption for which Bello was dragged to court is not a fresh one, but the EFCC simply amended existing charges in which his nephew and an associate were accused of diverting Kogi State funds, and added the former governor as a co-defendant with some few additional counts.

Bello, in the amended case, was accused of converting the total sum of N80.2 billion (N80,246,470,089.88) belonging to the Kogi State Government to personal use. An alleged co-conspirator, Abdulsalami Hud (Kogi State Government House Cashier), was described as being at large. The other two are are his co-defendants – Ali Bello and Dauda Suleiman.

However, reacting to the development, the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement yesterday, condemned the EFCC’s action against the former Governor.

He added that the EFCC, in its desperation, described Bello as ‘at large’, which is totally wrong as it gave the impression the former Governor was evading arrest or could not be found.

Fanwo said the allegation of the EFCC against Bello “is ridiculous, laughable and portrays the EFCC as an agency infested with persons whose intents disagree with the noble intention of Mr. President to defeat corruption in Nigeria.”

“Being ‘at large’ of course means that a person is evading arrest or is on the run and cannot be found after an attempt to arrest,” the statement stated.

“In the EFCC’s desperation to nail H.E Yahaya Bello, they forgot their thinking hammer at home.”

Bishops, Northern Elders Lament Over Rising Inflation, Hardship, Insecurity

Northern Elders Forum (NEF) and the Catholic Bishops of Ibadan Ecclesiastical Province, yesterday, called on elected officials to desist from giving excuses for worsening inflation, insecurity and economic hardship confronting Nigerians.

NEF said it was deeply concerned about the unchecked rise in inflation, saying it posed a significant threat to the well-being of Nigerians.  The forum also said the cost of living had been steadily increasing, particularly in terms of food prices, leading to widespread hunger and malnourishment.

NEF, in a statement by its Director of Publicity and Advocacy, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, said the situation required immediate attention and action from the government.

He said: “It is disheartening to witness the disconnect between the reality on the ground and the actions, or lack thereof, of our leaders. While millions of Nigerians are struggling to put food on the table and make ends meet, those in power seem to be living in isolation or denial. This indifference to the suffering of the people they are meant to serve is deeply troubling.

“The consequences of this unchecked rise in inflation are devastating for ordinary Nigerians. Families are finding it increasingly difficult to afford necessities, as the prices of essential commodities such as rice, beans, and cooking oil continue to skyrocket. This dire situation has resulted in a rise in malnutrition, particularly among children, as families are forced to prioritise their limited resources.”

SIMILARLY, the bishops said the ship of Nigeria was floundering and that the nation was in desperate need of restoration. The bishops, in a communiqué issued by the province, comprising Ibadan Archdiocese, Ilorin, Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Osogbo dioceses, after their first meeting for 2024 at the Jubilee Conference Centre, Ibadan, between February 5 and 6, decried killings, different forms of insecurity and economic hardship and called on political leaders to do something fast and desist from giving excuses.

The clerics, in the communiqué, titled: “Nigeria: In Desperate Need for Restoration,” signed by their Chairman, Most Rev ‘Leke Gabriel Abegunrin, and Secretary, Most Rev John Akin Oyejola, said: “Any country run on corruption and falsehood will crumble under the weight of self-inflicted evil.

“Our dear country Nigeria is fast becoming a hostile, killing field. The ship of the nation is foundering under the weight of pervasive insecurity, economic hardship due to hyperinflation and the collapse of the naira, cybercrime, high cost of food, lackadaisical governance and widespread corruption. Day-to-day living is fast becoming an ordeal for millions of Nigerians because pervasive poverty, driven by the harsh environment has driven many to desperation and even suicide.

“It would be nothing short of hypocritical to put all the misery being suffered by Nigerians today down to change in world economy. The truth is that often Nigerians are simply left to their own devices and left at the mercy of the most cruel and aggressive criminals by inept and selfish political and civil leaders.

“In all this, governments often seem weak or altogether absent. Any remedy now is even already too late for many Nigerians who have lost their lives to terrorists, hunger, kidnapping and sundry disasters. We plead for urgent action from all our leaders to save the Nigeria ship from sinking. The much-vaunted renewed hope is turning to utter desperation in many places and there is not much time left.” 

Angry Nigerian Market Women Vows Beat Tinubu Up Over Hardship

Some market women in Ogun State have called for Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu's resignation over the soaring prices of goods and the biting hardship in the country 

The market women who berated Tinubu’s administration, threatened to beat up the President one-on-one.

The market women disclosed this while speaking to a news reporter in a video seen by SaharaReporters on Wednesday. They noted that Tinubu disappointed Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba.

An elderly woman said “He has disappointed us in Yoruba land, he is not behaving like a Yoruba man.”

Another one asserted that “Everything is so costly to the extent that we cannot afford to buy one bowl of garri. We are tired of everything, when I started business, a carton of fish was 200 naira but now it is 20,000 naira.

"We don’t have food to eat, old people are dying. Business is not moving, and there’s nothing. We are all hungry.

“This problem is too much. If you can’t solve our problem, don’t add to it.”

Another trader appealed to the president to have mercy on Nigerians, saying, “We’re tired of Nigeria; everything is costly, everything is getting costly every day.”

“What he promised us is not what’s happening now. This is too much.”

“At this point we are tired, things are too costly. A carton of Titus is N100,000; it used to cost N17,000. Kote is going to N60,000. Shawa, which we used to sell for N70, now goes for N700.”

When asked what they would tell the president if they had the opportunity to see him, one of the traders said “We will beat the President if we have opportunity of seeing him, we will beat him. What he told us is not what he is doing.”

Many Nigerians Will Soon Reap The Benefits Of Subsidy Removal – Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, has promised Nigerians that they will soon reap the benefits of subsidy removal.

Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at Poling Unit 014, Ward 08 at Elizabeth Fowler Memorial School, Surulere, Lagos state, in the House of Representatives bye-election in the constituency on Saturday, February 3, Gbajabiamila stated that President Bola Tinubu knows what he is doing, and at the end of the day, everything will work out fine.

He said;

“It is those economic fundamentals that this administration is trying to put in place, including fuel subsidy removal which was a national concession that it must be removed.

“I assure you that the benefits of subsidy removal will be reaped soon. It’s not immediate but the President knows what he is doing, and at the end of the day, everything will work out fine.”

On Insecurity, Gbajabiamila said;

“This administration needs the full cooperation of the people and in so doing, we will all defeat these kidnappers and terrorists. Therefore, we need to come together for the better and by so doing, make Nigeria a great nation that we will all be proud of.”

Security Operatives Rescue 16 kidnapped Farmers, Pregnant Women And Children In Niger State

Security Operatives have rescued 16 farmers, including pregnant women and children kidnapped at Dan-Gunu Community of Munya Local Government Area of Niger State. 

It was gathered that bandits stormed the community last Wednesday and kidnapped the victims. 

The Chairman, Munya LGA, Abdulhamid Najume, confirmed the rescue to the Daily Trust on Saturday, February 3, 2024.

“We had an emergency security meeting after which we mobilised security operatives and dispersed them to go after the bandits. Luckily, they were able to rescue all the kidnapped victims. Currently, they are receiving medical care at a hospital facility after which they will be reunited with their families,” he said.

On the issue of primary schools closed due to insecurity in the area, Najume said some schools had already been reopened to allow children who have been at home for years to go back to the classroom.

“We have reopened some of the schools. We are renovating some of them because they need to be fixed to make them conducive for teaching and learning,” he said. 

“We have also distributed teaching materials such as chalk and learning materials such as exercise books and other necessary things that we have identified if we don’t support parents because of the economic situation, it would hinder the smooth return of pupils

“These children have overstayed at home and we are doing everything possible to see them back to school and we won’t relent.”