PENGASSAN urges FG to revoke licence of oil marketers selling above approved price

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has urged the Federal Government to revoke licences of oil marketers selling above approved pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

PENGASSAN said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) should immediately mobilise its staff in various locations nationwide to monitor compliance and anyone found wanting, should have their licences revoked to serve as a deterrent.

PENGASSAN, in a statement on Monday by its National President, Mr Festus Osifo, said the call for the revocation of licences became urgent, following persistent scarcity of PMS in the last six months.

“Should this collusion go on unchecked, we will not hesitate to partner with other stakeholders in ensuring that Nigerians are not further exploited. A stitch in time saves nine,” he said.

Osifo, while empathising with Nigerians on the hardship currently faced with the scarcity and drastic hike in PMS price, decried that one litre of PMS is being sold between N185 to N650, depending on the location and outlet.

“While we understand that the parameters imputed into the old PPPRA and now NMDPRA template has since changed because of some economic vagaries such as exchange rate fluctuation, vessel hiring cost and cost of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) amongst others.

“There is no sufficient justification for PMS to be selling for such highly inflated price, thereby subjecting the masses to further difficulties.

“Even though we have some good marketers who tend to play by the rules, others who are overbearing have deployed methods of creating artificial scarcities to hike the price of the product uncontrollably.

“From data available to us from our members, there is over 30 days PMS sufficiency in the country; hence there is no basis for the current scarcity and hardship that Nigerians are being subjected to,” he said.

He said the national leadership of PENGASSAN had been following up with its members in NNPC Trading Limited who were responsible for assigning the products to marketers.

He said it has been following its teaming members from NMDPRA in various depots and terminals across the country on the need to carry out their functions expeditiously.

He said these members were responsible for issuing cargo clearance, monitoring compliance, routing inspection, metering calibration/ maintenance, accurate delivery to trucks and record keeping, among others. (NAN)

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Unity of Nigeria paramount in electioneering era -NCPC boss

By Albert Akota

The Executive Secretary Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission Rev. Dr Yakubu Pam, has said that the unity of the country was of top priority in the electioneering era. Rev Pam made this known while addressing the 5th batch of intending pilgrims comprising Delta, Borno and Kogi State at the Departure hall of the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja.

The Executive Secretary said unity of the nation was what the Commission stands for, adding that Pilgrimage was the platform through which Nigerians can get more united.

He charged them to be proud Ambassadors and good representatives of the country and Christ as they embark on the spiritual journey.

In his words, Delta State Executive Secretary, Apostle Samuel Okoh said nation building was incomplete without the Church, hence the need for the exercise.

Okoh said he was optimistic that the Pilgrims would impact upon the nations and their various families.

On his part, the Executive Chairman, Kogi State Christian Pilgrims Commission advised them to be of worthy character and pray fervently for the nation and enhance the unity that every Nigerian had longed for.

By Egena Sunday Ode

The newly inaugurated 5,700 hectares Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme in Auyo Local Government Area of Jigawa State will significantly contribute to Nigeria’s quest for food security, job creation and economic diversification, President Muhammmadu Buhari said on Tuesday in Dutse.

The President spoke at a state banquet after commissioning several projects executed by the Federal Government, the Jigawa State Government and the Malam Alu Farm Project, a private enterprise championed by Honorable Farouk Adamu Aliyu.

The President urged the host community to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the gigantic irrigation infrastructure, saying ‘‘It will be a small part in our over-all quest to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.’’

He also charged the Jigawa State Government to sustain its commitment to the Agricultural Sector, acknowledging the success of the Cluster System introduced by the present administration of Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar under the slogan of “Farming is a Business”.

During his one-day official visit to Jigawa State the President visited four local government areas to inaugurate projects including the Hadejia Valley Irrigation Scheme at Auyo, Birnin Kudu Specialist Hospital, Malam Alu Integrated Agro-Allied Farm, Birnin Kudu and the dualized Unity-PentagonFanisau Road.

At the farm, the President unveiled a 50.3 metres flag pole, described as the tallest in the country by Hon. Aliyu.

The President also had an aerial view of some of the roads, infrastructure, bridges and places