FG Rejects Two Cargoes of Adulterated Petrol Imported from Belgium STI SYMPHONY makes U-turn off coast of Guinea OPEC’s production drops by 700,000bpd Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja Following the circulation of adulterated petrol in Nigeria, which damaged vehicle engines last week, the federal government has turned
back two tankers carrying petrol loaded in Antwerp, Belgium, and destined for Lagos, THISDAY learnt. This is coming as the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies
have continued to produce crude oil below their production targets, with the group’s output falling by a record 700,000 barrels per day (bpd) below its collective quotas in January.
The off-specification fuel, it was learnt, was rejected amid the raging controversy over the bad fuel in circulation in the country, which led to the disruption of the country’s supply chain, resulting
in long queues in filling stations across the country. The current problematic supply of petrol, which grounded movements in Abuja, Lagos and some other parts of the country, was made
worse by the shortage of inventory, according to the figures released by the sole importer, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Continued on page 6
APC Begins Sale of Forms Tomorrow ahead of National Convention... Page 6 Sunday 13 February, 2022 Vol 27. No 9805
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Atiku Under Fire for Kicking against Zoning Presidential Ticket Former VP being driven by money, not ability, says Middle Belt Forum PANDEF, Ohanaeze Ndigbo: Atiku’s position a mockery of Nigeria’s constitution Deji Elumoye in Abuja, Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu and Seriki Adinoyi in Jos Former Vice President Atiku
Abubakar yesterday came under fire for faulting the call on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its presidential ticket to a particular region of
the country, and insisting that the Nigerian constitution does not recognise zoning. The 17 southern governors; the Southern and Middle-Belt
Forum, comprising the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, the pan-Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and the Middle-Belt Forum, had
called on all political parties to zone their presidential tickets to the South. But Atiku, who is one of the prominent northern politicians
interested in contesting the 2023 presidential election, has faulted the agitation. Continued on page 8
Head of Sokoto Caliphate Kingmakers, Danbaba Dies Suddenly, Buried in Glory President expresses shock, millions mourn
John Shiklam in Kaduna and Onuminya Innocent in Sokoto The Head of Sokoto kingmakers, the Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Danbaba, who died yesterday, has been laid to rest in a glorious ceremony. President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep shock over the death of the kingmaker, who was until his death, the board chairman of the Sokoto Rima River Basin Development Authority (SRRBDA). He was a non-exectuive director of THISDAY Newspapers Limited and owned several businesses including hotels. The influential kingmaker, who was the grandson of the late Premier of Northern Region and Sardauna of Sokoto, Sir Ahmadu Bello, reportedly slumped in his hotel in Kaduna yesterday, and died on his way to the hospital. Danbaba died at the age of Continued on page 5
MAGAJIN GARIN GOES HOME… Imam of Sultan Bello Jumaat Mosque, Sokoto, Malami Muhammad Bello Akwara, and other dignitaries, after the funeral prayers for the Head of Sokoto Kingmakers, the Magajin Garin Sokoto, Alhaji Hassan Marafa Danbaba, in Sokoto State…yesterday