Headline

APC Governors Accuse Oil Marketers Of Causing Hardship

Published

11 months ago

June 3, 2023

The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), a group of governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has accused oil marketers of causing hardship in the country.

Hope Uzodinma, governor of Imo and PGF’s chairperson, spoke on Friday after he led his colleagues to visit President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock villa.

On Monday, Tinubu, in his inauguration speech, said the subsidy regime was over, noting that it was not provided for in the 2023 appropriation act.

The president’s pronouncement sparked panic-buying of petrol by Nigerians across the country.

On Wednesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited said it would adjust its pump prices to reflect market realities. The commodity now sells for as high as N550 per litre.

Uzodinma expressed dismay that the marketers were quick to increase prices when the product they had was already subsidised.

“For instance, from May 29 till today, I’m not aware that any petroleum marketer has imported any product.

All the products in their storage facilities are those already imported, subsidised by the government,” he said.

“Why the rush to increase the prices? It is man’s inhumanity to man. I think that what we should do is be our brother’s keepers and learn how to save the firewood we got during the dry season, so we can use it during the rainy season.

“But I also think that as we work towards improving the economy of this country with the intention of creating prosperity, the government will be reasonable enough to look at the reality on the ground and address them as appropriate.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the man who has raised his pump price from N300 plus to N500 plus is creating panic.”

Uzodinma said he expected market forces of demand and supply to fix an appropriate price for citizens.

“By next month, July, the Dangote refinery will be on stream and it’s a very big refinery that will make products available,” he said.

“You are aware that the federal government awarded turnaround maintenance contracts for Port Harcourt, Kaduna and Warri refineries, so if within the period, these refineries are working, products will be available and the market forces will come into play.”

Headline

Fagbemi warns against obstructing EFCC from performing its lawful duty

Published

6 days ago

April 18, 2024

Fellow Press

The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .

Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.

“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.

“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.

“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.

He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.

“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.

“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.

“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.

He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.

“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.

NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.

Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.

The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.

On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.

Headline

Unknown Gunmen Abduct Channelstv Reporter In Port-harcourt

Published

2 weeks ago

April 12, 2024

Ifunaya Emeka

Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.

The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.

Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.

Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.

His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.