Friday, May 21, 2021
NNPC Speaks On New Price Of Petrol After Governors Recommended N385 Per Litre
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has stated that the pump price of petrol remains unchanged after the recent recommendation by the Nigeria Governors Forum for total deregulation and recommended price of N385 per liter of petrol.
The NNPC in its response says the negotiation to determine the new cost of petrol per litre in Nigeria is still ongoing between the government, organized labour, and other stakeholders.
The NNPC in a reaction by its Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Dr. Kennie Obateru said there is no official announcement on petrol price hike and Nigerians need not resort to panic buying.
It was recalled Nigerian governors have recommended an increase in the pump price of petrol from the current price to not less than N385 per litre with a total deregulation of the petroleum sector.
It is understood that the price increase is part of recommendations by a committee headed by Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai which was set up by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
The six-man committee was set up to review the pump price of petrol in the country.
The governors gave the recommendation at its 30th teleconference meeting which held on Wednesday according to a communique released after the meeting by NGF Chairman, Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi.
But NNPC in its reaction has stated that the governors don’t control petrol pricing and until the negotiations are concluded, no decision can be taken on adjusting the pump price of petrol in the country.
“I can’t react to that. You know how the thing runs: it is not the state governments that will determine what we do in our Corporation. It is a government (Federal) thing.
“And as far as I am concerned, negotiation is ongoing; so when it is communicated to the appropriate quarters. That is when we will respond. For now we don’t have any official communication,” Obateru said during a telephone interview with The Nation.
He assured the general public that the NNPC had petrol stock sufficiency of 40 days and Nigerians shouldn’t nurse any fears about scarcity.
“Our plan is always to have over 40 days of sufficiency,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, two people have been confirmed dead in an explosion at the Olusegun Obasanjo presidential library in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.
It was gathered that the explosion occurred around 11:23 am at the Marque event centre within the premises of the library, on Thursday.
According to witnesses, the explosion was triggered when technicians were topping up gas into the Air Conditioner at the event centre.
You goofed, Akeredolu, others chide Malami on open grazing comments
It was a barrage of condemnation, yesterday, after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami proclaimed the ban on open grazing by southern governors unconstitutional.
Malami, who spoke on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme on Wednesday evening, said the decision of the governors “does not align with the provisions of the Constitution, hence it does not hold water.
“For example, it is as good as the northern governors coming together to say they prohibit spare parts trading in the north. Does it hold water for a northern governor to come and state expressly that he now prohibits spare parts trading in the north?”
He, however, advised the governors to work towards the amendment of the 1999 Constitution in their move to prohibit open grazing. “If you are talking of constitutionally guaranteed rights, the better approach to it is to perhaps go back to ensure the Constitution is amended. It is a dangerous provision for any governor in Nigeria to think he can bring any compromise on the freedom and liberty of individuals to move around,” he said.
It was a cacophony of reactions and bashing that countered the AGF’s submission. First to flay the Justice Minister was Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who as the Chairman of Southwest Governors’ Forum, asserted that: “Our decision is irreversible and will be enforced.”
Akeredolu said: “It is most unfortunate that the AGF is unable to distill issues as expected of a Senior Advocate. Nothing can be more disconcerting. This outburst should, ordinarily, not elicit response from reasonable people who know the distinction between a legitimate business that is not in anyway injurious and a certain predilection for anarchy.
“Clinging to an anachronistic model of animal husbandry, which is evidently injurious to harmonious relationship between the herders and the farmers as well as the local populace, is wicked and arrogant.
“Comparing this anachronism, which has led to loss of life, farmlands and property and engendered untold hardship on the host communities, with buying and selling of auto parts is not only strange. It, annoyingly, betrays a terrible mindset.
“Mr Malami is advised to approach the court to challenge the legality of the laws of the respective states banning open grazing and decision of the Southern Governors’ Forum taken in the interest of their people. We shall be most willing to meet him in court.” Without mincing words, Ondo Governor declared that: “The decision to ban open grazing stays. It will be enforced with vigour.”
Also rising in stout defence of the resolutions by the 17 Southern governors now termed ‘Asaba Accord’ yesterday was Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi, who declared that those who oppose the idea of a ban on open grazing actually want the killings to continue. Umahi made the remark at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he had gone to feature on the Presidential Ministerial Press Briefing.
Asked to respond to the claim by the AGF that banning opening grazing in the south was like banning the sale of spare parts in the north, the governor said those who hold that view lacked understanding of the situation.
Umahi, who pointedly declared that the south has no grazing routes, argued that allowing cows to freely roam would mean trespassing on other peoples’ property.
He said it was the development that gave rise to crises and killings, which has also resulted in the setting up of the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Similarly, the pro-Yoruba social and political group, Afenifere, said the comment by Malami was not only sectarian but also described it as emotional vituperation. Secretary General of the body, Chief Sola Ebiseni, said the AGF is an “agent provocateur,” adding that his comment “did not come to discerning Nigerians as a surprise.
“It only pitiably exposed him as being most unfit for the office of an Attorney General having always allowed his sectarian disposition becloud his eminent qualifications.
“Any time Malami perceives a threat to the interests of Fulani herdsmen, he is quick to latch on to constitutional provisions, which are not relevant to the object of discourse. He was readily on hand to vehemently denounce the Amotekun South West regional security initiative as being targeted against Fulani herdsmen and so declared it unconstitutional. When challenged to approach the court, he had since developed cold feet.
“For the attention of Malami, most of the states already have laws banning open grazing and the pronouncement of the governors was merely to give effect to an existing law. It is the animal that is being prohibited from grazing openly and being moved by foot except Malami intends to extend the inalienable human rights in the Constitution to animals in the defence of a culture, which gives more care to cattle than human beings.
“Malami was mischievously playing the role of an agent provocateur when he was inciting Northern governors to place a ban on spare parts trading in which southerners are involved. In deference to their religious and cultural sensibilities, some of the northern states made laws banning trading in alcoholic substances and have been seen destroying such wares in their millions notwithstanding that they share in the VAT collected on those goods and no one is crying over it.”
Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday chided the AGF, describing him as a “chief law officer that twists the law at will.”
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Chiedozie Ogbonnia, restated support for the position reached by the southern governors in their meeting at Asaba.
“Malami knows that there has never been a report of a clash between the Southern motor spare parts sellers and the indigenous Northerners. The motor spare parts sellers render their services to the populace from a shop or a shade and are in no way comparable to the Fulani herders who invade farmlands, destroy crops, debauch women, maim, abduct and kill. ”
EMINENT lawyers also faulted the position of the AGF on the recent ban of open grazing by the Southern governors. Constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ahamba, said it is within the authority of the governors to stop the danger of open grazing in their states.
According to him, if the way cattle are being grazed now does not fit the safety and security of the states they are ruling, they have the right to call the state Assemblies to make laws to control the situation and there is nothing emotional about it.”
He urged the state Houses of Assembly to immediately come up with laws to put the resolution in paper. Similarly, human rights lawyer, Ebun Adegboruwa (SAN), disagreed with the position of the AGF. He stressed that since the proponents of open grazing support it with the right to freedom of movement granted under section 41 of the Constitution, this section cannot be interpreted to violate other constitutional provisions, especially section 43 that grants the right to private or public property.
According to him, “you cannot deploy the right to movement of person and cattle to violate the right of another citizen to own property, such as land or farmland, or else you become a trespasser.”
Another SAN, Oladipo Olasope, said Malami was wrong for that stance. “The land within the state belongs to the state government under the Land Use Act. Therefore, the state governors have the rights to what land is used for. So, Malami should not say that. He cannot have any force of law. Let him go to court and see if the court will grant his claim to say so. The land is held in trust by the governor for the people. Malami is very wrong.”
A former Nigerian Ambassador to Philippines, Dr. Yemi Farounbi, said the statement is bereft of logical reasoning and lack of understanding of law. He added that his qualification as the Chief Law Officer of the country is moot .
Ambassador Farounbi said: “The Attorney General of the Federation in declaring that the governors have no right to make laws for the orderly governance of their states has contributed so much mental poverty that one begins to wonder if he really has the so much qualification that entitles him to be Attorney General. A governor of a state has the responsibility of good governance for the provisions of security of life and property. In pursuance of that, the governor said there would be no open grazing and the Attorney General who is supposed to be the chief law officer of the federation begins to doubt the constitutional responsibility of the governor to govern the state. There is something very wrong.”
REACTING, Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately remove the AGF for comparing open grazing of cattle to auto spare parts business. The lawmaker said equating the activities of “archaic nomadic herdsmen destroying peoples means of livelihood with others who legitimately carry on businesses by selling spare parts in their shops stands logic on its head.”
The Senator noted that the statement of the Attorney General is one capable of derailing the unity, peace and progress of Nigeria and therefore called for the immediate removal from office of the AGF saying “anyone who cannot rise above primordial sentiments and pursuit of parochial ethnic agenda needs not occupy position of trust especially at this time of sectional agitations.”
Also, a Fulani leader and patron of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Senator Walid Jibrin, has supported the call for the ban on open grazing of cattle in the country. Açcording to Jibrin, who is the Sarkin Fulani Nasarawa, Nigeria is far behind other countries that have modernised grazing of cattle.
He said: “With the current international concern on cattle rearing in Africa, especially Nigeria, there is need to look at how best this practice will be carried out successfully. We must note that land in Nigeria is being owned by individuals, families, federal, and state governments.”
Jibrin added: “As a full blooded Fulani man, Sarkin Fulani, and Patron Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, I have a free mind on anyone recommending a ban on open grazing, free movement of herders, and cattle in Nigeria because the practice is getting outdated internationally and is therefore necessary for Nigeria, especially Fulani race, to study critically the traditional open grazing.”
Afenifere Condemns IGP’s Shoot-on-sight Order In Southeast
The Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, has condemned the shoot-at-sight order by the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, in the South East
In a statement on Thursday by its acting National leader, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the organisation described the order as reckless and undemocratic.
He noted that the order endangers the fate of people in the Southeast, who he posited seem endangered under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
Adebanjo, who said the situation should be a source of concern to well-meaning Nigerians, said the order was targeted at protesting Igbo youths instead of embracing dialogue.
The Afenifere acting leader observed that the same fate does not apply to Buhari’s Fulani ethnic group.
He said: “Whereas Buhari allows his Fulani people to roam freely, killing, maiming, raping while protecting and prevaricating to the Fulani herders without a restraining order, the Igbo youths he orders his mainly northern military to kill on sight.”
Adebanjo said as one of the leaders of the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, he observed the killing of some people in Benue State recently.
The Afenifere leader noted that he observed first-hand the positive identification of the killers by the Benue State Government.
He asserted that despite the incontrovertible identity of the killers, President Buhari asked Governor Samuel Ortom to accommodate the Fulani herdsmen.
IGP’s Shoot-on-sight Order Not Targeted At Lawful Citizens – Police
The Anambra Police Command has said the shoot-on-sight order given by the Inspector General of Police, Alkali Baba Usman, to officers was not targeted at innocent and lawful citizens in the South East.
A statement on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said the IGP gave the order to police personnel to take the war against crime to criminals and raid their dens.
Ikenga said the order was a deliberate effort by the Police High Command to stabilise the security order in the South East.
The PPRO said the operation ‘Restore Peace’ was formed essentially to implement the objective.
According to him, the current high command was deeply concerned about the recent spike of crime in the zone, most especially, deliberate attacks on security agents and national assets.
“The operation is unique and targeted to restore peace, law and order. We, therefore, urge Anambra residents to work with the Police and other security agents.
“I want to assure everybody that this operation is people-driven, and at every time, shall be reviewed to address issues.
A statement on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer in Anambra, DSP Toochukwu Ikenga, said the IGP gave the order to police personnel to take the war against crime to criminals and raid their dens.
Ikenga said the order was a deliberate effort by the Police High Command to stabilise the security order in the South East.
The PPRO said the operation ‘Restore Peace’ was formed essentially to implement the objective.
According to him, the current high command was deeply concerned about the recent spike of crime in the zone, most especially, deliberate attacks on security agents and national assets.
“The operation is unique and targeted to restore peace, law and order. We, therefore, urge Anambra residents to work with the Police and other security agents.
“I want to assure everybody that this operation is people-driven, and at every time, shall be reviewed to address issues.
“It is not against innocent and lawful members of the society,” he explained.
Thursday, May 20, 2021
Imolites caution on IGP’s peace restoration move in South East
As the Inspector General of police (IGP), Bala Usman launches Operation Restore Peace in the South-east geo political zone which Imo state is part of, residents of the state have urged him to put in place a true peace initiative that would end insecurity in the region rather than an unfriendly one that would see the police lock horns with residents on a daily basis.
A businessman, who lent his voice to this, Anayo Ukomadu, lamented that the state has greatly suffered and lost lives in the last one and half months due to mismanagement of security matters by security agencies, especially the police and called for a change of approach to bring about the desired peace.
He further said, “the real or genuine peace approach rather than intimidation of residents or pulling the trigger anyhow is what will make the Peace Restoration successful.”
Another resident, Nnamdi Okoronta noted that the relationship between Imo residents and police has gone soar and therefore should need professional approach to mend the already battered fences.
He traced the unpalatable relationship from the period the police, especially the Special Anti-Armed Robbery Squad (SARS) held sway and allegedly dealt with innocent youth, duping, detaining and killing them at will and urged the IGP to ensure that real peace rather than pieces was restored in the region.
“The police should engage the people in real discussions and withdraw their bullets to achieve it. They have to convince them on how to achieve the peace and then everything will naturally fall into place if the IGP really means business,” he said.
Okoronta made it clear that the issue of “raiding at will any spot in the state” or “shooting at sight” as earlier directed must be jettisoned if the Peace Restoration must be successful. And that all residents must not be seen as members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) or terrorists and risk or face arrest.
We don’t want secession or war in the South East - Governor Umahi says
Ebonyi state governor, Dave Umahi, has said that the Southeastern region of Nigeria does not want war but rather wants to be a part of a fair Nigeria.
Umahi who is the Chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum spoke on security cooperation between Federal Government and the Southeast Governors at the statehouse today May 20.
"The situation in the South East is a mixture of reality, fake news and war propaganda. There are rightful agitations in the Southeast, but they've been hijacked. In the Southeast, we don’t want war, we don’t want to secede, we want to be a part of a fair Nigeria where justice, equity and freedom exist," he stated
Gov Umahi endorsed ban on open grazing, saying it’s the right decision, especially in Southeast which does not have historical grazing routes/reserves. He called on Federal Government to do more to enforce implement ranching & business-led models for livestock management
While speaking about some of the programmes of his administration in Ebonyi State (‘1 person 1 hectare’ agriculture and fertilizer program for public servants, Transport, Microcredit, Women empowerment, Medical Sciences, Infrastructure, etc), he said, "Everywhere you turn in my state is a construction site. 95% of our construction projects in Ebonyi State are done by direct labour, so there is no capital flight, most of the money stays in the State.
"We are building roads to ensure that there is no part of Ebonyi State that cannot be accessed from a Local Government Area Headquarter within 40 minutes. Building roads is an important part of development. And we don’t care which ones are Federal or State roads."
He added that Ebonyi is developing three (3) industrial Agriculture clusters - comprising land, warehouses, biomass energy supply, factories and mills (for processing rice, cassava etc).
Gov. Umahi mentioned that Imo and Ebonyi States’ Houses of Assembly have passed laws giving backing to the Ebube Agu Security Corps - a regional security cooperation to protect the people - in their States and the other States will follow.
While lamenting that a lot of people have been brainwashed about Biafra, he unequivocally condemned the criminal act of burning down some offices of INEC in the region by hoodlums.
"Our law in Ebonyi is that if you attack farmers or herders and destroy their farmlands/cattle, you must pay compensation.", he further stated.
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