Nigerians groan as Presidency, NNPCL hike fuel pump price to N555PL

Details of the Tuesday meeting between President Bola Tinubu and the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company limited (NNPCL), Malam Mele Kyari,  has emerged as the company has rolled out template for new pump price per litre nationwide. Malam Kyari had on Tuesday had a closed door meeting with President Tinubu, following the controversy generated by inaugural speech comment on removal of fuel subsidy. Template for hike in fuel pump price per litre as categorized according to geopolitical zone effective, 31 May, 2023. Under the new prices depending on geopolitical zone, a price per litre will not cost less than N488  but will cost at most N555. The NNPCL has also directed dealers to reflect the new pump price in the respective geopolitical zones effective today, 31 May, 2023, in line with the released price templated. “Please implement meter change as approved effective today 31st May 2023. Wayne is to attend to all locations as relates to their area of coverage in our network”, the directive stated. A statement by Garba Muhammad, Chief Corporate Communications Officer NNPC Limited said as it strives to provide quality service which the company was known for, prices would continue to fluctuate to reflect market dynamics. “The NNPC Ltd. wishes to inform our esteemed customers that we have adjusted our pump price of PMS across our retail outlets, in line with the current market realities. “We assure you that NNPC Ltd. is committed to ensuring ceaseless supply of products. “The Company sincerely regrets any inconvenience this development might have caused,” Muhammad said. He appreciated the continued patronage, support and understanding of its customers through this time of change and growth. The sudden increase in pump price per litre contradicted President Tinubu’s explanations of his inuagural speech comment on immediate removal of fuel Subsidy. He had on Tuesday said that the removal would take effect end of June, 2023, in attempt to allay fears and tempers heightened by acute shortage of fuel and hike in prices by dealers following his inaugural speech comment of fuel Subsidy removal. Nationwide, following his inaugural speech, queues have returned to the fueling stations. While dealers who are open for operations have hike their pump price up to between N600-N700 per litre, just as most filling stations closed shop. Commuters nationwide have been stranded as transporters have hiked the fares resulting to chaotic situation just two days on assumption of office by President Tinubu. Reports indicate that motorists who had queued up overnight for fuel now refused to buy at the newly reflected high pump price per litre.

Subsidy Removal: We’ll tackle supply disruptions – NMDPRA

*Urges Nigerians not to panic The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has said it is working with NNPC Limited and other stakeholders to guarantee a smooth transition following the removal of fuel subsidy. President Bola Tinubu, in his inaugural speech on Monday, said the fuel subsidy regime had ended with the commencement of his administration. NMDPRA made this known on Tuesday in a statement signed by Mr Kimchi Apollo, General Manager, Corporate Communications, NMDPRA, to address concerns regarding the removal of fuel subsidy. Apollo said the authority was working to avoid disruptions in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, as well as ensure that consumers were not short-changed in any form. He assured that there was an ample supply of PMS to meet demand and that the authority had taken necessary steps to ensure that distribution channels remained uninterrupted and fuel readily available at all filling stations nationwide. He urged Nigerians not to panic over the removal of subsidy as the authority had ensured availability of petrol nationwide. “Contrary to speculations and concerns, the announcement is in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021), which provides for total deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector to drive investment and growth. “We, therefore, call on Nigerians to remain calm and resist the urge to stockpile as it poses a significant safety hazard. “The NMDPRA reassures all Nigerians that the removal of subsidy on PMS is a step towards building a more sustainable and prosperous future for our nation. “We will continue to monitor activities and implement necessary measures to enhance transparency and accountability in the petroleum downstream sector,” he said. 

NNPCL nabs 6 suspected crude oil thieves, destroys barge

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has intercepted an illegal Crude Oil Barge and arrested six suspected crude thieves in Warri, Delta State. Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited, a private security contractor, engaged by NNPCL made the arrests. Speaking, Captain Warredi Enisuoh, Executive Director, Operations and Technical of the Security firm said MAWE Services had approval from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to provide services within the confines of lifting sludge. The security contractor and the Nigerian Security Operatives also set ablaze the 1,000 metric tonnes capacity barge at a final execution point in Oteghele, Delta state. The barge was destroyed shortly after an inspection of the sites of Mawe Service Limited and associated barge with illegal crude oil. On the inspection were some officials of NNPC Ltd. and Tantita Security Services, Journalists, the Nigerian Army and Naval officers, among others. The team visited the Mawe Services Jetty, illegal crude oil dump site and Fenog Jetty for Illegal Crude Oil Barge inspection. Enisuoh said on the fateful voyage, intelligence reports received by Tantita Security Services Nigeria Ltd and Mason Engineering indicated that the MAWE Yard was being used for activities outside its approval limits. He said surveillance and intelligence also revealed that a 1000 metric tonnes capacity barge (FP AMANGWU) was coming to berth alongside its jetty, loaded with illegal crude oil declared as sludge. The captain explained that the barge was towed by an unknown Tugboat into Mawe Services Limited’s Jetty and left. “A team of Tantita Security Services Operatives continued to monitor the Jetty for suspicious activities. It was observed that a Sewage Truck with Plate No. JR7750XA visited the Jetty twice. “During its third visit on May 12, 2023, the Truck was accosted by the Tantita Security Operatives keeping constant vigil over the area. Upon inspection, the substance found inside the tank was not sewage, rather, crude oil. “The driver was arrested and handed over to government security operatives. “The driver later revealed the destination of the contents, which took us to another yard inland, also operated by Mawe Services Limited. “Within the Mawe Services Limited’s premises, there were two metallic cylindrical tanks of about 45,000 liters capacity, each. “Both tanks were inspected and one was found to be filled up with Crude Oil,”. He said the driver of the Truck confirmed that he had been transferring the contents of the barge into the tank that was filled. He said that an inspection of the Yard Security Logbook showed that the Truck visited the location severally while the contents of the Truck were well spelled out as “CRUDE OIL”. He explained that the perpetrators usually loaded the crude from the big barge in small gallons, batch by batch then transfer to illegal refineries. “One new method they use now is that they obtain documentation and authorization from the government to fool security agencies, then go on to do other illegal jobs,” the captain said. The captain further explained that most times when the suspects were being arrested, they would claim to be newly employed by their companies whereas they were already trained to operate in that line. “At the same time I feel sad because the big players always hide behind them while the small errand boys are literally the victims. “I believe the law enforcement agents will get to the root of the matter,” he said. He said that part of the crude had been evacuated while the rest would go through combustion process. Meanwhile, the suspects who were paraded by the combined security team, said they were not aware of any illegal badge of crude oil but were sent by their companies to evacuate waste water with oil from the barge. Mr Daniel Dickson, one of the suspects working with First Priority Research Resources International Ltd, the owner of the barge said the barge was hired through Petralon 54, located at Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to cargo crude from Port Harcourt to Warri in 2022. Dickson, who said that it was not all the compartments in the barge that contained crude said that it had about 700 barrels of crude oil but in the process of  evacuation in May 2023, the security agents caught them.