Fuel Scarcity: Group Lauds NNPC Boss,Kyari for Standing Against Antics of Saboteurs

…Says Current Scarcity uncalled for .

Group under umbrella of Energy Consumers Rights Association (ECORA) has described the current fuel scarcity in some parts of the country as clearly an act of sabotage, apparently aimed at frustrating efforts of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to ensure adequate supply .

According to the group, information gathered revealed that the problem of fuel scarcity, until recently considered a thing of the past, reared its ugly head again barely few months to the country’s general elections.

“Some of our members sent to some states for on-the-spot assessment of the fuel supply situation at selected filling stations , discovered that most filling stations in rural areas have fuel ,while in state capitals, there are some places without queues and others with queues, an evidence that , it’s a case of clear sabotage.It stated .

The group, which made this known in a press statement jointly signed by
Dr.Mustapha Ahmed Bala
President and Mrs Mary John Awe
Secretary General, the Energy Consumers Rights group commended the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC limited ,Eng. Mele Kyari for not bowing to antics of petroleum products marketers, who have wittingly adjusted upward the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) also called petrol.

While praising the national oil company for maintaining the pump price, it reiterated, “Those who have increased Pump Price are all scrupulous profiteers,who don’t care about the economic implications on consumers “.

On issue of the discovery of oil in northern Nigeria ,the Group lauded Kyari for breaking the jinx of more than five decades of exploration without success . Noting, “What appears impossible has finally been made possible” .

The statement further reads: “The discovery of oil in commercial quantity and subsequent exploration of the oil in Bauchi, Gombe and Nasarawa states respectively will no doubt lead to increased job opportunities; industrial growth and emergence of new refineries.

“As group of consumers , we happy to be associated with NNPC limited because, of the short and long term economic implications, which suffices to say, “The country can now generate more revenues from oil for sustainable growth and development.”

The group however raised alarm saying,”Since the information about discovery of oil in northern parts of the country,it observed some persons have started undermining Kyari for no just reasons .

“We expect these people to know that rather than making attempts to undermine Kyari’s proactive efforts to rescue our oil sector, such should acknowledge him for two things that distinct him from past Chief Executives of NNPC: First frantic efforts to clamp down on oil thieves and secondly, the discovery of oil in northern Nigeria .

“It for these reasons that we are asking Kyari to remain focused and concentrate on the reforms to ensure that the masses feel the positive impact of Nigeria’s oil wealth”.

Supply of Rice : Contractor Writes Open Letter to Zamfara Governor over Non-payment of Money

…Says His Life in Danger over Loan Collected for the Supply

The Managing Director of SOA Alkawari Nigeria Limited,Mr Samuel Olugbenga Asegun has sent an “Save Our Soul” open letter to the Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Bello Muhammad Matawalle urging him to order Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Local Government and Development to pay the protracted rice subsidy payment .

According to him ,the long overdue rice subsidy payment receivable from
the State Government’s Civil Servants Welfare Scheme executed in June,
2020 has put his life in danger .

His words:”Currently, the life of our Managing Director is seriously in danger as a result of constant hard pressures and foreclosure threats by our lenders simply because your Government has refused to pay us per the agreed terms. We have been treated very unfairly and made to Suffer huge losses unjustly”.

“It is almost 3 years now after the completion of the said supply during
which time we have waited painfully, lobbied extensively and pushed hard
for the payment of the promised subsidy without getting our payment. “

In the open letter with title: OPEN LETTER /SOS TO ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNOR HIS EXCELLENCY BELLO MUHAMMAD MATAWALLE – Samuel Olugbenga Asegun ,he said, “Under the approval of your Excellency, in June 2020, we were awarded a
supply contract by the Directorate of Labour Matters. Irrevocable Payment
Guarantees were issued to us by Zamfara State’s Head of Civil Service,
Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Local Government and Community
Development.

“The payment terms of the referenced contract provided that Zamfara State
Government will pay N5,000 per bag on behalf of all benefitting Civil
Servants while the benefitting Civil Servants would pay N14,000 per bag
via salary deduction. We were assured by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters that the agreed subsidy shall be paid to us immediately after our delivery of the rice contracted to us since, according to him, the State Government had provided funds for the payment of the
subsidy.

“Trusting on the integrity of your Government, we proceeded to take a 120-days loan from Capitalfield Financial Management Limited to enable us
execute the said rice supply.”

“We therefore appeal to your Excellency to order an immediate release of
our overdue subsidy payments while we hope you will kindly redress this
injustice by your necessary action.

“It is our hope that we won’t need to seek for a legal redress to demand our due payments and the huge losses we have suffered as a result of the delay cum refusal to fulfill your Government’s contractual obligation to us.

…Read details of the full letter

OPEN LETTER /SOS TO ZAMFARA STATE GOVERNOR HIS EXCELLENCY BELLO MUHAMMAD MATAWALLE – Samuel Olugbenga Asegun

We, SOA ALKAWARI NIG LTD, hereby write this open letter to you, Sir,
the Zamfafa State Governor, His Excellency Bello Muhammad Matawalle,
pleading that you should kindly order both the Ministry of Finance and the
Ministry of Local Government and Community Development, to
immediately release our long overdue rice subsidy payment receivable from
the State Government’s Civil Servants Welfare Scheme executed in June,
2020.

Under the approval of your Excellency, in June 2020, we were awarded a
supply contract by the Directorate of Labour Matters. Irrevocable Payment
Guarantees were issued to us by Zamfara State’s Head of Civil Service,
Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Local Government and Community
Development.

The payment terms of the referenced contract provided that Zamfara State
Government will pay N5,000 per bag on behalf of all benefitting Civil
Servants while the benefitting Civil Servants would pay N14,000 per bag
via salary deduction. We were assured by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Labour Matters that the agreed subsidy shall be paid to us immediately after our delivery of the rice contracted to us since, according to him, the State Government had provided funds for the payment of the
subsidy.

Trusting on the integrity of your Government, we proceeded to take a 120-days loan from Capitalfield Financial Management Limited to enable us
execute the said rice supply.

Furthermore, we had decided to support your new administration in executing this Staff Welfare Scheme while risking our own lives by defying the then ravaging Covid 19 and the rampancy of banditry in and around Zamfara State.

Sir, it is almost 3 years now after the completion of the said supply during
which time we have waited painfully, lobbied extensively and pushed hard
for the payment of the promised subsidy without getting our payment.

Your Excellency, the refusal of your Government to pay the subsidy per the
term of the said contract has totally crashed the business of our small
company while our loan balance with the lenders has grown more than thrice the amount of the original loan we actually took due to accumulated monthly interest and daily default penalty. Sadly, our lenders are now in the process of foreclosure on the collateral pledged for the loan while our company promoters currently live under untold pressure and debilitating stress.

Petroleum, Gas consumers form association to Protect Petroleum Industry Act , NNPCL

As part of effort to strengthen petroleum and gas consumption in Nigeria, consumers have birthed an umbrella body to operate under the aegis of
National Association of Petroleum Products and Gas Consumers (NAPGCO).

The association said, it has become necessary for the interest of Nigerians consuming Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and gas to be protected, noting that activities in the upstream and downstream industry must be operated within the confines of laws governing the industry.

In a statement which was made available to journalists in Abuja on Thursday by the pioneer General Secretary, Dr Usman Dabo, added that Nigerian government has done its best to have enacted a Petroleum Industry Act, hence, it required all stakeholders to ensure that the industry runs full blown.

It added that the association will protect the Petroleum Industry Act from political manipulation of any administration in the interest of the growth of the oil and gas industry.

The statement further averred that the association would work with government, Industry players and mother relevant sectors to ensure protection of rights of consumers and support the reform in the oil industry that guard against fuel scarcity in Nigeria.

He disclosed that the Association will open offices in the six geopolitical zones of the country with a view to monitor and carry out their activities smoothly.

According to Dr Dabo, fuel consumption stand at 68 million litres per day, and to this much, Nigerians have right to daily fuel for the smooth operation of business activity across the country.

The statement said: “The Association wil educate and enlighten the citizenry on the rights of the consumers of petroleum products and gas.

“Will cooperate with the NNPCL and other trade unions and marketers in protecting the rights of the consumers”, it noted .

The Association called for cooperation across all oil and gas sectors in a view to tackle sabotage of all forms in the oil and gas industry.