Politics
NSCDC seizes 1000 litres of petrol from Boko Haram suppliers
….Fuel scarcity to linger much longer nationwide***
The Borno Command, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), says it has seized about 1, 000 litres of petrol from suspected ‘Boko Haram’ fuel suppliers in the state.
The Commandant of the corps, Mr Ibrahim Abdullahi, made the disclosure in Maiduguri on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Abdullahi said that the products were recovered by the Anti-Vandalisation Unit of the command during routine patrol at Ngom village in Mafa Local Government Area of the state.
He said that the products were packed into 49 jerry cans and abandoned by suspected insurgents’ fuel suppliers on Mafa-Dikwa Highway.
Abdullahi said that the suspects abandoned the products and took to their heels on sighting the NSCDC’s patrol team.
“The products were filled into jerry cans and concealed in sacks.
‘‘Our men also recovered food items and other commodities such as soap, pomade, sugar, gari, cigarettes and seasoning.
“The products were concealed in sacks to avoid trapping,” he said.
The commandant disclosed that the command had also arrested two persons with 30 jerry cans of petrol and seized another six jerry cans of the products from profiteers in Maiduguri.
In the meantime, there are indications that the persistent fuel scarcity in the country may take a long time to end as a meeting involving the Federal Government, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Department of Petroleum Resources, Major Marketers Association of Nigeria, MOMAN, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, ended with no clear road-map.
But the major players in the oil industry yesterday, attributed the fuel scarcity in different parts of the country to the increase in crude oil price at the international market and the removal of subsidy.
This came as the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu has said that no single marketer has been identified as being behind the fuel scarcity that has brought untold hardship to Nigerians during the Yuletide Meanwhile, a source at the meeting told Vanguard that the issue of subsidy removal was not discussed at yesterday’s meeting, as a sub-committee set up at the meeting was directed to find an immediate solution to the fuel crisis, while the committee is to meet today.
A source at the meeting hinted Vanguard that President Muhammadu Buhari had ruled out any fuel price increment and payment of subsidy to marketers. The sources added that local refining dominated yesterday meeting, while marketers it was learned asked for the payment of the outstanding N800billion debt, owed them by the Federal Government.
Briefing State House correspondents after a meeting between the oil stakeholders and government representatives on the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, Chairman of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria, DAPPMA, Dapo Abiodun explained that marketers were finding it difficult to import the petroleum products because of the increase in the price of crude.
He said: “Today’s meeting was called at the instance of the Chief of Staff to the President and it was to find out exactly what happened, where we had the problems we had in December with the supply of petrol and how Nigerians were made to go through the pains and suffering.
“He wanted to know the truth and to ensure that going forward, this problem will be solved once and for all. And that is why you saw that we sat in here from 2pm and the meeting just finished after three and half hours.
“A lot of issues were raised and a committee was constituted that will be meeting tomorrow (today) under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, Petroleum to further ensure that these problems do not reoccur. “From our point of view as marketers, we made our submission known to government and we emphasized the fact that this was not a marketer-related problem.
There was no hoarding on the part of any marketer. “Marketers are your brothers, they are Nigerian citizens, they are businessmen, no marketer makes money from hoarding petroleum products, our business is to take petrol and sell. “We explained that the problem that you saw is not wilful on the part of anyone either NNPC or marketers.
The situation from our point of view is that from January to December, the price of crude remained relatively stable. Following the hurricane Katrina in the month of September, October, crude prices went up and marketers lost the ability to import and sell at N145 per litre.
“In the past, marketers bring in about 60% while NNPC brings about 35 to 40 per cent. But by the month of October, marketers completely stopped importing because there was no more subsidy, so we can’t sell for profit and we have to stop importing.
The burden of importing 100% now fell on NNPC. “You can imagine a situation where NNPC was importing in part and marketers were importing in part and then suddenly NNPC begins to import 100%. “NNPC is suddenly finding itself importing what they probably didn’t expect in terms of volume and the fact that Nigerians are consuming more volume that they will normally consume in earlier months.
“Coupled with the fact that the countries that are surrounding us as a nation are all selling fuel at more than $1 per litre. $1 today is about N360. If you go to Cotonou, Ghana, Niger so it’s not unlikely that some of our petrol is finding itself across the body to these countries.
Additional report from Vanguard
In response to public concerns regarding the enforcement of speed limits on selected roads, the Lagos State Government has reaffirmed the legality of its regulations and urged motorists to comply in the overall interest and safety of all road users.
The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, observed in a statement made available to Maritime First, referencing Section 28(2)(a) of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law (2018), which provides the legal basis for imposing penalties on motorists who exceed prescribed speed limits.
Further clarifying the legal framework for traffic signs, Osiyemi emphasized that the Ministry of Transportation is solely responsible for determining the size, colour, and type of traffic signs in Lagos State, ensuring standardization and adherence to global best practices.
While urging the public to stop the fabrication of false information on the speed limit operation, the Commissioner reiterated that the speed limit cameras which were installed after a comprehensive study on the need in that axis are currently only on Alapere Road and Mobolaji Bank Anthony.
He noted that studies have shown the need for other areas of the state and that this will be done after further reviews.
He, however, reaffirmed that the primary purpose of installing the cameras is for the safety of commuters as well as motorists on the road.
Expanding on the statement, a Deputy Director of public Affairs, Bolanle Ogunlola (Mrs.), advised that inquiries or clarifications by motorists and the general public should be directed to the officials of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation website, verified social media handles, or the appropriate traffic management authorities.
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Eid-el Fitr: Riverine Security Felicitates Muslim Ummah; Saying Ramadan is Soul Satisfying
The Riverine Security, a.k.a the Coast Guard of the Federation, has commended the nation’s Muslim community on the occasion of Eid-el Fitr, describing Ramadan as a divine and soul-satisfying experience.
In a statement made available to Maritime First, issued by the Commandant, Bibi Oduku, the body felicitated the Muslim community, stressing that the Most Benevolent Allah deliberately made everything in His Mercies simple for Muslims.
“Allah has made Islam easy for Muslims”, he said, as he talked a little of the Benefits of Ramadan and Eid-el Fitr, noting: “Muslim fasting is easy because we eat breakfast but only miss lunch”.
“The Glorious Qur’an in chapter 3, verse 286 says: Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…”
“No Sheikh or Imam can increase the number of fasting days, nor extend the period beyond sunset.
“It’s just 29-30 days in a year, while other ones are voluntary
“And it’s not only the Muslims’ fasting that’s made easy; even our way of worship is made easy for us. A Muslim can worship in any mosque.
“And If you can not find water to perform ablution, Allah permits use of sand.
“Furthermore, any Muslim that can not stand to pray due to circumstances can also do so while sitting or, even in sleeping positions.
Commander, Riverine Security
“Our Zakaat was made easy. It is just 2.5 percent of one’s wealth annually, provided you’re not indebted to anyone. Yes! 2.5 percent a year, not monthly.
“And if you are to marry in Islam, just get both parents or representatives and conduct the program; in less than 5 minutes, you’re done!
“Every other ceremony is man-made.
“Burial in Islam is the easiest. No need to start borrowing to give your parents or loved ones unnecessary befitting burial.
“Once the person is proclaimed dead, get white clothes, bathe the dead, offer prayer and bury the dead. Finish, nothing else!
“To name your child is also easy; once the child is born, name him/ her and…if you can afford sheep, buy and if unable to do so, forget it. No need to borrow.
“If you are to lend or borrow money, do so without collecting interest on loan.
“It is forbidden to hoard goods to re-sell when the prices go up. Just imagine if these were practiced globally today.
“And if anything happens, whether good or bad, just accept it as the divine will of Allah and not anybody.
“Islam is made easy…to become a Muslim, just make sahada that “there’s no gods but God and Muhammad (SAW) is His messenger”
“Then know and practice the five pillars of Islam and believe only in the six things Islam enjoins us to believe. Nothing else.
“These are just a few of the Muslim Benefits. Islam is beautiful; I believe we were created from God and to Him we return”.
With a holler of “Assalamualaikum to all muslims in the world”, the Coast Guard of the Federation Boss, Oduku appreciated the nation’s Unity, religions and tribes, while thanking the Sultan Of Sokoto for his efforts in ensuring peace between Nigerian citezens
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Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, on Thursday, filed contempt proceedings against Senate President Godswill Akpabio and others over alleged disobedience to the valid court order.
Natasha, through her counsel, filed for Form 48 at the Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja, following her six-month suspension by the Senate against the order of the court.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Form 48 is a notice of consequence of disobedience of court order.
The Form 48 was issued by the FHC in Abuja in suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025 filed by the embattled Natasha to enforce her rights.
The Clerk of the National Assembly (NASS), the Senate, Senate President and Sen. Neda Imasuem, Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct, were all named as to 1st to 4th defendants/ contemnors respectively.
The notice of disobedience of court order was signed by the registrar of the court pursuant to Section 72 of the Sheriff and Civil Process Act, 2004, together with the notice of consequences of disobedience of order of the court made on March 4.
In the application, the defendants/contemnors were urged to take notice of their wilful disobedience of the order of the court made by Justice Obiora Justice on March 4.
It said the alleged disobedience rendered the senate president, the committee chairman and the NASS clerk “liable for contempt of court, for which you may be committed to prison unless you comply with the said order.”
It said:” TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that despite being duly served with the enrolled order on the 5th day of March, 2025, you, the defendants/contemnors, have deliberately and contumaciously disregarded its binding directive, proceeding with acts in flagrant defiance of the authority of this honourable court.”
The lawmaker, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, had, in a motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025, sued NASS clerk and the Senate as 1st and 2nd defendants.
Akpoti-Uduaghan also listed the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Sen. Neda Imasuem, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.
Natasha, among others, sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Senate committee headed by Imasuem from proceeding with the purported investigation against her for alleged misconduct.
This is sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary on Feb. 20, pursuant to the referral by the Senate on Feb. 25, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
Justice Egwuatu had, on March 4, granted all the prayers in Akpoti-Uduaghan’s motion, including an order declaring any action taken during the pendency of the suit as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.
The judge also granted leave to the lawmaker to serve the 2nd to 4th defendants the originating summons and all other accompanying processes in the suit by substituted means to wit: by serving same through the 1st defendant (Clerk of NASS) or pasting same on the premises of the National Assembly and publishing same in two national dailies.
Justuce Egwuatu subsequently made an order directing the 1st -4th defendants to come and show cause within 72 hours upon the service of the order on them why an order of interlocutory injunction should not be granted against.
The judge also made an order “declaring that any action taken during the pendency of the suit is null, void and of no effect whatsoever.”
Justice Egwuatu had, on Monday, ordered the defendants to file their defence in the suit and adjourned the matter until March 25 for hearing.
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