Connect with us

News

Dangote PMS is cheaper than imported PMS- Sources

Published

on

The unending imbroglio between the Dangote refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited took a dramatic turn recently with insinuations that it is cheaper to import Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) into the country.

According to Yakubu Suleiman, the National Assistant Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), buying petrol is cheaper when they import than buying from Dangote Refinery. He stated that “Dangote’s price is higher than other places. Dangote sells at N995/litre and you have to bring your cargo to load.”

This medium undertook a comprehensive analysis of the dynamics in the PMS regime using various variables that determine the pricing and quality of PMS in Nigeria. The findings from the report indicated that the oil and gas sector in Nigeria is undergoing a phase occasioned by the entry of Dangote refinery into the market.

Energy experts consulted were of the opinion that it was unrealistic for imported PMS to be cheaper than a locally refined PMS. They cited the escalating dollar rates and the attendant landing cost associated with the importation regime.

According to findings, it costs $650,000 to $800,000 for freighting 30kt cargo from Europe to West Africa. NPA and NIMASA charge an average of $350,000 for each cargo, aside from other related costs. The implication is that all of these charges are eliminated when PMS is produced locally, as in the case of Dangote refinery.

It was also revealed that Dangote Refinery sells PMS 11 naira cheaper than what is imported into the country. This was confirmed by industry stakeholders who preferred anonymity. They also cited the quality of PMS as a factor in determining the retail price.

ALSO READ:  SON Inaugurates Mobile Calibration Vehicle, Measuring Equipments In Rivers

“Dangote PMS is of international standard, meeting the requirement in terms of Sulphur content, and that means that there would be less emission and improved engine performance as compared to what is imported into the country. The sad tale is that the regulatory agencies have been derelict in their functions and as such all manner of substandard PMS have been imported into the country, causing untold hardship on vehicle owners”

“The NNPCL in most instances imports blended PMS that does not meet regulatory standards, and it is also bought cheap, and with a higher profit margin when sold to motorists. The quality of PMS imported into the country is sourced from regions in Europe with high Sulphur content in the refining process. This cannot be said of the Dangote refinery because it is a new refinery and the process of refining undergoes strict adherence to the specified average Sulphur content per litre.”

Another source conversant in the refining of PMS stated that the entry of the Dangote refinery into the market was not good business for the NNPCL and the independent marketers.

“Buying from the Dangote refinery eliminates several bottlenecks and associated costs. These are areas where independent marketers make humongous profits. These marketers are not interested in the quality of the PMS they sell. They are out to maximize profit and that has been the regime.”

“ The challenge independent marketers have with buying from Dangote refinery is that there is a limit to the profit margin, which is not good for business for them, and as such, they prefer to continue to importation regime, where they buy very cheap adulterated products and add all the profits and pass down to the end users.”

ALSO READ:  Kebbi: Terrorists Release 4 of 11 Remaining Kidnapped Students, Their Babies

It was also gathered that should Dangote refinery reduce the quality of its PMS to the standard imported and at the same price sourced from Europe, the independent marketers would patronize it. But this has not been the case and is a reason for the unending imbroglio between Dangote refinery, the NNPCL and independent marketers.

According to a top staffer of the NNPCL, the reason why NNPCL is at loggerheads with the Dangote refinery is the attempt to bring down the price of PMS in the country.

“The government refineries have been moribund for years and it is deliberate. The NNPCL’s major source of income is the importation of PMS, and if our local refineries work, the NNPC would go out of business as such the coming of the Dangote refinery is not good business for the revenue base of the NNPCL, hence the unending drama.”

“The only way the NNPCL can convince Nigerians about its sincerity of purpose is to make our local refineries work, despite the huge amount of monies expended over the years. The argument that imported PMS is cheaper than locally produced is indicative of the rot in the system, and why despite the presence of Dangote refinery, the quest for importation is still rife. In truth, we don’t have any business importing PMS into the country.”

“Of course, Dangote PMS is cheaper and of better quality, but it is not good business for the NNPCL and the independent marketers. This is what they don’t want Nigerians to know. At the end of the day, the end users are bearing the brunt of the actions of the NNPCL and independent marketers.”

ALSO READ:  NICASA laments death of Nigerian in South African police custody
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

News

JUST IN: Many Feared Dead as Bandits Attack Bauchi Communities

Published

on

Armed men suspected to be bandits launched a deadly attack on Saturday night, killing several vigilante members and civilians in a coordinated assault on three villages in Gwana District, Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State.

The Nation gathered that the affected communities—Mansur, Digare, Sabuwar Sara, and Yalo—were ambushed while residents were asleep.

Most of the victims were members of local vigilante groups from Gwana and Duguri Districts, who had been safeguarding their communities from repeated attacks along the volatile borders of Gombe, Plateau, and Taraba States.

Sources reported that the assailants, heavily armed and ruthless, opened fire indiscriminately, catching the villages off guard in the middle of the night.

This latest attack is part of a troubling pattern of violence in the region, which has included killings, cattle rustling, and growing insecurity.

It has drawn the attention of Governor Bala Mohammed and top security officials, who have visited the area for assessments.

 

The Bauchi State Police Command confirmed the incident but has yet to provide an official death toll.

Police Commissioner Sani-Omolori Aliyu, during a visit to the affected areas, described the assault as “utterly reprehensible” and a significant threat to public safety.

He ordered the immediate deployment of tactical teams and vowed a sustained manhunt for the attackers.

Police spokesperson Ahmed Wakil, in a statement on Monday, said the ambush occurred during a routine patrol by local hunters along the Bauchi–Plateau forest corridor.

The confrontation resulted in casualties on both sides, including fleeing civilians and community defenders.

ALSO READ:  SON Inaugurates Mobile Calibration Vehicle, Measuring Equipments In Rivers
Continue Reading

News

Rivers crisis: National Assembly urges Supreme Court to dismiss PDP suit, seeks N1bn

Published

on

The National Assembly has urged the Supreme Court of Nigeria to dismiss the suit filed by 11 governors from the Peoples Democratic Party, challenging the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

In its response, it contended that the suit was procedurally flawed and lacked merit.

It further argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit and should award N1 billion in costs against the plaintiffs for filing what it termed a frivolous and speculative suit.

In a preliminary objection, the National Assembly argued that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case, particularly against it, “the second defendant”.

Declaring that it holds a memorandum of conditional appearance, the National Assembly argued that due process was not followed in instituting the suit, emphasising that the plaintiffs failed to issue the statutorily required three-month pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly, as mandated under Section 21 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, 2017.

It stated that “a person who has a cause of action against a Legislative House shall serve a three months’ notice to the office of the Clerk of the Legislative House disclosing the cause of action and reliefs sought”.

Additionally, NASS argued that the plaintiffs did not secure resolutions from their respective State Houses of Assembly, a prerequisite for approaching the Supreme Court under its original jurisdiction provisions outlined in the Supreme Court (Original Jurisdiction) Act, 2002.

No Hand In Rivers Crisis’
Citing alleged threats referenced in the plaintiffs’ suit, which borders on a statement attributed to the Attorney-General during a press briefing, NASS noted that since the threat did not emanate from them or its officers, the suit had no business with them.

ALSO READ:  Kebbi: Terrorists Release 4 of 11 Remaining Kidnapped Students, Their Babies

“Considering the affidavit in support and the threats alleged, which did not come from the second defendant, there is no cause of action against it. This is a suit relating to an alleged threatened declaration or proclamation of a state of emergency in the plaintiffs’ states by the Honourable Attorney General and Minister of Justice.

“This is allegedly a result of the statement of the first defendant in a press briefing held March 19, 2025, wherein he is said to have stated that after Rivers State, ..it can be anybody’s turn tomorrow….’ None of the alleged threat or statement is alluded to the second defendant or any of its officers,” it argued.

The 11 PDP governors had approached the Supreme Court to raise questions on what authority the President had to suspend a democratically elected state institution and replace it with an unelected one.

The plaintiffs in the suit are the governors of Adamawa, Enugu, Osun, Oyo, Bauchi, Akwa Ibom, Plateau, Delta, Taraba, Zamfara, and Bayelsa states.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and the National Assembly were listed as the first and second defendants, respectively, in the suit.

The states in the suit asked the apex court to determine six constitutional questions, including whether the President of Nigeria can lawfully suspend or interfere with the offices of a governor and deputy governor and replace them with an unelected appointee under the guise of a state of emergency proclamation.

‘Due Process Not Followed’
But the National Assembly further contended, “With the objection amongst others submitted, due process of instituting the action in the suit was not followed by the plaintiffs before taking this steps against the second defendants as the plaintiffs failed to issue the requisite three months pre-action notice to the Clerk of the National Assembly and took no steps to obtain the resolutions of the Houses of Assembly of each of the states to enable the plaintiffs each join to approach this busy Court pursuant to the provision of the Supreme Court (Original Jurisdiction) Act 2002 on the matters”.

ALSO READ:  President Tinubu compassionate, concerned about current hardship -Aide

NASS further asserted that the plaintiffs were attempting to use the Supreme Court to dictate how it exercised its constitutional role, particularly regarding the use of voice votes to ratify states of emergency under Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.

The objection described the suit as speculative and an abuse of court process.

NASS added, “The second defendant/applicant, having observed the several deficiencies in the suit of the plaintiffs which go contrary to the provisions of the laws and the jurisdiction of the court, raises an objection and submits that the 11 states (plaintiffs) approached the court wrongly and in abuse of court process.”

Further in its objection, predicated on six grounds, the second defendant contended that the plaintiffs’ suit lacked a cause of action.

It stated that the plaintiffs lack locus standi to proceed against the second defendant on the issues raised in the suit.

The National Assembly also argued that the plaintiffs failed to comply with due process as stipulated under Section 2, Schedule 2 of the Supreme Court (Additional Original Jurisdiction) Act, 2002.

A legal officer in the Directorate of Legal Services at the National Assembly, Godswill Onyegbu, in an affidavit supporting the notice of preliminary objection deposed, argued that due process was not followed in instituting the suit.

Onyegbu maintained that no dispute exists between the plaintiffs and either the Government of Nigeria or the second defendant (NASS).

‘State Assemblies’ Resolutions Required’
“The plaintiffs did not obtain the required resolutions from the Houses of Assembly in their respective states to authorise the suit under the Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction. There is no cause of action against the second defendant, as no threat emanated from the second defendant’s office,” he said.

ALSO READ:  SON Inaugurates Mobile Calibration Vehicle, Measuring Equipments In Rivers

He added that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute this suit as none of the plaintiffs had shown that it has suffered anything far and above any other persons or people of Rivers State.

“There are no disputes involving questions of law or fact upon which the existence or extent of a legal right depends between the parties. The plaintiffs have not established any legal rights against the second defendant to warrant equitable relief such as a perpetual injunction,” the lawyer added.

In addition to requesting the dismissal of the suit, Onyegbu called for costs of N1 billion to be awarded jointly and severally against the plaintiffs in the interest of justice.

He further stated, “That the plaintiffs’ states’ houses of assembly did not pass any resolution by a simple majority of the members present and sitting at the time of the resolution authorising the plaintiffs to institute this action.

“That the plaintiffs have not established any legal rights against the second defendant to enjoy the equitable remedy of perpetual injunction.

“That it is in the best interest of justice for the court to dismiss or strike out this suit against the second defendant with a cost of N1 billion only, jointly and severally against the plaintiffs”.

Continue Reading

News

Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim ; Recipient, “Meeting a Woman Championing Impact”

Published

on

BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF

For Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi,the Minister of Women Affairs, she has been a woman of honor , from her school days, the success story she is still keeping as a top government official and public servant .

As head of two prominent government agencies,NAPTIP, NCFRMI her stint was full of honor through awards and recognition of giant strides organised by Arise TV and This Day to encourage more women engagement.

Even before then , her political outing and exposure , including private endeavors was laced with honor and dignity.

In her recent sojourn as Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the first female Minister of Police Affairs ,(State), and now Women Affairs , it is been characterised with awards , commendation and recognition.

Before her last birthday and in the course of her official engagement as Minister of Women Affairs, she has been eulogised for her giant and humane strides not only towards administering her Ministry, but to both gender and the generality of the people.

Imaan has proven beyond standards, her efforts at policing this country as immediate past Minister of Police Affairs, (State) , and in the current capacity as Minister of Women Affairs.

Another great opportunity provided itself on Saturday in Lagos ,2nd, May ,2025, were she was enlisted among great women who was honored as icon tagged “Honoring Icons” for her dedication to womanhood, public service and her great country, Nigeria.

Imaan , one of the three female Ministers of the present administration that was recognized , was also honored in a program, “Meeting a Woman Championing Impact” in an elaborate and well attended program held in Lagos on Saturday.

ALSO READ:  President Tinubu compassionate, concerned about current hardship -Aide

The organisers did not know the potentials of the Tinubu’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi who is determined to continue to champion the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration in all ramifications and the Renewed Hope Initiative RHI, the pet project of the wife of the President , Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Imaan had a global outlook interms of recognition and honor as her activities is tailored towards engagement that is instinctively provide and promote global engagements.

It is worth commending and congratulating , the new feat of honor to women of valor that was bestowed on Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi, the Minister of Women Affairs.

Congratulations, Hon Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi.

Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.

Continue Reading