National
PMS price hike: NURTW, TOAN increase transport fares in Niger
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) in Niger, have announced an increase in transport fares due to the sharp rise in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
Speaking in separate interviews on Thursday in Minna, leaders of the unions attributed the fare hike to the recent surge in fuel prices and the rising cost of vehicle parts, both of which are impacting their operations.
Malam Ibrahim Musa, Chairman of NURTW Branch III, Abdulsalami Abubakar Garage, Minna, stated that the fare from Minna to Abuja has been raised from N6,000 to N7,000.
Similarly, he said that the fare for Minna to Kaduna has increased from N6,500 to N8,000.
“We have raised the transport fare from Minna to Abuja by N1,000, and from Minna to Kaduna by N1,500. This is not an attempt to exploit passengers, but a necessary response to the recent hike in fuel prices and the increased cost of vehicle parts,” Musa said.
He further noted that fares from Minna to Zuba and Diko now stand at N4,000 and N3,500, respectively, up from N3,500 and N3,000.
Musa appealed to both the Federal and State governments to urgently address the rising costs affecting the transport sector before operators are forced out of business.
Similarly, Abubakar Ndanusa, Chairman of TOAN in Niger, highlighted the burden of higher fuel costs and the rising price of tricycles.
“The price of a new tricycle has skyrocketed to between N3.2 million and N3.5 million. Many of us are on hire purchase agreements, making the cost even higher.
“We have no choice but to increase fares by N50 to N100 per drop, depending on the distance,” he said.
He also noted a decline in passenger numbers, as many people now limit their travel to essential trips due to the current economic conditions.
A visit by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) to several petrol stations in Minna revealed that the price of PMS had risen sharply, with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) affiliate stations selling fuel at N897 per litre, up from N617 per litre earlier.
Danladi Maku, a supervisor at Matrix Filling Station, City-gate Minna, confirmed that fuel prices had surged from N820 to N950 per litre. At Shafa Filling Station, prices had also jumped from N860 to N950 per litre.
Meanwhile, black market sellers near NNPCL mega stations have raised their prices as well, with petrol now being sold at N1,200 per litre, compared to the previous N1,100.
Both NURTW and TOAN urged the government to intervene and support the transport sector to prevent a total collapse, as the escalating costs continue to strain operators and passengers alike.(NAN
By Abubakar Yunusa
Dr Yusuf John Suberu, founder of the Dr Yusuf John Suberu Foundation, has congratulated Nigeria on being honoured with the prestigious Kofi Annan Road Safety Award at a ceremony in Eswatini.
The award recognises the country’s significant progress in reducing road crashes and improving safety..
The accolade, celebrated by stakeholders across the continent, highlights Nigeria’s dedication to improving road safety standards.
Dr. Yusuf John Suberu, founder of the Dr. Yusuf John Suberu Foundation, attended the event and engaged with prominent figures, including the Ministers of Transportation from Cameroon and Eswatini, as well as Mr. John Todd, the United Nations Envoy on Road Safety.
The foundation, which focuses on poverty alleviation, education, and health, praised the Federal Government’s achievement as a milestone in fostering safer communities.
“This award reflects Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to road safety, a cause that resonates deeply with our mission to empower and uplift communities,” Dr. Suberu said in a statement.
“We commend the government and reaffirm our support for initiatives promoting sustainable development and safety.”
The Dr. Yusuf John Suberu Foundation has impacted over 5,000 individuals in the past year through its programmes and aims to train 500 youths in the Federal Capital Territory with skills for financial independence and self-employment.
The organisation views the award as a testament to the power of collective action in driving meaningful change.
The foundation expressed its eagerness to deepen collaboration with government bodies, international organisations, and local stakeholders to advance road safety and community development across Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia as the Acting Director, Army Public Relations — the first woman to hold the position.
Anele, a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Her appointment takes effect from April 22, 2025.
Before this elevation, Lt. Col. Anele completed a six-month strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and was subsequently posted to the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
She has previously served as Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff. Until her new role, she was with the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the Tax Reform Bill would curb poverty and empower ordinary Nigerians.
Oyedele made this known at the Spokespersons’ Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja.
He expressed strong optimism about the sweeping changes the bill would bring, especially for the low-income earners and small businesses across the country.
The chairman said that key highlights of the reform included the exemption of low-income earners from paying the Personal Income Tax (PAYE) and the removal of VAT from basic essentials such as food, education, and healthcare.
Oyedele added that it included a zero per cent Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate for small businesses, adding that the bill had great benefits, especially for the masses, although it was welcomed with misconceptions and attacks.
He said, “This is because the issues of tax and taxation are not the most attractive to the ordinary persons because it is hard to part with your money.
“It is even harder when you part with your money and you cannot tell what exactly government is using it for that benefits you.”
Oyedele said the approach for the reform was to try and understand what the issues were and where the problems were coming from.
He added, “Then we will use data to engage with the people and design a solution for Nigeria that is made by Nigerians for the Nigerian people.
“That is exactly what we have done with the tax reform bill which is now nearing passage for the President to sign.”
According to Oyedele, the government is positive that as soon as implementation begins, Nigerians will see the real positive impact on their day-to-day living including low income earners being exempted from taxes.
“This is because, we want Nigerians to be able to create wealth and become successful, when they make it big time, then they will pay taxes, not the other way round.
“So, we believe that this message is resonating with the Nigerian people, it is still a long way to go but we are happy to continue with the journey,” he said.
Oyedele commended NIPR for putting the summit together and for discussing issues of government policies for the clearer understanding of Nigerians.
The President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the communication ecosystem should always be considered when formulating any government policy.
Neliaku said this was because the communicators have the gift of communicating even the most difficult policies to the people.
He added that they would look at such policies and guide strategic communication, adding, “which is the when,what,how where which it answers all those questions.
“So, when you say this is what we want to do,how best should we do it?it is the work of the experts and not quacks, those trained to come up with the strategies to communicate that.
“The tax reform is what this nation needs at this point but it was essentially misunderstood because of the way it was introduced and the mischief makers took advantage of that to do what they want.”
Neliaku said that was why NIPR and its partners in the communication ecosystem had promised to work with the government to develop a tax communication framework.
He said that it was also being done in the areas of climate action, Science communication and across many sectors to communicate reforms so that the child is not killed even before it is birthed.
He encouraged spokespersons to acquire knowledge, understand trends and issues in order to be effective and to speak well and informed.
Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogu, a Fellow of NIPR, said that there was need to view taxation with the gender lens, adding that there was need to make exemptions for women.
Ali-Balogun said that most women were bread winners these days as well as single mothers should enjoy tax exemption to empower them to provide for their families.
She commended NIPR for organising the summit, adding that it had broadened her horizon on national issues.(NAN)