Headlines
Citizens sigh as petrol scarcity worsens in Kaduna, Katsina, and Kano
As petrol scarcity bites harder across Nigeria, motorists in Kaduna, Kano and Katsina States are paying through their noses to get the now scarce commodity.
Checks by Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the three states revealed harrowing experiences of the innocent citizens.
NAN also gathered that most of the major and independent marketers had since closed their filling stations.
Also, the few ones that were operating had jerked off the price of the commodity to between N800 to N1000, aggravating the already precarious situation.
Similarly, it was observed that petrol black marketers, especially the roadside fuel hawkers were having a field day, with a 4-litre gallon selling for between N5000 to N6000.
A cross section of the motorists interviewed told NAN,”We are very dismayed as the obnoxious situation has negatively affected our activities.”
A civil servant, Salisu Baso, lamented that he had to pay double of the transport fare he was hitherto paying to reach his office at the Federal Secretariat, Kawo-Kaduna.
Baso said, we don’t even know who is right now. Is it the government or the marketers? It is very unfortunate that they are just passing the buck.
”But, in whatever case, an urgent action should be taken to redress the ugly situation that is jeopardising socio-economic activities in the country.”
For Mrs Franscisca Idika, a trader at the Chechnya market in Kaduna, the lingering petrol scarcity and the soaring prices have badly affected their businesses.
She said,”I have to pay more now to reach the market and we just have to increase the prices of our wares to break even.”
Reports from Kano and Katsina States also revealed a similar disheartening situation of higher prices and endless queues in the few filling stations operating.
Mr Alao Jaremi, an IT expert in Katsina called on the authorities concerned to take urgent measures to ensure the availability of petrol across the country.
“We need the government to swing into action and do the needful to alleviate the suffering of the hapless Nigerians,” Malam Ibrahim Dan-Musa told NAN in Kano.
As the scarcity persists, NNPCL and the oil marketers have been shifting blame on the real causes of the paucity of the commodity.
NNPCL was insisting that the long queues across Nigeria were as a result of disruption of the ship to ship loading of petrol between Mother Vessels and Daughter Vessels, adding, ”this resulted from a recent thunderstorm.”
The national oil company said that adverse weather conditions had also affected berthing at jetties and truck load-outs transportation of products to filling stations, causing a disruption in station supply logistics.
The marketers, however, maintained that they were unable to access the NNPCL portal to place orders for the commodity.
(NAN)
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on Nigerians to utilise the Eid-el-Maulud celebration for introspection and prayers for the nation.
The Director-General of NOA, Mr Lanre Issa-Onilu, also acknowledged the efforts of the current administration in addressing economic challenges and delivering on the Renewed Hope Agenda.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja by the Deputy Director of Press, Mr Paul Odenyi, Issa-Onilu noted that the administration is working tirelessly to develop the country.
He urged Nigerians to emulate the virtues of selflessness, tolerance, peace, love, and fairness exemplified by Prophet Muhammad.
Specifically, Issa-Onilu called on Nigerians to offer prayers for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations.
“I urge the Muslim community to offer supplications to God for wisdom and guidance for President Bola Tinubu to lead Nigeria to its rightful place among developed nations,” he said.
Issa-Onilu also advised Nigerians to refrain from engaging in any form of lawlessness during the public holiday.
He assured Nigerians that the government had put measures in place to ensure the protection of lives and property during the holiday and beyond.
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake, has restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of senior citizens in the country.
Alake said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikoro-Ekiti, his country home.
According to the minister, Tinubu is determined to accord dignity to senior citizens by giving them a new lease of life in line with his Renewed Hope Mantra.
Alake said that senior citizens had been adequately factored in all the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration.
NAN reports that Alake had on Saturday, distributed 1,200 bags of rice to the elderly in Ekiti, irrespective of the political party they belonged to.
He thanked the president for listening to the people and demonstrating a caring heart, noting “1,200 bags of rice was made available to me and each minister to further supplement the established channels of distribution.
“We need to reach out to our aged fathers and mothers at times like this to demonstrate the Omoluabi values of taking care of the old in the community.
“In the spirit of inclusion, it is important that we channel this intervention to mainly elderly citizens.
“This is because they do not have the strength to compete for welfare goods such as these at the established centres. We have taken their inventory and we are delivering it to them.
“Subsequent interventions will target other segments of the populace, such as widows, orphans, persons living with disabilities and students in higher institutions of learning,” he said.
The minister said that the onus was on the people to care for the elderly by focusing on issues affecting them, adding that every individual would grow old and require the support of the younger generation at some point in life.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu has rejoiced with the Muslim faithful on the occasion of the Eid-el-Maulud celebration, to commemorate the birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
Oluremi in a message to mark the occasion on Monday in Abuja, urged the Muslims to use the opportunity to reflect on the teachings of love, kindness, and tolerance of Prophet Muhammad.
In her words, “This will help us to build a stronger community and a more harmonious society.
“I felicitate with the Muslim Ummah across our great nation as we celebrate this year’s Maulud Nabiyy, the blessed birth of the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
“This occasion reminds us of the values of peace, compassion, and unity that the Prophet exemplified throughout his life.
“May the blessings of this day bring joy and peace to our homes and our country,” she said.
NOA urges Nigerians to use Eid-el-Maulud for sober reflection
Alake restates Tinubu’s commitment to improving senior citizens’ welfare
Edo begins supplementary immunisation campaign in October
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