Nigeria Inches Close To Post-Recession As Oil price hits $50, Export In Unprecedented Rise Since January

Nigeria may be inches close to her post-economic recession as oil price hits $50 per barrel mark the third time this year. This is as even the Forcados export terminal has helped to boost Nigeria’s planned crude oil exports this month to about 1.98 million barrels per day, the most since January, Punch Newspaper reports this morning

President Muhammadu Buhari had in his 56 Nigeria's Independent broadcast on Saturday attributed the current recession in Nigeria to drop in oil prices in international market, bombing of oil facilities by 'Niger Delta thugs'

Forcados, whose export has been suspended since February after militant attack on the export line, is one of Nigeria’s largest crude grades with an average output of about 200,000 bpd last year.

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No tankers have loaded from the terminal so far, according to Bloomberg ship-tracking data. Eight cargoes are scheduled to load this month with another six planned for November.

The recent upsurge in militant attacks in the Niger Delta pushed oil shipments, the nation’s biggest export, to as low as 1.38 million bpd in August from a high of 2.1 million bpd in January.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, last week, noted that the country had lost an average of 500,000 to 700,000 bpd over the last six to eight months.

Commenting on the militancy in an interview with Bloomberg, the minister said the government was doing all it could to address the problem, adding that oil production had risen to 1.7 million bpd, up from a low of 1.2 million bpd about two months ago.

Kachikwu said, “We think that if we can finalise the dialogues in the month of October, which is my anticipation, we should be able to get ourselves to end the year at about an average of two million barrels.”

Oil prices have been on an uptrend since the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries decided to cut output for the first time in eight years.

Brent, against which half of the world’s oil is priced, had risen to around $48 per barrel last Wednesday after OPEC agreed to reduce production, compared to $45 earlier in the day.

It stood at $50.19 per barrel as of 4.53pm Nigerian time on Sunday, up from around $49.66 per barrel on Thursday.

OPEC agreed to cut production to a range of 32.5 million barrels per day to 33 million bpd from around 33.5 million bpd.

Source: Punch Newspaper

FUEL HIKE: FG's Decision STUPID, SENSELESS - Buhari's Friend, Prof. Tam David-West Blasts

Prof. Tam David-West, a historical ally of President Muhammadu Buhari has described the Muhammadu Buhari-led federal Government's decision to hike the fuel price from N86 to sudden N145 per/liter as 'stupid' one, report according to TheEagleOnline suggests.

Our source says, Tam West banded with a historical adversary to rail against the new pump price of fuel, which caught consumers by surprise on Thursday, May 12, and scattered family budgets with the ripple effects.

Transport fares have gone up everywhere as a consequence, speeding off with the prices of everything from foodstuff, other household items, plus school fees, to the cost of a hair cut in small shops, and grinding pepper in open markets in Kano and Calabar.

Buhari’s right hand man, Tam David-West, picked holes in the hike in fuel price from N86 to N145 per litre.

The professor of virology and former petroleum minister argued from Ibadan that the increase announced by Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, does not make sense.

His view resonated up North with Buhari’s traditional critic, former Kaduna State Governor, Balarabe Musa, who accused the president and his All Progressives Congress (APC) members of fleecing Nigerians to amass a war chest for the general election in 2019.

Importing at N86, selling at N145

“It is stupid for two reasons. First, the same NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) a few days ago was filling petrol stations and selling fuel for N86. How can you turn around a few days after to say N145?” David-West asked.

He said the stock now sold at N145 per litre had been imported before the announcement.

“No new petroleum has come in. It takes two weeks for vessels from Europe to arrive Nigeria. There is something wrong with the logic.”

Deregulating, fixing price

The second abnormality with the increase, David-West insisted, is the directive to marketers not to sell above N145.

“How can you say people should import fuel and you tell them how to sell it? It is stupid. You cannot tell a private man to import fuel into the country, and when it arrives the government will now tell him how much to sell it.

“It is stupid. It negates basic economic principles. When I see Buhari, I will make a formal statement. I cannot see how they can justify it.”

Other queries

David-West said he has noted 12 areas to take Kachikwu on, not only on fuel price, but also how the NNPC is run.

“But if I say it now, they will misunderstand me. They would say I want to be minister. I don’t want to be minister. My record there is clear.

“Okay, look at what [Kachikwu] said – that there is hydrocarbon in every part of Nigeria; which is not possible. He is saying a lot of things that are outrageous.

“When the time comes I will take him on. I don’t want to say it now so that it is not misunderstood. I want to see Buhari first.”

David-West said he believes that Buhari does not know what Kachikwu was cooking before the hike.

“Buhari is not in the country. They rushed it because they knew that if he was around he would not allow them. You increased petrol price to N145, and you said immediately, like a military dictator.”

David-West argued that he was wrongly quoted that fuel was going to sell for N40 per litre once Buhari got into office.

“I said if they removed 14 items they are adding to pump price which should not be there, petrol would sell for N40 per litre.

“There are a lot of things they added to inflate it. That is cheating.

“They are adding NPA (Nigeria Ports Authority) charge, jetty depot price, storage payment, margin for retailers, bank charges, transportation from Europe, bridging, and all sorts of things.

“If they remove all these, petrol price will come down to N40. A Nigerian professor of petroleum in Texas has confirmed my figure.

“Let me tell you about bridging. When I was minister, bridging was paid by the government, not by consumers.

“I met N400 million in the bridging account when I was minister. If you take petrol from Port Harcourt to Sokoto, the government pays for the haulage, not consumers.”

TheegleOnline

Fuel Hike: Reps In Rowdy Session, Blocks Kachikwu From Plenary

File Photo from Vanguard

House of representative members Monday, started its special plenary on fuel price hike on a rowdy note, Vanguard News says

The Nation Newspaper's, account has it that members of the opposition in the House of Representatives vehemently opposed the admittance of the Minister of State (Petroleum Resources), Ibe Kachikwu into the chamber Monday afternoon.

Kachikwu was scheduled to address the lawmakers Monday on the latest development over hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

However, trouble started when plenary resumed and time for the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila to move for the admittance of the Minister into the Chamber.

After the motion was seconded, the Speaker put the question but the nays were more than the ayes.

The Speaker ruled in favour of the ayes before banging the gavel but before he could drop the gavel, “No, no, All we are saying, save Nigeria and APC shame” rent the air.

After about three minutes, the Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila and Chief Whip, Ado Doguwa approached the Speaker for consultation.

The Deputy Speaker, Yussuff Lasun, who was seen placating his colleagues and the Minority Leader, Leo Ogor later joined the Speaker’s consultation group.

While some members, waving the national flag, started shouting ‘all we are saying save Nigeria,’ others were chanting ‘change’ with mainly PDP Reps shouting ‘shame,’ ‘shame.’ 

At this stage, the Minority Leader, Rep Leo Ogor, approached the Speaker and after a brief chat with him, joined his fellow lawmakers. 

Also, the Majority Leader and some of the lawmakers approached the Speaker, but the noise continued as all appeals by the Majority Whip, Ado Doguwa, to his colleagues fell on deaf ears. Suddenly, frayed tempers disappeared and the Speaker gave the Minority Leader the floor and he immediately moved for a closed-door meeting.

Credits: Vanguard, The Nation

N'Delta Avengers Declare Secession, Issues Quit Notice To 17 Northern Oil Cabals, Atiku, Danjuma, 15 others Affected

Ripples Nigeria - The Niger Delta Avengers on Thursday made good its separatist intentions, warning northerners with interests in the oil region to quit in two weeks or face “bloody” consequences.

The threat which was contained in a statement signed by one Col Mudoch Agbinibo, who claims to be the group’s spokesperson, listed, among others, General T.Y Danjuma, Alhaji Maidiribe, Colonel Sanni Bello, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, Prince Ado Bayero, and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as those who would have their oil interests blown up if they do not quit.

In a veiled threat to declare a country of their own, the group said that it would, by October 16, display a currency, flag, passport, the ruling council and territory to the world. It beckoned on the United Nations “to free the people of the Niger Delta from environmental pollution, slavery, and oppression.”

“We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger delta to a tourism heaven, a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will make health care system accessible by everyone. With Niger delta still under the country Nigeria we can’t make it possible,” the group said.

It denied threatening the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, while claiming that the group’s activities had put 50% of Nigeria’s oil resources at risk.

The full list of oil companies allegedly owned by northerners and others which have been served quit notice (lifted from the group’s  statement) are served below:

1. Apo Well, awarded to Sapetro Oil owned by Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma .Apo field is capable of producing 300,000 barrels per day and crude reserve of 500 million barrels.
2. OML 110 Obe oil field owned by Alhaji Mai Daribe, Cavendish Petroleum with an estimated 500 million barrel of crude oil that is worth $50 billion dollars after tax.
3. Akpo condensate field, awarded to Sapetro Oil owned by Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma. This field is worth $100 billions of dollars.
4. OML 112 and OML 117, awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company owned by Colonel Sanni Bello. Son inlaw to former Head of State. Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar. It’s worth $150 billion Dollars after tax.
5. OML 115 also known as Oldwok field and Ebok field was awarded to Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Inlaw to former Head of State Gen. Ibrahim Babangida the two fields worth $200 billion Dollars.
6. OML 215, awarded and operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited owned by one Alhaji Saleh Mohammed Gambo. The field worth $100 billion Dollars after tax.
7. OML 108 awarded to Express Petroleum Company owned by Alhaji Aminu Dantata. This field worth $128 billion Dollars.
8. OML 113, allocated to Yinka Folawiyo Petroleum Limited owned by Alhaji W. I. Folawiyo. Net worth is $150 billion Dollars.
9. Prince Nasiru Ado Bayero cousin to the Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, owns ASUOKPU/UMUTU marginal oil fields. It worth $110 billion Dollars.
10. Inter, owned by Atiku Abubakar, Yara dua and Ado Bayero has a substantial stakes in the oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.
11. AMNI International Petroleum Company owns OML 112 and OML 117. Former Minister of Petroleum and OPEC Chairman Rilwanu Lukman has major stakes in AMNI International Petroleum Company.
12. OML 67, operated by Afren Plc. Rilwanu lukman also has major stakes and the field is worth $180 billion Dollars.
13. OPL 245, awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas owned by Dan Etete. Former President Obasanjo and former Vice President Atiku Abukbakar all has major shares. It worth $50 billion Dollars.
14. OPL 289 and OPL 233, awarded to Cleanwater Consortium; the two fields are worth $200 billion Dollars. Former Governor Peter Odili of River State, Obasanjo and Sultan of Sokoto has major Stakes.
15. OPL 288, awarded to focus Energy. Senator Andy Uba, Obasanjo, and Gen Theophilus Y Danjuma are the major stakeholders. The field is worth $70 billion Dollars.
16. OPL 291, awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited owned by Emeka Offor. The field is worth $100 billion Dollars.
17. Mike adenuga’s Conoil controls and operates Six (6) oil blocs and exports about 500,000 barrels of crude oil daily. These 6 oil bloc worth $500 billion Dollars.

3 Main Benefits Of The Increase In Fuel Price To N145 /Litre - Kachikwu

Following the total removal of subsidy from petroleum products today, the Minister of State for Petroleum, who also doubles as the Group Managing Director of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu has outlined three benefits Nigerians should expect from the new petroleum product regime.

In a statement credited to the minister, Kachikwu said; 

1. The government expected that the new policy would “lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as we have experienced with diesel.
2. “In addition, this will also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector.
3. “It will also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.’’

The pump price of petrol in Nigeria was almost increased by 100 per cent today to N145, from N86.50, ending a fraudulent regime of subsidy that has dogged the Nigerian economy for decades.

Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu said the decision was taken at the end of the stakeholders meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

According to the statement, any Nigerian is free to import the product and sell at a price not above N145 per litre.

“In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies.

“All oil marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.

“Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre,’’ the minister said.

Kachikwu said that the government shared the pains of Nigerians but, “the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current times imply that we must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues’’.

He said that along with the decision, the federal government had in the 2016 budget made an unprecedented social protection provisions to cushion the current challenges.

“We believe in the long term, that improved supply and competition will drive down prices.

“The DPR and PPPRA have been mandated to ensure strict regulatory compliance including dealing decisively with anyone involved in hoarding petroleum products,’’ the minister added.

The minister said that the stakeholders’ meeting had reviewed the current fuel scarcity and supply difficulties in the country and the exhorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product.

He said that the meeting observed that prices ranged on the average from N150 to N250 per litre.

He said the meeting also noted that the main reason for the current problem “is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate’’.

According to him, this is due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the federal government.

He said that as a result, private marketers were unable to meet their approximate 50 per cent portion of total national supply of PMS.

He said that following a detailed presentation by him, it “has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take the decisions’’.

Kachikwu said the meeting had in attendance the leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, and Labour Unions .

Inconsistent Kachikwu Gives New Date To End Fuel Scarcity

In a manner that could be described as inconsistency, the minister of state for petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, has once again reassured Nigerians that the ongoing nationwide fuel scarcity would end next week.

Before now, he has given two different days to end the fuels scarcity, both dates have come and gone, but the solution-defying scarcity lingers on

Speaking at the State House after the FEC meeting, Kachikwu said that the queues were expected to completely disappear by the end of next week.

According to him, the development was as a result of sabotage.

He, however, thanked Nigerians for their patience so far.

He said, “The queues are as a result of sabotage. Some people rather than sell products send them into hinterlands where they can sell at ridiculous prices and so you are having these price distortions where people are making a lot of money, some are internal and some are external but a lot of it is marketers trying to make quick returns on their investments wrongly.

“We have asked DPR to deploy officials to ensure products are sold at the right because is only through price stabilization that these system queues will disappear.”

“As at today, we are delivering about 1,200 trucks, by the weekend we should be delivering the same number of trucks, it will take a bit of the days to even out but you can see improvement already. I hope by the end of next week with the refineries helping us to stay on course, every part of the country will get fuels.

“We thank President, NNPC staff and ministries who work night and day to enforce discipline.

“We thank Nigerians for their unbelievable level of patience, we are solving problem we met on ground and trying to find long term solution to it and urge Nigerians to report sabotage, where people are selling product on higher price because we all need to work collectively to make this thing go for good”, he said.

Buhari Urged To SACK 6 Ministers

Only four months have passed since President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated his cabinet, but some of the ministers have already been advised to resign by the dissatisfied Nigerian public and civil society organizations. 

Buhari, who was elected partly on a pledge to tackle corruption and insecurity, promised to select competent and clean personalities. Nigeria received its long-awaited government after 166 days when the president swore in his “saint ministers” on November 11, 2015.

But when the list was released, many were disappointed, asking whether the wait had been worth it, and whether those selected were the best in Nigeria. 

Below is the list of ministers that have been asked to go: 

1. Kemi Adesoun

The Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders has defined Adeosun, as a misfit for the task if eventually confirmed by the Nigerian Senate. 

The National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) once called the minister of finance to resign due to the padded 2016 budget.

Ifeanyi Ubah of Capital Oil also wants the minister to vacate her position because of the FOREX crisis in the country. 

She was also criticised for her arithmetic goof when the minister said that the addition of 16 billion and 6 billion would amount to N24billion 

2. Lai Mohammed

Nigerians said that Mohammed has established himself as an instrument of cheap propaganda and disinformation. 

Every time the minister speaks, Nigerians call for his immediate resignation. 

3. Ibe Kachikwu

APC south-south called for the resignation of petroleum minister after his “no magic wand” comment. 

The Nigerian Labour Congress wants Kachikwu to resign for saying that it was cheaper to import refined petroleum products than refine locally. 

Nigerians are not satisfied with his activities due to the incessant fuel scarcity in the country. 

4. Babatunde Fashola

Fashola has emerged under the Buhari government as one of the most important, if not the most important president’s men. 

However, both the NLC and Trade Labour Congress, TUC ask the minister to resign for increasing the electricity tariff. 

5. Heineken Lokpobiri

Members of his home chapter of the APC ask Lokpobiri, who is the minister of state for agriculture, to relieve his post. 

6. Rotimi Amaechi

There were indications that President Buhari is under pressure from the foreign community to sack his minister of transport following his indictment for corruption. 

Amaechi is one of the most controversial ministers in Buhari’s government.

Source: Naij News

BREAKING: Kachikwu Bows To Tinubu, Apologizes To Nigerians, Gives New Date To End Scarcity

Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu has finally bowed to pressure by apologizing to Nigerians, a call made by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC. 

Tinubu had criticized the minister for saying he does not possess magic wand to end the fuel scarcity until May

Kachikwu who this afternoon appeared before Senate committee on Petroleum (Downstream) over the fuel scarcity ravaging the country. said that the long queues in the country's filling stations would disappear on 7th April.

"By 6th or 7th April, the long queues in filling stations would disappear, "he said.

He apologized to Nigerians over his statement that the scarcity will linger till May.

The Unending Struggle Of The Elite And The Poor, By Goke Butika

Goke Butika, The Author

"The probability that we may fail in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just."---Abraham Lincoln.

News from different templates and platforms are not too cheering, though we have some headlines which constituted distractions to our experience lately. It is now commonplace for the people who ought to play decency to resort to methodical beggings; workers who ought to be shoulder high are now walking with their tails wrapped in their laps; government officials who are fond of flaunting peacock arrogance are now gentle as jelly, and our governors are now talkative because they have to appeal to matter and spirit to convince us that they are not the cause of our collective sufferings.

To those who could not reason beyond religion, our contradictions (poverty, failed education sector, fuel shortage, insecurity, man inhumanity to man and political imbroglio) were caused by the spirit or celestial realm to teach us about the mightiness of the Supreme force. While those who have strive to divorce God or Satan from human affairs believe that successive governments had mismanaged our resources all along, and the attendant results is what we are experiencing in the country now.

I am tempted to support the latter position on the mismanagement of our country, because it appears logical and straight in discussion, but a situation like this demands a deep thought process called a priori approach if we care to abandon the confusion of illusion and delusion the two positions have presented.

In the first place, what are the indicators to identify from the metaphysical position of the spirit as the cause of our nation which is still flinging on the cliffhanger whose hooks have loosened and struggling to give way? To the determinist, everything we are passing through now had been conditioned in the highest form, and that we are helpless. However, a thinker would ask, why the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ethiopia and Ghana are working and Nigeria with all resources is perambulating on the edge of recession? Can we say, God is kind to those countries and wicked to Nigeria? If no, why the difference in thinking and institutions? It goes on like that.

Yes, it is belabouring the obvious that Nigeria has been unlucky with leaders, because those who were elected in the immediate past and far past turned out to be opportunists, we know because they messed up the opportunities given to them to better the lots of the country people, and I elect to be silent on the incumbent leaders because they are still on the job, and it will be unfair to pass judgment on the people with four year mandate to be critiqued in nine months. Hence, the second position of cause of our trouble seems inviting, but I need more than that.

From my volitional concept, I think I place the cause on the struggle of the elite and the poor, compelling me to retool the dialectics of this situation. The poor are in millions, they have the population, and electorally, they have the power to change their leaders and situation, while our elite holds the power  of superstructure, where slogan and manifestoes of the parties are designed, where resources are deployed for political struggle and where the good or bad leadership is authored.

A look at the dialectics will show us that the elite must rely on the poor to achieve their set objectives, but quite interesting, the poor of this nation have never negotiated for their well being using their power, because the elite class has a way of using the common denominator (money) to wrestle the power from them. And it is simple-the elite class will just warehouse the money that belongs to everyone, allow the poor to suffer hell, and when the election is approaching, they release the crispy naira of smaller proportion to the leaders of the poor, and the poor will begin to divide into pro and anti elite; there would be no debate on good governance again, but on "good man" with inexhaustible wallet.

The followers of the poor class would begin to pick perception about the big spender, and bombard his place with the shout of "hosanna", they would throw caution to the wind and ready to fight for the man who has a second address abroad. Meanwhile, as the poor are fighting outside, the elite class are counting the cost of their investment and designing ways of recouping their money. So, the interest is no longer collective, and the diagnosis of the suffering of the masses does not matter anymore.

Give it to the "boy scout" of Ekiti, Governor Ayo Fayose,  he finds himself among the elite class, but his mind is on the street, hence, his incongruences become volatile and confusing. It is strange because his character is neither  fully elitist nor "poorish", and the only way to manifest the confusion is "stomach infrastructure" he personified. Look, the man recognizes the poor of the poor, but desires elite class, and that is the struggle of two opposites.

Meanwhile, the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Tinubu seems to be angry with the arrogance of Petroleum Minister of State, Ibe Kwachikwu who just told us to lose hope on fuel queue at our filling stations, because "he is not a magician" and he hits him hard on why he failed to massage the empty ego of the poor masses-that is negation of the negation in the dialectics of the struggle.

What is the way out? The only credible way is for the poor to truly identify a face that would speak for them and the person must have conquered his greed, because the elite will certainly offer a price, irresistible price in terms of money, position of authority and women. Though very difficult to get such a character. Can I be that person? Ha! I have tasted the two sides already-poverty and comfort and I am no longer neutral, because I have chosen side of comfort like any mortal. Can you be that person? I doubt it, but somebody from the blue could match the quality if the poor get it right. Until then, the difference between six and half of a dozen is difficult to find.

Certainly, Tinubu does not fit the frame, because he is a leading light of the elite class. More so, he is 64 years now, on passage of mortality. The first step is for the poor masses to put up a thinking cap and dissect the antics of the elite before taking position, unfortunately, the poor does not have a congregation like association or church, but everywhere.

(This article is dedicated to Bola Tinubu's 64th birthday.)

Goke Butika, is a journalist of continental exposure.

Buhari Warns APC Chieftains, Cabinet Members As Tinubu's Kachikwu Swipe Tearing Party Apart

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly issued a warning to all chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and his Ministers not to comment or take a side on the ongoing feud between the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

According to Punch Newspaper, there are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari has initiated moves to forestall the escalation of the festering feud between the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu.

Buhari, according to Punch Newspaper believed that Kachikwu’s statement and Tinubu’s criticisms could tear the party apart.

It was learnt that the President had therefore cautioned the APC chieftains and  members of his cabinet against taking sides in comments and issues that could divide the party and derail his government.

A member of the cabinet, who confided in The PUNCH, said the President was of the view that any comment by the APC on the propriety or otherwise of Tinubu’s statement would divide the party and his government.

It was gathered that Buhari had told the minister that he should concentrate on how to end fuel scarcity before May, the time Kachikwu had proposed that there would be smooth fuel supply in the country.

The cabinet member stated, “I am aware that the President has moved in and cautioned ministers and party chieftains against divisive statements on the seeming feud between Tinubu and Kachikwu.

“At this time of the nation’s history, the President needs all the support of Nigerians. There should not be any distraction. The minister has been told that his main focus should be how to end fuel queues.”

Kachikwu had, in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said fuel queues could not be eliminated before May, adding that he was not a magician.

But Tinubu had, in a statement on Saturday, criticised the minister, saying Kachikwu’s position amounted to an act of insubordination to Nigerians, who voted public office-holders into their offices.

The National Secretariat of the APC on Monday kept mute over the controversy generated by Kachikwu on the fuel situation in the country, which was roundly condemned by Tinubu.

The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, could be reached for comments on Monday.

Calls to their mobile telephones indicated that they were switched off while responses to text messages sent to them were still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

However, a source within the party said, “The statement by our revered leader is not ambiguous. I honestly don’t see any ambiguity; he issued the statement and signed it in his personal capacity.

“He, like every Nigerian, has every right to speak out when he sees anything going wrong in the polity; you cannot deny him that right.

“Besides, I understand that the matter is being handled at the highest level; it is an internal party affair.”

Kachikwu, A Professional But Inexperience Politician & PR Manager - Doyin Okupe

Former media aide to the former President Goodluck Jonathan, Mr. Doyin Okupe has described the Minister of State of Petroleum and the Group Managing Director of Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu as a professional, but who is not vast in politics and information management.

Kachikwu had come under intense criticisms over his recent comment on the ongoing fuel scarcity.

Okupe made this known in his latest facebook page titled ' On Kachikwu And Adesina'. 

He said; "The Hon minister for petroleum appears to me to be strictly a professional CEO. I believe, from my little research of what he has silently done to restructure and refocus the company, that definitely he knows what he is doing. But he is completely in the dark when it comes to politics or information management."

Read Full Text of the Post:

On kachikwu and Adesina

I am not APC and NEVER will be.

I am not looking for employment and certainly not in an APC government. I Dont believe in APC, its leadership or policies.

But at my age, with the over 35yrs experience I have gathered in Nigerian politics and haven served in the Presidency twice, I believe I should at all times, try and share whatever little knowledge I may have towards helping to build a better Nation no matter who is at the helm of the affairs. 

Nigeria ,Nigerians and Stake holders cannot afford to standby allow errors to be made only to turn round later and use it for political gains.

Now back to the subject matter.

The Hon minister for petroleum appears to me to be strictly a professional CEO. I believe, from my little research of what he has silently done to restructure and refocus the company,that definitely he knows what he is doing. But he is completely in the dark when it comes to politics or information management. And this of necessity must be so. I will personally advice the minister to employ a good public relations man and a good communicator who manages the company's interface with the public and media. Let the minister do his job of policy formulation and executive management of the NNPC in which he appears supremely competent.

As for Mr femi Adeshina, he definitely made an unpardonable slip. But should we hang him for i? NO.!!

Being a spokeman for a government is not one of the best jobs you want to do especially in difficult times like this.

Many times you are overburdened by your passion and commitment for your principal and as a human being you simply flip when you find yourself in a tight spot. In my career I have flipped and slipped severally,that is why I understand where femi Is coming from.

When you work very closely with the number 1 citizen in the country and you are privy to his thoughts, actions, and challenges, it takes divine wisdom, maturity and forbearance to hold your own if you feel the public is not appreciative of all the efforts the government is making. The mistake we all make under these circumstances is that, members of the public are not privy to what is being done behind the scene and neither are they interested. All the people want to see is results not efforts.

I believe femi knows where he went wrong. I have known and interacted with him for several years. He is not haughty and would never have contrived to insult the sensibilities of the Nigerian public. It is a goal down but the game has just started

Attack On Kachikwu, A Plot To Install Stooge, Continue Looting At NNPC - Northerners AttackTinubu

Following comments by Sen. Bola Tinubu chiding the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu concerning over the lingering fuel crisis in the nation, a socio-political group, Northern youths under the auspices of Arewa Integrity Youth Forum have taken a swipe at the APC Chieftain, saying his comments is rather unfortunate.

The group while addressing newsmen in Abuja today, expressed their support for the ongoing reforms in the oil sector noting that the advent of Kachikwu has cleansed the oil sector of hawks which have over the years held the sector hostage.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Abubakar, expressed dismay over the comments credited to Tinubu who had earlier in the beginning of the administration had advised Nigerians to be patient with the government as it is trying to undo damage caused by the previous administration.

According to him, Nigerians perfectly understand the current situation in the supply and distribution of fuel to reach everyone and this is the major reason why there have not been any form of protest or uprising as was done in the past.

He therefore, warned that any attempt to trigger Nigerians to embark on any mass action will be rejected by the Nigerian people without any further delay.

“we are today bewildered at the manner of double talk a revered leader in the calibre of Tinubu could engage himself, not minding his stand and position in the polity. Has he so soon forgotten that he advised Nigerians to be patient with thus government because the previous administration had caused so much damage which had to be cleared ? What has changed soon?” He queried.

The group has further accused the All Progressives Congress (APC), leader of fronting for sinister interest whose intention is to continue in the mold of the dismantled cabal and continue the looting of the oil sector, at a time when his party is begging for funding to move the party forward.

It has also warned Tinubu to steer clear the petroleum sector as all his actions point to the fact that he intends to discredit the good works of Kachikwu in order to instigate his sack thereby making way for him to plant a stooge to continue in the looting regime as experienced in the previous years.

He said “Kachikwu has brought sanity into the oil sector, which is what is first needed to engineer development in any sector particularly that the present administration inherited a messy economy whose only cell is oil revenue.

Meanwhile the group has declared its support for the ongoing measures to sanitise the oil sector and called on Nigerians to bear with the hardship as according to them it is aimed at producing a solid institution.

Unless Buhari Takes These 5 Drastic Steps, Fuel Crisis'll Persist Till 'Thy Kingdom Come' - Okupe

Former senior special assistant on Public Affairs to former president of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe,  has backed Nigeria’s junior minister of petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu and the policy of NNPC under his leadership.

Okupe in a statement issued on Facebook, made a case for Kachikwu while urging Nigerians to face the reality.

In the statement, he stated that he has no inter-personal relationship with Kachikwu, analysed why there is lingering fuel scarcity and how it can be curbed.

Read Doyin Okupe’s position below:

The minister of state for Petroleum is a Nigerian I know by reputation only. When he was appointed I actually wondered why on earth will a man in his exalted international position and pedigree come into the murky arena of the Nigerian oil business. It can only be patriotism.

Since he assumed office I have noticed a high level of professionalism and candour.

But Nigerians abhor the truth. The minister said a few weeks ago that it is cheaper to import fuel than process our crude locally. I thought that should be obvious to all discerning minds. Our newest refinery is 35years old.

The capacity of the refinery to fractionate Crude reduces drastically with age. In its best form you get about 51% PMS per barrel of crude refined. But at the current ages of our refineries we hardly can do more than 35-40%.

Therefore our policy of setting aside crude for local refining is outdated and counter-productive and should be stopped.

Secondly the minister said this present fuel crisis will tarry till May and all hell was let loose. The Hon Minister is right.

He quietly informed the nation that NNPC is now responsible for 100% of our fuel imports. The reason for this anomaly is not farfetched.

We consume 40m liters of PMS daily. At about $645/tonne that comes to about 55cents per liter is $22m/day. Which importer and which bank in Nigeria of today can open $22m daily?!!!!

Not even the Almighty NNPC! So that is the real cause of the scarcity. The truth is what the minister said, its not going away soonest.

The only reasonable, cost effective and efficient way of ensuring Nigerians get petroleum products regularly and continuously, without further complicating the unavailability of the dollar and its continued stagnation of the national economy, is by:

1. Scrapping the PPPRA.

2. Stopping the allocation of crude daily for local refining.

3. Allocating appropriate volume of crude to the oil majors under a transparent oil swap arrangement.

4. Invest in and improve the facilities of discharging PMS in all our Ports.

5. Completely deregulate the downstream.

Sector of the petroleum and stop the federal government from selling petrol. Previous Nigerian governments have sustained this practice to their detriment. We need not continue it especially in the face prevailing economic hardship.

It is not done anywhere and citizens are the ultimate beneficiaries.

It is shameful and embarrassing that small countries like Benin Republic, Togo and even land locked countries like Botswana and Swaziland do not have fuel queues.

Fuel Scarcity: Vexed Tinubu Blasts FG, Tears Kachikwu To Shred

Punch Newspaper - Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, on Saturday got a tongue-lashing from the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over his recent comments on the lingering fuel scarcity in the country.

The former Governor of Lagos State took a swipe at the minister, who is also the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, for saying he was not a magician who could end the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol.

The APC leader stated that the minister was answerable to Nigerians and not the other way round.

Tinubu stated this on Saturday in a statement titled, ‘Kachikwu Needs to Know That Respect and Good Performance Will Do What Magic Cannot.’

Referring to the minister, Tinubu said he believed a member of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government “has strayed from the progressive calling required of this administration.”

Kachikwu had on Wednesday, while speaking with State House correspondents shortly after he led a joint delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers to meet with Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said since he was not a magician, the fuel queues could not be eliminated with a magic wand.

He added that despite the efforts being put in place by the Federal Government, fuel queues might not be completely eliminated until about two months (May).

The minister noted that with the reality on the ground, it was by sheer magic that the country had the amount of products it currently had at the filling stations.

However, Tinubu, on Saturday, stated that there might be no economic matter more difficult to unravel and more sensitive to the purse of the average person than the current fuel scarcity.

The APC leader said despite that, he was confident of progress because he knew the commitment of the President to resolving the issue.

“I make no attempt to hide it. I am an avid and partisan supporter of this government and of the progressive policies of the party, the APC, upon which this government is based,” the ex-governor stated.

Tinubu added, “With that, I do reserve the right and the duty as a Nigerian to voice my opinion when I believe a member of this government has strayed from the progressive calling required of this administration. I do this because my greater devotion and love are for this nation and its people. Party and politics fall secondary.

“Much public ire has been drawn to the statement made by the Minister of State (for Petroleum Resources) Ibe Kachikwu that he was not trained as a magician and that basically Nigerians should count themselves fortunate that the NNPC under his stewardship has been able to bring in the amount of petrol it is currently doing.

“Perhaps the statement by Kachikwu was made in a moment of unguarded frustration or was an awkward attempt at a joke. Whatever the motive, it was untimely and off-putting. The remark did not sit well with the Nigerian people; they were as right to feel insulted as the minister was wrong to have said such a thing.

“The fuel shortage is severely biting for the average person. They are forced to remain in lines far too long — for too much time — to pay too much money for too little fuel. This is no joking matter. Livelihoods and people’s welfare are at stake.

“With so much on the line, Kachikwu’s flippancy was out-of-line. He was basically telling Nigerians that they should be lucky that they are getting the inadequate supply they now suffer and that they should just be quiet and endure the shortage for several weeks more.”

Saying Kachikwu’s intervention was unhelpful, the APC leader said it rather panicked and disappointed the public as to the duration of the crisis.

“It insulted the people by its tonality. He spoke with the imperious nature of a member of the elitist government the people voted out last year and not the progressive one they voted in,” he added.

Tinubu also said Kachikwu must be reminded that he was not coerced to take the job, adding that the minster accepted the job and its responsibilities “knowingly.”

The ex-governor said the NNPC GMD must also remember that he does not own the corporation and that the NNPC was not a private company that owes nothing to the public except the duty of fair dealing.

Tinubu added, “He is a public servant. The seat he sits upon is owned by Nigerians, not by him. The company he runs is owned by Nigerians, not by him. They are his boss. He is not theirs. Power is vested in the people. He is a mere custodian or agent of their will.

“In talking to us in such a manner, he committed an act of insubordination. If he had talked so cavalierly to his boss in the private sector, he would have been reprimanded or worse. If wise, the man should refrain from such interjections in the future.

“As his ultimate bosses, the people have a right to demand the requisite performance and respect from him.  He should apologise for treating them so lightly in this instance.”

The APC leader noted that as Kachikwu’s portfolio was a strategically important one, the minister needed to re-establish the correct relationship with the public.

He said Nigerians no longer felt Kachikwu was working for their optimal benefit as their servant. “Instead, he seems to be standing above them, telling them to take it or leave it,” Tinubu added.

The politician stated that for the minister’s policies and stint in office to be successful and of help to the government, he (Kachikwu) must have the support and belief of the people at this tough time.

Tinubu said the NNPC boss must talk to them in a way that they believe he seeks their best interest and understands the hardship weighing upon them.

“He must ask them to work with him and, perhaps, to endure a bit longer but with the knowledge that he is working to resolve this matter as fast as he can and as permanently as possible; that he is dedicated to the position that once these current lines are gone, never again shall they reappear, as long as he has any influence in the matter.

“To do this requires no magic or training in that strange craft. It requires empathy, compassion and the willpower to forge a better Nigeria. These must be the common trademarks of those serving in a progressive government, for these attributes are integral parts of the spirit and ideals upon which the APC was founded,” Tinubu added.

When contacted, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Idang Alibi, told SUNDAY PUNCH that the ministry had yet to see the statement by Tinubu.

He stated that the ministry would wish to react to it when it gets the statement and promised to get across to Kachikwu and respond to our correspondent.

Alibi said, “We will need to find out what Tinubu actually said before getting across to the minister.”

When asked if he would get back to our correspondent after speaking with the minister, he replied, “Well, it depends on the response from the other side. If I get a response, I will get back to you.”

When probed further if he would get across to the minister on Saturday night, Alibi replied again, “I hope so.”

Also, calls to the mobile phone of the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Garba Deen, were not answered.

A detailed text message sent to him was also not replied.

Up till the time (8.53pm) of filing in this report, no response was received from the ministry and the NNPC.

The scarcity of petrol has lingered since January, as hundreds of motorists besiege few filling stations that dispense the product on a daily basis.

Kachikwu’s comment had drawn heavy criticisms from various stakeholders, including the organised labour, petroleum marketers, oil industry workers, manufacturers, experts in the oil sector and the latest from Tinubu.

The Trade Union Congress had specifically asked Kachikwu to resign instead of giving Nigerians excuses on why it would be impossible to get fuel easily in the country before June.

The TUC, through its President, Mr. Bala Kaigama, said the positions occupied by the minister were too demanding for him and urged Buhari to appoint a new GMD for the NNPC.

Kaigama stated, “If he is not a magician, he should resign now. What we are saying is that Nigerians are getting impatient with him.

“So, if he has no quick fix to it, he should just quit. We are getting impatient. He is moving from one unpopular policy to another, yet we cannot see any quick fix.’’

Similarly, the Nigeria Labour Congress had described Kachikwu’s statement as unfortunate.

The General Secretary of the NLC, Dr. Peter Ozo-Eson, said it was wrong of any agent of government to resign himself to a position that would subject Nigerians to months of long fuel queues.

He said, “As far as we are concerned, one day of queues is unacceptable to Nigerians and the hardship Nigerians have been subjected to, through the queues over a long period now, is actually something that should be condemned.

“Apart from the hardship to Nigerians, the cost of these protracted queues on an economy that is already in crisis is enormous, and actually makes the issue of the revival of the economy even more difficult.”

Also, workers in the oil and gas sector on Wednesday said they were at a loss as to what was really the cause of fuel scarcity in the country.

The workers, who spoke under the aegis of PENGASSAN and NUPENG, stated that the minister should be questioned on the development.

NNPC Workers Suspend Strike

The nation's oil workers may have sheath their sword by calling off the strike embarked upon bare 24hour later in protest of the unbundling of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.

The workers under the umbrella of NUPEN and PENGASSAN declared the industrial action at the early hour of yesterday follow an alleged unilateral decision of the Federal Government to unbundle the nation's petroleum company.

Consequently, the Corporate headquarters of the state oil firm in Abuja has been reopened for operations.

The branch chairman of NUPENG, NNPC, Odudu Benjamin Udofia, confirmed the development to our reporter by telephone saying,

"There was a very high powered committee (meeting) set up by the president and minister of petroleum resources which started at about 8(pm). We did not finish until 4:30 this morning"

Asked some of the resolutions reached at the meeting, he said "the union has to be involved in the process of restructuring and a committee is going to be set with a union representative to review the restructuring"

He said of the committee, "It is a continuous process. In the implementation the union must be carried along."

Our reporter gathered that normal official activities resumed at the towers this morning. An employee of the Corporation who spoke to our reporter on phone said he reported for work by 7:00am Thursday morning and that normalcy has returned.

Ibe Kachukwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum, assured them that there was no unbundling of NNPC, stressing that, what was happening was a restructuring.

“We have not unbundled NNPC. We had a press conference yesterday where I explained this,” Kachikwu said.

“What we have simply done is reorganisation. We have five business entities focused on business- Upstream, Downstream, Refineries, Gas and Power, that are there before.

“There is also ventures that capture all our little companies that were not having proper stewardship.

“They are run by individuals who report to the GMD. The NNPC is still a whole. There is nothing new that has happened.

“I have tried to explain this and I am sure the NNPC workers are members of the family, they will understand. “We are going to have a meeting, and they will be made to understand.

Perhaps the engagement has not been good enough. “NNPC has not been unbundled in the sense of breaking up NNPC into distinct institutions. I am concerned.

“I don’t want the industry shut down. I am sure we are going to resolve the issues very soon,” he further explained.

Why Workers Shutdown NNPC Nationwide

Oil workers under the umbrella of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Wednesday morning shut the Corporate Headquarters of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Abuja to protest the restructuring of the state oil firm.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, last night at a press briefing in Abuja announced that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the restructuring of the NNPC into seven new divisions explaining that under the new structure, NNPC will have five core new divisions comprising the upstream, downstream, refining group, gas and power, as well as the ventures’ groups, among others.

But the oil workers say they are aggrieved because they were not carried along in the entire process. The main entrance to the Corporation was blocked early Wednesday morning. Staff of the NNPC and its subsidiaries located in the towers were turned back by the protesting union members.

Our reporter gathered that staff who learnt about the protest stayed back home while those on their way turned back on hearing from colleagues about the protest. "I came as early as 7:00am but was denied access, therefore I am going back home," a staff told our reporter.

One of the union members who spoke to our reporter on the condition of anonymity said they will prevent even the Group Managing Director of NNPC from the tower until the grey areas are sorted out. He said the shutdown will be nationwide. The workers are scheduled to brief the press on the protest on Wednesday afternoon.

Daily Trust