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ActionAid Nigeria Demands Transparency in Crude Oil Transactions, Warns Against Policy Failures Pushing Citizens into Hardship
ActionAid Nigeria Demands Transparency in Crude Oil Transactions, Warns Against Policy Failures Pushing Citizens into Hardship
By: Michael Mike
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has expressed concern over the ongoing crisis in the petroleum sector, particularly the suspension of the sale of petroleum products in naira by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
AAN, while noting that this decision has triggered panic buying, hoarding, and speculative price hikes, worsening the economic hardship faced by Nigerians, decried that the Federal Government’s failure to provide clear information on the status of local refining and crude supply raises serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and governance in the petroleum industry.
ActionAid Nigeria, Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, in a statement on Tuesday said: “The Federal Government must immediately explain why the naira-for-crude arrangement has been abandoned despite its initial promise to stabilise fuel prices and increase local refining capacity. It is unacceptable for citizens to suffer the consequences of policy inconsistencies while a select few benefit from opaque crude oil transactions.”
He further lamented that: “The preference of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for importing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) instead of prioritising local refining raises further concerns. Locally refined fuel, particularly from the Dangote Refinery, has been argued to be cleaner and more durable. Yet, there is no clear justification for why locally refined fuel is not being prioritised in national fuel distribution. If NNPCL can seamlessly conduct international transactions, why can’t local refineries access crude in naira under fair terms? If unchecked, the suspension of the naira-for-crude agreement will push more Nigerians into multidimensional poverty, worsen social inequalities, and lead to further economic instability. Rising fuel prices will drive up transportation costs, making it even more difficult for low-income earners to afford daily commutes, access essential services, or sustain small businesses. Key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and education – all of which directly or indirectly depend on petrol or diesel—will also be severely impacted.”
Mamedu also noted that the opacity surrounding NNPCL’s crude oil transactions raises concern about who truly benefits from these deals. If local refineries are struggling to access crude in Naira while international transactions continue seamlessly, then fundamental questions must be asked: Is the government prioritising foreign interests over national economic stability? Who benefits from the refusal to supply local refineries with crude in naira, and at what cost to Nigerian consumers? ‘‘ActionAid Nigeria strongly calls for independent third-party monitoring of crude oil transactions, fuel pricing, and distribution to ensure transparency and accountability. This should include a public audit of all crude oil sales, including forward contracts entered by NNPCL, as well as the establishment of a transparent mechanism to ensure that local refineries have priority access to crude oil under fair and stable terms. Additionally, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive review of pricing models to prevent exploitation by depot owners and marketers.’’
He said: “Nigerians cannot continue to be victims of policy inconsistencies, regulatory failures, and corporate profiteering,” urging the Federal Government to take immediate action to restore public confidence, protect citizens from further economic hardship, and ensure a fair and transparent energy sector.
ActionAid Nigeria Demands Transparency in Crude Oil Transactions, Warns Against Policy Failures Pushing Citizens into Hardship
Work on the Ngalda modern market is near completion. – Engr. Hamidu
By: Yahaya Wakili
In a bid to boost the economy of the state, the work for the construction of the Ngalda modern market in the Fika local government area of Yobe state has reached 95% completion, with the remaining power plant and other pieces to be picked up.
This was disclosed to newsmen in Ngalda by Engr. Abubakar Hamidu, project consultant to Damuli Investment Company Limited, the company handling the project.
He said the market has 96 stores, 144 market lock-up shops, and 64 stalls, and the market also has a mosque, police station, clinic, fire service, meat shops, and other facilities. We were also to provide water supply and reticulation and electrification.
According to Engr. Hamidu, we had additional work on the drainage from the back side of the fence and the front of the market, and we were taking it to the river about 2.75 kilometers away, and we had already covered about a kilometer of both the wall and the drainage.
“The water table is very far because of the elevation here. The river is very close, but if you are coming out from the main town, it is elevated, so we could not get the actual survey. The data they gave us is finished with times.
“We are trying to get the actual date from a water body like registered geology, a geological survey. They gave us data from there. We can be able to think maybe motorized or solar-powered boreholes can give a capacity of maybe 200 to 250 below ground.
“Our challenges are materials; most of the materials we got from far away, so this is our major challenge, and labor mobility also. We have to get some from Gombe, Maiduguri, and some from Damaturu because of the nature of the locality.” Engr. Hamidu said.
He commends the Yobe State government for giving us encouragement, and whatever we ask the government, they support us; they give us. So we are pledging to the government to invest more of such because, as you can see, the market there now is overflooded, and if the government can strategize such kinds of facilities in other vicinities, it will boost the economy of the state as well asprovide job opportunities for the populace.
Work on the Ngalda modern market is near completion. – Engr. Hamidu
Police Officer Killed in Fatal Car Accident Along Lugbe Expressway
By: Zagazola Makama
Sources from The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the death of a police officer following a fatal motor vehicle and pedestrian accident along the Car Wash area of Lugbe, Abuja.
Zagazola understand that the incident occurred on April 17 at about 3:00 p.m. and involved a Lexus RX 600 SUV driven by one Abraham Alpha, 41, a resident of Living Faith Church, Phase 4, Nyanya, who was heading towards the city center.
The sources said the victim, identified as F/No. 513869 Sgt. Amos Jonah, attached to Robuchi Division, was attempting to cross the expressway when he was struck by the vehicle.
Personnel from the Motor Traffic Division (MTD) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) responded promptly and evacuated the injured officer, the driver, and other occupants of the vehicle to the National Hospital.
The medical team at the hospital, however, confirmed Sgt. Jonah dead on arrival. His remains have been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary for preservation.
The driver and other occupants received medical attention and were later discharged
Police Officer Killed in Fatal Car Accident Along Lugbe Expressway
NDLEA Operation at Abuja Guest House Leads to Gunfire, Two Security Officers Injured
By: Zagazola Makama
Two security officers were injured during an operation by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at a guest house in Abuja, which houses security personnel.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on April 18 at about 6:00 p.m. when a team of NDLEA operatives stormed the guest house located Jahi, Abuja.
According to the sources, the armed NDLEA operatives fired gunshots during the operation, resulting in two casualties.
Zagazola gathered that one Cpl. Mathias Sule, of the 24 Police Mobile Force, sustained a bullet graze injury on his ribs, while Mr. Jonathan Julius, a personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), was shot in the leg. Both injured officers were quickly rushed to Gwarinpa General Hospital, where they were treated and later discharged.
At the scene, law enforcement recovered two rounds of live ammunition and five expended shells.
Sources said that investigation into the incident are ongoing.
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