Reasons Behind Fuel Scarcity In Nigeria

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the real causes of the debilitating fuel scarcity across the country are the looting of the $12 billion domestic gas fund under President Goodluck Jonathan’s watch, the Administration’s failure to pay fuel subsidy and the cost of interests on bank loans to oil marketers, thus making it impossible for them to begin another round of importation of refined petroleum products. 

In a statement issued in Dubai on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the PDP and the Jonathan Administration decided to divert attention from those problems by accusing the opposition of being responsible for the

scarcity – a most laughable and irresponsible statement by a sitting government that is always so eager to blame everyone but itself for the nation’s woes.

It recalled that the self-styled Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala had, in February, promised to pay all subsidies owed to the marketers then in the sum of N264 billion, along with the accrued interest.

APC said, however, that the failure to meet this obligation has made it impossible for the oil marketers, who are being owed heavily, to finance another round of products importation.

”The truth is that this profligate government has run Nigeria aground, and the oil sector, whether upstream or downstream, has particularly suffered hugely. The quantity of petroleum products that was imported has almost been fully consumed, without fresh products being brought in to augment supplies that have now fallen well below

re-order level

”The implication is that in addition to worsening power supply, crumbling prices of oil at the international market, weakening Naira and unprecedented corruption, Nigerians – who routinely provide their own electricity to power their homes and business, now have to face another round of government-imposed hardship with the ongoing fuel scarcity,” the party said.

It said the fuel crisis would not have reached the stage it is in now had the $12 billion domestic gas project fund not been looted under President Jonathan’s watch. This is because, with the project being executed, many vehicles, cooking stoves and generators would have been converted to use gas to reduce the importation of PMS, diesel and kerosene, and gas would have been available to fire the gas turbines

at power stations while more power would have been delivered to the national grid

APC accused President Jonathan of sabotaging the domestic gas project started by the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, with the $12 billion cash call provisions for gas development for domestic power generation looted under his (President Jonathan) watch.

”Late President Yar’Adua made the first allocation of $1.5 billion for this project in 2009. The amount was not spent at the time of his death in 2010. However, direct outlays through annual cash calls continued to be credited to the project account so much so that by December 2014, $12 billion had been accumulated in the same account.

”Had this project been successfully implemented as envisaged, had the funds made available for the project not been looted by the rapacious cabal that is holding Nigeria by the jugular, power generation would have improved with uninterrupted gas supply to power the turbines at power station, while the domestic consumption of PMS, diesel and kerosene would have reduced, with an increasing number of vehicles,

cooking stoves and power generators being converted to use gas instead of PMS, diesel or kerosene,” the party said.

It also slammed the Jonathan Administration for its inability or unwillingness or both to secure power installations from contrived sabotage.

”For a federal government that is in control of one million people under arms (military, police, civil defence corps, etc), and one that has spent in excess of 4 trillion Naira on security, there is no justifiable reason why power installations could not be secured against sabotage,” APC said.

The party said the real saboteurs and indeed those who have pushed Nigeria to another sorry state of fuel scarcity are those who have stolen the money earmarked for gas gathering, processing and transportation for domestic power production, and Nigerians know who and where those people are.

It said Nigerians must be wondering whether those who accused the APC of being behind the fuel shortage have their heads properly screwed to their bodies, because the accusation marks a new low in the sad saga of the Jonathan Administration.

”They (Nigerians) must be wondering when the APC took over the running of the NNPC, when the APC took charge of subsidy payment and why the opposition should become the easy scapegoat of an ineffectual, clueless, incompetent, visionless and thieving government. Absurdity has no other meaning,” APC said.

4 dead, companies close down as Nigeria plunges into chaos

Four persons reportedly died over the lingering fuel scarcity that is almost grounding the country.


According to unverified claims by a Twitter user, @tundealuko, a man in his early 30s, two young children, a baby and a woman, who died after childbirth, were victims of the ongoing fuel crisis.

The woman, who Aluko said is her church member, bled to death in the early hours of Sunday, May 24, after the hospital she was being treated said it could not rush to get blood because of unavailability of fuel.

Similarly, the fuel shortage has forced broadcast stations and Airlines to shut down after a few hours of work in order to ration diesel.

Hundreds of passengers are stranded at airports and bus stops. Fewer vehicles are plying major reads as thousands of cars are queued hopelessly at various filing stations across the country, especially in Lagos state.

As at today, May 24, many petrol stations in Lagos are selling at N400 per litre as against the initial N87 per litre.

Reports say pump price in Ogun state is N300 per litre; Kebbi – N300 per litre; Sokoto - N300 per litre; Cross River – N250 per litre; Bayelsa – N200 per litre; Kogi – N200 per litre; Kwara - N200 per litre; Adamawa – N160 per litre; Akwa Ibom – N150 per litre, the outrageous hike fluctuates per state and time.

Several companies, including telecommunications giant, MTN, are also reportedly threatening to close shops for the same reason – fuel shortage.

Nigerians, online and offline, are groaning in pain and lamenting separate ugly situations in their domains that the fuel crisis has caused. And with the electricity generation that has dropped to 1,300 Mega Watts – all time low, many are convinced the anomaly is nothing compared to what will be uncovered after the change of government on May 29.

The Ministry of power Permanent Secretary, Godknows Igali, had said earlier in the week that if the fuel crisis does not end soon, the already near comatose electricity supply in the country will worsen.

However, the Senate has summoned the Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke and the Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala over the deepening fuel crisis.

The two Ministers are expected to appear before the National Assembly on Monday, May 25, as the nation plunges into chaos.

Skales Ft. Olamide – Ijo Ayo (Prod. By Spellz)

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Ben 7 ft Oritse Femi - Akorede

Ben 7 ft Oritse Femi - Akorede

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2Face Criticises Federal And State Governments

Popular Nigerian musician, 2face Ibidia, woke up today, May 18, with the aim of changing the mentality of Nigerians, especially by tasking the government to do a lot more than wasting money.

2Face

The singer, who took to his twitter account to share his thoughts on governance in Nigeria since 1999, stated that the federal and state governments have done nothing worth celebrating considering the amount of money that have been stolen or wasted.

3 Misconstrued Facts About Oshiomhole's New Wife

Few days ago, news broke about the decision of Governor Adams Oshiomhole to remarry.

Oshiomhole and his new wife, Iara

Immediately the governor stepped out with his wife, the social media went ablaze with various misconstrued information and rumors which the latter later made clear how untrue some of these information were.

Here are three things a lot of Nigerians got wrong about the comrade’s wife;
1. Her real name is Iara and not Lara. The name starts with the letter  I.

2. As against the rumor that she is an Ethiopian, Governor Oshiomhole made it known that his bride is from Cape Verde.
“I have seen a lot of publications, some saying that she is Philippine, Dutch and several others, but she is from Cape Verde. And that is part of West Africa. And I hope that will rest the debate of where she is from,” he said regarding her nationality.

3. It was also made known that Iara Fortes-Oshiomhole was a former top model but Oshiomhole during a thanksgiving service held at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Auchi said her new wife has never been a model.

“When I read newspaper stories and they say that Comrade has married a ‘top model’ I’m like maybe it’s another person. “The lady that God has directed to my path and heart to marry is not and was not a model. Of course, she looks beautiful and I understand that is why people assume that this kind of a lady must be a model but of course, she is a model in my heart and we hope and pray that we will be models in the heart of our God and I think that is the most important thing,” he said.
The 63-year-old governor married his beautiful wife on Friday, May 15, 2015, five years after the death of his first wife, Clara.

Imagine! Davido Buys N33m Home In America

22-year old singing sensation, David Adedeji Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, is now a big boy.

Davido

The American-born Nigerian recording artist, performer and record producer, who got famous with his 2011 single, “Dami Duro”,  has acquired a house in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
The singer had announced he was looking for a house in America few months ago. This shows that he has finally gotten a house to buy.

The excited new landlord shared photos and clips of his new home on snapchat, a video messaging application. The newly acquired home is said to worth a whooping 33 million Naira. See photos below:
 
 

  

(PHOTOS) Omotola And Daughter Become Brand Ambassadors

One of the best brands in Nollywood, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, and her daughter have attained new heights.
The beautiful actress and her second daughter, Meraiah Ekeinde, have been made brand ambassadors for Knorr season cubes.
The newest ambassadors in town, both mum and daughter, recently campaigned for awareness of iron deficiency anemia in women and teenage girls.
See photos below:
     

   
Just recently, the popular Nollywood actress, mother and entrepreneur

Amazing! David Luiz Vows To Remain Virgin Until Marriage

World famous Brazilian footballer David Luiz was baptised into the Pentecostal Hillsong Church on May 15, Friday, and made a claim which came as a surprise for the modern world.

David Luiz

The 28-year-old player of  Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and former Chelsea midfielder vowed to abstain from sex until marriage, The Mirror reports.
A devout Christian who promised to keep his virginity until he tied the knot with girlfriend Sara Madeira, explained:
“I have chosen to wait.” 

David Luiz baptised. May 15

He further took to Instagram to devote his life to God:
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. (2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV).

“How wonderful to live with you Lord, thank You for loving me so much and taking care of me!
“My life is yours, and I am your servant! You’re always in the center of all my decisions! I love my God! Amen.”
The UK’s website recalls that Kaka, the former AC Milan attacker, shared a similar position as he disclosed in one of the interviews:
“The majority of people say that after marriage, they don’t like jumping into bed with their partner because there is no desire. However, this is not true, my wife is the person I love and it was worth waiting.
“A lot of people were surprised and shocked with me but I think it’s the best decision. I am an evangelist and I believe in those values. I think people need to prevent themselves from making love before marriage.
“Of course, everyone has their own opinions but I think it was worth the wait.”
We have gathered that quite a number of celebrities actually decided to wait. Based on the information which is in public access, they include singers Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, actress Meagan Good and model Adriana Lima. among others.

(Photos) Fan Cries NonStop While MI Abaga Performs At Star Music Trek

The Star Music Trek 2015 keeps getting interesting by the week as more earmarked cities are about to witness the heat.

Sosoliso Plane Crash Survivor Graduates With Highest Honours

Kechi Okwuchi is the survivor of the plane crash of the Sosoliso Airlines who graduated from the University of Thomas, Texas, the U.S. at top of her class.
The Sosoliso Airlines flight with 110 people on board crash-landed at Port Harcourt International Airport on December 10, 2005. Seven people were rescued from the burning plane and taken to hospitals but, in the end, only two survived. (Scroll down for graduation photos)
As Kechi Okwuchi was seriously injured during the crush, she spent several years recovering from severe burn injuries all over the body. She was treated in Milpark Hospital at Johannesburg, South Africa as of 14 December 2005 and at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Galveston, Texas, United States as of 6 September 2007.
Kechi has had more than 100 surgeries, including skin grafts. Doctors placed pins to support her hands.
Nevertheless, Kechi Okwuchi graduated with a degree in economics and marketing from the University of St Thomas in Houston, Texas on May 16, 2015. She also was inducted into six academic honor societies and was the most outstanding student for her major in Economics.
The 25-year-old competed and won the opportunity to give the commencement speech to the class of 2015 during the graduation ceremony.

Kechi Okwuchi before and after the plane crash in 2005

(Photo) Yemi Alade Discovers Her Twin At Awka Star Music Trek

Feisty diva Yemi Alade played a stunning stage trick on her fans at last weekend’s Awka leg of the 2015 Star Music Trek when a stunt double was introduced as her before she made her entry to the stage.
Dressed in an African print hood jacket over a black tube and jeans with sandals and a pair of dark shades, the stunt double waltzed into stage with two dancers, dancing to Wande Coal’s ‘Baby Hello’ which featured the singer.

The crowd cheered her on, unaware that the real Yemi Alade was still backstage. When she finally emerged dressed in a short flair dress and rocking blue wool braid, the audience screamed in shock and excitement.
Does this mean, Yemi Alade can organize two shows at the same time and perform in it? Of course, that’s a joke?!
She jokingly questioned her stunt double on the striking semblance and then the real fun began – hit song after the other, from ‘Tangerine’ to ‘ Kissing’, then her current hit song ‘Taking Over You’, which worked the crowd into a frenzy.
 

 

Yemi Alade is known for her energetic and electrifying performances as well as her very upfront personality which is evident in her choice of wears and hair-do

Forget Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao, bring on Roman Gonzalez-Naoya Inoue

Daniel Herbert wonders if we were waiting for the wrong super-fight all along

AND what if we were hoping for the wrong super-fight all along? Instead of placing all our hopes on the Floyd Mayweather–Manny Pacquiao showdown, which turned out to be a damp squib, perhaps we should be hoping for another fascinating clash: Roman Gonzalez against Naoya Inoue.
Gonzalez confirmed his credentials last weekend when he blew away seasoned Edgar Sosa in two rounds on the Gennady Golovkin-Willie Monroe undercard in Inglewood, California. The significance was not so much the result – which was expected – as that the fight happened in the USA and was screened by the biggest cable company in HBO.
Nicaragua’s Gonzalez took his chance with both fists and reminded us that little men can be relied upon to deliver excitement and knockouts, not to mention a much higher level of skill than one usually gets with heavyweights.
Gonzalez versus Inoue would be a huge fight between two small men. Roman, known as “Chocolatito”, is already on his third world title, the WBC flyweight, having previously held WBA belts at strawweight then light-fly. He has won all his 43 pro fights, 37 inside the distance.
Inoue has had just eight paid outings (all wins, seven early) but won the WBC light-fly crown in his sixth, retained it in his seventh then jumped past the 112lbs division to win the WBO super-fly title in his most recent fight, in December. That was a two-round KO of Omar Narvaez, the experienced Argentinian whose only previous loss was on points to Nonito Donaire at bantamweight.
At 22 Inoue is five years younger than Gonzalez, and now is the right time to make this fight. There’s currently only 3lbs in difference between these little marvels, but that might change if Inoue continues to grow – and while Gonzalez has to give a little weight, he gets compensation in the form of much greater pro experience.
One snag is that the fight might not happen in the US, where it isn’t big enough to top a major bill, but would certainly make a splendid co-feature to an established name. (Golovkin again? Canelo? Miguel Cotto?) Top Japanese fighters rarely leave Japan, because that nation’s TV stations put up huge money to keep their best at home – but don’t forget Gonzalez has boxed nine times in the Land of the Rising Sun, so for him it’s a home away from home.
If a Gonzalez-Inoue superfight does come off, it looks sure to provide more thrills than were witnessed in Las Vegas earlier this month. And who wouldn’t want that?

Floyd Mayweather: If people want to be upset with fight, blame Manny Pacquiao

Floyd Mayweather ducks to the right as Manny Pacquiao approaches.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. foresaw this six years ago.
He recently posted a video on social media from 2009 when he predicted he would beat Manny Pacquiao and then the pubic would complain it was boring. Of course, that’s exactly what happened.
“Everyone wants to say that the fight didn’t live up to expectations. I did what I always do,” the undefeated fighter said recently on SiriusXM’s Shade 45 Radio. “I’m a smart, defensive wizard. I take my time, I pick my shots. And the thing is this: I’ve been around this sport a very long time, I know what I’m doing when I’m inside that squared circle. Everyone put this guy (Pacquiao) on a pedestal.”
“… It’s not my fault that I was able to alleviate anything that he was able to do. Whatever you best attribute is, I take it away from you — disarm you.”
Mayweather won convincingly on the scorecards and indeed was able to take away Pacquiao’s best weapons, mainly his punch output and ability to cut off the ring. Floyd danced around the ring and was clearly the ring general.

FUN FINALE?: Mayweather says his final foe will push him

“If people want to be upset, be upset with the guy that couldn’t set the trap for Floyd Mayweather,” he said. “Be upset with the guy that used to throw 1,000 punches but then resorted to throwing 400 punches.”
The self-proclaimed “TBE” (The Best Ever) received the brunt of blame for a tactical fight that failed to deliver any sustained action. Of course, the majority of his fights look no different than what we say on May 2. But the bout didn’t resemble anything close to what Pacquiao’s fights usually bring, with the Filipino usually darting around the ring while landing brutal shot after brutal shot.
The Las Vegas-based champion said his only goal is to win — “no matter how you win, as long as you win” — and said he fights cautiously for a good reason.
“When my career is over I want to have all my faculties. I want to be sharp,” Mayweather, 38, said. “The name of the game is boxing, this is not called toe-to-toe battle. It’s called boxing. I’m the best at boxing. That’s what I do. Every move is calculated; very smart fighter. I take my time and go out there and do what I do best. … When we long gone and people get to talking about this fight or my career they’ll say “Floyd beat them all.”

In Renewed Offensives, Boko Haram Kills 22 Persons, Injures Many in Adamawa

Daji Sani in Yola

After what looked like a rout from the Nigerian military, the Boko Haram terrorists seem to be rebounding by launching several devastating attacks on hitherto liberated communities.

Yesterday, for the first time in six years, a suicide bomber struck at Garkida town in Gombi Local Government Area in Adamawa State, where he detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in a local cattle market, killing 10 persons and injuring many others.

Similarly, in a midnight attack in Madagali, also in Adamawa State, the insurgents shot and killed a dozen persons and injured many others.

Speaking on the attack in Garkida, an eyewitness revealed that at about 2pm, a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the weekly cattle market in Garkida town resulting in the killing of 10 persons on the spot and injuring several others who had been taken to the hospital for treatment.

The eyewitness said that the bomb blast had caused serious apprehension as many feared that more of such attacks might be underway.
He said he believed that the Boko Haram insurgents had regrouped and recruited a large number of suicide bombers to carry out future attacks on the state.

There are however varying accounts of the attack.
While some said a suicide bomber pretending to be a potential customer at the market detonated the bomb, another version had it that the bomb was actually planted at the gate of the market.

Another eyewitness said that the incident took place at about 2pm when the market was at the peak of activities leading to high casualties.

Adama Mohammed, a resident of the town who narrowly escaped the blast, said that many of the victims including the dead and the injured had been evacuated to hospitals as activities in the market had come to a standstill.

Confirming the incident, the factional Speaker of Adamawa State House of Assembly, Jerry Kumdisi, who hails from the area, noted that many persons had lost their lives in the attack.

Gombi was one of the seven local government areas overrun by the Boko Haram insurgents in Adamawa State last year.
It was in Gombi town that a German working with the state government's vocational school was abducted before he was finally rescued early this year.

Efforts to get the Army Public Relations Officer of the 23rd Army Brigade, Captain Nuhu Jafaru, proved abortive as at the time of filing this report although some military sources confirmed the attack.

However, the state police command confirmed that seven people were killed from the bomb blast detonated by a suicide bomber in Garkida town.

The state command's Police Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Othman, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), disclosed that a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the Garkida cattle market in Garkida town which resulted in the death of seven persons including the suicide bomber.

He said many people sustained different degrees of injuries from the blast as some of them were said to be in critical condition.
And in what appears as a renewed wave of attacks, about 12 persons have been reportedly killed by the Boko Haram insurgents in Ajiya Wagga town of Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State.

Reports indicate that the insurgents were determined to stage a comeback in their struggles to take control of the area as they continued their onslaught on villages and towns of Madagali Local Government area of the state.

According to the reports, the insurgents started by launching an attack on Sabongari town of Madagali leading to the death of one person, while six women were abducted on Saturday and immediately advanced to attack Ajiya Wagga town, same night which resulted in the killing of 12 persons, while many sustained varying degrees of injury as they scampered for safety.

A fleeing resident of Ajiya Wagga, Mr. Warga Sunday, said the gunmen struck the town in the middle of the night on Saturday while most of the residents had gone to bed and started shooting sporadically and in the process killing many.

"I saw many dead bodies lying as I fled into nearby bush to escape from the insurgents, who were advancing in full force.
"Many people are still in the bush as they fear another attack by the gunmen even as some fled to neighbouring villages," Sunday said.
He however called on government to expedite action that can crush the insurgents.

He noted that many of the villagers were just returning from their place of refuge having been chased out of the town last year by the insurgents.

Another resident, who identified himself as Musa, said many villagers have sustained various degrees of injury and are being evacuated to hospitals for proper medical attention.

He noted that the insurgents stormed the village around midnight on Saturday and started killing innocent  people leading to the death of about 12 people.

Confirming the incident, the Chairman of the local council, Maina Ularamu, called on government to provide more security in the area in order to prevent the influx of fleeing insurgents to the area.

However when contacted, spokesman of the Adamawa State Police Command, Othman Mohammed, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the police were yet to receive an official report of the incident.

The insurgents had last weekend, recaptured Marte town in northern Borno State, just as a suicide bomber detonated a bomb at the Damaturu motor park killing seven persons.

The President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, had last Monday expressed dissatisfaction that the army had not been able to crush the Boko Haram insurgency, remarking that the recent gain of routing them (terrorists) was with the aid of South African mercenaries.
He declared that it is as shameful as it was unacceptable.

He has nine days to assume office as the Commander-in-Chief and take charge.

(Exclusive photos) Governor Adams Oshiomole’s wedding to Iara Fortes

Cute Govt oshiomole and Lara Fortes. I can see true love from the lady's face. Do u agree with me?

Governor Adams Oshiomole slips a ring on the finger of former Miss Iara Fortes at a private marriage registry at Iyamho, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, on Friday

Parents of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. Fortes

Children and grandchildren of Governor Adams Oshiomole

Mother of the groom, Hajia Aishetu Oshiomole and Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Chairman, Edo State Economic Team at the wedding registry

Governor Adams Oshiomole signs the dotted lines at the wedding

The officiating minister hands the marriage certificate to the Comrade Governor

Mr. and Mrs Adams Oshiomole display their wedding certificate

The newly wedded couple, Mr. and Mrs. Adams Oshiomole

From left: Senator Bukola Saraki; father of the bride, Mr. fortes; president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Adams Oshiomole; his wife, Iara Oshiomole and mother of the bride, Mrs. Fortes