Category: Featured

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that a policy that would enforce road worthiness of truck heads plying roads in the state would be put in place.

Addressing the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo and his entourage, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, after visiting the site of last Saturday’s explosion, Governor Abiodun said attention would also be paid to gas cylinders used by the trucks to ensure quality and standard.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, said the steps became necessary in view of the preponderance of gas utilisation in the state.

He said: “I was very worried when the report of the incident reached me, and the reason for that is that Ogun State is the industrial capital of Nigeria with over 6,000 manufacturing industries and companies. We enjoy gas reticulation more than any other state in Nigeria.

“With the explosion, a lot of questions were asked as to what happened, how it happened, and the lessons learnt. We have received a preliminary report from the Ministry of Environment.

“We have taken some steps to forestal future occurrence. We have shut down the company involved to conduct a safety audit, and investigations are ongoing to determine the immediate cause of the incident and how to ensure that it does not repeat itself.

“We must ensure that truck heads that convey gas are road worthy. We are going to put in place a policy that enforces road worthiness of trucks and looks at issues around standards. These issues will govern quality and assure us of the quality of the gas cylinders.”

Prince Abiodun said he was worried about how the public would perceive the incident, especially with the constitution of the Presidential Task Force on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) to deepen the provision, utilization and off take of gas across the country.

He stressed the need for the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) to be up and doing as the gas industry is fast evolving, noting that it was necessary to ensure adequate regulation of the industry.

While appreciating President Bola Tinubu for commiserating with the government and the people of the state on the incident, Governor Abiodun assured that his administration would collaborate with the federal government to find out the immediate cause and what needed to be done to guide against future occurrence and how to support those affected.

“I am glad that you have come and demonstrated that utmost responsiveness and concern which is heart warning and I am sure that your coming itself will assure the people of Ogun State that they are not alone in this incident and we, both the state and the federal government, are cooperating and collaborating to find solution to the incident,” the governor assured.

Speaking earlier, Rt. Hon. Ekpo, said he was in the state in his capacity as the Minister in charge of gas on behalf of the president, to assess the extent of damage done by the explosion and report same for proper and prompt response.

While sympathizing with the families of the victims and those who lost property and businesses, the Minister said despite the incident, there was a need to continue with the CNG initiative to drive the economy as it is the cleanest source of energy.

Ekpo said he came with managers of the gas industry to find out what happened with a view to looking at how to address it to prevent future occurrence, even as he appreciated the governor for rising up to the occasion to assuage the sufferings of the people.

“Let me assure you that at the Ministry, we are taking gas infrastructure very seriously and by the time we complete the AKK, the conveyance of gas through the visual means will be reduced by taking the impact away from our roads.

“I have also told the Authority Chief to ensure that the companies they may be releasing license to have the capacity to pipe the gas to the end users so that we do away with this unforseen circumstances that took place here,” the Minister assured.

Speaking while receiving the Minister and the deputy governor of Ogun State in his company premises, the Managing Director of Gasco Marine, Mr. Segun Ogunwunmi described the gas explosion as unfortunate, as the company, over the last five years since it commenced operations, has not recorded any incident.

He said facilities at the company are topnotch while the drivers are trained by officials of the Federal Road Safety Commission, and the premises are checked regularly to ensure complaints with safety standards.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun said that his administration would do all in its power to come up with a decision on the new minimum wage.

The governor said a meeting with labour leaders in the state would be held with a view to arriving at a decision that is favourable to both the government and the workers.

The governor, who made this known during the year 2024 Worker’s Day celebration and rally, tagged: ‘People First’, also added that his administration has paid a total of N128.3 billion as pensions and gratuities to both local and state government retirees in the state.

“On minimum wage, your ever responsive administration has done a lot of work, which is aimed at arriving at a position that we can sustain in line with our inclusive style of governance.

“We will soon be calling a meeting with the organized labour leaders to finalize the Ogun State Government Minimum decision,” he said.

Prince Abiodun noted that the state government has paid N2.8 billion as leave bonuses to workers, with the bonus entitlement for the year 2023 and January to March 2024, also paid by his administration.

In addition, N13.4 billion outstanding deductions have been paid to workers.

While also noting that his administration has paid over N8 billion as palliatives to state government workers and pensioners, Abiodun added that car and motorcycle refurbishing loans have been increased by 100 per cent by his administration.

Governor Abiodun further added that about 10,982 civil servants have benefitted from the loan scheme with about N1.3 billion disbursed so far.

The governor added that his administration has also consistently provided a N10,000 transport allowance to all civil servants for the past nine months, totaling N8billion.

“We are diligently remitting the backlog of inherited deductions and have consistently paid the agreed outstanding deductions. These deductions that have been paid up to March 2024 have totalled about N13.4billion since I assumed office.

“We continue to pay pension and gratuity to both state and local governments, totalling approximately N118.7billion and N9.6 billion, respectively, for a total of N128.3billion.

“Payment of leave bonuses for all beneficiaries at the state, local and SUBEB amounting to about N2.9 billion.

“It is important to state that bonus entitlement for 2023 and from January to March 2024 have all been paid. Payment on palliatives for state government staff, parastatals, corporations, institutions, and pensioners totalling about N8 billion.

“The car and motorcycle refurbishing loans have been increased by 100 per cent, providing enhanced financial support for all civil servants.

“Up to March 2024, about 10,982 civil servants have benefitted from the loan scheme with about N1 billion disbursed,” he said.

The governor also added that his administration has continued to pay 40% of the basic salary of workers in the state as Peculiar Allowance, adding that Ogun Teach interns will after two years minimum meritorious service get migrated into the mainstream of the civil service.

“I directed last year that TESCOM and SUBEB engage additional 2000 OgunTEACh interns, increasing the total number of interns engaged to 4,000 out of 5000 target …I directed that 1000 of the interns that have served more than two years and have been evaluated and found worthy be absorbed into mainstream civil service

“I have now decided to turn this into a policy going forward, Ogun TeacH interns will now after 2 years minimum meritorious service and passing evaluation will be migrated into mainstream civil service,” he said.

While noting that he has directed the Head of Service to start the process of appointing Principal Generals to fill the vacant offices, Governor Abiodun said that his administration has updated and reviewed the Public Service Rules and Financial Instructions, the first overhaul in over two decades.

Governor Abiodun also said that his administration has expanded its health insurance coverage with the introduction of the ‘Ileradapo’ scheme for the state workforce and the public, noting that over 70,000 people have benefited from the health scheme, with over 1,500 surgeries done so far free of charge.

“We have expanded our health insurance coverage with the “Ileradapo” scheme, benefiting all state workers and the public, and I can proudly say that over 70,000 beneficiaries have participated in the scheme. Furthermore, over 1,500 free surgeries have been performed to date.

“Under the Ibidero Scheme, we offer comprehensive support for pregnant women, including free pre-natal and post-natal care, and an additional N5,000 per birth in our state hospitals and primary health care centers,” he added.

In his remarks, the Minister of Labour and Employment Barrister Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, represented by the state controller, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Nnambi Enuah restated the commitment of the present administration to continue to pursue policies and programmes that prioritizes the rights of workers in the country.

She further said that the federal government in order to mitigate the consequences of some of its recent policies have rolled out palliatives like the wage award, Presidential Constitutional Grant Scheme, grant for large manufacturers, loans for small and medium businesses, consumer’s credit scheme, among others, urging workers to continue to renew their strength and renew their commitment and support to government at all levels.

Also,the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, called on the government to address unemployment and the high cost of living in the country.

He commended Governor Abiodun for his leadership capability and unmatched response to doing what was necessary in the wake of the removal of fuel subsidy by the federal government.

The labour leader also appreciated the governor for the implementation of the N10,000 transport allowance and the 40% increment in workers’ basic salary.

The highlight of the May Day celebration was the presentation of the Best Friendly Governor Award to Governor Dapo Abiodun by the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress and match past by various unions in the state.

In a tragic turn of events, chaos erupted at the NNPC fuel station in Obalende, Ikoyi, Lagos, this evening when a man was shot and killed during a heated argument over fuel. The victim, whose identity is yet to be disclosed, lost his life in a dispute over whose turn it was to purchase fuel, sending shockwaves through the community.

Confusion surrounds the identity of the shooter, as conflicting reports suggest that the assailant may have been either a policeman or a DSS operative. Following the fatal shooting, the perpetrator fled the scene in an attempt to evade capture, leaving bystanders in shock and disbelief.

In a swift and troubling response to the tragedy, enraged youths in the area set ablaze two Hilux vehicles believed to belong to either the police or DSS, as a form of retaliation for the senseless killing. The escalating tensions only added to the already volatile situation at the NNPC fuel station.

As of now, a fire continues to rage at the scene, prompting authorities to urge citizens to remain indoors and exercise caution. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can arise from simple disagreements and highlights the need for measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.

Many people were injured after hoodlums clashed in the Ile-Epo area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that a fight started in the market situated in the area on Wednesday night and continued till Thursday morning.

Some shops were set on fire while some goods were destroyed in the process.

Our correspondent who visited the scene of the incident gathered that an early intervention by the police was restricted by the hoodlums.

A fire service truck that drove into the market this morning was also forced to reverse after being pelted with stones.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. has informed Nigerians that the current fuel scarcity and long queues will be resolved by Wednesday.

Olufemi Soneye, NNPCL’s Chief Communications Officer, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Tuesday.

Soneye mentioned that the company currently has an excess of 1.5 billion liters of products, adequate for at least 30 days.

“Unfortunately, we encountered a three-day distribution disruption due to logistical issues, which has now been fixed. However, recovering from such interruptions typically takes twice the time to resume normal operations,” he clarified.

Soneye also noted, “Some individuals are taking advantage of this situation for undeserved profits. While product scarcity has been minimal recently, these individuals might be exploiting the circumstances.”

He reassured the public, stating that the queues will be cleared out by today or tomorrow.

Additionally, Hammed Fashola, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), expressed confidence that queues in Lagos and Ogun would decrease this week, based on NNPCL’s assurances.

Fashola highlighted, “NNPCL’s information points to a logistics issue disrupting the supply chain, which could take a few days to rectify. I expect more products to be available for marketers to lift by Tuesday or Wednesday.”

However, Fashola cautioned that queues in Abuja might persist due to the distance from Lagos and poor road conditions.

There are worries among stranded motorists and commuters due to the recurrent fuel scarcity in Lagos, leading to increased fares by some public transport operators.

In Lagos metropolis, only a handful of filling stations were operational, with long lines observed in most locations. Similar fuel scarcity was evident in areas like Abule-Egba, Abbatoir Road in Agege, Akowonjo Road, Bariga, Fola-Agoro, and Lasu-Igando Road.

Filling stations that sold petrol also witnessed long lines of vehicles extending for several meters.

In various parts of the city, queues were visible at stations such as Mobil, NIPCO, TotalEnergies, Forte Oil, and ConOil along Ikorodu Road.

The queues extended to around 500 meters at North West in Maryland, Gbagada, NIPCO along Ijede road in Ikorodu, and TotalEnergies at the NNPC bus stop in Ejigbo.

The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu Monday warned that there would be total blackout in the country in the next three months if the proposed electricity tariff hike is not implemented.

The minister disclosed this yesterday in Abuja when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Power at an investigative hearing over the recent electricity tariff hike by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Adelabu said, “The entire sector will be grounded if we don’t increase the tariff. With what we have now in the next three months, the entire country will be in darkness if we don’t increase tariffs.

“The increment will catapult us to the next level. We are also Nigerians, we are also feeling the impact.”

He said the sum of $10 billion is needed yearly for the next ten years to revive the nation’s power sector and nip in the bud the challenges bedeviling it.

“For this sector to be revived, the government needs to spend nothing less than 10 billion dollars annually in the next 10 years.

“This is because of the infrastructure requirement for the stability of the sector. But the government cannot afford that. And so we must make this sector attractive to investors and to lenders.

“So, for us to attract investors and investment, we must make the sector attractive, and the only way it can be made attractive is that there must be commercial pricing.

“If the value is still at N66 and the government is not paying subsidy, the investors will not come. But now that we have increased the tariff for A Band, there are interests being shown by investors,” he said.

Adelabu said the inability of the government to pay outstanding N2.9 trillion subsidy was due to limited resources, hence the need to evolve measures to sustain the sector.

He appealed to the lawmakers to support the process of paying the debt owed operators across the value chain of generation, transmission and distribution.

But the Senate Committee on Power, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, expressed concerns over the suffering of Nigerians, and asked the minister and other key players in the sector to explore other options.

Senators Simon Lalong (Plateau South) and Adamu Aliero (Kebbi Central), said consultations were not made before the tariff increase, stressing palliative would have been provided in the process.

Abaribe, who is Chairman of the Committee said, “What Nigerians wanted was a solution to the issues and ways to ensure liquidity in the sector.”

He also decried the nonappearance of a company “ZIGLAKS” over the failed agreement to provide prepaid meters for Nigerians, alleging that the company had received N32 billion in 20 years to meter Nigerian electricity consumers.

Other stakeholders who made presentations at the investigative hearing were the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NAN), Association of Power Generation (Gencos), Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) among others.