Did you know that A’Ibom has highest number of fraudulent fuel stations?

 

 

Akwa Ibom State has been fingered as one with the highest number of fuel stations with cases of pump dispensing inefficiency, hoarding, diversion and arbitrary increase in prices of petroleum prod­ucts in Nigeria.

Consequently, the Department of Petroleum Re­sources (DPR), has handed down the last warning that sanction awaits any member of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IP­MAN), who henceforth refuses to comply with the new pump price of N86.50 per litre.

DPR’s Controller Operations in charge of Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, Mr Bassey Nkanga, who gave the warning at DPR/IPMAN meeting in Eket, Akwa Ibom on Friday, however pleaded with petroleum products marketers to comply with gov­ernment directives as the era of impunity was over.

“I am pleading with all of us here, things have changed, the era of impunity is gone and govern­ment is serious about selling petroleum products at approved pump price. I want to plead with us, you have made so much money, now is time for everybody to comply with Federal Government di­rectives,’’ he stressed.

Nkanga lamented that only 50 per cent of filling stations in the state are operating with DPR’s valid license, adding that marketers in Akwa Ibom were among the few in the country dispensing fuel far above regulated prices.

“Government will not tolerate any longer any­body selling petroleum products above pump price irrespective of whatever story anybody has. The stand of government is that if you know you cannot make profit for selling at N86.50 per litre, please don’t sell,’’ he explained.

He warned marketers to desist from sharp prac­tices to enable the government achieve its objec­tives.

He urged those who find it difficult to comply to have a change of behaviour as government would not tolerate lawlessness in the system.

The state chairman of IPMAN, Mr Nseobong Umanah, in his reaction, blamed the situation on the activities of the private depot owners in Cala­bar; and explained that it was difficult to buy the products above N77.66 from the depot and dispense it at regulated prices at the retail outlets.

He, however, promised to co-operate with the fed­eral government in providing the needed services to the people.

Pipeline Vandalism raises tension in Niger Delta

 

 

The attack last week on a major pipeline in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region is raising fears that a long-dormant insurgency could reignite and put the country’s oil industry in its crosshairs.

There was no claim of responsibility for the attack, but it came days after a court in Lagos ordered the arrest of former insurgent leader Government Ekpemupolo, better known as Tompolo.

Tompolo was once a major player among the insurgents who demanded that ordinary Nigerians get a greater share of the wealth in the oil-producing region. The rebellion was more or less quelled in 2009 when the government started an amnesty program that paid off the militants and offered them training programs in exchange for peace.

Tompolo and nine others have been charged with money laundering and conspiracy related to a public-private partnership with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, according to Nigeria’s anti-corruption agency.

The announcement of the charges against Tompolo comes amid a wave of arrests and indictments of politicians and businessmen on corruption-related charges.

Former military ruler Muhamadu Buhari was elected president last year on promises to reduce corruption. Graft is widely seen as one of the reasons that two-thirds of Nigeria’s 177 million people live in poverty.

The attack in the Niger Delta targeted a gas pipeline that feeds into the critical Escravos Lagos Pipeline System. A crude oil pipeline was also damaged in the attack, forcing the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation to shut down two refineries.
 
The attack jeopardizes another priority of the Buhari administration: getting the people of Africa’s largest producer of crude oil to start filling up their gas tanks with locally refined gasoline and diesel.
While Nigeria has four refineries, the country mainly relies on imports of refined products to keep gas stations stocked.

Since taking office, the Buhari administration has announced progress at getting the refineries running properly. But Dolapo Oni, head of energy research for Ecobank, says the importation of refined products won’t stop if the pipelines aren’t protected.

“We haven’t resolved a major issue with the refinery segment in Nigeria which is … protecting the network of pipelines that supply them crude oil,” Oni said.
The attack comes at a bad time for Nigeria’s economy. The government is heavily dependent on crude oil for its revenues, but the price for a barrel of oil has dipped below $30.

A return to conflict in the Niger Delta could harm Nigeria’s economy further. The insurgency reduced Nigeria’s oil production significantly.

In the Niger Delta town of Ughelli, journalist Atuyebe Oyebe says the new government has no choice but to go forward with its prosecution of Tompolo.
“If the government does not take Tompolo in time, Tompolo will become the law. And when a man is the law, the state is in trouble,” he said.

We Won’t Secure Olisa Metuh’s Bail - PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party has said that it will not provide sureties for its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Abdullahi Jalo, said this in an interview on Friday in Abuja that it would be wrong for anyone to be expecting the party to provide sureties for Metuh when the party did not benefit from the money he allegedly collected from the former National Security Adviser, Lt Col. Sabo Dasuki (retd.).

Metuh is facing charges for allegedly collecting N400m from Dasuki, an offence the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission described as money laundering.

Metuh admitted he actually collected the money to do a job for former President Goodluck Jonathan but
has remained silent on the type of job he allegedly did for the former President. He is also being prosecuted by the EFCC for allegedly tearing the statement he made to the commission while under interrogation.

The PDP spokesperson has denied both offences, and he is currently being remanded in Kuje Prisons, Abuja, by two different courts pending the time he would meet the bail conditions.

There were anxieties on how he would meet the conditions in order to ease his release from the prisons.
Jalo, however, said the party would not be involved in the search for the sureties.
“So, he is going to look for sureties himself. We won’t be involved. He would carry his own cross alone, without the party being involved.”

However, the National Legal Adviser of the party, Mr. Victor Kwon, said friends and associates Metuh were “doing everything possible to get the sureties” as demanded by the courts.

Celine Dion's Son Rene-Charles Eulogizes late Father: "You're a Tough Act to Follow"

Days ahead of his 15th birthday, the young chap spoke at his dad's funeral on Friday at Notre-Dame Basilica, in a moment that was livestreamed across the internet.

"Fifteen years is not a long time for a son to get to know his father. You had a busy life, but we were communicating through golf, hockey, poker and smoked meat and a lot of other wonderful food, bonding more and more as time went by," he said, getting a laugh at the "smoked meat" comment.

"You left me now with enough good memories of you to share with my younger brothers," he continued. "As they grow older without you being around, I’ll make sure to pass on what I’ve learned from you. You are a tough act to follow, but with your help everything is going to be fine. Dad, I promise you here that we are all going to live up to your standards."

The "My Heart Will Go On" singer and the couple's 5-year-old twin boys Nelson and Eddy were also in mourning at today's event. Angelil also leaves behind three children from two previous marriages.

His older son, Patrick, also spoke during the ceremony. 

"He never missed a chance to tell us he loved us," he told the crowd. "Now, more than ever, we realize how exceptional it was to have a father who never hesitated to say those so precious words."

Both Celine's husband and brother, Daniel, passed away from cancer this month. Angelil was 73.

 

Celine Dion Bids Final Farewell to Late Husband at Public Funeral

Celine Dion Bids Emotional Final Farewell to Late Husband Rene Angelil at Public Funeral

Celine Dion and her children gave a final goodbye to husband and father Rene Angelil at his national funeral held in Montreal on Friday.

The heartbroken GRAMMY winner held hands with her 5-year-old twins Nelson and Eddy as she entered the Notre-Dame Basilica, while 14-year-old son Rene-Charles escorted his maternal grandmother, Therese, into the service.

While Celine did not perform at the ceremony, a recording of her voice singing in French echoed through the church. Inside, the 47-year-old entertainer placed purple calla lilies on top of Rene's casket.

Photo credit: Ryan Remiorz

In one of the most poignant moments of the service, Rene-Charles took the pulpit to honor his late father.

"Dad, you are a tough act to follow, but with your help, everything is going to be fine," Rene-Charles said. "Dad, I promise you we are all going to live up to your standards."

Rene died on Jan. 14 after a long battle with throat cancer, just two days before his 74th birthday. As one of his final acts of love to his wife, Rene planned his own funeral to spare Celine the grief.

Throngs of mourners watched as the service was broadcast outside the Basilica -- the same church where the couple exchanged vows in 1994 -- and flags across Quebec waved at half-mast.

According to the program, three of Celine's songs, chosen by Rene, played during the ceremony: "Trois Heures 20" ("20 Past Three"), "L'Amour Existe Encore" ("Love Still Exists") and "All the Way."

Celine once performed "Love Still Exists" at a benefit concert in Montreal for the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.

The program, written mostly in French, also included a letter from Celine's Las Vegas show director, Stephane Laporte.

"Rene doesn't demand respect. He does better than that, he offers it," he wrote. "Because the most respected man of show business is the one who respects others the most. His genius is to think of everything, to never forget anyone."

Thirteen cameras covered all angles of the Catholic ceremony overseen by the Archbishop of Montreal, Christian Lepine. When it came time for communion, Celine and Rene-Charles were the first to receive, and later held tight to each other when they went up to sign the register.

Photo credit: Melissa Paradis

At the end of the ceremony, Celine and her boys followed the casket out of the Basilica and Celine sent her beloved one last kiss.

Among those in attendance were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's wife, Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau and federal Heritage Minister Melanie Joly.

The funeral on Friday followed the wake on Thursday, where Celine bravely shook hands with dear friends and family who had come to pay their respects. Celine spoke to ET Canada during the visitation, saying that she's "day by day" but that Rene would want her to carry on.