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The Federal Government has vowed to shut down defying fueling stations who continue to sell fuel at pump price of N900-N1,000/litre, citing illegal profiteering and exploitation of Nigerians.

Despite the Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s (NNPC) efforts to stabilize fuel prices within the range of N568-N617 per litre, independent oil marketers have unilaterally increased prices to between N900-N1,000 per litre.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) claims that private depot owners are selling petrol to independent marketers at exorbitant rates, leading to high pump prices.

Spokesperson of the NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, said the petrol price reports that the regulator gets from its officials at the depots were different.

“Our depot people see a different price because we ask them to publish the prices at the depots every day and it is not N850/litre. Our field agents at the depots give us a different figure,” he said.

Responding to reports of independent marketers in Lagos and other states selling petrol at exorbitant prices of N900 to N1,000 per litre, Ene-Ita, said the NMDPRA will take action against such outlets.

“We will shut down any filling station found selling above the approved price if we catch them,” he stated. “NNPC sets the ex-depot price for off-takers, and we work together to determine the margins. There’s no justification for prices to be that high.”

However, independent marketers argue that they are forced to buy petrol at high prices due to low supply from NNPC.

According to the marketers, the subsidized rate of around N570/litre is only available to major marketers. As a result, they then sell petrol to consumers at higher prices, ranging from N850 to N900 per litre, and up to N1,000 per litre in some remote areas.

“That is why no marketer is complaining of low margins again. This is the time for them to make money. The only issue is that getting the ptakect is not that easy,” a source told The PUNCH.

“The price is high because the supply is low. It is a matter of demand and supply. The price will continue to be up, at least for now. It Is an opportunity for the filling stations to add to their margins. This is an abnormal situation. Normalcy is restored, and the regulatory authority can monitor. Can the regulator monitor anybody now?

“Imagine when you pay about N30m to NNPC to order petrol and it takes about one month to get the product. Assuming you take N30m from a bank with this interest rate, is that not a problem?’ a marketer stated.

The Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT) has criticized the federal government’s new age policy for secondary school leaving examinations.

Recall that the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, announced on Monday that students below 18 years old would not be allowed to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSE) and the National Examination Council (NECO) exams.

However, NUT argued that this policy is outdated, considering economic realities force parents to send their children to school early, exposing them to early learning.

The Secretary-General of NUT, Dr. Mike Ene stated that the policy can only work if implemented from the primary school level, citing the need to address early enrollment due to economic pressures.

Ene explained that parents enroll children in crèches early due to economic pressures, and teachers begin educating them, allowing them to learn quickly, making it impossible to stop their learning.

Ene noted that exceptional students would be affected by the policy, citing 16-year-old SS3 students who would have to wait two more years, leading to potential legal challenges.

Ene concluded that the policy is poorly conceived and needs to be rethought, considering the scenarios of exceptional students and the potential consequences.

A recent attack by suspected bandits in Benue State resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals. The attacks occurred in two separate incidents within the Agatu Local Government Area.

According to reports, one person was killed in the Iwari community, while five others lost their lives in Olegagbane. A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, revealed that the armed assailants targeted Iwari, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries.

The same gunmen struck again on Friday, August 23, 2024, in Olegagbane, killing five people. The resident provided this information to Daily Trust.

Phillip Ebenyakwu, Chairman of Agatu LGA, confirmed the attacks, stating, “It’s true. Confirmed. These armed invaders kill, steal, loot, and then flee. Their motives remain unclear, but they continually return to attack and kill. The situation has become unbearable.”

Ebenyakwu also expressed concerns about managing displaced persons from the affected communities, revealing that over 2,000 individuals from seven to nine deserted villages are currently being managed. He noted that although the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) provided some relief materials, it was insufficient.

The state police command has yet to issue an official statement regarding the attacks.