IN a bid to guarantee supply security at affordable prices for its customers, Ardova Plc, one of Nigeria’s major integrated downstream oil and gas businesses has agreed to a bulk purchase framework with Dangote Refinery. This was revealed in a statement by the Head of Brands and Corporate Communications, Ardova Plc, Grant Onome on Monday. According to the statement, the partnership will see Ardova Plc off take a full slate of petroleum products from the refinery. While Ardova Plc has been a significant off-taker from the refinery since its inception, Onome said the new framework will institutionalise a more robust…
Author: Abimbola Daniels
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THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority and authorities in the aviation industry have agreed to extend operational hours to 10 pm at sunset airports. The Sunset airports are those operating between the hours of 7 am and 7 pm due to the absence of night flying facilities. In the communique at the end of the meeting signed by the NCAA Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Michael Achimugu, the agency said the development was part of measures to address incidents of flight disruptions, especially at airports without 24-hour operation. This newspaper had earlier reported how most times, whenever there are…
THE Federal Government has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria of misappropriating N2.73tn in interest payments from Ways and Means advances, raising serious concerns over irregularities in managing government funds. The allegation was disclosed in the consolidated financial statement of the Federal Government for the year ended December 31, 2021, submitted to the National Assembly by the Auditor-General, Shaakaar Chira, with reference number AuGF/AR.2021/01 and dated July 31, 2024. The Ways and Means facility, a temporary loan mechanism provided by the CBN to the government to finance budget deficits, is at the centre of the controversy. According to the report,…
THE National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says its operatives on Christmas Eve intercepted two boats loaded with 1,960 kilograms of Ghanaian Loud, a strong strain of cannabis at the Eleko beach in Lekki area of Lagos. The operatives arrested six foreign nationals who had brought the consignments from Ghana during a midnight operation on Christmas Eve. A statement released on Sunday by the NDLEA spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, said the suspects include two Ghanaians, Godsway John (38) and Freedom Kelvin (33), and four Beninese: Chegoun Hounsou (23), Gadabor Nyameto (47), Adantg Sasa (34), and Ayao Kayivi (21). According to him,…
NIGERIA Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) , have concluded plans to impose a “No Fly List”, on unruly passengers who destroy operational facilities and attack airline personnel at airports across the country on account of delayed or canceled flights. The authorities said as much they are not in support of airlines violating the rights of passengers, experiencing either delay or cancellation of their flights should be used as a license to carry out wanton destruction of airport facilities or invasion of the airside to disrupt aircraft movement. Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum yesterday…
THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has expressed concerns over high rate of flight delays and cancellations in recent times. Ag. Director-General Civil Aviation (DGCA), Capt. Chris Najomo disclosed that out of 5,291 flights operated in September 2024; 2,434 were delayed while 79 were cancelled. He added that out of 5,513 flights operated in October 2024, 2791 were delayed while 111 flights were cancelled. Najomo spoke on Friday during a stakeholders’ meeting with the theme, “Finding lasting solutions to flight disruptions.” The stakeholders meeting is being attended by Airline Operators; Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN),…
THE National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Hussein Ejibunu, has announced that 15,325 litres of seized Petroleum Motor Sprit, popularly known as petrol, will be auctioned to the public to ease transportation hardship during the festive season. According to a post on the service’s official Facebook page, Ejibunu made the announcement while addressing journalists in Ikeja recently. He highlighted the recent seizure of 613 Jerrycans of PMS with a duty paid value of N27.5m by operatives in the Lagos-Ogun Axis. Ejibunu added that the operation has been on since 27 May 2024 and has yielded positive results. He stressed that the…
THE Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has initiated enforcement action against five airlines (two international and three domestic operators) for various violations of Part 19 of the NCAA regulations. The violations include the non-payment of refunds within the stipulated time frame, non-responsiveness to the NCAA’s directives, missing luggage, manhandled luggage, short-landed baggage, delayed and cancelled flights, amongst others. A spokesman for NCAA, Michael Achimugu, disclosed this to journalists at the corporate headquarters of the Authority in Abuja on Tuesday. While Achimugu did not disclose the airlines whose sanctions he signed today, sources close to the Authority told News Point Nigeria…
THE Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission have directed Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators to settle the long-standing N250bn USSD debt dispute. The directive, titled “2nd Joint Circular of the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Nigerian Communications Commission on the Resolution of the USSD Debt Issue Between Deposit Money Banks and Mobile Network Operators,” was exclusively obtained by our correspondent on Monday. This move coincides with the report by this newspaper, which revealed that telecom operators had called for a structured payment plan from regulators to address the mounting debt that has caused significant…
THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has said that petrol is going to sell at N935 per litre beginning from Monday (today) based on the latest arrangement with the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. IPMAN’s National President, Maigandi Garima, said the reduction in Dangote refinery’s ex-depot price for petrol and the uniform arrangement being put in place, would enable marketers to sell at N935 in their outlets nationwide, incurring a cost of N36 on logistics. “Dangote refinery has brought another new arrangement of loading and pricing by which marketers would pay a fixed ex-depot price of N899.50k. “The refinery is running…
THE Dangote Refinery said it is partnering with MRS to sell Premium Motor Spirit or petrol at ₦935 per litre nationwide at its retail outlets. The development comes after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited also slashed prices below ₦1,000 per litre. In a statement posted on his X account on Saturday, also said the President of the Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote commended President Bola Tinubu for the positive impact of the naira for crude swap deal on the Nigerian economy, which has led to a reduction in prices of petroleum products in the country. “To provide succour to…
THE Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has said that the days of armed robbery and bank robbery in Lagos State are long gone. Speaking at the Lagos State Security Trust Fund 18th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security on Thursday, Egbetokun noted that only one bank robbery succeeded in the state since 2007. “What we are doing here today is the usual assistance that the state government has been giving to the police in the state. Without the assistance that the police receive from the government, we will not be able to do the much we are doing in…
DANGOTE Petroleum Refinery has reduced the price of its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) product to N899.50k per litre nationwide. This was announced in a statement, on Thursday morning. The company said the decision was taken to “provide much-needed relief for Nigerians ahead of the holiday season”. “Africa’s first privately-owned oil refinery, which previously lowered the price to N970 per litre on November 24, has now announced a new price of N899.50 per litre. This reduction is designed to ease transport costs during the festive period,” read the statement signed by the Group’s Chief Branding and Communications Officer, Anthony Chiejina. He…
THE Oyo State Police Command says it is investigating the circumstances surrounding the alleged death of 32 children during a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday. This newspaper gathered from multiple eyewitness accounts that the stampede occurred when participants rushed to gain access to the venue of the event reportedly organised by the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Shikemi, and an Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat. Investigations by this newspaper also showed that the victims were stampeded to death while trying to break through the main gate of the school. It was further…
PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has arrived in Lagos for his Christmas and New Year celebration. The President arrived at the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, at exactly 3:23 pm on Wednesday, December 18. Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed this in a statement on Wednesday. On arrival in Lagos, President Tinubu was received at the airport by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu; his deputy, Dr Femi Hamzat; members of Lagos State Cabinet as well as leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos. Before departing Abuja, the president presented the 2025 Appropriation Bill to a joint session…
THE Lagos State Government has shut down several establishments, including churches, hotels, and entertainment venues, over violations of noise pollution regulations and other environmental infractions. The enforcement action was carried out by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), as disclosed on the agency’s X account on Monday. According to the agency, the infractions pose significant risks to public health and safety. The affected locations include Shomolu, Oniru Victoria Island, Jakande-Lekki, Badore Ajah, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Sangotedo, Lekki II, Ogombo, and Lekki Phase 1, among others. These businesses, including churches, hotels, lounges, and restaurants, were found to be contributing to excessive…
UNITED Bank for Africa (UBA) through UBA Foundation, its corporate social responsibility arm, has donated the sum of N500 million to the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), as part of its continued commitment to secure environment for individuals and businesses. The N500m cheque was presented to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by the UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who was accompanied by the bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi, at the State House, Marina, Lagos on Sunday. Speaking during the presentation, Elumelu reiterated the bank’s dedication to supporting initiatives that ensure the safety and prosperity of communities…
THE Dangote refinery has exported Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to Cameroon, Angola, Ghana, and South Africa in the past few weeks. The Vice President of Oil and Gas, Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, disclosed this while playing host to a delegation from the Japanese Business Community in Nigeria, led by Japan’s Ambassador-designate to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo. In a statement on Sunday, the company’s spokesman, Anthony Chiejina, quoted Edwin as confirming that products from the refinery meet international standards and are already being exported globally. “In recent weeks, we’ve exported petrol to Cameroon, Ghana, Angola, and South Africa, among others. Diesel…
THE Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has begun lifting Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, The PUNCH can report. This follows an agreement reached with the refinery last month by IPMAN. Our correspondent learned that IPMAN members have so far lifted millions of litres of petrol from the Dangote refinery located in the Lekki free trade zone in Lagos. The National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chinedu Ukadike, confirmed in an interview with our correspondent that the lifting of petrol from the Dangote refinery started in late November. According to Ukadike, independent marketers started the prior loading…
HEALTHCARE workers in Lagos State, under the aegis of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, the Nigeria Union of Allied Health Professionals, the Joint Health Sector Unions and the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria have announced a three-day warning strike. The strike, which is set to begin on Wednesday, December 11, and end on Friday, December 13, 2024, is to demand the implementation of the adjusted Consolidated Health Salary Structure for health workers in the state. In separate letters addressed to their members and the Lagos State Head of Service, the unions expressed frustration over the…