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Insecurity, high diesel price: NRC loses N3.33bn over shut-down of Lagos-Kano, Abuja-Kaduna routes

Published

2 years ago

August 23, 2022

…As passengers abandon services for fear of attack

…Bandits vandalizing tracks, ready to attack any train on rail lines — Ajiji

The Federal Government has lamented the loss of N3.33 billion for the disruption of the operations of Railway service in the country over the recent high cost of Diesel as well as increased spate of kidnapping and killings, Nigerian NewsDirect reports.

The fear of attacks on these rail lines have prevented many travelers from abandoning journeys by rail for other alternatives of transportation.

Recall that about eight persons have so far been confirmed dead and 41 hospitalised in the recent attack on the Kaduna bound train.

“We don’t have all the figures of missing persons, kidnapped and those injured at the moment.

“The numbers we have is that there are eight casualties. There are about 41 persons in different hospitals and the total number of passengers who got tickets were 398,” former minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi had said in the aftermath of the attack.

While speaking with Nigerian NewsDirect, the president, Nigerian Union of Railway Workers (NURW) Innocent Ajiji disclosed that patronage of railway services has reduced, making the government to lose millions of Naira every day.

According to an official who spoke with Nigerian NewsDirect yesterday, the monthly generation was within N450/470 million before. However, the revenue has dropped to about N100 million a month, creating a deficit of N370 million monthly.

By implication, having shut down operations since March, if necessary security measures are not put in place to nip kidnapping and banditry in the bud as well as introduce necessary economic mechanisms to bring down the price of Diesel, the federal government may lose N3.33 billion y the end of this year.

“We cannot abandon our railway because of insecurity. The government must live up to its primary responsibility to citizens — the protection of lives and property. I believe it can be done with the right commitment and strategy,” he stated.

Speaking with one of our correspondents yesterday, Ajiji said, “Before the attacks on all these trains, we had been generating quite a good amount of money, which amounted on a monthly basis, approximately we generated about 450-470 million naira monthly.”

The current disruption in the services of the Railway system may also be attributed to the recent escalated price of Diesel, Ajiji explained.

“Since this event and even the cost of diesel we have been running at loss, and even immediately after the attack passengers reduced patronage on Warri, Lagos and Ibadan trains,” he said.

Speaking further, he said the terrorists have even begun vandalising rail lines and threatening any train plying rail lines, making the authority to reduce traveling and shutdown operations such as the Kaduna-Abuja and Lagos-Kano rail lines.

“Due to the same insecurities we have to suspend running of the Lagos-Kano trains. If you go along the line you will find out that the bandit has vandalized our tracks and even at some points they are there ready to attack any train that comes on our rail-lines,” he said.

He added, “That was why the trains on the narrow way between Lagos and Kano were suspended.”

Further speaking on the reduction of revenue of NRC, he said, “I don’t think we generated up to N100 million in a month, between the time of the attack till date because the patronage of Lagos-Ibadan train stopped and we have to reduce the number of trains we run in a day.

“Then added to the cost of fuel, at times we put a train that goes to Lagos and Kano and fuel it for 4million naira, we hardly generate 1.5 or 2 million naira, so who does that kind of business. We are seriously affected by these bandit activities.”

Calling for urgent actions, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), Dr Muda Yusuf said the continuous loss of revenue underscores why Federal Government should step-up its fight against terrorism and banditry.

According to him, “These developments underscore the need for the government to step up its offensive against terrorism and other forms of insecurity.

“We cannot abandon our railways because of insecurity. The government must live up to its primary responsibility to citizens — the protection of lives and property. I believe it can be done with the right commitment and strategy,” he stated.

Amb. (Dr.) Oamien Roy Okhidievbie, National Secretary, Retired Members of Nigerian Armed Forces (REMENAF), National Publicity Secretary, Association of Licensed Private Security Practitioners of Nigeria. (ALPSPN); Director Media, Coalition of Concerned Military Veterans (CCV) said terrorism is a global strategy to incapacitate an existing governance system and institute the lawlessness of armed

He said, “The groups under a name and agenda. Oftentimes we find such groups hoisting flags and creating their own uniforms and army to terrorize citizens of a country.

“Nigeria has fallen into the unfortunate category of countries that has been compromised between 30-40 percent control by insurgents, bandits and terrorist organizations. This is a statistical fact from the crippling of transportation, education, agricultural activities and social life.

“Currently, we have found ourselves where we least expect and the security agencies will shrink daily by the political negative impact and control. The strength of our military and the intelligence of our policing have all been compromised.

“There is no error of judgment to conclude that a lot was spent on our railway line and a lot was also expected. The opportunity for economic recovery and expansion into and between communities.

“This started to generate traction and many farmers took advantage and took loans too to increase production.

“The roads were bedeviled with pockets of criminality and successful escapades by bandits against travelers and villages on the outskirts.

“This prompted the increase for rail lines transportation. It’s unfortunate that the government failed to equate its investment strategies to encompass the risk parameters and mitigate risk management policies to drive counter insurgency and counter terrorism plans.

“There are multiple enshrined opportunities to curb criminal activities on our rail lines.

“During the construction of the rail lines so many Private security practitioners proffered multidimensional solutions to the government but obviously they were unable to see the light of day.

“I still have the acknowledgment copy of the proposal I sent to the Inspector General of Police which also met a brick wall.

“There are solutions to revive the trains and secure the rail lines from vandalism and attacks on the trains. Global best practices and local content strategies.

“The good thing about this is that it gives the government strong reasons to evade the international Human Rights catastrophe and deal decisively with criminal elements in every facet of our society.

“The opportunity for crime to get audacious and emboldened lies is the willingness of the government to implement measures that will deploy the active tactics and ensure peaceful, stable, effective and efficient deployment strategies.

“Security is everyone’s responsibility and we must hope that one day the government will brace up to its responsibilities,” he stated.

Another official within the Railway service, who did not want his name mentioned in the media because he was not authorized to do so, stated that the insecurity leveraging the country has been compromised by top security personnel in the country.

He argued that the railway attack a few months ago was coordinated criminal acts, carried out through connivances between the bandits and security personnel.

The unwholesome act has paralyzed the rail route without intervention by the Federal Government as some of the victims of the attack are still under the umbrella of these miscreants.

He emphasized that the government will lose millions of naira because of fear of attacks as passengers have abandoned the railway routes.

The source called for a declaration of state of emergency in the transport system by the federal government to formulate stiffer measures against the threat of attacks on the railway and some major roads across linking the country.

Related Topics:Abuja-Kaduna Insecurity Lagos Kano NRC

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Fuel scarcity: MEMAN confirms availability of 300 million litres of petrol, works to end delivery glitch

Published

17 hours ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

…As Reps summon Petroleum Minister, other stakeholders over rising petrol prices

The Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has announced that Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, is now available and that it is working with key stakeholders to resolve the current product delivery issues.

In a statement issued in Lagos, MEMAN revealed that its members in Apapa and other locations in Lagos are receiving product from 8 vessels this week, totaling over 300 million litres of PMS, which is significantly above normal levels.

According to the statement, “We are actively coordinating with our member companies through swaps and other supply arrangements to ensure that our member stations remain stocked and that the product is delivered to consumers without any further disruptions.

“We are actively coordinating with our member companies through swaps and other supply arrangements to ensure member stations remain stocked.

“Our depots will extend their loading times to ensure we load out as much as we can including tomorrow the 1st of May 2024.

“Our partners in NARTO & PTD have assured us of their support in ensuring the product gets to the retail outlets safely and quickly. We also will extend the opening times of selected retail outlets to ensure we can service our customers as long and as safely possible.

“Independent marketers (depots and stations) are being allocated additional PMS to alleviate the situation.

“We expect the situation to improve in the coming days as supply chains adjust and stabilise.”

“Despite the challenges posed by the return of fuel queues, MEMAN assures the public of its unwavering commitment to keeping them informed and providing regular updates.

“MEMAN deeply empathises with Nigerians facing the challenges occasioned by the current availability of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and the resulting queues at many retail outlets.

“We can see the frustration and difficulties this situation is creating. The Downstream Regulator, NMDPRA and other key stakeholders across the supply chain are fully engaged and supportive to eliminate the queues as swiftly as possible.

“Our top priority is to restore stability and ensure that fuel supplies reach all depots and retail outlets across Nigeria promptly. While the current situation has been challenging, we want to reassure the public that there is an adequate supply of PMS available,” the association confirmed.

…Reps summon Petroleum Minister, other stakeholders over rising petrol prices

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has taken decisive action in response to the ongoing fuel scarcity gripping Nigeria, summoning the Minister of Petroleum Resources and other key stakeholders within the petroleum industry.

The move comes after the adoption of a motion titled “The Need To Address The Lingering Fuel Scarcity And Rising Retail Prices Of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) Across Nigeria,” presented by Rep. Umar Shehu Ajilo during Tuesday’s plenary session.

The summoned stakeholders are expected to provide comprehensive briefings to the Assembly, outlining the measures in place to mitigate the existing crisis and prevent similar situations from arising.

“Concerned that this fuel scarcity is coming at a time when the adverse economic effect caused by subsidy removal and soaring inflation is yet to be addressed by the government, not to mention the deteriorating income of the Nigerian masses.

“Further concerned that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Ltd is yet to address this perennial and persistent fuel scarcity problem faced by Nigerians despite the volume of resources at its disposal.

“Most worrisome that all these economic quagmires have made the lives of average Nigerians unbearable with a litre of fuel selling as much as N1,200 in some states of the Federation.

“This 10th Assembly must rise to the occasion to ensure that lasting measures are taken to address this unfortunate and embarrassing situation permanently in the interest of all Nigerians.”

However, Mr. Ajilo appealed to the House to extend invitations to the Minister of Petroleum Resources and pertinent stakeholders in the petroleum sector to convene before the assembly.

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NANS to embark on nationwide protest on May 7 over fuel scarcity, electricity crisis

Published

17 hours ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

By Sodiq Adelakun

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has announced plans to stage a nationwide protest on May 7, to demand urgent action from the government to address the persistent fuel scarcity and electricity crisis plaguing the country.

According to a statement issued by the Senate President of NANS, Akinteye Babatunde, the student body has been left with no choice but to take to the streets due to the government’s inability to effectively tackle these pressing issues.

The association expressed its deep disappointment and frustration over the continued hardships imposed on students across Nigeria due to the ongoing energy crises.

The protest, scheduled to take place in major cities and towns across the country, aims to amplify the voices of the student community and pressure the government to find lasting solutions to the fuel scarcity and electricity crisis, which have severely impacted the academic and social lives of students.

“We are mobilising for a nationwide protest to demand the removal of key officials responsible for exacerbating these issues,” Babatunde stated, highlighting the urgency of their demands.

NANS has launched protests targeting high-profile figures. Specifically, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mele Kyari, and the Minister for Power, Bayo Adelabu, are under fire for their alleged mismanagement contributing to the energy woes.

NANS accuses Kyari and Adelabu of overseeing a leadership marked by severe mismanagement of crucial energy resources, exacerbating the nation’s turmoil.

The student body’s strategic protest plan spans various zones across the country, ensuring widespread participation and visibility.

Designated protest locations include Abuja Junction along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway, Airport Road in Abuja, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Onitsha-Asaba Head Bridge, and Wuntin Dada along the Bauchi-Jos Road.

Babatunde added, “This is a collective stand against the systemic failures and neglect that have perpetuated a cycle of hardship and suffering among the populace.”

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Reps halt implementation of new electricity tariff

Published

17 hours ago

May 1, 2024

NewsDirect

The House of Representatives has urged the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend the implementation of the new tariff.

The call was sequel to the adoption of a motion by Rep. Nkemkanma Kama (LP-Ebonyi) at plenary on Tuesday.

It would be recalled that NERC had one April 3, approved an increase in electricity tariff for customers who enjoyed 20 hours of electricity daily classified as Band A users.

Moving the motion, Kama said that the aim was to restore public trust, protect consumer rights, and ensure regulatory accountability in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).

He said that facts presented showed that the approval granted by NERC resulted in a staggering 300 per cent rise for certain consumers.

“What is more concerning are the reports indicating discrepancies in customer categorisation and widespread complaints regarding inadequate service despite increased charges.

“This situation has not just sparked national anxiety, but it also threatens regulatory certainty and investor confidence in the sector, demanding immediate attention.

“This motion argues for legislative intervention, underlining our constitutional and moral obligations to address the crisis and alleviate the burden on Nigerian citizens.

“It places a strong emphasis on the legislative oversight role over NERC and the electricity utilities, stressing the need for fair and just pricing and consultation with stakeholders in tariff determination processes.

“This is not just a responsibility, but a duty we owe to our constituents,” he said.

The lawmaker alleged failure of due process in approving the tariff increase which raised concerns over discriminatory practices, and disputed the nature of government subsidies to Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs).

Sequel to the adoption of the motion, the House ordered the Nigerian electricity regulatory commission (NERC) to suspend the operation of the recently announced tariff increases and other conditions in the newly issued review of the MYTO.

The House resolved to set up a special committee made up of the Committees on Power, Commerce and National Planning to convene a public hearing on price regulation.

The lawmaker resolved to appoint a well-regarded former regulator as technical consultant to the house to develop templates for determination of the legality, reasonableness of the procedure adopted by NERC in approving the tariff increase and establishing the performance benchmarks for the Discos.

In his ruling, the Speaker of the house, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas said that the relevant committees should ensure compliance.