News
Comply With New Fuel Pump Price, DPR Begs Filling Stations
The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) has appealed to all petroleum products’ marketers to comply with the directive of the Federal Government by selling at the N125.00 new pump price.
The Zonal Director of DPR in Rivers State, Bassey Effangha, made the appeal in a press statement, yesterday, as a follow up to the full implementation of the Federal Government directive.
The DPR director said all filling station owners were expected to comply with the directive, adding that the DPR, as the regulatory agency, was poised to ensure that the new pump price was effective.
He said the agency was already on ground to monitor the filling stations to ensure total compliance.
Meanwhile, some filling stations in Port Harcourt have already adjusted to the new pump price while others have refused to do so, arguing that they still have in stock, old supplies which they were trying to sell out before adjusting their pumps.
The Tide investigation revealed that Total at Garrison, Eterna at Mile 3 and NNPC mega filling station at Lagos Bus Stop have all complied by selling at N125.00.
However, some filling stations in parts of the city, such as Agip and Elioparanwo, among other areas visited, still sell at the old pump price of N145.00.
The Tide gathered that some of the filling stations selling at the old pump price are those who got products before the pump price reduction, last week.
Some motorists, who spoke with The Tide, yesterday, commended the Federal Government for the pump price reduction but urged the relevant agencies such as DPR and Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to enforce compliance.
A commercial motorist, Akanimo Udosen, said he now buys fuel at N125.00 but argued that some filling stations still sell at N145.00 the pump price reduction, but I also want to urge the government to ensure that all filling stations sell at the new price,” he stated.
Another respondent and commercial motorist, lgba Sunday, also lauded the Federal Government for the pump price reduction.
“What the government has done is good; the fear is that some petroleum marketers will still be selling at the old pump price. I want the government to set up a monitoring team to check the activities of the filling stations”, he said.
Meanwhile, the authorities of the Licensed Filling Station Owners, National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association have directed their members to comply with the new price regime.
The National Treasurer and former Port Harcourt Zonal Chairman of NUPENG, Comrade Alex Agwornwor, who spoke with The Tide, said its members have been instructed to comply with the new directive.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Licensed Filling Station Owners, Comrade Sunny Mkpe disclosed in a press statement that its members are now complying with the new government pump price of N125.00 per litre.
But members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN) raised the alarm over the inability of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association (DAPPMA) to secure Federal Government approval to enable them sell the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at N125.00 per litre.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government, last Wednesday, reduced the pump price of the product from N145 to N125 per litre.
But the IPMAN National Vice President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi, who spoke with newsmen, yesterday, said that the marketers were concerned about government’s commitment to the payment of the credit balance between the old and new rate.
IPMAN, according to him, has written to the managing director of the Pipeline Products marketing Company (PPMC), who was yet to respond to their demand.
Owing to the worry over the confusion about the government’s non-commitment posture, a delegation of the marketers is billed to meet the managing director, today (Tuesday).
The national vice president said the issue is whether there will be sustainable availability of the petrol at the new rate because trucks that are queuing at the depots are yet to load the product due to price disparity.
Taneh Beemene
The Rivers State Chief judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi has granted pardon to six inmates standing awaiting trial at the Port Harcourt maximum correctional center.
The six lucky inmates granted pardon on Tuesday by the state Chief Judge included Nwekeala Chizoba, Samuel Emmanuel, Aniete Kelvin, Ebube Fubara and Goddey Okpara who were on awaiting trial as murder suspects and have all spent between 10 years to seven years in the custody without a proper information filed against them in the court.
Justice Amadi during a special gaol delivery exercise last Tuesday at the Port Harcourt Maximum Correctional Centre opined that the special gaol delivery was part of activities lined up to commomerate the 2024/2025 legal year in the State and restated the commitment of the state judiciary in decongesting the correctional centre and ensuring that those inmates who are not supposed to be there are removed from the custody.
The state chief judge stressed the need for all stakeholders to work together to build a society that supports rehabilitation and gives a second chance to anyone or group of people who have fallen short of the expectation of the law and have been punished accordingly.
He stressed that the National Judicial Council(NJC) encourages judges to pay more attention to criminal matters to enable them to decongests the correctional facilities, noting that since his assumption into office, his administration has been able to reduce the number of inmates in Nigerian Correctional Centres and the Port Harcourt Correctional Centre in particular, to less than 2,000 as against the over 4,000 inmates previously in the faculty.
According to him, “as they release the deserving inmates, they affirm their commitment to justice, compassion and rule of law but that they must not forget the fundamental principles of justice delivery system which is truth and fairness, integrity and equality before the law.”
I encourage you all the released inmates to return to your families and become better citizens. You must not engage in action that will return you all back to prison. Let me say that while the judges show empathy to you all, it does not absolved individuals from being held accountable for actions against individuals, corporate organisations and state which the law frowns at, ”he stated
The Chief Judge thereafter stood down the exercise to enable the DPP to intervene to case files following the fact that majority of the persons listed to benefit from the exercise are facing murder charges and adjourned to a date that will come before December.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the outgoing state Comptroller of Nigerian Correctional Centre, Port Harcourt, Felix Lawrence, who was recently promoted to the rank of Assistant Controller General, commended the state judiciary led by Chief Judge, Justice Simeon Chibuzor Amadi for their continuous effort aimed at ensuring justice and decongesting the facilities.
Other activities lined up for the event included special church service at St Paul’s Cathedral , Anglican Communion, Rebisi Port Harcourt, inspection of guard of honour by the state Chief Judge mounted by officers of the Nigerian police and a special court session held at the ceremonial court hall.
By: AkujobiAmadi
The Director General of Rivers State Bureau on Public Procurement (RBoPP), Dr. Ine Briggs, has explained that the Sir Siminalayi Fubara administration plans to enforce transparency in governance through public procurement.
Speaking at a one-day Public Procurement Enlightenment workshop organised in collaboration with the State Local Government Service Commission for newly elected chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and leaders of legislative assemblies, Dr. Briggs said it is key for grassroot development.
She stated that the Sir. Fubara administration plans to reduce wastage and at same time infuse efficiency in public expenditure.
The RSoPP DG said the local government political office holders remain key drivers in the new vision hence the workshop is to arm them with knowledge on how to execute projects in tandem with needs of the people.
“ Your role in the prudent management of public resources is, therefore, not just administrative it’s the cornerstone of delivering the dividends of democracy. Every procurement decision you make must reflect a commitment to fairness, transparency and accountability” Dr. Briggs submitted.
One of the key goals of the administration she further reminded the participants was to use their offices to foster economic growth through public procurement.
She warned that the law establishing the agency empowers it to penalise defaulters, but that what is more important is voluntary compliance to the laws.
In addition to that, she said urged the local government council leaders that champion the practice and implementation of public procurement law.
On his part, Acting Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, Pastor GoodLife Ben Iduoku averred that the aim of the workshop is to arm key stakeholders in the local government system to generate new ideas, innovation and strategies in tandem with government policies and programmes.
The workshop dealt on various topics on procurement planning, methods, Understanding Bid Process, including types of Construction Contracts and law.
Some participants were awarded excellence and meritorious awards as part of the programme.
By: Kevin Nengia
The 19th anniversary of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Rivers State Chapter, recently ended in Port Harcourt in grand style, with participants from various schools including proprietors, the academia, civil society groups and top government functionaries charting the way forward for educational improvement.
The 19th NAPPS anniversary christened, ‘Innovation and Adaptation: Transforming Challenges Into Opportunities’ was held at Casoni Hotels, Port Harcourt.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Rivers State Chapter of the association, Dr. Jaja Adafe Sunday expressed gratitude to the members and executives for their untiring efforts towards the achievements of the body.
He sought the intervention of government on the lingering crisis on the economy as it is affecting the running of schools.
He decried high cost of things including fuel and raw materials which has adversely affected the running of schools and payment of teachers.
Dr. Sunday hinted that the current economic situation in the nation is biting hard on the operations of schools, saying inflation, removal of fuel subsidy, fuel scarcity, poor electricity supply, tariffs and lack of government grants are some of the challenges faced by schools, and urged the members to brace up to the challenges, as it is the panacea to building a brighter future.
Guest speakers from the health sector and the academia thrilled the gathering on the essence of basic education which they said is the key to national development.
Former Dean of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Professor Azuru and the Chief Medical Director of Meridian Hospitals, Dr. Odo Iyke were some notable guest speakers who delivered lectures at the occasion.
Some distinguished proprietors also got special recognitions and awards.
The 19th anniversary cake was cut by the Rivers State NAPPS Chairman with representatives of the state government assisting.