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Yuletide: Long Queues Return To Filling Stations In PH
Barely a few days to the Christmas, filling stations in Port Harcourt and Obior/Akpor local government areas of Rivers State have begun to witness long queues.
The development, which began last Monday, entered the second day, yesterday, with long queues resurfacing in many filling stations in the two local government areas.
Our correspondents who went round Port Harcourt City and its environs, report that there were queues of vehicles at many filling stations along Port Harcourt-Aba Road, Peter Odili Road, Amadi-Ama, Abuloma, Ikwerre Road, Trans Amadi-Slaughter, Woji and Elelenwo on both Monday and yesterday.
Queues were recorded, yesterday, at filling stations such as Eterna Oil and Mobil at Peter Odili Road, Enyo at Amadi-Ama Roundabout while Linfox at Amadi-Ama and another filling station at Sasun Roundabout did not open to customers.
On Port Harcourt-Aba Road, Oando was seen dispensing fuel to customers who waited patiently on queues for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) while Eterna Oil did not open for business.
There were also short queues at Conoil Filling Station at Education Bus Stop, and a filling station at Igwuruta Roundabout as at the time of filing this report.
However, The Tide’s check around Rumuosi axis and Obiri Ikwerre-Airport Road revealed that almost all the filling stations were dispensing PMS to customers without queue, except two stations that were closed for business.
Within the Rumuosi area, 95percent of the stations were selling, including the NNPC, Whiz Oil and Mobil as at yesterday morning.
Also, filling stations along the Igwuruta-Airport Road were selling without queue.
Further enquiry on why those few filling stations were not attending to customers revealed that the stations were in short supply of fuel.
A filling station attendant in one of the filling stations, Mr Kennedy Obinna, said those stations that were not dispensing fuel did not have the product.
It was further learnt that a few filling stations have jerked up the pump price per litre to between N170 and N180.
For instance, Conoil at Education Bus Stop, Mile One, was dispensing fuel at N180 per litre.
At Iwofe area, the story is not different as only one filling station, Anele Oil, was dispensing fuel to customers.
Others around the area shut down operations with bold inscriptions: “No fuel”, conspicuously displayed at their entry gates.
The Tide further learnt that even the few stations that have the product sell in the night.
The Station Manager, Heritage Oil and Gas, Iwofe, Mr. Agbasi Hector, attributed the fuel scarcity in the area to challenges in sourcing the product.
According to him, “Our trucks have been at the Petrol Star Depot since Thursday, last week, and up till now, we have not loaded.
“Before now, many depots had and sold but now only Petrol Star Depot loads, and the queue cannot be imagined”.
He urged the Federal Government to empower the private depots to import petroleum products to reduce the pressure on NNPC.
Another filling station, Onava Oil, said they have not had fuel for two months now.
Enyo Filling Station also claimed that they did not have fuel, but a reliable source told The Tide that the station had NNPC product, and only sells in the night.
A customer, Mrs. Nkeruka Amadi, lamented the recent development, saying she had not been able to buy fuel because all the stations around her house were not selling the product to customers.
It was, however, a different ball game at Rukpokwu, an outskirt of Port Harcourt, as the PMS sold at the normal N163 as at yesterday.
The issue of panic buying and long queues was also not recorded in the area.
The Tide learnt that some commuters, fearing that the pump price of PMS might soon go up, rushed to Rukpokwu to buy fuel at N163.
However, a taxi driver, Mr Allwell Amadi, who spoke to The Tide on the development, said there was no scarcity of fuel in the state, explaining that he has been buying fuel freely.
Meanwhile, a business executive, Mr John Igwe, has attributed the resurfacing of queues in many filling stations in Port Harcourt and its environs to a mere sabotage ahead of Christmas season.
According to him, the rumour of likely increase in the pump price of PMS has made some dealers to hoard products so as to make more gain.
The Tide recalls that the Federal Government has consistently given assurances that this year’s Christmas period would be devoid of the usual Yuletide fuel scarcity.
By: Boye Salau, Collins Walter, Lilian Peters & King Onuwhor
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.