Author: Ibrahim Abusadiq

Flowerbud News

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), says it has no intention of becoming the sole offtaker of Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL) or any entity in a free market environment.

The NNPC Ltd. said the refinery and any other domestic refinery were free to sell directly to marketers on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, which was the current practice for all fully deregulated products.

Mr Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. made this known on Saturday in Abuja while reacting to claims that  Dangote Refinery  was being undermined by NNPC Ltd. actions.

“The attention of the NNPC Ltd. has been drawn to a press release by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which claims that the Dangote Refinery is being undermined by actions of NNPC Ltd.

“Specifically, MURIC asserts that recent changes to the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will prevent the Dangote Refinery from offering lower prices.

” It said that NNPC Ltd. has become the sole offtaker of all products from the refinery,” he said.

 To set the records straight, Soneye said that the pricing of petroleum products from any refinery, including the Dangote Refinery is determined by global market forces.

He said the recent changes in PMS prices had no impact on the Dangote Refinery or any other domestic refinery’s access to the Nigerian market.

“In fact, if current prices are perceived as high, it presents an ideal opportunity for the refinery to sell its products at lower prices in the Nigerian market.

 “We emphasise that there is no guarantee of lower prices associated with domestic refining compared to any global parity pricing framework, as confirmed by Dangote Refinery.

“NNPC Ltd will only fully offtake PMS from the Dangote Refinery if the market prices of PMS are higher than the pump prices in Nigeria.

“NNPC Ltd has no desire or intention to become the distributor for any entity in a free market environment, and therefore, the notion of becoming a sole offtaker does not arise.

“The NNPC Ltd cannot undermine a business in which it holds a billion-dollar stake,’ he said.

He said MURIC, as an advocacy group should verify the facts before making statements that were entirely flawed and has the potential to incite ordinary Nigerians against the NNPC Ltd.

NAN

Flowerbud News

The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has provided essential nutrition services to 1.2 million pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years in Kano State.

The institute’s Senior Communications Manager, Ms Uzoma Nwofor, disclosed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday.

She stated that the services were delivered as part of the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project.

Nwofor noted that the project, which ran from 2021 to 2024, was implemented in collaboration with the World Bank and Global Financing Facility.

She said that it targeted nine local government areas in Kano State, namely Nasarawa, Kano Municipal, Fagge, Gwale, Tarauni, Kumbotso, Dala, Bunkure and Wudil.

She said “Dr Temitope Kolade, the Chief of Party for the IHVN ANRiN project, highlighted the initiative’s successes, noting that it achieved 100 per cent coverage of all 96 wards across the nine areas councils.

“The ANRiN project significantly increased access to and utilisation of quality, cost-effective nutrition services.

“These services include nutrition counselling for mothers, distribution of iron and folic acid supplements, intermittent preventive treatment for pregnant women, micronutrient powder, Vitamin A supplementation, deworming tablets and zinc supplements and Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) for diarrhoea management in children.

“The project enrolled 1,235,898 individuals, including 725,582 children under five years, 202,205 lactating mothers, 177,812 pregnant women.

“In addition to nutrition services, the project focused on educating mothers and caregivers on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding, complementary feeding and other key maternal and infant feeding practices.”

The communications manager stated that the project’s success was made possible through the active support of the Kano State Government, traditional rulers, household heads, community-based organisations and local volunteers.

“Community engagement activities such as townhall meetings, house-to-house visits, radio programmes and men’s forums, were instrumental to increasing community participation and support for nutrition interventions,” she added.

She pointed out that an innovative strategy was also introduced to improve the supply chain for nutrition products in two local government areas.

“This initiative enhanced the safety, availability and accountability of nutrition commodities by instituting strong leadership and operational systems,” she said.

NAN reports that the ANRiN project, supported by the World Bank and Global Financing Facility, aims to improve access to essential nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under five years across 12 states in Nigeria.

The project, which started in May 2021, focuses on maternal and child nutrition through breastfeeding education, micronutrient supplements, iron-folic acid tablets for pregnant women, malaria prevention, diarrhoea treatment with zinc/ORS, vitamin A supplementation and deworming.

IHVN was selected as one of the non-state actors to implement the project in Kano State, where it focused on nine local government areas.

Kano is among the states with the highest burden of malnutrition.

The 2018 National Nutrition and Health Survey (NNHS) reported a 6.8 per cent prevalence of Global Acute Malnutrition and a 26.9 per cent prevalence of underweight children in the state.

NAN

Flowerbud News

The Forum of South-East Academic Doctors (FOSAD) expresses profound distress over the recent increase in fuel price to almost N1000 per litre, which has exacerbated the already challenging economic conditions faced by millions of Nigerians. The sudden and steep hike in the cost of petrol has triggered widespread hardship, pushing many citizens further into poverty and creating additional strain on businesses and households across the country.

The timing of this price increase could not be more detrimental, as Nigerians are still grappling with the economic fallout from fuel subsidy removal, rising inflation, and the ongoing challenges posed by unemployment and underemployment. The decision to raise fuel prices at this critical juncture is not only insensitive but also counterproductive to the government’s stated goals of economic recovery and poverty alleviation even when the national minimum wage increase is yet to be implemented by both state and federal government.

FOSAD urges the Federal Government to take immediate steps to reverse the fuel price hike and explore alternative measures to address the economic challenges facing the nation. It is imperative that the government prioritizes the welfare of its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, who are disproportionately affected by such policies.

We call on the government to engage in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, including labor unions, civil society organizations, and the private sector, to develop a more sustainable approach to managing the nation’s resources and ensuring energy affordability. Additionally, FOSAD advocates for greater transparency in the pricing mechanisms of fuel products and a comprehensive review of the subsidy regime to ensure that any policy changes are equitable and do not impose undue hardship on the populace.

Nigerians deserve a government that listens to their concerns and acts in their best interest. The current fuel price hike only serves to deepen the economic woes of the people and threatens to destabilize the social fabric of the nation. FOSAD stands in solidarity with all Nigerians affected by this decision and demands swift action to reverse the fuel price increase and alleviate the suffering of the masses.

Signed:
Dr Stephen Nwala
President, FOSAD

Dr Uzor Ngoladi
Secretary General, FOSAD
www.fosads.org

Flowerbud News

The leadership of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) says the commencement of operations  by the Dangote Refinery is a monumental step forward for Nigeria’s energy independence and economic growth.

Mr Labi Olawale, the General Secretary of NUPENG, said this in a congralutory letter to Aliko Dangote President/Chief Executive Officer, Dangote Group, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company commenced production of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) on Sept. 1.

Olawale commended President Bola Tinubu and Dangote for the historic and landmark commencement of the PMS in the country.

According to him, this day has been long anticipated and awaited with bated breath and prayers not only by Nigerians but by the entire Continent of Africa.

“We are proud of you, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, you are a man with uncommon courage and determination. You have dared to dream and thread where no mortal has ever done.

“This remarkable achievement at the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery and petrochemical plant is a testament to your unwavering commitment, innovation, and excellence in the energy sector.

“We recognise the immense efforts and dedication that have gone into making this vision a reality.

“The successful production of PMS at this state of the-art facility marks a significant milestone for Dangote Refinery, and also represents a monumental step forward for Nigeria’s energy independence and economic growth,”he said.

The general secretary commended President Bola Tinubu and Dangote on the historic and landmark commencement of the production of the PMS.

He said that Dangote’s visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence have been instrumental in achieving the feat.

“Your contributions to the industrialisation and economic development of Africa are truly commendable, and we are proud to witness the positive impact of your endeavours on our nation.

“As a union dedicated to the welfare and advancement of workers in the petroleum and natural gas industry, NUPENG is excited about the opportunities this development will bring .

“This is in terms of employment for Nigerians, socioeconomic prosperity and monumental growth of our country,” he said.

He said that the union would continue to collaborate with the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company to ensure the growth and sustainability of the Oil and Gas industry.

NAN

Flowerbud News

Lagos State Government has extended its work-from-home policy for its workers for the next three months.

Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu approved the extension in a circular signed by the state Head of Service, Mr Bode Agoro, on Wednesday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports  that, on Feb. 28, the governor directed that the workers would work remotely on some days.

He directed that workers on grade levels 01 to 14 were allowed  to work from home for two days in a week, while those on grade level 15 to 17 were allowed to work from home for one day in a week.

The decision was aimed at reducing the  effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on the workers.

Sanwo-Olu stated in the Wednesday’s circular  that the policy made positive impacts on workers’ productivity in the various ministries, departments and agencies of the state government.

NAN reports that the extension  took effect  from Sept. 4.

NAN