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FG plans cooking gas export ban to crash price

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The Federal Government is to stop the exportation of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, popularly called cooking gas, in a bid to increase its volume domestically so as to warrant a crash in price.

It stated on Thursday that LPG producers in Nigeria and key stakeholders in the industry had been told to stop exporting the commodity out of Nigeria, following the recent jump in the cost of cooking gas.

Although the volume of LPG consumption in Nigeria depends on the specific timeframe, figures obtained from the Nigerian Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority indicated that in 2022, the total cooking gas consumption across the country was 1.4 million metric tonnes.

Data from the agency put total domestic production during the review period as 600,000MT, while imports accounted for 800,000MT.

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In 2021, total consumption was estimated at around 800,000MT, as domestic production was about 300,000MT, while the volume that was imported in that year was put at 500,000MT.

Cooking gas consumption has been increasing significantly, with ambitious targets to reach five million metric tonnes by 2029, as LPG dealers stated that though Nigeria exports the commodity, the country relies heavily on imports to meet domestic demand.

This implies that the Federal Government could stop the export of over 600,000MT of cooking gas based on its drive to crash the price of the commodity locally.

Findings showed that the cost of refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas in Abuja, Lagos, Kano and some other states had climbed to about N18,000. It was specifically N17,500 in Abuja on Thursday, a product that sold for less than N9,000 in November last year.

LPG dealers under the aegis of Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers had predicted mid last year that a 12.5kg cylinder would cost N18,000 going by the incessant hikes in its cost.

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To tackle this, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, constituted a committee in November 2023, headed by the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed.

But up till today (Thursday), the cost of the commodity has maintained a northward movement, as many LPG users are gradually shifting to the use of charcoal.

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But while speaking on the sidelines of the internal stakeholders’ workshop in Abuja on Thursday, Ekpo stated that the Federal Government had asked LPG producers to stop exporting the commodity.

He named some international oil companies including Mobil, Shell and Chevron as producers, stressing that the government was interfacing with them to crash cooking gas prices.

In November 2023, a kilogram of cooking gas was about N700, but the product is now sold at about N1,400/kg. Some operators stated that the cost would increase further if the government fails to intervene.

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Ekpo said, “With the issue of gas, you have seen the demonstration of the Federal Government by withdrawing all taxes and levies from the importation of gas related equipment. It is a big incentive.

“On the issue of LPG (cooking gas), we are interacting with the critical sectors to ensure that there is no exportation of LPG. All LPG produced within the country will have to be domesticated. And when this is done, the volume will increase and, of course, the price will automatically crash.

“I’m in contact with the regulator, NMDPRA, we have meetings almost on a daily basis and with the producers of the gas like Mobil, Chevron and Shell. So there is that hope that things will turn around.

“And that is also why we are having this engagement to know exactly what the problems are, so that we can address them once and for all.”

When told that the removal of Value Added Tax on LPG seems not to be reflecting on the cost of the commodity, the minister stated that cooking gas investors were trying to maximise their profit from the sale of the product.

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“Excuse me, it is not going to reflect that way. We are dealing with human beings. A policy has been put in place and these people, the investors, want to maximise the profit that they are going to get from it all.

“So at the end of the day we had to come in, which is why you have the regulator. We are interfacing with them to make sure they crash the price. We are meeting with them on a daily basis,” Ekpo stated.

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It was reported in December 2023 that the Federal Government had exempted the importation of LPG and its equipment from the payment of customs duty and Value Added Tax, as the move was expected to result in a drop in the cost of cooking gas across the country.

This was disclosed by the Federal Ministry of Finance in a letter (dated November 28, 2023) to the Special Adviser to the President on Energy; Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service; and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, signed the letter.

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Meanwhile, when asked on Thursday to state when government vehicles would start running on Compressed Natural Gas as always championed by the government, the gas minister stated that he would speak on this later.

“The Presidential Initiative on CNG was set up before the inauguration of the ministers, but I’m interfacing with them. The Federal Government committee is working towards realising the goals. So the moment I get a clearer picture about it I will address you accordingly,” Ekpo stated.

Nigeria has over 208 trillion standard cubic feet of gas reserves and is now viewed as a gas-rich nation.

But most of the country’s gas resources remained untapped due to several reasons such as lack of investments in the sector, the shift from fossil fuels, policy issues, among others.
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Ekpo was also asked whether the government would allow operators in the sector to run most of their transactions in naira, as against the popular practice of dollar transactions, and he said the matter would be discussed at the meeting by stakeholders.

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“If you were there when the director on gas was presenting what we discussed during the stakeholders meeting on February 6, 2024, it (the concern) was presented, and I will have the views of the implementers and regulators today. Then from there we can take a decisive decision on how to address it,” the minister stated.

Earlier during his speech at the workshop, he said the aim of the event was to reposition the Nigerian gas sector for optimal performance, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s agenda to unlock Nigeria’s abundant gas resources for economic development and poverty eradication.

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“This is the second in a series of engagements with stakeholders in the gas sector, the first being the consultative meeting I held with external stakeholders in the gas sector on February 6, 2024 which provided a platform for me to hear from the various associations and groups operating across the gas value chain with a view to understanding the pain points of the industry operators.

“It is my expectation that having heard from the operators in our industry, we as policymakers, regulators and policy implementers will internalise the feedback from our stakeholders and customers to proffer workable solutions to tackle the issues bedevilling our nation’s gas sector.

“With over 208 trillion standard cubic feet in proven gas reserves, Nigeria has no business with energy poverty, and it is imperative for us to rise up as a people to tackle these challenges head-on,” Ekpo stated.

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He stated that as part of efforts to ensure a high level of performance and accountability within the Federal Government, the President, through the office of the Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, had released the Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables for 2023 – 2027 to create a performance tracking mechanism for the Minister of Petroleum Resources and relevant agencies.

“The theme for this workshop – ‘Harnessing Nigeria’s Proven Gas Reserves for Economic Growth and Development,’ is very apt and provides a platform for us to galvanise action and take the necessary steps to release this nation’s abundant gas reserves to accelerate our industrialisation and develop the economy for the good of our teeming population,” Ekpo stated.

The Chief Executives of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Ahmed Farouk, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, were in attendance at the internal stakeholders’ workshop on Thursday.

Representatives from other agencies under the petroleum ministry such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Petroleum Technology Development Fund, directors from the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, among others, were also in attendance.

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Crime

Ogun man arrested for allegedly setting wife ablaze after dispute

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Ogun man sets wife ablaze

A 55-year-old man has been arrested in Ogun State for allegedly setting his wife on fire following a dispute, sparking police investigation.

 

 

In a shocking incident of domestic violence, the Ogun State police have apprehended a 55-year-old man, Olubunmi Johnson, who allegedly set his wife ablaze following a disagreement in the Ota area of Ogun State.

The horrifying event reportedly took place at around 8:30 pm on Friday at their residence on Fagbuyi Street, Ilogbo, leaving the community in distress.

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Also read: Nigerian Army arrests Boko Haram suspects and kidnapping informants in Taraba

 

Johnson allegedly doused his wife, Kikelomo, with petrol before setting her on fire during an argument. Neighbours and witnesses rushed Kikelomo to the hospital, though her current condition remains undisclosed.

Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident on Monday, explaining that officers from the Ilogbo Division responded swiftly after receiving a report from the victim’s relatives.

“The police officers from the Ilogbo Division quickly took action, resulting in the arrest of the 55-year-old suspect,” Odutola stated.

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Odutola added that while the exact cause of the dispute remains unclear, an investigation into the incident is underway, with charges of attempted murder being considered.

“The husband doused his wife’s body with petrol and set her on fire with a match. Witnesses to the incident immediately rushed her to the hospital,” she explained.

Johnson is now in custody as police examine the circumstances leading to this tragic case of domestic violence.

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This incident has sparked concerns across Ogun State about domestic violence, with many calling for more robust measures to address and prevent such acts.

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Ukraine receives bodies of 563 fallen soldiers in major repatriation effort

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Ukraine soldiers repatriation

Ukraine announced the repatriation of 563 soldiers’ bodies from Russia, marking one of the largest returns of fallen troops since the war began.

 

 

Ukraine confirmed on Friday that it had successfully received the bodies of 563 soldiers from Russian authorities, primarily troops who died in combat in the Donetsk region.

The exchange marks one of the largest returns of deceased Ukrainian servicemen since Russia’s invasion in 2022 and remains a rare area of cooperation between Kyiv and Moscow amidst the ongoing conflict.

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Also read: Ukraine relies on allies as Russia strikes power grid

 

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War announced the repatriation, stating, “The bodies of 563 fallen Ukrainian defenders were returned to Ukraine.”

According to the report, 320 of the remains came from the contested eastern Donetsk region, with 89 soldiers identified as having fallen near Bakhmut.

This town became a focal point of the conflict last year, where Russia seized control following a prolonged and deadly battle.

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In addition to the returns from Donetsk, the statement indicated that 154 bodies were returned from morgues inside Russia. This return highlights the humanitarian efforts involved, even as both nations continue to face intense hostilities.

Despite the heavy toll on both sides, neither Russia nor Ukraine has publicly released the total number of military personnel killed.

As the war continues, these periodic exchanges of fallen soldiers’ bodies and prisoners represent a limited yet significant area where the two sides maintain direct communication.

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Lagos State launches manhunt for driver who set LASTMA officer on fire

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Lagos State manhunt for LASTMA officer attacker

Lagos authorities launch manhunt for driver who set LASTMA officer ablaze during traffic stop, aiming to bring suspects to justice swiftly.

 

The Lagos State Government has commenced an intensive search for the driver responsible for setting a Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) officer on fire during a confrontation in the Mile 2 area on Tuesday.

The driver, whose identity remains unknown, reportedly resisted arrest after LASTMA operatives apprehended him for a traffic violation.

 

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Also read: Lagos police arrest suspected cable vandal

 

In an alarming escalation, the driver doused petrol on his vehicle and LASTMA officers, setting the bus and one of the officials ablaze before fleeing the scene.

The LASTMA spokesperson, Adebayo Taofiq, confirmed the incident in a statement, explaining that the suspect and his assistant became hostile after being stopped for violating traffic rules.

Adebayo detailed that as officers approached the driver, he attempted to evade capture by setting his vehicle and nearby officers on fire.

The incident left one officer with severe burns, requiring immediate medical attention at a nearby hospital.

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While the injured officer was initially discharged, he experienced a deterioration in his condition early on Wednesday, resulting in an urgent readmission to the hospital.

“He was discharged after treatment but began experiencing intense pain around 3 am, which prompted a return to the hospital,” Adebayo reported.

The disturbing incident highlights the risks faced by LASTMA officers in their efforts to maintain road safety and compliance. In response, LASTMA has intensified its efforts to identify and arrest the driver and his assistant.

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“We have the vehicle’s registration number, and serious efforts are ongoing to apprehend the driver and his assistant,” said Adebayo. The government has assured the public that it will not relent until justice is served.

LASTMA has also issued a strong warning to commercial and private drivers, urging compliance with traffic regulations and respect for LASTMA officers.

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The agency underscored its commitment to upholding order on Lagos roads in line with the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018, stating that it will respond decisively to any acts of violence or intimidation against its officers.

The attack has prompted widespread condemnation and sparked a conversation about the safety of traffic management officers in Lagos, with officials calling for stricter measures to ensure the security of LASTMA personnel while they carry out their duties.

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