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800 Petrol Tankers Converted To Supply Gas — Marketers

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Oil marketers are now changing some of their trucks to start distributing gas to filling stations in order to dispense compressed natural gas to automobiles that run on gas.

It was gathered on Thursday that roughly 800 tankers, which had previously been used to transport gasoline to gas stations, were being modified by marketers to begin transporting gas to retail establishments.

The marketers also disclosed that certain filling stations that supplied Premium Motor Spirit, more commonly known as gasoline, were now colocating CNG dispensing pumps.

They stated that the move gained momentum after the halt in PMS subsidy by the Federal Government, following the announcement by President Bola Tinubu, on May 29, 2023, that ‘subsidy is gone’.

The Federal Government had been pushing for the use of CNG by motorists, as against the widespread consumption of PMS. Gas, according to operators, was not only cheaper than subsidised petrol but was cleaner and very abundant in Nigeria.

The National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Okonkwo, said, “Some of my members have started signing up to dispense gas at their stations, as well as the collocation of gas in their outlets. One of the major independent marketers has given over 500 of his trailers for conversion to transport gas to filling stations.”

He, however, pleaded not to name the owners of the stations, explaining that the dealers would not want to have their names in print at the moment, in order not to expose their businesses.

Explaining further, he said, “There are some new tankers too, over 300 of them have also indicated interest to have CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) trucks. These trucks are to serve filling stations that would be dispensing gas to vehicles.

“What we will do is collocate the gas dispensing plants in a plug-and-play model with existing filling stations. That is the beauty of it and that is why IPMAN is very keen on this project because there is no Local Government or ward in Nigeria today that you won’t see my members.

“We control over 80 percent of the downstream oil sector. So it is an advantage for us. For if you are to build new gas or CNG stations, it will take a huge cost. But this collocation model has helped to reduce the exposure in terms of building new stations.”

The push for the conversion to gas usage in vehicles further gained traction on Wednesday when the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria met with Tinubu at the State House and promised to provide 100 units of CNG/diesel-powered, 50-seater buses to ease mobility among the most vulnerable citizens.

The Managing Director, North-West Petroleum & Gas Company Limited, Winifred Akpani, who spoke for the group, had revealed at the meeting that the new locally-manufactured buses would cost N100m each and would run on gas.

Meanwhile, the IPMAN president also told our correspondent that marketers were being asked to pay additional amounts for petrol that was not supplied to them before subsidy on the commodity was removed.

He said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the sole importer of the commodity, had asked oil marketers to make the payment, adding that the extra cost was between N13m and N14m.

According to him, “The other thing that is of concern to my members is that some of them paid for products over three months ago and have not loaded these products. And when the NNPC changed the cost of PMS recently, it is asking them to bring extra N14m or N13m; that is a problem.

“They (marketers) are saying that the NNPC should provide the products that were paid for before the price was increased. That is the challenge I have now. Some of these marketers were on the verge of loading before the price was increased.”

“But NNPC said everybody has to pay the new price because the product has not entered the trucks of those who paid the old rate. I have pleaded with the Vice President of NNPC to see what the company can do.”

The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPCL, Mele Kyari, reacted to this during a recent television interview, where he stated that “the immediate adjustment is typical anytime there is a price adjustment, even for other commodities in the market.

“For instance, if you buy tomatoes today and the price changes, a businessman will sell the old stock at the new price. This is the reality of the market and it applies to every commodity and not just petrol.

“It also could have been the other way round, prices could have collapsed downwards and those holding the stock will have to sell at lower prices to arrive at the market condition.”

Kyari insisted that it was “really nothing strange,” adding that “it is a stock management issue and is very typical and no one can do anything about this.”

BIG STORY

Non-Oil Sector Accounted For N15.69 trn Of N20.59 trn Revenue Generated In Eight Months — Presidency

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The Presidency has announced that non-oil sectors contributed ₦15.69 trillion, accounting for three out of every four naira collected by the government between January and August 2025, signaling a major shift away from oil dependence.

According to a statement from Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, total government revenue during the eight-month period amounted to ₦20.59 trillion—a 40.5% increase from the ₦14.6 trillion collected in the same period in 2024 .

The sharp rise in non-oil earnings reflects a combination of fiscal reforms, enhanced compliance, and digitised tax administration, including customs automation and broader enforcement measures .

Customs collections alone tallied ₦3.68 trillion in the first half of 2025, exceeding the target by ₦390 billion and accounting for 56% of the full-year goal .

This fiscal strength has translated into historic FAAC disbursements: for the first time, monthly allocations to states and local governments surpassed ₦2 trillion in July—funds critical for supporting food security, infrastructure, and social services .

Significantly, the Presidency also confirmed that the federal government has not borrowed from domestic banks in 2025, a notable departure from prior reliance on local borrowing .

While the gains are substantial, officials acknowledge that revenue still falls short of the government’s spending goals for education, health, and infrastructure, and urged continued efforts to bridge the gap .

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BIG STORY

I Have To Create State Police, We’ll Defeat Insecurity — Tinubu

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President Bola Tinubu says the establishment of state police has become inevitable as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening insecurity.

Speaking at the presidential villa on Tuesday while receiving a delegation of prominent Katsina citizens led by Governor Dikko Radda, Tinubu said his administration would adopt decentralised policing to strengthen security at the grassroots.

The president directed security agencies to review their operations in Katsina following renewed banditry in the state and announced the deployment of advanced military hardware, including drones and surveillance equipment.

“The security challenges that we are facing are surmountable. Yes, we have porous borders. We inherited weaknesses that could have been addressed earlier. It is a challenge that we must fix, and we are facing it,” Tinubu said.

“I have today directed all the security agencies to energise further and look at the strategies. We have approved the additional acquisition of drones. I am reviewing all the aspects of security; I have to create state police. We are looking at that holistically. We will defeat insecurity.”

Tinubu added that the federal government is considering upgrading the recently deployed forest guards in Katsina into a more structured force.

Buhari’s Legacy

The president also assured the delegation that his administration would preserve the legacy of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

“He didn’t hand over a defeated country, a battered political structure, but a legacy of success, and that is the most important thing,” he said.

“We just have to continue praying that Almighty Allah should grant him Aljannah Firdausi and give the rest of us the ability to stand very strong and push Nigeria forward.”

Katsina’s Demands

Governor Radda thanked Tinubu for his continued support to the state, noting that Katsina needs more security interventions, youth empowerment, and infrastructure.

Former Governor Aminu Masari commended Tinubu for honouring Buhari with a “true state funeral,” while Ibrahim Ida, the Wazirin Katsina, called for the upgrade of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua International Airport and greater security focus on southern Katsina.

The move towards state policing follows earlier steps by the federal government. On February 15, 2024, a committee was inaugurated to explore its creation. Vice-President Kashim Shettima later confirmed that all 36 states had supported the initiative, though 20 were yet to submit reports.

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BIG STORY

Lagos Police PRO Hundeyin Appointed New Force Spokesman

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The Nigeria Police Force has appointed Benjamin Hundeyin, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).

Hundeyin takes over from Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Muyiwa Adejobi, who has been redeployed to Delta State Police Command as deputy commissioner in charge of operations following his promotion.

Police authorities described the appointments as part of routine administrative adjustments aimed at career progression and manpower optimisation, stressing that the changes are neither punitive nor controversial.

Profile of the new FPRO

CSP Hundeyin holds a degree in English Language from Lagos State University and a master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan.

He has undergone specialised training in Civil-Military Coordination at the Nigerian Army Leadership Institute, Jaji, and is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), International Public Relations Association, and Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPMN).

Hundeyin also served with the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), gaining experience in peacekeeping and crisis communication.

Appointed Lagos police spokesperson in March 2022, he has since been recognised for proactive engagement with the public and media.

New national assignment

As Force PRO, Hundeyin is expected to spearhead the police’s national communication strategy, improve crisis management, and strengthen transparency and public trust through strategic messaging.

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