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NNPC Has No Justification For N6.34tn Petrol Subsidy – Customs

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Col. Hameed Ali (retd.), the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has stated that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (formerly Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation) cannot justify the volume of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) being consumed in the country daily to warrant the over N6.34tn subsidy payment on the commodity annually.

Ali, in his presentation to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Finance at the continued hearing on the proposed 2023-2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper in Abuja on Thursday, argued that the NNPC cannot scientifically prove the 98 million liters/day consumption it was claiming, alleging that the nation’s oil company was supplying an excess of 38 million liters of PMS daily.

The committee had asked Ali about the like deficit between N11tn and 12tn in the 2023 budget as proposed in the 2023-2025 MTEF/FSP.

The Federal Government is proposing a budget with estimates totaling N19.76tn, while the deficit will hover between N11.30tn and N12.41tn in the 2023 fiscal year. The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, who appeared before the committee earlier on Monday, had decried that the government might be unable to provide for treasury-funded capital projects next year, especially due to dwindling revenue and the annual payment of N6.34tn subsidy on petrol.

However, the NCS boss faulted the NNPC on its subsidy claims, saying, “I remember that last year we spoke about this. Unfortunately, this year, we are talking about subsidy again. The over N11tn we are going to take as debt, more than half of it is going for subsidy. The issue is not about the smuggling of petroleum products. I have always argued this with NNPC.”

Ali added, “If we are consuming 60 million liters of PMS per day, by their computation, why would you allow the release of 98 million liters per day? If you know this is our consumption, why would you allow that release? Scientifically, you cannot tell me that if I fill my tank today, or tomorrow, I will fill the same tank with the same quantity of fuel. If I am operating a fuel station today and I go to Minna depot, lift petrol and take it to Kaduna, I may get to Kaduna in the evening and offload that fuel. There is no way I would have sold off that petrol immediately to warrant another load. So, how did you get to 60 million liters per day? That is my problem.

“The issue of smuggling: if you release 98 million liters in actual and 60 million liters is used, the balance should be 38 million liters. How many trucks will carry 38 million liters every day? Which road are they following and where are they carrying this thing to?”

The committee’s Deputy Chairman, Saidu Abdullahi, who presided over the hearing, decried that funds under the subsidy scheme, which should have been used to finance capital projects, were being diverted into private pockets.

Meanwhile, the Customs CG told the committee that the Service would meet its revenue projection of N2.272tn for 2022, N2.873tn for 2023, N3.540tn for 2024, and N3.752tn for 2025.

The lawmakers queried the sum of N6.7bn spent on legal matters out of N7.5 billion approved in the 2021 Appropriation Act, with another N9.2bn proposed in the 2023 budget.

Ali, however, explained that the NCS wrote to the Presidency seeking the virement of N4bn to cater for pending legal debts, adding that inadequate funds might cause the Service to pay as much as N20bn for a suit of N3bn for default.

The lawmakers also tasked the CG of the NCS with ensuring remittances of 80 percent of the operating surplus to the government coffers as prescribed by the Finance Act, adding that the Customs should propose an amendment to the extant law to address whatever concerns might arise.

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World Leaders Congratulate Trump On Election Victory, Call For Promotion Of Global Peace

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UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have congratulated Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

Trump defeated Vice President Kamala Harris of the Democratic Party.

In a statement on X, Starmer emphasized that the US is the UK’s closest ally and expressed his eagerness to work with Trump on shared values.

“Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead,” the statement reads.

“As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defence of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise.

“From growth and security to innovation and tech, I know that the UK-US special relationship will continue to prosper on both sides of the Atlantic for years to come.”

Ali said with Trump in the Oval Office, Ethiopia will strengthen its relationship with the US.

“Congratulations to President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump) on your election victory and comeback. I look forward to working together to further strengthen the relationship between our two countries during your term,” Ali said.

Macron said France is ready to work with Trump.

“Congratulations, President @realDonaldTrump. Ready to work together as we did for four years. With your convictions and mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity,” Macron said.

“GLOBAL PEACE”

Narendra Modi, the prime minister of India, also took to X to congratulate the president-elect.

He said he looks forward to strengthening the India-US partnership with Trump as president.

“Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory,” Modi said.

“As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.

“Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.”

Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, has also sent his congratulations.

He said Ukraine is interested in developing mutually beneficial political and economic cooperation for the interest “of both of our nations”.

“Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on his impressive election victory!” Zelensky said.

“I recall our great meeting with President Trump back in September, when we discussed in detail the Ukraine-U.S. strategic partnership, the Victory Plan, and ways to put an end to Russian aggression against Ukraine.

“I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the ‘peace through strength’ approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer. I am hopeful that we will put it into action together.”

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Five Remanded In Adamawa For Defiling Minor

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Five persons arraigned by the Adamawa State Police Command, for the offences of criminal conspiracy and defilement of a minor before the Chief Magistrate Court I in Yola, the state capital, have been remanded in prison custody.

The command’s spokesperson, Suleiman Nguroji, in a statement on Wednesday, named the suspects as Ibrahim Aliyu, Muhammed Adamu, Gaddafi Adamu, Usman Umar and Musa Isa, who all hail from Yola town in Yola South LGA.

The statement disclosed that the presiding judge, Magistrate Alheri Ishaku, ordered the remand of the defendants in prison custody pending the outcome of the legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

According to the First Information Report earlier tendered by the prosecuting police officer, ASP Zakka Musa, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, the defendants allegedly conspired and raped the victim (name withheld) who hails from Mafia Quarters in Yola town.

According to the statement, during the investigation, the DNA test conducted by medical experts revealed that the first suspect, Ibrahim Aliyu, who started having unlawful carnal knowledge of the victim, is responsible for the pregnancy contrary to Sections 60 and 211 Penal Code Laws.

“Addressing the court after the plea of the defendants, the command prosecutor said whether the defendants pleaded guilty or not, the second leg of the offences is capital in nature and prayed the court to remand them pending legal advice from the office of the DPP.”

The statement advised the public to always contact the police when they noticed a person or persons committing unlawful acts.

He said the command would continue with its war against the GBV offenders and that tough measures must be taken against perpetrators of such criminal activities.

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We Won’t Force Kemi Badenoch To Identify With Nigeria After Shunning Us — Dabiri-Erewa

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Abike Dabiri-Erewa, chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), has stated that Kemi Badenoch, leader of the United Kingdom’s Conservative Party, has shown no interest in embracing her Nigerian heritage.

Dabiri-Erewa made the remarks on Wednesday during an appearance on The Morning Brief, a programme on Channels Television.

The NIDCOM chairperson explained that efforts to encourage Badenoch to connect with the “Nigerianess” in her had been unsuccessful.

“We have reached out to her once or twice without any response. So, we don’t force people to accept to be Nigerian,” she said.

“If you appreciate the Nigerianness in you and you want to work with us, we are open to everybody. But we cannot force you to appreciate the Nigerianness in you. You remember Miss Universe Nigeria in South Africa.

“Until she got into a little problem with South Africa, she identified with Nigeria, came back, and we hosted her. As long as that blood is in you, you are a Nigerian.

“So, it depends on Kemi to decide whether she appreciates the Nigerianess in her. Whether she wants to work with Nigeria, but we cannot force anybody.”

Badenoch was elected leader of the UK Conservative Party on November 2, becoming the first black person to lead a major political party in the UK.

Born in the UK to Nigerian Yoruba parents in January 1980, Badenoch returned to Nigeria after her birth, where she grew up. She moved back to the UK at the age of 16.

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