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Wealthy Nigerians Smuggling Jet-A1 To West Africa – Senate Panel

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2 years ago

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Senator Smart Adeyemi, the lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District and the Chairman of the Senate Aviation Committee, has said that wealthy Nigerians stealing and exporting the Jet-A1 are responsible for the scarcity of aviation fuel in the country.

Adeyemi, said that this situation had added to the problem of lack of refineries that the country had been battling with.

He further lamented that the situation had been worsened by the increase in the number of Nigerians who could no longer travel by road due to the insecurity issues.

The senator added that there was no way the economy could thrive when some people kept stealing from the economy.

Adeyemi said, “Before now, we used to procure our oil from Europe but they no longer have that capacity, especially because of the diplomatic issue between Europe and Russia. Europe is no longer buying fuel from Russia, so they have to do with what they have.  As you can see, the pump price of PMS has gone up in Europe itself.

“The consequence for us is that what we would have used as proceeds is what we are using to import back PMS to the country for local consumption. The same thing goes for aviation; the JET-A1 that is being imported is beyond what our country is consuming. Nigerians are smuggling JET-A1 to other West African countries. So, it means neighboring countries live on what Nigeria is bringing in and that accounts for why the subsidy keeps increasing.

“The people doing this bunker and stealing of our resources aren’t ordinary Nigerians. They are rich and powerful people who have become cabals; they do this stealing in very large quantities. How can anybody justify that 80 percent of what we produce is stolen?”

The lawmaker further lamented that it was painful as it was further hampering the economy of the country.

He added, “But what can we do when the refineries are not working. The concern of everyone is to make the refineries work and build one or two more refineries.

“When the refineries are not working, these are the consequences and more so with the global economic recession, the recession will first manifest in the aviation industry and that is because people are now traveling more by air than before.

“Also, our own inability to make refineries work and the devaluation of the naira are making it difficult for airlines to get the Jet A-1 and once it’s not available, then there is no way people can move. And it may continue for a while. And apart from the importation business, aviation is a major driver of the economy.

“Many people cannot go by road because of the security state of the nation. And as it is today, the airlines are finding it hard to procure servicing parts because of the cost. I think again, like I said, aviation is very important to the socio-economic development of any nation. Ours is more serious because it is crude, so until we get the refineries working, we cannot think of the other solutions to the aviation industry.”

Adeyemi noted that the good news, however, was that there was rehabilitation work going on at the Port Harcourt Refinery, and the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream, will be visiting the place next week to look at the refineries.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: President Tinubu, Shettima, Governors, Other VIPs To Pay Toll At Airports

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10 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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As part of the Federal Government drive to boost its revenue, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has mandated that President Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Governors and other dignitaries henceforth pay the required fees at tollgates whenever they use the nation’s airports.

The approval was made days after it was revealed that at least 82 percent of airport tollgate revenue is lost through non-paying Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

 

More to come…

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How Content Creator Was Shot Dead On Set In Abuja Over N2,000

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10 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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A fast-rising Nigerian content creator, Chidike Emmanuel, has been murdered by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja.

It was gathered that the skit maker was among six persons attacked by the gunmen last Saturday in the federal capital territory.

According to The Cable, source familiar with the incident said that Emmanuel was killed at the location of a project he was supposed to feature in.

The insider disclosed that the gunmen initially demanded money in order to allow them to shoot at the location.

The content creator was said to have given the armed men N2,000. However, what transpired that led to the shooting of the cast members remains unknown.

It was gathered some of the cast members who ran for safety suffered injuries.

Some users close to Emmanuel took to X to mourn the deceased while demanding justice.

“Chidike Emmanuel Obinna I have known you since 2018 You are such a calm and kind soul You couldn’t attend my wedding because you were far away but you sent me your gift #Justiceforchidi,” Helen wrote.

On her part, Rakeli added: “Obinna Chidike Emmanuel, please don’t die please. Pick my calls, reply my chat and tell me all that I am hearing is a lie. Biko I am loosing my mind”.

Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, to comment on the matter have been abortive.

Calls and messages to Adeh’s phone have not been responded to, as of the time of this report.

The development comes a few weeks after Junior Pope passed away after a boat accident on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state.

The actor and some crew members were heading to a movie location when the boat accident occurred.

His family disclosed that the actor’s final rites will be held on May 17.

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Police Arrest Man ‘Strapped With Bomb’ Inside Bank In Plateau

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14 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

The individual was arrested at a bank in Dadin Kowa town, which is in Jos South LGA of the state, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad region. According to the article, the incident happened on May 13.

Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the individual intended to set off the explosives at the bank, but a vigilante officer noticed him and alerted the authorities.

According to the publication, an enraged mob encircled the suspect after he was captured and demanded that he be murdered.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children, mostly girls, were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

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