By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on the Federal Government to introduce a temporary cap on petrol prices to prevent further increases that it says are worsening the cost-of-living crisis for millions of Nigerians. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said while global oil market volatility linked to the crisis in the Middle East may be contributing to the latest price hikes, the government must act to protect citizens from the impact.

The ADC also urged the introduction of targeted palliatives for low-income Nigerians and criticised the Federal Government’s plan to distribute 100,000 CNG conversion kits, noting that the figure represents less than one percent of Nigeria’s over 11 million vehicles and questioning the limited availability of CNG refuelling stations across the country.

The full statement read:

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) calls on the Federal Government to immediately introduce a temporary and time-bound cap on petrol prices to prevent further increases that continue to push the cost of living beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians.

Recent hikes in petrol prices reflect rising volatility in global oil markets, driven in part by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. However, the African Democratic Congress believes that external shocks cannot justify allowing fuel prices to spiral without restraint in an already fragile economy, one that continues to reel from the consequences of the Tinubu-led APC government’s abrupt removal of the fuel subsidy.

For everyday Nigerians, petrol determines the price of food, transportation, and survival. When petrol rises, everything else rises with it. This is why the African Democratic Congress urges the Federal Government to take urgent action to stabilize petrol prices. For once, the APC-led federal government should try to be responsible by taking responsibility for protecting citizens from the harshest consequences of the ongoing fuel price hikes.

We also call on the government to introduce targeted palliatives, particularly for low-income Nigerians who are most-affected by the impact of rising fuel prices.

The government must look beyond temporary solutions to real, scalable answers to Nigeria’s energy challenges. This is why the African Democratic Congress questions the practicality of the Federal Government’s recently announced plan to distribute 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits.
Nigeria has over 11 million vehicles on its roads. When placed in context, 100,000 CNG kits would reach less than one percent of the nation’s vehicle fleet.

A policy that touches only a fraction of vehicles cannot meaningfully address a national fuel crisis. Beyond that, the number of CNG refueling stations across the country remains extremely limited, raising serious questions about accessibility for ordinary Nigerians. If Nigerians cannot easily find where to refuel, then the policy risks becoming an announcement without real impact.

The African Democratic Congress therefore urges the Federal Government to pursue a more credible and comprehensive energy strategy that protects Nigerians from extreme fuel price shocks. Nigeria is an oil-producing country, and it should not be a place where the cost of petrol repeatedly pushes millions of citizens deeper into hardship

At a time of rising global uncertainty, protecting the welfare of citizens must remain the first duty of any government that knows what they are doing.

By Our Correspondent

Following the current increase in Petroleum pump price in the country,Motorists and other commuters in Owerri Imo State Capital parked their vehicles and resorted to trekking.

This development gave rise to most motorists and other commuters especially civil servants resort to trekking and walking to their places of businesses and work.

However, as at tuesday, the pump price of fuel which used to be ₦890, and ₦900 in some petrol stations now sale at ₦1,350 per litre while the pump price of diesel sales far more than the PMS price

Reacting to the sudden hike in fuel prices commuters and some petrol station operators claim that, ” it is not our fault but the government should explain the situation ”

Meanwhile, the increament has given rise to the upward adjustment of prices of goods and services particularly of food items.

Most people spoken to however called on the federal government to consider the economic plight on the people quickly intervene to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

A former President, Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Engr. Udengs Eradiri, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ignore persons calling for the cancellation of the oil and gas security surveillance contract awarded to the Tantita Security Services (TSS).

Eradiri asserted that unprogressive elements, enemies of Nigeria and conflict merchants were behind such calls insisting that such individuals were only interested in returning the Niger Delta to the dark era of unchecked illegal oil bunkering, violence and bloodshed.

Eradiri, who was the Secretary-General of IYC during the militancy era, said it was shocking that some people could out of jealousy and hatred for Tompolo, the founder of TSS, be against the firm that had done a lot to stabilize the security and peace of the region.

He described the Tantita’s surveillance contract as one of the positive things inherited and sustained by the Tinubu’s administration saying it had stopped the conflicts that led to the decline in oil production.

He said such persons were not happy that the activities of Tompolo and Tantita had stabilised the region making it one of the most peaceful zones in the country.

Eradiri, a former Commissioner for Youths and later Environment in Bayelsa State, recalled that prior to the contract, the IYC, the Ijaw National Congress (INC) and other agitators had clamored for local participation in the protection of oil and gas facilities in their domains.

He said the government listened to the agitations and chose to engage Tompolo and his company because of his high level of community engagements, organisation, discipline and self-sacrifice.

Eradiri noted that since Tompolo and his partners including Mathew Tonlagha of Malon Engineering took over the contract, they had ensured that its benefits trickle down to the least stakeholders in the Niger Delta to give everyone a sense of belonging.

He said such individuals were also belly-aching that the Managing Director of Tantita, Keston Pondei, and Mathew Tonlagha had displayed enviable generosity in reaching out to the less privileged and committing resources to solve their problems in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

Eradiri, a Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineering (NSE) said Tantita had provided jobs for thousands of stakeholders mainly youths across all the nine states of the Niger Delta adding that the company had empowered many people with decent lifestyles.

He said for some years, the yuletide in the Niger Delta and traveling along major roads in the region especially the East-West Road had remained the most peaceful, attributing the development to the engagement of the youths by Tantita.

Besides, Eradiri argued that the political enemies of President Tinubu were sponsoring the campaign against Tantita because they saw Tompolo’s love for the President and his desire to deliver bloc votes for the President as a threat to their 2027 ambition.

He appealed to the President to consider the gains already achieved by Tantita and seek ways of expanding the contract instead of either shrinking or cancelling it.

Eradiri reminded the President that persons attacking Tantita had chosen to feign ignorance of where the country and the Niger Delta came from and would be nowhere to be found when the chips were down.

He said: “Tantita Security Service that is providing security for oil gas infrastructures in the Niger Delta is one of the positive things that the administration has sustained. It came about from the conflict that had led to the decline of oil production in the region and the government wanted a permanent solution to the problem.

“The ijaw youths council and the agitators in the region had constantly talked about participating in the activities of the region. The government decided to hand it over to the people of the region. But you must deal with somebody and Tompolo displayed the discipline and the organisation to be able to transact with the federal government and that is what I think the federal government did at the time and it had seen oil production go up and restored investor confidence.

“Many foreign investments are coming into the Niger Delta and it is already creating a lot of engagements and jobs for our people. If anybody is supporting the cancellation of that contract, the person does not mean well for our country. It is surprising that people will bring such issue, discussing it and suggesting that it should be cancelled.

“These people don’t know where we are coming from and when the chips are down you will never find them. I call on the President to ignore such calls. Let’s look at the gains we have made versus where we are coming from. Are we making progress? Yes, we are. Are the young people engaged?

“In fact in Bayelsa, in Rivers, Imo, Edo, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Abia many young people are involved. Many of them are living a decent life because of what Tompolo is doing. Many people will take this job, keep the money to themselves and become lords in the region”.

Eradiri said the discipline so far displayed by Tompolo deserved to be studied adding that despite the resources available at his disposal, he chose to live with his people in the communities, always strategizing to keep the peace

Tompolo has remained in his community. You hardly find him in the city or see him in enjoyment areas. He rather prefers to stay in the community to keep strategizing on securing the infrastructures and keeping the peace in the region. It is rare to see someone exposed to that kind of resources and still discipline himself.

“You talk about Chief Mathew Tonlagha, the Managing Director of Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited. This is a man that had distinguished himself in engineering and construction in the oil and gas sector over the years. He has been a worthy partner in deepening the peace in the Niger Delta”.