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Subsidy removal: Senate summons Kyari over fuel subsidy expenditure
The Senate on Tuesday resolved to invite the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to brief them on its under recovery expenditures and the company’s position on subsidy removal of the present administration.
This was coming after the adoption of a motion on the “Need to Investigate the Controversial Huge Expenditure on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) under the Subsidy/Under Recovery Regime by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)”.
The motion was sponsored by Senator Chinwuba Patrick (Imo East).
The Senate also resolved to “mandate the Committee on Downstream Petroleum Sector (when constituted) to constantly monitor, scrutinize and approve Midstream and Downstream spending of the NNPCIL; and
“Urge the NNPCL, in conjunction with some major international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria, to form three different consortium and build three refineries, one each to stabilize our oil market, give value to our currency and stabilize our economy.
Earlier Senator Chinwuba noted that the Federal Government, in its fight against corruption and in order to plug the presumed highly proliferated leakages, wastages and slippages surrounding the fuel subsidy as well as in an attempt to end the controversial subsidy regime, on May 11, 2016, announced increase in fuel pump price from N87 to between N135 and N145 per litre.
He said at the inauguration of the present Government on May 29, 2023, the President took a bold step to announce the total removal of “fuel subsidy”, noting that the scheme has “increasingly favoured the rich ¾more than the poor”.
According to the Imo senator, the Federal Government’s interest in exiting the subsidy regime was in line with its policy to reduce cost of governance, and desire to eliminate corrupt practices surrounding the scheme through diversion and smuggling of the products into border countries as well as introduce fair competition in the Downstream Sector.
“NNPCL within the period of subsidy exit attempt, substituted the term “subsidy” with “under recovery” without any recourse to the National Assembly or supervision by any other arm of the government.
He observed that “while NNPCL within 10 years, 2006 and 2015, claimed about N170 billion as under recovery, the same NNPCL within 13 months, January 2018 to January 2019 claimed a whopping sum of N843.121billion as under recovery
“Concerned that the then Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) published in its website, figures that contradicted NNPCL’s daily under recovery claims within the same period;
“The Federal Government appropriated N1.42 trillion and N4.3 trillion for petrol subsidy in 2021 and 2022 respectively while N3.6 trillion was appropriated for petrol subsidy for 6 months ending in June, 2023
“Worried that the NNPCL’s arbitrary and unsupervised direct deductions from the country’s crude oil revenue without recourse to any enabling law contravenes Section 89 (1c and 1d) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and does not speak well of the good intentions of the Federal Government, especially in its fight against corruption.
“Also worried that the uninvestigated and alarming cost of under recovery/direct deductions by NNPCL without necessary checks, has led to great misunderstanding of the Government’s good intension on subsidy removal”.
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CUPP lampoon Reps over move to investigate Ugochinyere, others for visit to Fubara

**Calls for reversal of the ill-informed Move by the House of reps
The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has Condemned the attempt by the House of Representatives to refer Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and other members to the Committee On Ethics for probe over their Solidarity Visit to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Fifty members of the House of Representatives hadq paid a solidarity visit to the Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to celebrate his one year in office.
The lawmakers, who consist of members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP), Labour Party ( LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP), All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) also include the spokesman of opposition coalition, in the House, Ikenga Ugochinyere..
Ugochinyere had explained on the sideline of the thanksgiving service in Port Harcourt that federal lawmakers were in Rivers to solidarilize with Fubara and celebrate with him on his one year of transformational leadership.
But the House had referred the Honourable members to the Committee on Ethics for disciplinary action over their visit
However, the chairman,
Media Committee of the
Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) Chief Barr. Chukwudi Ezeobika in a statement has tackled the leadership of the House for the action which he said clearly cast doubt on its integrity in the observance and or adherence to the laws which they enact/promulgate.
“Relying on the point of order/ privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi of the All Progressives Congress, Plateau State to arrive at such decision is erroneous and grossly misleading.
“The House, by this very action, has impugned on the integrity and sacredness of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) especially Sections 39 and 40 which guarantee Freedom of Expression and the Press as well as that of Peaceful Assembly and Association respectively.
“We, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), hereby call on the leadership of the House of Representatives to, without further delay retract its ongoing steps in the purported probe of these Honourable members by its Ethics Committee and not engage in any act that may violate the fundamental rights of its members or any member of the public.
News
Kano Police counter reports that Emir Bayero will lead Jumma’t prayer

the Kano State Police Command has countered reports that Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano, where Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi, Emir of Kano, leading prayer at the moment.
The reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have been laying claim to the throne, creating confusion in the city.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf had dethroned Ado Bayero and asked him to hand over within 48 hours.
But the dethroned monarch in defiance returned to the town under military protection and has been operating from the mini palace since then.
In a statement by Abdullahi Kiyawa, spokesman of Kano Police Command, said, “The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
“The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
“Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.”
The emirate tussle has continued to linger since the reinstatement of Sanusi and dissolution of the five emirates.
There have been cnflicting court orders for and against
Based on the conflicting orders, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, had summoned the head of the Federal High high Court and Kano Chief Judge.
The Police statement reads,
KANO STATE POLICE COMMAND
31ST MAY, 2024
The Kano State Police Command is hereby advising all residents to disregard the false information circulating on social media that Emir Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero will lead Jumma’t Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque, Kano.
2. The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.
3. The CP also assured that the Police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the Palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jumma’at Prayers.
4. Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the Police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property.
SP ABDULLAHI HARUNA KIYAWA, ANIPR, MNISMA,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATONS OFFICER,
FOR: COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KANO STATE COMMAND.
News
Royal turbulence gets messier as emirs Sanusi II, Bayero move to hold prayer at Palace Mosque

As the royal turbulence continue to shake the foundation of the city of Kano, the ancient city is tension soaked as the two contending Emirs- the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II and the dethroned Emir Aminu Ado Bayero, have indicated their determination to hold Jumaat prayers at the Palace Central Mosque.
A press statement issued Thursday night, signed by Danburan Kano, Munir Sanusi Bayero, spelt out the itinerary of the reinstated Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II to the Mosque to lead the Jumaat Prayers.
The statement explained that Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II, who resides in the Palace, and is closer to the contending Mosque, is expected to lead the two rakat Friday prayers.
Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II has been leading the Jumaat Prayers at the Palace Central Mosque as the Amir of the City, a statement explained.
The statement by Danburan invited Kano residents to come and listen to the sermon to be delivered by the Emir Malam Muhammadu Sanusi II.
However, another statement from an aide of the deposed Emir, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero invited residents to join him at the Emir’s Palace Friday Mosque to observe the Juma’at prayer.
It stated that the movement to the Emir’s Palace Mosque starts at 12.30 pm.
However, the police are yet to comment on the development.
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