Senate summons customs boss for refusal to comply with resolution (Read full details)

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‘Ali must appear in customs uniform’

The Senate yesterday asked Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, to appear before it next Wednesday to explain his refusal to comply with its earlier resolution which asked him to reverse the agency’s decision to punish vehicle owners without proper clearance papers.

The Upper Legislative Chamber unanimously adopted a resolution yesterday inviting the customs helmsman for questioning on why he ignored the resolution.

Adopting a motion raised by Senator Dino Melaye (APC, Kogi West), the senate was particularly irked by remarks credited to Ali in which he was alleged to have questioned the powers of the senate to give the Customs Service orders.

The senate directed Ali to appear in plenary in appropriate customs uniform, adding that it would not allow him access to the chamber without his uniform.

It also passed a similar resolution last week directing the NCS to stop its plans to penalise Nigerians whose vehicles do not have proper customs clearance papers.

The resolution followed a motion moved by the Deputy Leader, Bala Na’Allah, who described the new customs policy as a serious matter.The Senate resolved that the service should put on hold actions until the agency appears before its Committee on Customs.

But displaying a newspaper publication to senators at Thursday plenary, Melaye drew the attention of his colleagues to what he called Ali’s display of impunity and arrogance.

Ruling on the motion, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over plenary said part of their responsibility was to maintain peace at all times.

Ekweremadu noted that the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Walter Onnoghen, while appearing before it said the major problem we face in this country is the culture of impunity, stressing that while the fight against corruption was ongoing, everyone must fight impunity.

He said: “We cannot allow impunity to take roots in this country. Today we are talking about vehicles that were imported many years ago but we forget that there are beds in our rooms that were prohibited but were imported.”

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday condemned in strong terms, continued flaring of gas in the country, saying it was the most dangerous environmental and energy waste practice in the petroleum industry. Accordingly, a bill to prohibit gas flaring, sponsored by Senator Albert Bassey, scaled second reading on the floor of the senate

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IWPG harps on dangers of female genital mutilation (Read full details)

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The International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) yesterday stressed the importance of women and the strategic roles they play in society with an injunction that Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) is dangerous to the health of women in all climes and cultures.

This was the focus of this year’s IWPG forum, held in Lagos to commemorate the International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme: Female Genital Mutilation. It also doubled as workshop for women and girls in society.

The South Korean-based non-governmental organisation (NGO) was founded by Mrs. Nam Hee Kim to foster peace in the society through women.

Representative of IWPG in Nigeria, Kemi Olalokun, said the group comprises women who embrace life with a motherly heart for peace and well-being of women around the world.

She pointed out that all women in the world were becoming one to end wars globally so that the younger generations were no longer sacrificed in wars.

“The group looks into women’s welfare, protection of the female gender. The reason being that when there is war, women and the girl-child are always the victims. This is the reason why women should be enlightened to know their rights and try to follow peace,” she said.

Olalokun restated that female genital mutilation must be stopped because the way they go about it was wrong, adding: “They use the same tools for dozens of women. It is disastrous and we must stop it.”

Speaking on ways the IWPG improves the lot of the Nigerian women, President of Health for the Aging Foundation, Jumoke Kolawole, who is also member of IPWG said: “We create awareness through workshops and empowerment programmes for members.”

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Reps to meet South African lawmakers over xenophobic attacks (Read full details)

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House of Representatives

• Malami, Adeosun, Emefiele’s absence stalls probe of legal fees
• Summon NNPC, oil players for alleged $1b products’ diversions

The House of Representatives yesterday constituted a six-member delegation to visit South Africa and interface with its parliament over the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians.

The House leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, ahead of a five-day trip to South Africa explained that the delegation would find lasting solutions to the perennial xenophobic violence often targeted at Nigerians.

He disclosed that the delegation comprising the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Nnena Elendu-Ukeje would push for the compensation of Nigerians whose properties worth N84 million were destroyed in the recent xenophobic attacks.

Elendu-Ukeje, representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State said: “We will be looking at pieces of legislation that says to them that they must resist structural racism, xenophobia. We will be reminding them that they are signatories to the United Nations treaties against xenophobia and racism.

“We will be reminding them that silence is complicity. I don’t see how that can fail because we are taking a message to them. Now in the event that now fails, we shall be reminding them that retaliation is only to the mutual detriment of both countries. And we will be reminding them of their businesses in Nigeria.”

Gbajabiamila explained that the delegation would also preoccupy itself with the task of engaging the South African parliament and other authorities on areas of mutual benefit and how much both countries could lose from xenophobia and possible retaliatory actions or severing of diplomatic ties.

Meanwhile, the absence of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami and his counterpart in the finance ministry, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun yesterday stalled the probe into alleged diversion of $86 million legal fees due to the legal firm Edwards and Partners that facilitated the recovery of $3.189 billion from the Paris and London Club.

The absence of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the acting chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Ibrahim Magu and his counterpart of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) did not help matters as the chairman of the House committee on public petition, Mr. Nkem Uzoma Abonta saddled with the responsibility to resolve the issue had to postpone hearing on the issue sine die.

Abonta maintained there was no way he could commence work on the issue without the presence of both Adeosun and Emefiele who played “principal” roles over the alleged diversion of the monies.
He threatened to issue a warrant to compel their physical appearance if within 48 hours they fail to notify the committee on when to make themselves available.

Also, the House of Representatives ad-Hoc committee on the review of petroleum pump price yesterday invited Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and some major oil companies to appear before it next week to explain alleged diversions of products amounting to $1 billion.

According to the committee chaired by Raphael Nnana Igbokwe, the head of the division of the corporation in charge of crude oil marketing and sales, is to turn up with the management of Oando Plc to further give insight into its role in the recent upward review of PMS in the country.

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Women urged to do more networking, seize every opportunity to grow (Read full details)

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Chairperson, Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), Aisha Ahmad (right), Director, Special Duties, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Hajiya Lami Tomaka, Chairman/Publisher, Guardian Newspapers, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru, Executive member, WIMBIZ, Funmi Robert and Guest Speaker, Mo Abudu at the WIMBIZ Annual Lecture tagged Bold Steps in the Face of Uncertainty held at Muson Centre, Lagos…yesterday PHOTO: FEMI ADEBESIN-KUTI

Nigerian women in business have been advised to support one another to grow by employing women over men as a way to fix the patriarchal problems in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of EbonyLife TV, Mosunmola Abudu, made the call yesterday in Lagos at the ‘Women In Business (WIMBIZ) annual lecture tagged, “Bold steps in the face of uncertainty.”

Addressing WIMBIZ heavyweights, which include the Chairperson, Aisha Ahmad, Chairman/Publisher, Guardian Newspapers, Lady Maiden Alex-Ibru and Funmi Robert, executive member and others, Abudu said if women were to succeed in a men-dominated society, they have to put in twice the efforts of men, adding, “People may not always buy into your dreams, there are the dream killers as well as the dream makers, and in most cases, the strangers that walk into one’s life are the ones that help one to progress and succeed.”

According to her, her TV show, Moments with Mo was aimed at promoting Nigerian culture, featuring male and female entrepreneurs and showcasing them to the rest of the world. “It is sad that we have left the narratives of who we are for so long, for someone to tell us who we are, this was why we launched EbonyLife TV.’’

Still on her success story, she said though this period is the longest recession the country had experienced in 25 years, her film, The wedding party was a hit, all thanks to her crew. She advised the women to always find the right people to work with in their businesses, encouraging them to put in their best through good remuneration of staff.

The mother of two while fielding questions from the audience said that it was difficult being a working mother, but advised that one should just find the best option that works. “I would always make sure that when my children need me, they come first, because children would always understand and appreciate when the mother is working hard. I make the effort to spend more time with them, and if I have to leave whatever I am doing today for them, believe me I would,” she added.

She advised the women to strive to make their business recognizable in the global space, rhetorically asking, “How relatable is your business, what are your marketing strategy, and what are you doing to ensure that your business grows?’’

Urging women to be more creative and leave no stone unturned in looking for opportunities, she advised her audience to seek profitable partnerships, engage and interact more with like minds. Describing herself as a serial entrepreneur, she said not everyone is cut out to be an entrepreneur but are meant to be a part of a team and should strive to do their best wherever they find.

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Rift in government over U.S. travel ban (Read full details)

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PHOTO: LinkedIn

• Foreign minister says no Nigerian killed in xenophobia attacks
• Wake up to your responsibility, group charges Onyeama

The statement credited to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, urging Nigerians to disregard another presidential directive to steer clear of the United States (U.S.) pending the clarification of its immigration policy is now a subject of controversy.

Speaking in Abuja, the minister had maintained that there was no basis for such caution, as the relationship between both nations remained cordial. But some Nigerians yesterday picked holes in Onyeama’s position saying there was enough evidence that US-bound Nigerians with valid visas were being returned on “next available flights.”

The office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Abike Dabiri-Erewa had on Monday issued a statement urging Nigerians who do not have pressing needs to shun the U.S. It also claimed that citizens with valid documents were being denied entry.

The conflicting directives from two top officials of the administration obviously underscore a lack of cohesion in information dissemination within the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.

The minister dismissed the earlier information and enjoined the media to limit their sources of information on foreign affairs matters to either the spokespersons of the president or their counterparts at the ministry.

He said: “On the trendy news that Nigeria should be wary of the U.S., this is not the case. If government is speaking about international relations, the most authoritative foreign affairs issues’ sources are the media team of the presidency or the ministry.

“The American leader recently called President Muhammadu Buhari to congratulate him on the good work he is doing and extended a hand of assistance to Nigeria.

“It is business as usual between Nigeria and the U.S., and a very good business too. Anything else you hear is incorrect. So, any Nigerian with valid documents should travel.”

But the Nigerian Coalition For Quality Governance, a non-governmental organisation, yesterday accused the minister of “parading the corridors of the country’s media establishments in his effort to deny and dismiss the effects of the Executive Order of the US President Donald Trump banning nationals of select countries from the United States despite their possession of valid US visa.” The group agreed that “Nigeria is not officially among the countries whose citizens have been banned from entering the US, but noted that “enough evidence has already surfaced that not a few Nigerians had been put on the next available planes from the US airports back to Nigeria despite their possession of all travelling documents including the US entry visa.”

To the group, Mr. Onyeama’s denial that Nigerians have been affected by the US president’s Executive Order “may not have been unconnected with the Travel Advisory issued over the weekend by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa that advised Nigerians who have no compelling or urgent reason to travel to the US to postpone their travel plans until the new administration’s policy on immigration is clear.”

Dabiri-Erewa’s advisory had added that “in the last few weeks, the office has received a few cases of Nigerians with valid multiple-entry US visas being denied entry and sent back to Nigeria” with “no reasons…given for the decision by the US immigration authorities.”

“It does not really matter,” Dabiri-Erewa yesterday told The Guardian on telephone while insisting that she has good working relationship with the Minister. Although she would not respond to the minister’s comments, she said the most important thing was for the media to analyse her message to Nigerians. “My message is to Nigerians (and) I can give two examples of people returned to Nigeria. Even schools in the US are telling people not to travel because they may not be able to return.”

A public commentator and journalist, Mr. Dele Agakemeh, had on a television programme Tuesday morning painted a picture of how his friend was denied entry into the United States and returned in next available flight to Nigeria through Johannesburg.

“While we’re not questioning the right of the Foreign Minister to an issue that borders on foreign policy as this, Mr. Onyeama has undoubtedly put the wrong foot forward in calling on Nigerians to ignore this Travel Advisory in the face of verifiable evidence that Nigerians are being unfairly targeted and included in the dragnet of the US immigration authorities,” the Nigerian Coalition For Quality Governance said in its statement yesterday.

On the reports that some Nigerians were turned back from a U.S airport, Onyeama dismissed the claims, saying nothing of such was received from Nigerian embassies. He added that he had engaged the U.S. consulate in Nigeria, which equally denied the allegation.

Onyeama continued: “We have embassies and consulates in the U.S. which we rely on for information. We have absolutely no report from them that any Nigerian has been returned from a U.S. airport.”

The minister also refuted earlier reports that over 100 Nigerians were killed in the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

According to him, no such information was received from the Nigerian High Commission in that country.

“Figures are being bandied about the number of Nigerians killed in South Africa. No Nigerian was killed in the country in the course of the xenophobic attacks.”

Onyeama added that since the incident began, the Federal Government had engaged its South African counterpart in “trying to ensure that the incident does not repeat itself.”

He noted that he would be leading a delegation to the country over the matter and brief Nigerians appropriately after returning.

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Saraki hints at legislative solution to farmers/ herdsmen clashes

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From the National Assembly comes a promise of legislative antidote to the deadly and perennial attacks by herdsmen on farming communities in the country.

President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, broke the cheering news in Gboko Benue State, while delivering his remarks at the coronation ceremony of the new Tor Tiv, His Majesty, the Begha U Tiv, Orchivirigh Professor Ortese Iorzua James Ayatse.

Saraki noted that the Senate was paying serious attention to Bills, which were aimed at reversing the negative trends in the agricultural sector stressing that the much needed economic diversification to put the national economy back on track would remain a mirage if violent clashes continued.

Earlier, Governor Samuel Ortom, called for assistance from the Federal Government to curb the menace, disclosing that a bill for the establishment of ranches by cattle owners to reduce conflicts with farmers was in the works at the Benue State House of Assembly.

Ortom explained that when passed into law, the ranches would forestall the incessant clashes between farmers and herders in the state.

In his speech, the new Tor Tiv, said his regime would pay more attention to addressing issues of moral decadence, falling standard of education, and security challenges.

It would be recalled that in November 2016, the Senate rejected a Bill seeking the establishment of National Ranches Commission for Regulation, Preservation and Control of Ranches.

The Senate also jettisoned another Bill that sought to establish Grazing Management Agency, which will ensure the creation of grazing areas across the country. While the Grazing Reserve Bill, was sponsored by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano Central), his Benue Northeast counterpart sponsored the Ranches Commission Bill.

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Nishikori battles into Buenos Aires final…See full details

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Japan's tennis player Kei Nishikori returns the ball to Argentina's Carlos Berlocq during their Argentina Open semifinal singles match at the Lawn Tennis Club in Buenos Aires on February 18, 2017. PHOTO: Alejandro PAGNI / AFP

Japanese top seed Kei Nishikori reached his second final of 2017 with a gruelling 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq at the Buenos Aires clay court tournament.

World number five Nishikori needed two hours 45 minutes to see off wild card Berlocq, the 34-year-old world number 77 to set-up a Sunday title showdown against Ukraine’s Aleksandr Dolgopolov who beat Spanish fourth seed Pablo Carreno-Busta 7-5, 6-2.

Nishikori made the final on hard court in Brisbane in January but was beaten by Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in three sets.

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Commodity prices to go up (Read full details)

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• As Rising Cost Of Energy, Inflation Strain Production
• Manufacturers Blame Govt’s Inaction

As rising cost of energy and inflationary pressure continue to affect operations of many manufacturers, local operators are already considering an upward review in commodity prices, even as value-chain operators increase export to earn foreign exchange.

Operators have equally blamed economic managers for the woes currently experienced in the country, noting that the economic fundamentals of the country are not so bad when weighed alongside the level of uncertainty created by inaction and absence of fiscal policies.

Already, cement manufacturers are considering another increase in the price of the commodity from N2300 at the end of August last year, to about N2600, while producers of other consumable goods are towing the same line.

Cement Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (CMAN) had last year raised prices of brands by N600 or 44 per cent per bag in factories, including additional N100 cost for haulage. This increased retail prices from N1, 600 to N2, 300 depending on location. In some areas, prices have shot up to N2, 350 or higher.

The Guardian learnt that the hike is not unconnected to difficult operating environment.

Indeed, many operators that hitherto never had challenges with energy costs have expressed worry about the rising costs of operations amidst lull in the economy, rising inflation and dwindling consumer-buying power.

Although, the Automotive Gasoil (AGO) marketing industry, otherwise known as diesel has been deregulated, sustaining operations at N265 per litre for many businesses and $7.56 for one standard cubic metre of gas for gas users, instead of $2.56, has become unbearable.

Speaking on the prevailing economic challenges, Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Muda Yusuf stated that the hike should be expected considering the price of diesel when weighed against the cost of operations and logistics.

He added that there is need for economic managers to address the growing concerns, which are becoming unbearable for the common man on daily basis.

President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Frank Jacobs decried the state of the operating environment and lack of infrastructure.

“The price of gas has been increased from what it used to be and it is also being charged in dollars despite being produced locally.  This has also increased the cost of production and this will also affect the prices of commodities. Coupled with inflation, producers are going through a lot.

The wide margin in foreign exchange is a concern for producers,” he said.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) had noted that the 18.72 per cent rise in inflation rate in January makes it the 12th straight monthly increase in the inflation rate and the highest in more than 11 years, and was driven by surges in food, transport and electricity.

A separate food index also rose to 17.82 per cent from 17.39 per cent in December, the statistics office said.

According to the Bureau, the faster pace of growth in headline inflation, year on year, were recorded in the following products; bread and cereals, meat, fish, oils and fats, potatoes, yams and other tubers, wine and spirits, clothing materials and accessories, electricity, cooking gas, liquid and solid fuels, motor cars and maintenance, vehicle spare parts and fuels and lubricants, for personal transport equipment, passenger transport by road.

Furthermore, a review of audited financial reports of many of the firms for the 2016 financial year by The Guardian revealed a struggle between balancing rising input cost pressures and passing the inflationary pressures on already constrained consumers, by raising prices of some products during the period.

Some of the input cost pressures being encountered by many manufacturers border on foreign exchange losses on dollar loans, inability to access foreign exchange, high cost of production, as well as poor electricity supply and tariff hike.

Others are prolonged gas supply shortages, which forced companies to rely on more expensive backup, monetary policies, and constrained consumer purchasing power.

Similarly, the Central Bank of Nigeria said in its Purchasing Managers’ Index released during the week that the country’s manufacturing activity fell to 48.2 index points in January 2017, down from 52.0 recorded in December.

The report showed that while the manufacturing PMI dropped to 48.2 index points, the non-manufacturing PMI stood at 49.4 points, indicating a slower decline compared with the 47.1 points recorded for December 2016.

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Three die, as Lagos-bound bus plunges into Lagos canal (Read full details)

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Remains of a luxury commercial bus believed to be traveling from the Southeast, which plunged into a river in Owode-Elede, Ikorodu in Lagos State…yesterday PHOTO: BABATUNDE ATOLAGBE/BJO/NAN

At least four persons were killed and over 30 injured when a Lagos-bound luxury bus from Enugu belonging to one of the major transporters in the Southeast plunged into the Owode-Elede River in the Mile 12-Ikorodu area of Lagos yesterday morning.

At least four bodies were recovered from the scene, while 48 persons were been rescued.Adebayo Kehinde, spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), who confirmed the incidents, noted that the ill-fated bus was returning to Lagos from Abia State when the accident occurred.

Kehinde said the agency was informed about the accident around 3:23am and it swung into action immediately.He stated: “The agency received a distress call about 3.23 am today (yesterday) via the emergency toll free number 767/112 concerning a luxury bus, which was gathered to be enroute Maza-Maza from Aba, Abia state.

“According to preliminary investigations conducted at the incident scene, the bus was said to have skidded off its track while on top speed and plunged into the canal at Owode-Elede, before Mile 12, on Ikorodu road.”

Kehinde said there were 59 passengers on board the bus and those who died fell into the water, where their corpses was recovered.
“The bus, with 59 passengers on board, had 23 people injured and were treated on the spot by a joint team of LASEMA Paramedics and LASAMBUS.

“Nine out of the treated victims were taken to the Lagos State Trauma Centre at the Toll Gate for further treatment, while two adult male and one female, which include the motor boy, were recovered dead from the canal,” he said.

“The three dead bodies, bus and their belongings were handed over to the men of the Nigeria Police, Owode Division.“The agency recovered the vehicle with the aid of its heavy duty equipment crane and towed it off the road to ensure free flow of traffic,” he added.

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Government’s N21 billion fails to deliver uniform petrol price (Read full details)

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• Product sells for N175 outside Lagos, S’West
• Marketers link high prices to supply challenges
The Federal Government has spent N20.9 billion to bridge the gap in the price of petrol in seven months. But this has failed to deliver a uniform amount paid for the product across the country.

The Guardian learnt that the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF) paid as much to marketers to ease supply and harmonise product prices from May to November 2016, yet consumers in some states have been buying petrol at above the regulated price of N145 per litre.

The government’s failure to tame prices after spending such a huge sum of tax payers’ money depicts corruption and wastage in fiscal policy implementation

Since May last year, when the Federal Government fixed the pump price of petrol at N145 per litre, the product has sold for as much as N175 per litre in states like Borno, Taraba, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Yobe, Bayelsa, Kogi, Cross River and Abia.

Two weeks ago, the government ordered the immediate payment of N150 billion owed petroleum marketers for the delivery of the product across the country. This amount is supposed to take care of losses solely incurred by marketers for selling petrol at uniform prices throughout the nation.

Many who think the fund should be scrapped called for the deregulation of the downstream sub-sector.

Scrapping the fund, according to an oil and gas analyst and consultant, Ifeanyi Izeze, would eliminate fraud and racketeering of petrol which is still being sold at exorbitant prices outside Lagos.

For example, although the official price of petrol is N145 per litre, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) stated that the product sold for N152 per litre in Kwara, Bayelsa and Kebbi states in December 2016, thereby defeating the purpose of PEF. The continued payment of the money to marketers has been described by stakeholders as a waste of revenue, as those in the hinterland that are supposed to be the major beneficiaries are actually buying petrol at higher rates.

The PEF oversees petroleum-bridging activities and reimburses marketers the cost of transporting the product from supply points to retail outlets.

Stakeholders have faulted the PEF’s responsibility and called for the scrapping of the fund for not meeting its primary objective.

Petroleum marketers payment data from PEF shows that the agency paid N5,444,669,092 in May, N4,434,901,752 in June, N1,265,541,081 in July, N2,629,728,987 in August, N1,909,933,887 in September, N1,305,006,795 in October and N3,826,310,124 in November to ensure uniform pump price of petroleum products in the country.

On the need to scrap the fund, Izeze told The Guardian that what Nigerians did not know is that the northern part of the country is entirely fed by “bridged” petroleum products from the coastal depots, particularly the Atlas Cove and some private facilities mainly in the Lagos area.

He noted that the government, in the first instance, agreed to the concept of “equalisation” because it wanted fuel to sell at a uniform price anywhere in the country. “So it was meant for the good of the ordinary Nigerians. But these oil marketers and tanker owners collect the differentials and sell the same products in black markets in Lagos, abandoning the people the programme was meant to serve to their cruel fate. You see wickedness! No wonder in some parts of Nigeria, petrol sells for between N200 and N300 per litre. The riverine areas in the south are not spared in this wickedness,” he added.

Izeze called on all stakeholders, including the presidency, civil society and the National Assembly to even ascertain the extent of loss and drain by the tanker owners and their collaborating oil marketing companies.

The Managing Director of Integrated Oil and Gas Limited, Capt. Emmanuel Iheanacho, said initiating support measures like the bridging fund would create price disparity in the market. He added that the best way to get the cheapest prices in the market is by lifting all the regulations with regard to selling price.

“Once you can provide foreign exchange at a reasonable rate, you know that the price of fuel moves up and down without regard to what our policy makers wish. If there is adequate supply in the market, the prices will come down. We should come to the level where everyone who has a licence to trade issued by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) can procure the product and put in the market and the interplay of market forces will force down the price.

“If we continue to dictate prices, allow all kinds of support measures, we will create distortion which will bring about price disparity in the market.”

On scrapping of the PEF, General Manager, Corporate Services (PEF), Goddy Nnadi said it would be difficult as it helped to equalise the price of petroleum products across the states.

“If today you are selling fuel at N145 per litre in Lagos, the bridging rate from Lagos to Abuja is about N3, which would have been added to the cost of the product, but is being taken care of by the fund to be able to buy the product at the same rate,” he added.

According to Nnadi, the agency puts into consideration the location of retail outlets all over the country, how and who transports the products to the outlets and the volume that arrives there.

Nnadi added that the mandate of the board is to ensure that the uniform pricing mechanism works effectively throughout the country.

The National Operations Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mike Osatuy, cautioned against scrapping PEF, saying it had helped to regularise the price of petroleum products. “Petrol is being sold at N145 in many states in the country and this shows that the PEF fund is working. The high cost of petrol in some states is a result of supply challenges in those areas. My opinion is that the PEF should not be abolished,” he said.

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Trump drops US commitment to ‘two-state’ Mideast deal…Read full details

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leaves following meetings with US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, DC, February 15, 2017. PHOTO: SAUL LOEB / AFP

US President Donald Trump shelved Washington’s years-long quest for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Wednesday, saying he would back a single state if it led to peace.

The new president warmly welcomed Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House and hailed the “unbreakable” bond between their countries.

And while he urged Netanyahu to “hold back” from building Jewish settlements for a “little bit,” Trump broke with international consensus insisting on a future that included a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

“So I’m looking at two-state and one-state, and I like the one that both parties like. I’m very happy with the one that both parties like,” he said. “I can live with either one.”

Trump said he had thought a two-state solution “looked like it may be the easier of the two. But honestly, if Israel and the Palestinians are happy, I’m happy with the one they like the best.”

This change in the US stance was calculated to please Netanyahu and his right-wing coalition.

“I think the Palestinians have to get rid of some of that hate that they’re taught from a very young age,” Trump said, echoing Netanyahu’s argument that the Palestinians are not ready for peace.

Netanyahu had warm words for the Israeli-US alliance, and hammered home his own prerequisites for peace.

“First, the Palestinians must recognize the Jewish state. They have to stop calling for Israel’s destruction,” he said.

“Second, in any peace agreement, Israel must retain the overriding security control over the entire area west of the Jordan River.”

This region contains the entire West Bank area that would represent the heart of any Palestinian state as conceived in all previous international agreements.

– Arab capitals –

The previous US administration of Barack Obama had warned Israel that if it did not reach a two-state deal with the Palestinians, it would never reach an accommodation with the Arab world.

But Netanyahu insisted he was already developing closer security ties with his Sunni neighbors, who share Israel’s concerns about Iranian subversion and “radical Islam.”

And he urged Trump’s administration to get on board.

“For the first time in the life of my country, Arab countries in the region do not see Israel as an enemy, but increasingly as an ally,” he told Trump.

“I believe that under your leadership, this change in our region creates an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen security and advance peace.”

In a joint statement, the two sides proclaimed “a new day” in US-Israel relations and that there was “no daylight” between them.

Whatever the view in Cairo and Riyadh, the shift in Washington’s position, which was revealed overnight by a White House official, triggered Palestinian despair and consternation in international capitals.

The second-ranking official in the Palestine Liberation Organization, Saeb Erekat, denounced it as an attempt to “bury the two-state solution and eliminate the state of Palestine.”

And he implicitly warned Israelis that any single nation that emerged would not be specifically Jewish.

“There’s only one alternative,” he told a news conference. “A single democratic state that guarantees the rights of all: Jews, Muslims and Christians.”

– Victory cry –

The new US message deliberately echoed the long-standing Israeli position: no peace deal can be imposed from outside and the agenda for talks must reflect the reality on the ground.

Naftali Bennett, the right-wing leader of the hardline Jewish Home party and an opponent of any Palestinian state, cried victory.

“A new era. New ideas. No need for third Palestinian state beyond Jordan and Gaza. Big day for Israelis and reasonable Arabs,” he tweeted. “Congrats.”

But Trump’s decision flew in the face of an international consensus that any final status agreement must be based on a return to Israel’s 1967 border — albeit with land swaps.

Just five days before Trump’s January 20 inauguration, the United States was among 70 countries to endorse this vision at a peace conference in Paris.

One month before that, Obama’s UN ambassador allowed a Security Council motion that criticized Israeli settlement building to pass without the usual US veto.

Addressing a US-Israeli conference in December, the then secretary of state John Kerry called settlements a “barrier” to progress.

Under Trump, that vision appears dead, and Washington has aligned itself with Netanyahu’s government and its supporters in the right-wing settler movement.

After the White House talks, Netanyahu met with US congressional leaders in the US Capitol, where he addressed Trump’s call to slow settlement expansion.

“I think we’ll try to find a common understanding that is consistent with the pursuit of peace and security,” he said.

Speaking in Cairo after talks with Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned that “everything must be done” to preserve the two-state solution.

France, which organized the January peace conference, was also unimpressed.

Its UN ambassador Francois Delattre told reporters “our commitment to the two-state solution is stronger than ever.”

Trump has tapped son-in-law Jared Kushner and lawyer Jason Greenblatt to lead peace efforts.

Netanyahu had dinner Tuesday with Kushner — a long-time family friend — and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

Vía Uzomedia http://ift.tt/2lTcuZL