By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has announced the suspension of the 15 per cent ad-valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), also known as petrol and diesel.

A statement by George Ene-Ita, Director of the Public Affairs Department, stated this on Thursday.

Recall that the introduction of the 15% import duty had generated mixed reactions in the downstream industry.

The president’s approval of the duty was contained in a letter with reference no: PRES8197/HAGF/100/71/FIRS/40/88-2/NMDPRA/2, dated 21 October.

The letter was addressed to the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The letter, titled ‘Re: introduction of a market-responsive import tariff framework on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) & Diesel,’ was signed by Damilotun Aderemi, the Private Secretary to the President.
The president’s approval followed a request by FIRS Chairman, Zacch Adedeji for the government to apply the tariff to align import costs with domestic realities.

Adedeji said the duty, applied to the Cost, Insurance, and Freight (CIF) value, is expected to increase petrol prices by approximately N99.72 per litre.

However the Authority assured the public that there is adequate supply of petroleum products across the country, maintaining volumes within the acceptable national sufficiency threshold during this peak demand period.

“The Authority wishes to use this opportunity to advise against any hoarding, panic buying or non-market reflective escalation of prices of petroleum products.

“It should also be noted that the implementation of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on imported Premium Motor Spirit and Diesel is no longer in view,” the statement said.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, has assured that Lieutenant Ahmad Yerima, the naval officer who engaged in a heated exchange with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, will not face any disciplinary action.

Matawalle gave the assurance while speaking in an interview with DCL Hausa following public speculations about possible sanctions against the officer after a video of his confrontation with Wike went viral on social media.

In the video, recorded during Wike’s visit to a disputed plot of land in Gaduwa District, Abuja, the FCT minister was seen in a tense verbal exchange with the young naval officer, who stood his ground respectfully during the encounter.

The FCT minister was at Plot 1946 on Monday where he accused soldiers of preventing officials from the FCT Department of Development Control from enforcing a stop-work order.

The land is allegedly linked to a former Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo (rtd). However, the soldiers stationed at the site blocked the minister’s entry prompting the confrontation. Wike later claimed that the developers lacked valid documents or legal approval for the construction on the site.

Reacting to the incident, Matawalle said the matter should have been handled through proper channels rather than through a public altercation.

“The minister should not have confronted him. Lieutenant Yerima was acting on orders. If Wike had any concerns, he should have spoken to his superiors or to me directly since I oversee naval affairs,” Matawalle said.

He commended Yerima’s composure during the confrontation, describing his conduct as disciplined and professional.

“You can clearly see that he was respectful while standing his ground. As far as we are concerned, he did not break any law or military regulation,” the minister added.

Matawalle also disclosed that the Chief of Naval Staff has commenced an investigation into the disputed land, while clarifying that no formal complaint has yet been received from the FCT Minister.

“This whole situation was avoidable. Before the minister went there, he had already spoken with the Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Naval Staff, who assured him that the matter would be looked into,” Matawalle said.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has said he will not compel his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, to join him in the All Progressives Congress.

Diri was formally received into the APC on November 3, after resigning from the Peoples Democratic Party on October 15.

His deputy had previously sought a court injunction to prevent the state House of Assembly from impeaching him over his refusal to join the APC.

Addressing the State Executive Council meeting at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday, with Ewhrudjakpo present, Diri said he believes in engagement rather than confrontation as a matter of principle.

He noted that while it is challenging for them to belong to different political parties, ongoing discussions with his deputy are yielding positive results.

Diri disclosed that the case filed by Ewhrudjakpo at the Federal High Court in Abuja to halt a purported impeachment plan had been discontinued following their discussions.

He urged the people of the state to embrace unity and see politics as a means to promote development rather than sow division.

He said, “Let me address an issue that has been a subject of speculation in the media. I do not intend to force people to join the APC but rather to appeal to them to see reason with me. I might have the power today, but not tomorrow.

“It is actually difficult for the governor to be on one side and the deputy on another. But we will continue to talk, and we might end up at the same party tomorrow.

“We must not heat up the polity. We are done with violence in Bayelsa State. We are brothers and we are one. Politics should be for the development of the state and not to fight one another.”

Responding to reports of armed men allegedly arriving in the state, Diri dismissed the rumours as fake news, but assured all that security agencies have been put on the alert to address any threats.

He reaffirmed Bayelsa as one of the most secure states in the country and urged residents to report security issues to relevant authorities rather than spreading falsehoods on social media.

During the meeting, the state Commissioner for Health, Prof. Seiyefa Brisibe, presented Diri with recognition of Bayelsa as the “Best State in Health Insurance Service Delivery” by the Nigeria Governors Forum.