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Oil marketers counter Dangote

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Oil marketers counter Dangote

Oil marketers counter Dangote over allegation of substandard product importation

 

The Depots and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has countered the claim by Dangote Refinery that any oil importers landing petrol at a price cheaper than what the refinery is selling are importing substandard products and conniving with international traders to dump low quality products into Nigeria.

The refinery had made the claim on Sunday.

In a statement yesterday, DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, said none of its members was engaging in activities that could shortchange Nigerian fuel users by conniving with anyone to bring in low quality product into the country.

 

“We’ve said this for the umpteenth time, and it bears repeating, those in the downstream sector business of petroleum products trade are patriotic Nigerians who will not shortchange Nigerian citizens for filthy lucre. Our members are in this business to add value to the businesses of their fellow Nigerians and not to defraud them.

 

“Prices of products in the international market are dynamic as they’re dictated by prevailing circumstances at every given situation. We calculate our landing costs based on the dynamics of market forces, and the templates are always in the public domain. To claim that if the landing cost of imported product happens to be lower than that of the refinery indicates importation of low quality product is not only preposterous, but also fallacious. In any case, the management of the refinery has, until now, kept its cost and prices close to its chest and put it away from public scrutiny. “

“This type of submission, targeted at projecting our members negatively before the public, cannot help the management’s desire to have oil marketers patronise its products. What will ensure such patronage is transparency, fair play, and readiness to compete with others, including foreign refineries, on an even keel and on a level playing field.”

Adewole said the disclosure by the refinery’s management that the facility has a huge stock of 500 million litres fuel reserve came to its members as news.

“We were surprised because we believe that if the refinery has such huge stock, it’s the marketers that should be put in the know first.

‘Secondly, it was even more surprising given that the news came about the time the refinery was working on rationing what each marketer could pick from the refinery. If they had such huge stock, how is it then that they’re rationing what marketers could buy?

“On all these developments in the industry, the position of our members is very clear: we’ve always played by the rules, and we’ll continue to play by the rules. We’ll not be tired of advocating for a level playing field and a highly competitive and transparent sector that’s devoid of arm twisting and devoid of any form of dominant tendencies,” he said.

Similarly, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) said it had concluded plans to import the best quality petroleum product and sell at far cheaper prices.

The association said it was awaiting the NMDPRA to grant it import licence, saying it “has successfully incorporated a strategic business unit called PETROL.”

Its spokesman, Joseph Obele, said PETROAN had concluded plans with her foreign refinery counterparts and financial partners to import the best quality of PMS and “then sell far less than the present selling rate of PMS in Nigeria.”

He said the allegations that PETROAN would import inferior products and that an international company was trying to establish a PMS blending plant in Lagos “are all strategies for Dangote Refinery to push others out of the market…”

Also, Pinnacle Oil and Gas Limited, in a statement by its Chief Executive Officer, Bob Dickerman,  denied blending substandard petroleum products.

 

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Elegant Fashionista, Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun 3ace bags double awards

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*Elegant Fashionista, Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun 3ace bags double awards

 

Same day same event, Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun 3ace, Otun Yeyemeso of Ilaro-Yewa, President, Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation and CEO of 3ace De Current International Boutique Ireland and Nigeria has had her awards cabinet boosted by two additional awards.

The latest boosts to the award cabinet of the elegant fashionista, international entrepreneur, TikTok sensation and Facebook content creator, Adeyinka Adedokun are Most Unique Woman Icon of the Year Award and Digital Women Icon of the Year.

She received the award at the 2024 Nigeria Social Media Conference and Awards organized by Celebrity Crush Television which was held at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce (LCCI) building, Ikeja, Lagos.where she was represented by the duo of Tolu Apanisile and the Director of Operations of Faces of Yewa Indigenes Foundation, Kehinde Akinlade.

Responding after the award presentations, Kehinde Akinlade said Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun considers the social media as tool for expanding commerce, the development of ideas, initiatives and also a veritable tool for a better society.

He described the award as an icing on the cake for Chief (Princess) Adeyinka Adedokun who sees the social media as blessing enough in expanding her business empire, reaching global audience and making profit from the comfort of her home, her business offices and even the streets.

The representative of the beautiful Princess added that the award is well appreciated by the recipient and it will spur her on to continue to promote positive use of the social media as a tool for business growth, upscaling of entrepreneurial skills and for enabling a better society for all.

He said Chief Princess Adeyinka Adedokun wants a better society championed by the present generation of youths through the use of the world wide web which the social media forms an important part of. He said the the award recipient wants the youths to leave the dark side of the internet for the brighter side with contents that promote positivity as against the debasement of women, promotion of crime and other vices.

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Capacious Farms and Adron Homes Celebrate World Food Day with JSS Arts & Essay Contest, Award Top 5 Schools

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Capacious Farms and Adron Homes Celebrate World Food Day with JSS Arts & Essay Contest, Award Top 5 Schools

Capacious Farms and Adron Homes Celebrate World Food Day with JSS Arts & Essay Contest, Award Top 5 Schools

 

In celebration of World Food Day, Capacious Farms & Foods Ltd hosted the 2024 Junior Secondary School (JSS) Arts & Essay Contest Award Ceremony yesterday, with sponsorship from Adron Homes & Properties. The event, which took place at the Adron training School in Simawa, aimed to engage young minds in agriculture, creative arts, and essay writing to raise awareness about food security and sustainability.

 

The competition saw participation from 40 schools nationwide, each submitting entries focused on the future of agriculture and its role in combating food insecurity. After a rigorous judging process, five schools emerged as winners, with students from these schools receiving cash prizes, generously sponsored by the foremost real estate company in Nigeria, Adron Homes & Properties.

Capacious Farms and Adron Homes Celebrate World Food Day with JSS Arts & Essay Contest, Award Top 5 Schools

The Chief Operating Officer of Capacious Farms & Foods Chi Tola Roberts, emphasized the significance of the event in her address. “Commemorating World Food Day through this contest highlights the critical role agriculture plays in our society. Our goal is to spark an early interest in agriculture and equip students with the knowledge and motivation to pursue careers in the sector,” she stated. Roberts also announced that the contest would become an annual event, with promises of broader outreach and increased opportunities for students.

The chairman, Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking spoke passionately about Nigeria’s agricultural history and the importance of returning to its roots. “Our nation was built on agriculture. Cocoa House, one of Nigeria’s landmarks, was funded through proceeds from cocoa farming. By supporting initiatives like this, we aim to inspire the next generation to see agriculture not only as our past but as our future,” he said. Emmanuelking reiterated Adron’s commitment to supporting youth engagement in agriculture, particularly through sponsorships like those awarded at this event.

Prof. Adesegun, Chairman of the Babcock University Schools Management Board, delivered a keynote speech on the global food crisis and the importance of youth involvement. “We are facing a global challenge in food security, and the youth must be at the forefront of finding solutions. This competition is a step in the right direction, as it encourages students to think critically about the future of food and agriculture,” he remarked.

The event provided a platform for young students to showcase their artistic and literary talents, exploring themes that align with the mission of World Food Day: ending hunger and ensuring food security for all. The five winning schools were awarded cash prizes, and their students were celebrated for their exceptional creative and analytical contributions.

Capacious Farms & Foods Ltd and Adron Homes & Properties have committed to making this competition an annual event, fostering a deeper connection between Nigeria’s youth and the agricultural sector.

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Senate Orders Arrest of Julius Berger MD

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Senate Orders Arrest of Julius Berger MD Over Abandoned Projects

Senate Orders Arrest of Julius Berger MD Over Abandoned Projects

 

The Senate on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr. Peer Lubasch, following his repeated failure to appear before the Senate Committee on Works.

The resolution came after a motion was moved by the Senate Minority Whip, Senator Osita Ngwu (PDP, Enugu West), and co-sponsored by Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong (APC, Cross River South) and Mpigi Barinada (PDP, Rivers South-East).

In his motion, Senator Ngwu highlighted that Julius Berger had persistently ignored invitations to clarify issues surrounding abandoned projects and the significant increase in the cost of contracts, from N54 billion to N195 billion.

He raised concerns over the Odukpani-Itu Highway project, noting that Julius Berger had received more than N18 billion in public funds but had failed to meet targets and honor contract terms. “Despite receiving substantial public funds, Julius Berger has refused to provide details of their role in the Odukpani-Itu Highway project,” Ngwu stated.

Ngwu further pointed to discrepancies in the performance of contractors, with Julius Berger specifically singled out for not meeting expectations. He referenced the National Assembly’s constitutional powers to investigate and summon any person or organization handling public funds, as stipulated in Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.

The senator also drew attention to the alleged termination of Julius Berger’s contract for the Odukpani-Itu Highway due to its failure to accept contract review terms, despite initially agreeing to a contract worth over N54 billion. Julius Berger later sought an upward review to N195 billion, which was rejected.

Ngwu called on the Senate to invoke its constitutional powers, as outlined in Section 89(1)(c) and (d) of the 1999 Constitution, to compel Dr. Lubasch’s attendance at the rescheduled investigative hearing. Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed that a specific date for the MD’s appearance would be included in the arrest warrant.

The motion led to a heated debate in the Senate, with some senators calling for the immediate issuance of the arrest warrant. Senators Orji Uzor Kalu (APC, Abia North), Abdul Ningi (PDP, Bauchi Central), and Joel Onowakpo Thomas (APC, Delta) supported the motion. However, Senators Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), Adams Oshiomhole (APC, Edo North), and Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe North) proposed resolving the matter at the committee level to avoid unnecessary escalation.

Despite the differing opinions, the Senate resolved to proceed with the arrest warrant, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.

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