Militants Declare Niger Delta Republic, Issues 2-Week Ultimatum to Oil Companies to Shut Operations, List Northern Owners of Oil Blocks.

Niger Delta Avengers, has issued a 2-week ultimatum to oil companies operating in the Niger Delta region to shut operations and evacuate staff promising a “bloody” confrontation should they fail to do so.

The group also listed owners of oil blocks 90 per cent of whom are from northern Nigeria including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma and former OPEC Secretary-General, Rilwanu Lukman.

The group also demanded a sovereign state of Niger Delta. “If at the end of the ultimatum you are still operating, we will blow up all the locations. It will be bloody. So, just shut down your operations and leave”, the group threatened.

The oil blocs listed include:
“Apo Well awarded to Sapetro Oil. Apo field is capable of producing 300,000
barrels per day and crude reserve of 500 million barrels
*OML 110 Obe oil field owned by Alhaji Mai Daribe, Cavendish Petroleum, with an estimated 500 million barrels of crude oil worth $50 billion after tax.
*Akpo condensate field awarded to Sapetro Oil. This field is worth $100 billion.
*OML 112 and OML 117 awarded to AMNI International Petroleum Development Company. It is worth $150bn after tax.
*OML 115 also known as Oldwok field and Ebok field and both are worth $200
billion.
*OML 215 awarded to and operated by Nor East Petroleum Limited. The field
is worth $100 billion after tax.
*OML 108 awarded to Express Petroleum Company . This field is worth $128 billion.
* OML 113 is $150 billion.
* OML 112 and OML 117.
*OML 67 is worth $180 billion.
* OPL 245 was awarded to Malabu Oil and Gas. It is worth $50 billion.
*OPL 289 and OPL 233 were awarded to Cleanwater Consortium. The two fields are worth $200 billion.
*OPL 288 was awarded to Focus Energy. The field is worth $70 billion.
* OPL 291 was awarded to Starcrest Energy Nigeria Limited. The field is
worth $100 billion.

“From our analysis above, 90 per cent of oil blocs are allocated to individuals from Northern Nigeria and some confused elements from the region are calling the Niger Delta Avengers names, some are calling us criminals.”

“How will you feel if the oil allegedly found in the Northeast is being managed by Niger Deltans? We are very sure that Niger Deltans will not even have two per cent oil block if oil is really found in the northeast. If you do not shut down, we will shut your stations permanently for you,” the group said.

The group said it would raise its national flag, currency, passport and proclaim its territory and ruling council to the world by October.

“To the United Nations, we are not asking for much, but to free the people of the Niger Delta from environmental pollution,  slavery, and oppression.

We want a country that will turn the creeks of the Niger Delta to a tourism
haven, a country that will achieve its full potentials, a country that will make health care system accessible by everyone.”

The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Mudoch Agbinibo, said the
struggle was not an ijaw affair but comprised members from Eastern Nigeria and other parts of Niger Delta.
“The Commander of Strike Team 9 of the Niger Delta Avengers is from Eastern
Nigeria. So, nobody should limit this struggle to the Ijaws of the Niger
Delta. The leader of Strike Team 6 that blew up Chevron Valve Platform is
Itsekiri. The Commander of our elite Strike Team One is from Akwa Ibom,” it
said

NIGERIANS ABUSE BOLA TINUBU FOR PRAISING PMB FOR REMOVAL OF FUEL SUBSIDY

Nigerians across board have taken a swipe at the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, over his recent comment commending President Muhammadu Buhari, for being courageous in deregulating the downstream petroleum sector, and hiking the price of Petrol from N86 to N145 per litre.

Recall, that the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, had on Wednesday, May 11, declared that the federal government was no longer subsidizing petrol, announcing a new price tag ranging from N135 to N145 per litre.

In reaction, the Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, including Civil Societies Organisations, CSOs, among several others, are currently strategising on a planned protest.

Following the hike in fuel price, Post-Nigeria reported that Nigerians had taken to social media to ventilate their anger and dissatisfaction over the new policy, with many tendering an unreserved apology to former President, Goodluck Jonathan, for unknowingly voting him out of office.

Despite the hike in transport fare and staple food, due to inflation, low purchasing power and the weak Naira, Tinubu while speaking, commended the president for his action, describing the decision as courageous.

He said, “Nigeria has taken the historic step needed to create a competitive environment that will eliminate smuggling, provide incentives for private refineries and attract foreign investments in the downstream sector and create employment.

“To Mr. President, I say congratulations for having the courage to remove the subsidy,” Tinubu said.

Meanwhile, a famous human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has disagreed with Tinubu, condemning the federal government’s decision on the price increase as illegal and immoral.

A Nigerian who refers himself as Arise_9ja, while reacting to Tinubu’s statement said, “Tinubu has taken us four years backwards.

“Imagine we crossed this bridge in 2012, by now Nigerians would be discussing other problems.

“Could it be true that Tinubu just realized the gains of subsidy removal? The elites who defraud Nigerians are friends with these politicians; they don’t care about us”.

Chibuzor Mitchel Ezeuchegbu said, “Shameful nation. Same people that fought Jonathan to the ground when he wanted to remove subsidy, they are now the same people saying the fuel prices should increase.”

Albert Bolten said, What Jonathan saw long time ago, Tinubu couldn’t see with his frog eyes.”

A human rights lawyer and chieftain of the Labour Party, Comrade Kayode Ajulo said, “The recent insistence by Senator Ahmed Tinubu, that President Muhammadu Buhari’s removal of fuel subsidy is in order is quite unfortunate in many respects, it is another misadventure of the National Leader of the APC and his party.

“Doublespeak, backstabbing and swindling of the masses by way of answering “Progressive” and flying the “Change” kite international capital and local compador bourgeoisie is the name of the new strange political game in town, and Jagaban ‘n Borgu seems not to be prepared to be outdone by any contender, being the de facto leader of the change motley”, Ajulo said.

Cedarst said, “The masses are always the slaughter rams. Politicians have no difficult times in Nigeria.

“Tinubu just realized subsidy removal is the way out of fuel scarcity. LOL! This is just a tip of the iceberg. Nigerians should expect more harsh policies”.

SENATOR SHEHU SANI AND DINO FROM APC THREATENED TO PROTEST AGAINST PMS PRICE INCREASE

Sequel to the latest decision by the President Muhammadu Buhari led government, to remove subsidy and increase the price of Petrol, two senators from the All Progressives Congress, APC, have threatened to mobilize Nigerians to protest against the policy.

Senator Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna central on Thursday, May 12, said the decision to increase the pump price of petroleum products is “insensitive and punitive”.

Senator Sani, who is the chairman Senate committee on Foreign and Domestic debt, said in a statement that the decision was “most unfortunate”.

“At a time when poor Nigerians are facing enormous economic hardships and are being asked to be more patient all the NNPC can do is to add to their suffering,” he said, referring to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

“It’s utterly irrational and illogical to further impoverish the people in order to achieve liberal self-serving liberal economic aspirations.

“It’s all evident that capitalist forces are holding the FG hostage and are blackmailing it to implement its inimical version of economic reforms. It makes no sense if everyone must perish in order to revamp the economy.

“Economic reforms are necessary but it must be done with a human face and human heart if it’s made in the interest of human beings.

“Outrageous increase in pump price is a social provocation. It’s possible to reform the oil sector without necessarily incinerating the country. We must not take the patience, the sacrifice and the good will of Nigerians for granted.

“I stand opposed to the increase in pump price and I call on PMB to weigh in on the NNPC to rescind the decision,” he insisted.

Also reacting, the Senator representing Kogi west senatorial district, Dino Melaye, who participated actively in the #OcuppyNigeria protests, which forced the government of former President, Goodluck Jonathan to shelve the idea of removing fuel subsidy, has accused the Buhari administration of going against the APC’s campaign promises.

Related: Victory for Jonathan as Nigerians tender Apology

He asked John Oyegun, the National chairman of the APC, to advise the President to revoke the increment.

“My sincere advise is for the National Chairman of our party to suggest that the federal government immediately reverse the announced increase in the pump price of PMS,” he wrote on Facebook.

“If after seven days from Monday, there is no reversal, I will mobilise Nigerians from all walks of life for the mother of all protest. This is not what we promised Nigerians.

“The time is not right and the negative effects will be unbearable. A word is enough for the wise.”

Fuel price increment is Buhari’s wickedness taken too far, it’s fraudulent - Fayose

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose has said that President Mohammadu Buhari and his All Progressives Congress (APC) were playing Nigerians Advanced Fee Fraud over the removal of fuel subsidy and increment of pump price from N86.50 to N145 per litre, describing the increment as wickedness taken too far and asking; “was the federal government paying up to N58.50 as subsidy on one litre of petrol before now?”

Governor Fayose, who reiterated his call on Nigerians, especially the labour movement to resist what he called “this wicked act of President Buhari and his party”, added that; “those who opposed removal of fuel subsidy in 2012 and funded the Occupy Nigeria protest must not be allowed to get away with this imposition of hardship on Nigerians now that they are in power.”

He said labour unions, civil society organisations and other well-meaning Nigerians should stand up and be counted at this crucial time in the life of the common people of Nigeria, adding that “there is no justification for the increment at this period when government is not paying salaries regularly, Nigerians are losing their jobs daily, prices of foodstuffs have gone over the roof and life has become so difficult for the common people. To labour Nigerians with this increment is wickedness taken too far!”

In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, Governor Fayose said; “In 2012 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government of Dr Goodluck Jonathan removed fuel subsidy and increased petrol price to N141 per litre, crude oil was selling at $111 per barrel. How then can petrol price be increased to N145 per litre when crude oil is now selling at $40 per barrel?

“It is on record that on May 2 this year, the federal government, in the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) Template released in Abuja, told Nigerians that it was subsidising petrol at N12.62 per litre.

“If as at May 2, petrol was being subsidised at N12.62 per litre, and now that the subsidy of N12.62 has been removed, what ought to have been added to the N86.50 pump price should be N12.62, which would have increased pump price to N99.12 per litre.

“Increasing petrol pump price by N58.50 when the federal government claimed it was subsidising the product at N12.62 per litre is clear political 419, which is aimed at further impoverishing Nigerians as the government will be making profit of N45.88 on each litre of petrol bought by Nigerians.

“How can any government with human feelings attempt to make profit of N45.88 per litre on Nigerians, who are no longer getting their salaries regularly? How can Buhari and his party impose another N45.88 per litre levy on Nigerians who are already facing severe hardship? This is wickedness!”

Speaking further, Governor Fayose said there was no justification for the removal of subsidy and increment of petrol pump price to N145 per litre now that crude oil price is $40 per barrel when the same product was increased to N141 per litre in 2012 when crude oil was $111 per barrel.

While describing President Buhari as a hypocrite, the governor said; “Nigerians should be reminded that the president once said that petrol subsidy never existed and that it was a fraud. How then can the same President Buhari tell us that he has removed the same subsidy he claimed never existed?

“The reality is that these people lied to Nigerians too much. They made promises they knew they won’t fulfil just to get to power. Now they are showing Nigerians their true colours. They are showing Nigerians that they have come to punish them with hardship. 

“Buhari and his APC promised to reduce petrol pump price to from N87 to N45 per litre; petrol is now N145. They promised to create three million jobs per year; they have instead created millions of unemployment. They said $1 will be equal to N1; $1 is now N320. They promised to create better live for Nigerians, they have instead created hardship by making prices of basic commodities to skyrocket through their lack of policy direction.”

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY COORDINATOR NANS

PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OFFICE OF DEPUTY COORDINATOR
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIAN STUDENTS(NANS)
ZONE D SOUTH-WEST

"HIKE IN PRICE OF PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT(PMS) AS ANNOUNCED BY THE ACCLAIMED AGENTS OF CHANGE: OUR STAND"

Responsibility is Leadership and vice versa. A leader who couldn't take full responsibility of his followers should leave the leading position and be the latter.

Promises when made and fulfilled depicts trustworthiness,honesty and statesmanship. When promises fail to be fulfilled,there couldn't be a clearer definition to disappointment. The APC led administration begged for our votes during the 2015 general elections with a campaign promise amongst many to make the price of petrol as accessible as possible. The hardship and sudden sharp in the increase of the Nation's most consumed resources is not worthy of mentioning. On numerous grounds,the Minister of State has continuously pegged deadlines to end our hurdle of long queues,none of it yielded. The economy was crippled based on the thoughtless way of handling the Nation's major contributor to economy.

The reasons highlighted by the Honourable minister depicts nothing but of of malicious wickedness,unpreparedness of service and a total sense of I don't carelism which is aimed at keeping the Country in shackles and chains disguisedly called Change.

Many may wonder why we are taking this up.We are Nigerian students whose parents depends on the meagre of the economy to cater for the expensive goods sold in the market.

The Minister spoke of the inability of the Country to secure forex.If audience would be granted,we want to know what befell the  Naira-Yuan deal?. Irrespective of the scenario,stop giving us reasons why you think our sufferings are legit.
At the #87 official pump price,petrol was bought as high as#400, yet the long queues didn't dissipate. It further deteriorates and worsens our means of livelihood. With this New official pump price of #145,what do you think will become of other sectors of the economy whose survival is dependent on the carbonated compound.

About two years ago,this present Administration:the then Opposition condemned the deeds of the then Government. It is also good to note that the Administration in question lost his mandate that same year. Various protests were stage managed by the present Ruling Government to knock the then administration to ashes. If the same acts that was fervently opposed can now be uplifted,it is evident that betrayal,deceit and self centeredness are the ugly weapons the Buhari led administration had in their armory. All evil weapons stored in your arsenal to fashion against the Nigerian populace shall die before their maturity.

Nigerians would not accept this no matter the threatening of CRUSH you embark upon this time. We deserve to befit what the Nature has generously given to us. We deserve to be treated like Citizens of this Country. Restore normalcy and we will let you realize how peaceful the Nigerian students can be. Doing otherwise will make confusingly stipulate that militancy is one of our courses in school.

Our Demand,Request and Stand.

We call for the immediate reversal of the exorbitant price and a sincere apology from the Federal Government Now as defiance will spell the most violent protest this Country has ever recorded. The history and record is still intact.Nigeriana did it in 2012,if necessary history will repeat itself. Mr president sir,in case your economic expert fail to tell you of the chances and consequences of the Nation's lockdown,it means the Nation economy will go from cripple to paralyzed.

According to the Change campaign sayings:

"SUBSIDY IS A SCAM,RETRACT IT NOW!!!

"STOP KILLINGS OF INNOCENT SOULS,STOP FUEL SCARCITY"

"NANS MOUNT AGAINST EXPLOITATION OF NIGERIANS"

SIGNED

COMR AFOLABI SAHEED(SEEDORF)
NANS DEPUTY COORDIBATOR,ZONE D(SOUTH WEST)

PRESS STATEMENT ON CURRENT FUEL SITUATION

We have just finished a meeting of various stakeholders presided over by His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The meeting had in attendance the Leadership of the Senate, House of Representatives, Governors Forum, and Labour Unions (NLC, TUC, NUPENG, and PENGASSAN).

The meeting reviewed:

1. The current fuel scarcity and supply difficulties in the country.

2. The exorbitant prices being paid by Nigerians for the product. These prices range on the average from N150 to N250 per litre currently.

3. The meeting also noted that the main reason for the current problem is the inability of importers of petroleum products to source foreign exchange at the official rate due to the massive decline of foreign exchange earnings of the federal government. As a result, private marketers have been unable to meet their approximate 50% portion of total national supply of PMS.

Following a detailed presentation by the Honorable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it has now become obvious that the only option and course of action now open to the government is to take the following decisions:

1. In order to increase and stabilise the supply of the product, any Nigerian entity is now free to import the product, subject to existing quality specifications and other guidelines issued by Regulatory Agencies.

2. All Oil Marketers will be allowed to import PMS on the basis of FOREX procured from secondary sources and accordingly PPPRA template will reflect this in the pricing of the product.

Pursuant to this, PPPRA has informed me that it will be announcing a new price band effective today, 11th May, 2016 and that the new price for PMS will not be above N145 per litre.

We expect that this new policy will lead to improved supply and competition and eventually drive down pump prices, as we have experienced with diesel. In addition, this will also lead to increased product availability and encourage investments in refineries and other parts of the downstream sector. It will also prevent diversion of petroleum products and set a stable environment for the downstream sector in Nigeria.

We share the pains of Nigerians but, as we have constantly said, the inherited difficulties of the past and the challenges of the current times imply that we must take difficult decisions on these sorts of critical national issues. Along with this decision, the federal government has in the 2016 budget made an unprecedented social protection provision to cushion the current challenges.

We believe in the long term, that improved supply and competition will drive down prices.

The DPR and PPPRA have been mandated to ensure strict regulatory compliance including dealing decisively with anyone involved in hoarding petroleum products.

Thank you.
SIGNED

HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PETROLEUM RESOURCES

We Shall Resist This Pump Price Increase, Says NLC ‎

The unilateral increase in prices of petroleum products today  by government represents the height of  insensitivity and impunity and shall be resisted by the Nigeria Labour Congress and its civil society allies.

With the imposition on the citizenry  of criminal and unjustifiable electricity tariff and resultant darkness and other economic challenges brought on by the devaluation of the Naira and spiraling inflation, the least one had expected at this point in time was another policy measure that would further make life more miserable for the ordinary Nigerian

The latest increase is the most audacious and cruel in the history of product price increase as  It represents not only about 80 per cent increase but it is tied to the black market exchange rate.

Further more, the process through which government arrived at this is both illogical and illegal as the board of the PPPRA is not duly constituted. In our previous statements and communiques, we had stressed the need for reconstituting the boards of NNPC and PPPRA and wean both away from the overbearing influence of the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources who has assumed the role of a Sole Administrator.

The allusion to the fact that the this increase was arrived at after due consultation with stake holders is not only ridiculous and fallacious, it goes to show that the brief meeting held today during which government was advised shelve the idea until at least it meets with the appropriate organs of the Congress was in bad faith.

Accordingly, we urge the government to revert the prices to what they were. We would want to put everybody on notice that we shall resist this criminal increase with every means legitimate.

Already an emergency  NEC meeting has been scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2016  to decide on the next line of action. Meanwhile, our affiliates,  state councils  and civil society allies are requested to commence mobilization immediately.‎