Economy
Petrol Pricing: CNPP Accuses NNPC of Economic Sabotage
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has again hit hard at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, accusing it of economic sabotage.
In a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr James Ezema, the group claimed the state-owned oil agency has continued to hold the nation to ransom over its interference in the distribution of locally refined petroleum products.
CNPP, in the statement made available to Business Post, expressed deep concern about the lingering controversy surrounding the pricing of petrol from the Dangote Refinery and the role of the NNPC in the matter, stressing that the unresolved issue has far-reaching implications for the economy, livelihoods, and democracy in Nigeria and Africa.
The association warned that, “The failure to address this crisis may lead to catastrophic consequences for democracy in Nigeria and Africa, stating that it will continue to stand in solidarity with the Nigerian people as we demand immediate action to avert a looming danger and save our democracy.
It pointed out that the “recent revelation that NNPCL purchased fuel from Dangote Refinery at N898 per litre, contradicting earlier claims of N760 per litre, has sparked outrage. This discrepancy raises questions about transparency, accountability, and the potential for exploitation of the ordinary citizens.”
“We urge the federal government to intervene immediately and ensure that the pricing of petrol from Dangote Refinery is fair, reflective of production costs, and aligned with global standards,” the organisation stated.
The CNPP warned that the high pump price of petrol in Nigeria has a “direct impact on the cost of living, exacerbating hunger and hardship among the masses.”
“With fuel queues a common sight and prices tripling since the subsidy removal in May 2023, citizens are bearing the brunt of the inefficient energy policies of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.
“The CNPP therefore warns that if this crisis is not addressed within the next seven days, it may lead to a national outcry, threatening democracy in Nigeria and Africa,” it noted.
Speaking on the role of NNPCL and querying if it constitutes economic sabotage or protectionism, the CNPP stated that, “NNPCL’s interference in the distribution of locally refined petroleum products is nothing but national economic sabotage in an effort to conceal information and prevent Dangote Refinery from directly selling its petroleum products to marketers.
“NNPCL constituting itself as a middleman in the distribution of locally refined products undermines the oil refining companies’ potential to provide relief to Nigerians.
“We demand that the Federal Government of Nigeria, through its company, the NNPCL, ceases its meddling and allows Dangote Refinery to operate freely, ensuring competitive pricing and supply.”
Insisting the matter has impacts on democracy and accountability, the CNPP called on “the international community to hold the Federal Government and NNPCL accountable for their actions if this crisis escalates and breeds anarchy that threatens democracy in Nigeria and Africa.
“The concealment of information and lack of transparency in NNPCL’s operations are unacceptable.
For instance, NNPCL is said to be using crude oil for debt repayments either on its behalf or on behalf of the Nigerian federal government.
“But this has remained a secret or a mere speculation. If it is true, did the National Assembly approve such extra-budgetary expenditures? What are the processes and procedures adopted by the NNPCL leading to any agreement on loan repayment with our crude oil? Does the NNPCL under the Petroleum Industry Act own Nigeria’s crude oil to decide to do with it as it wishes? The CNPP strongly demands that the Federal Government categorically answer these questions as Nigerians deserve to know.
“The CNPP equally demands that President Tinubu officially directs that Dangote Refinery and other local refineries, as private businesses, operate without undue interference from the NNPCL,” CNPP stated.
While calling for immediate action, the CNPP said, “We also urge the Federal Government to immediately resolve the pricing controversy surrounding Dangote Refinery, ensure transparent and competitive pricing of petrol, allow Dangote Refinery and other local refineries to sell their products directly to petroleum marketers in Nigeria, address the high cost of living and alleviate hunger and hardship among the masses, and enforce presidential directive on an adequate supply of crude oil for domestic consumptions to Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in naira.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Crude production under the collective Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC ) fell in May to its lowest level in at least 37 years as the blockade of Iran by the United States and disruptions in the Persian Gulf, continued to limit output.
According to a Bloomberg survey released on Friday, output from the organisation’s 11 current members, including Nigeria, dropped by 1.22 million barrels per day to 16.33 million barrels per day last month.
Iran accounted for more than half of the decline. The data excludes the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which departed the cartel last month after six decades of membership.
War between a US-Israeli alliance and Iran has reduced oil supplies from the Middle East, largely closing the Strait of Hormuz waterway. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Kuwait have been forced to cut crude production. Iranian shipments face additional pressure following a US blockade of its ports imposed in mid-April.
Iranian output fell by 710,000 barrels per day to a five-year low of 2.34 million barrels per day in May, the survey showed. Central Command reported that US forces have redirected 127 commercial vessels to enforce the blockade of all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports.
Kuwait recorded the second-largest decline last month, with production falling by 310,000 barrels per day to 490,000 barrels per day, less than one-fifth of pre-war levels. Saudi Arabia, the group’s leader, saw output decrease by 240,000 barrels per day to 6.57 million barrels per day.
The production reductions have not prevented OPEC and its allies from raising quotas over recent months, continuing a year-long process of restoring output halted several years ago.
This comes ahead of a meeting scheduled to be held on Sunday, June 7, where a sub-group of seven members is expected to increase targets by 188,000 barrels again in July. The session is one of four online meetings OPEC and its partners plan to hold that day.
Delegates indicated the alliance has plans for two additional monthly quota increases in August and September. UAE output rose by 300,000 barrels per day to 2.44 million barrels per day in May, according to the survey.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The 2025 third quarter Budget Implementation Report from the Budget Office of the Federation has shown that the federal government exceeded the funds allocation for repayment of debts for the first nine months of the fiscal year by about 18 per cent.
In a report by Punch, the sum of N10.74 trillion was budgeted for debt servicing between January and September 2025, but the government used N12.63 trillion for the purpose, N1.90 trillion or 17.65 per cent more than the allocation for the year.
The funds were spent on domestic debts, foreign debts and sinking fund by the central government in nine months.
Business Post reports that for the whole year, the amount approved by the National Assembly and signed by President Bola Tinubu for debt repayments was N14.31 trillion.
Looking at the nine-month figures, domestic debt service gulped N6.23 trillion, exceeding its N5.39 trillion provision, while foreign debt service was N6.30 trillion versus the budget provision of N5.06 trillion.
According to the report, the figures indicated that 67.2 per cent of the federal government’s retained revenue of N18.63 trillion was spent on debt service in the first nine months of 2025. When the sinking fund is included, debt-related payments consumed about 67.8 per cent of revenue.
It was also observed that aggregate federal government revenue underperformed the budget by N12.03 trillion or 39.24 per cent, as actual revenue of N18.63 trillion fell short of the N30.67 trillion projected for the first three quarters.
In the third quarter alone, the government generated N7.70 trillion versus the quarterly target of N10.22 trillion as a result of persistent oil revenue shortfalls, despite stronger non-oil collections.
The debt burden also crowded out capital spending, as total capital expenditure was N3.10 trillion in the first nine months compared with the N17.58 trillion budgeted for the period, indicating that actual debt-related payments were more than four times capital expenditure.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange recorded a loss of 1.13 per cent on Thursday, June 4, shrinking the market capitalisation by N30.03 billion to N2.630 trillion from N2.660 trillion on Wednesday.
Similarly, this brought down the NASD Unlisted Security Index (NSI) by 50.19 points to 4,396.08 points from the 4,446.27 points recorded a day earlier.
The loss was influenced by the overpowering of the bulls by the bears, after the bourse closed with two price gainers and three price losers, led by FrieslandCampina Wamco Nigeria Plc, which slumped by N20.03 to sell at N190.38 per unit compared with midweek’s N210.41 per unit. Food Concepts Plc declined by 25 Kobo to trade at N2.50 per share versus the previous day’s N3.00 per share, and Acorn Petroleum Plc crumbled by 2 Kobo to end at N1.32 per unit, in contrast to the preceding session’s N1.34 per unit.
For the gainers, Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS) Plc added N2.93 to close at N78.34 per share compared with the previous price of N75.41 per share, and Afriland Properties Plc gained 80 Kobo to settle at N16.80 per unit versus N16.00 per unit.
There was a slip in the volume of transactions yesterday by 46.8 per cent to 280,714 units from 527,221 units, as the value of trades dropped 66.5 per cent to N21.8 million from the preceding session’s N64.2 million, and the number of deals fell by 8.7 per cent to 42 deals from 46 deals.
Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Plc ended the session as the most traded stock by value on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units worth N8.4 billion, followed by Infrastructure Credit Guarantee (Infracredit) Plc with 2.3 billion units sold for N6.5 billion, and CSCS Plc with 64.7 million units traded for N4.4 billion.
GNI Plc also finished the day as the most traded stock by volume on a year-to-date basis with 3.4 billion units valued at N8.4 billion, followed by Infracredit Plc with 2.3 billion units exchanged for N6.5 billion, and Resourcery Plc with 1.1 billion units transacted for N415.7 million.
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