Business
IPMAN Claims Nigeria’s Monthly Fuel Subsidy Exceeds N700 Billion
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has indicated that the country’s monthly expenditure on fuel subsidies may exceed N700 billion.
This projection was made by Mohammed Shuaibu, the Secretary of IPMAN in Abuja-Suleja, in a statement released on Monday.
Shuaibu’s comments followed the disclosure of data by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) last Wednesday, which revealed that the landing cost of petrol was N1,117 per liter as of the previous day.
Shuaibu challenged the accuracy of the figures provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and the Nigerian government regarding fuel subsidy expenditures.
He expressed concern that the official figures might not fully reflect the true cost of the subsidy. “Petrol prices are influenced by global supply and demand factors,” Shuaibu stated.
“When international prices rise, it affects Nigeria as well. The NNPC, which is the sole importer of petrol, may not be transparent about the actual costs.”
According to Shuaibu, the substantial discrepancy between the reported landing cost of N1,117 per liter and the lower ex-depot price of N585 per liter, set by the NNPC, underscores the potential scale of the subsidy.
He warned that this discrepancy suggests the monthly subsidy expenditure could be well over N700 billion. This situation implies that Nigerians should brace for possible increases in fuel pump prices.
In contrast, Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has consistently maintained that the fuel subsidy program has been removed.
However, further analysis supports Shuaibu’s concerns. With petrol prices ranging between N617 and N750 per liter, depending on the location, the ex-depot price of N585 per liter results in a subsidy of N532 per liter.
Given that the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources reported a daily consumption of 44.3 million liters in October 2023, this amounts to an estimated daily subsidy cost of N23.57 billion. Over a month, this totals more than N700 billion.
This issue comes at a time of ongoing tension between the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority over concerns about substandard petroleum products.
Additionally, recent comments from former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai suggest that the current administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, may be spending more on fuel subsidies compared to previous administrations.
Trade Union Congress President Festus Osifo has also hinted at the possibility of a quasi-subsidy being applied to petrol prices, adding to the complexity of the situation.
It has been noted that the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) plan to renew their partnership in agribusiness.
The new project is to involve youth in the agriculture business, widen their horizons, and educate them about the agritech sector.
The general manager shared that “The foundation is not only providing grants but also building a system of mentorship, structure, and support that enables corps members to see agribusiness as a serious enterprise pathway.” The plan is to use the NYSC platform to engage youths.
Idi Mukhtar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development, has revealed the government’s intention of placing women in the livestock transformation agenda that they have in store for Nigeria.
During a recent event, he praised women, describing them as the backbone of the country, and shared that the country will keep on needing their support, hence the inclusion of the agenda team.
He also praised the First Lady for the impact she has made in the country so far and her advocacy for women’s empowerment.
Nigerians react as a user claims and shares that the price of rice in Nigeria is already reducing.
“Rice prices are finally dropping, minimum wage can buy a bag now. Step by step, we’re getting there. Nigeria will work in our lifetime.”
It can be noted that rice was sold at ₦85k to ₦90k, however, according to a market survey, the price of rice has dropped to ₦56k to ₦62k.
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