Katsina queries Emirate Council over absence at Durbar

Nigeria’s petroleum marketers have accused Dangote Refinery of operating a secret petrol price regime. The president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harris, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview with Channels Television. His comment comes amid the latest hike in the pump price of petrol by the Nigerian National
Fuel hike: Dangote Refinery operates secret petrol pricing – Marketers

Nigeria’s petroleum marketers have accused Dangote Refinery of operating a secret petrol price regime.

The president of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harris, disclosed this on Thursday during an interview with Channels Television.

His comment comes amid the latest hike in the pump price of petrol by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to N1,030 per litre in Abuja.

Reacting to the hike and way forward for petrol marketers and Nigerians, Gillis-Harry asked Dangote Refinery to stop operating in secrecy regarding the pricing of petrol.

He urged the management of the refinery to be open, get inputs from stakeholders and allow marketers to directly lift its petrol.

“Regarding Dangote price, as I speak to you this morning, I don’t know what Dangote price is all about and that is speaking a lot because, at this point in the Dangote campaign in Nigeria, retail outlets like us should know the price input of Dangote but they have kept that shrouded in secrecy up until now,” he said.

He noted that while NNPCL gave a price template, it did not reveal the input of Dangote Refinery in the pricing.

He said: “NNPC gave us a price template that also did not tell us what the exact price input from Dangote.

“We will encourage Dangote to open up the space of communication, talk to stakeholders, and get valuable inputs from everyone because it’s a business that involves Nigerians, retail outlet owners like us, and different consumers, so there should be some level of business transparency, even if it’s a private business.

“We are so proud that we have such a facility operating in Nigeria but we need to start to see the works. I am unable to confirm to you if Dangote increased their prices or reduced them because we are not aware.”

According to him, Dangote Refinery is open about its diesel price but not that of petrol.

“I can tell you about their price for diesel because the diesel prices were made known to us, most of us patronise them for diesel but in the case of the PMS, I don’t have any information,” he said.

However, Emmanuel Kelvin, an economist, explained on Channels Television on Thursday that Dangote Refinery has not revealed its petrol price because the product has not been fully deregulated.

Fuel hike: Dangote Refinery operates secret petrol pricing – Marketers

A court trying a French man charged with enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his heavily drugged wife ruled on Friday that the public could be present when video evidence is screened, reversing an earlier decision. Lawyers for the victim, Gisele Pelicot — ex-wife of the main accused, Dominique Pelicot — hailed as a “victory”
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A court trying a French man charged with enlisting dozens of strangers to rape his heavily drugged wife ruled on Friday that the public could be present when video evidence is screened, reversing an earlier decision. Lawyers for the victim, Gisele Pelicot — ex-wife of the main accused, Dominique Pelicot — hailed as a “victory”

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The National Population Commission, NPC, is set to conduct field work on Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) in 67 selected communities in Kogi State. The fieldwork is to determine the causes of maternal and child deaths in those selected communities. The Federal Commissioner in Kogi State, Engr. Yori Afolabi disclosed this on Monday while briefing
Maternal, child deaths: NPC to conduct survey in Kogi communities

The National Population Commission, NPC, is set to conduct field work on Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) in 67 selected communities in Kogi State.

The fieldwork is to determine the causes of maternal and child deaths in those selected communities.

The Federal Commissioner in Kogi State, Engr. Yori Afolabi disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists. The survey was last carried out in 2019.

He noted that the Commission has trained data collectors who will visit households to conduct interviews with family members, adding that,m they are expected to gather information that will help the NPC understand the circumstances surrounding maternal and child deaths in Kogi State.

He pointed out that the NPC, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health is implementing the nationwide study.

Speaking further he said, “This round of VASA study is aimed at building on the previous efforts in 2014 and 2019, which provided valuable information that helped shape health policies and Interventions aimed at reducing preventable deaths.

“The study is a follow-up to the 2023-2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, (NDHS) that was concluded in May this year.

“We will be going back to the NDHS households to ask for information that will help the government understand and plan to address the biomedical and social causes of death of children under the age of five and for women of reproductive age.”

He averred that the study will collect essential data on both maternal and child mortality, which will focus on the social and health-related factors that contribute to these tragic losses.

Afolabi added that this information will empower decision- makers to address the underlying issues that lead to the maternal , child deaths.

Continuing, he said, “We recognize the vital role that traditional and community leaders play in mobilizing community support and facilitating the smooth conduct of activities like the VASA study.

“We call on our revered leaders to lend their voices in support of this study, by encouraging their communities to welcome the interviewers and participate fully in the process.

“The role of the press is invaluable in ensuring that this study is well-received and that the information gathered reflects the experiences and challenges within our communities.”

Earlier, the Kogi State Director of NPC Ojo Abiodun Titus, noted that the essence of the press briefing is to inform the public through the media, the importance of Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA).

Maternal, child deaths: NPC to conduct survey in Kogi communities