The Senate has assured Nigerians that it was doing necessary oversight activities to ensure that there is no hike in petroleum pump prices and electricity tariffs despite the falling value of the naira against major world currencies.

The chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu, gave the assurance in an interview with journalists in Abuja.

When questioned about the Senate’s response to concerns regarding potential increases in electricity tariffs and fuel prices due to high petroleum landing costs and the Federal Government’s indebtedness to electricity generating companies, he affirmed that the Senate is committed to preventing Nigerians from facing exorbitant costs for electricity and fuel.

Recall that the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, had last week that Nigeria was not likely to sustain the current electricity subsidy.

He explained that the indebtedness of the country’s power sector to electricity-generating companies (GenCos) and gas companies (GasCos) had risen to over N3tn.

It has also been reported in the Media that due to the prevailing black-market rate of about N1,600 per dollar, the landing cost of petrol has soared to about N1,009 per litre, marking a substantial increase from N720 per litre recorded in October 2023.

Adaramodu said: “The issue of petroleum matter and that of power, especially the two, one, if you can just recall, the Senate, especially has instituted Committee probes into the activities of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) and even the oil sector generally and then we are awaiting the reports.

“The reports will determine our own approach to what we are going to advise or what we are going to compel the executive to do about this issue.

“On the issue of power too, a Minister can come out and say whatever he would like to say, which is as it applies to his ministry but the minister is not the last voice on such issues.

“The presidency is there and even our own side, we have a committee solely responsible for power matters.

“Appropriately, those committees will swing into action and then, they will brief the Senate accordingly, and from their briefing, we would take a position

“What I want to assure Nigerians is that the 10th Senate will not abandon them because it means that we have abandoned ourselves. We are not here on our own.

“There’s nothing that happens to one Nigerian that does not happen to us and because of that, we feel it even more than any other person because we are the very close people to our people.

“When they yawn, we feel the malaria and when they take even Panadol, we feel the relief.”

The Senate spokesman also insisted that the Senate would intervene appropriately on the planned strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Source: The Nation

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Bandits Burn 12 Villagers, 17 Houses In Kaduna Community

There was confusion at Gindin Dutse Makyali village, Doka in Kufana District, Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State after bandits invaded the community and burnt 12 villagers in their homes.

The attackers also torched 17 houses in the community during the operation that occurred at 6:00 am on Sunday.

A report written by Mr Stephen Maikori, Overseer Kufana District obtained by Daily Trust confirmed the incident, saying the attackers injured seven other persons.

“In the morning today, Sunday 18/2/2024, around 6:00 am, bandits attacked the community in large numbers and killed 12 persons by burning them, while seven people sustained serious injuries. In addition, 17 residential houses were set ablaze,” he said in the report.

Stephen listed the names of those killed during the invasion, those injured as well as residents whose houses were set ablaze.

Daily Trust gathered that the attackers opened fire on other innocent villagers without abducting any member of the community.

Some communities within Kaduna recently came under bandits’ attacks, leading to killings and destruction of property.

In his reaction to the incident, Governor Uba Sani said while working with security forces and other critical stakeholders on mitigating security challenges, he received security reports on renewed bandits’ attacks resulting in loss of lives, kidnappings, and destruction of property in Kajuru and Igabi LGAs.

The governor in a statement issued by the Overseeing Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, said Governor Sani, who has been leading meetings with security forces, condemned the attacks in strong terms and prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased.

He also directed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to, as a matter of urgency, assist the affected communities in Kajuru and Igabi LGAs.

Source: Daily Trust