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Enugu Modern Transport Interchange: Payment of compensation to Holy Ghost property owners begins .

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Ahead of the commencement of construction of a new and modern transport Interchange (bus terminal) at Market Road, Enugu (Enugu Central Station), popularly known as Holy Ghost, the leaser of properties at the site will, from Tuesday, start receiving their compensations as agreed with the Nigerian Railway Corporation, the lessor.
The commencement of payment was made known to the Enugu State Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Obi Ozor, on Monday.
Recall that the Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, had, on 19th October, 2023, met with critical property owners and stakeholders on the proposed Enugu Central Station. At the meeting, Mbah had explained that the proposed Enugu Central Station was part of the larger infrastructure plan, which also includes other major modern transport interchanges at Garki, Abakpa Nike, and Nsukka. The aim, he said, was to alleviate the perennial traffic congestion, enhance safety, preserve road assets, optimise transport efficiency, and address various needs of transport sector operators in the state. He, therefore, sought their cooperation towards the realisation of the project.
Citing similar world-class developments in other parts of the world like Dubai, and Singapore, among others, Governor Mbah said there was no reason Holy Ghost bus terminal could be allowed to continue in its present state of decay, perennial traffic congestion, and high-level crimes when such overseas feats could be replicated through conscious efforts and planning.
Sequel to the meeting, the Commissioner for Transportation had on 20th October, 2023 letter formerly notified each individual occupant over a six-month notice of the government’s intention to use the location, while the lessors, the Railway Property Management Company Ltd. equally served the leasers notices of recovery of property to the on 22nd April, 2024 in line with their term of the lease.
In a copy of one of the letters by Railway Property Management Company Ltd. entitled “Notice of Recovery of Railway Land Along Market Road, Enugu”, referenced as T/P. 1794/VOL.1, signed by the Director of Land and Estate Services, A.O Abdulsalam, for the company’s Managing Director, it said the Federal Ministry of Transportation had agreed to release the said portion of Railway land to the Enugu State Government for a modern bus terminal.
The letter reads in part: “We refer to your lease of Railway land along Market Road, Enugu with Ref. No. T/P. 1794/VOL. 1 dated 02/08/2017.
“Please, be informed that the Federal Ministry of Transportation, on behalf of the Federal Government has agreed to release the portion of the NRC land, which was earlier allocated to you as referenced above, to the Enugu State Government to construct a modern transportation hub under the Transport Infrastructure Project.
“In line with our contractual agreement, the Enugu State Government has agreed to compensate you for the structures (s) constructed on the land based on an independent valuation of your structure on the land.
“Therefore, you are kindly requested to provide us with your account details through our Enugu Zonal Manager on or before 26th April 2024 to enable the Enugu State Government to credit your account with the necessary payment.
“Furthermore, as a kind gesture, the Enugu State Government has agreed to do the following: To provide you with an alternative temporary location to ease your business pending when the project is completed; to also give you the right of first refusal to return to the newly completed structure.”
Throwing more light on the development, Enugu State Commissioner for Transportation, said the temporary places had since been allocated to the affected businesses, with some already developing the new place.
“But importantly, I can say with certainty that they will start receiving alerts latest from Tuesday based on the compensation advisory sent to the state government by the Nigerian Railway Property Management Company Ltd. These are huge sums of money, but we have to do it to ameliorate the temporary inconveniences,” Ozor stated.
Meanwhile, at the meeting with Governor Mbah last year, the property and business owners, in addition to legitimate tenants numbering over 29, commended the project.
The event was attended by the owners and representatives of Anaocha South Mass Transit, Chisco Transport Company, Onitsha South Mass Transit, Farm Associates Limited, Dozie Oil Limited, A.C. Decanal Limited, Harco Oil, Pilgrimage Sisters (Osisatech), Okeyson Transport Limited, MDS Logistics Limited, Beach Crushers Association, FCMB, and Ecobank, among others.
Also, during a visit to Mbah in November to better know the project, the Chairman/CEO of Chisco Transport, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, lauded Governor Mbah for taking responsibility to build such an important transport…

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NNPCL retail outlets, others reduce fuel price

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Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit price.

Ekwutosblog correspondent who went round NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja on Tuesday gathered that state-owned firms have also slashed their petrol pump price to N895 per litre from N910.

This comes as NNPCL filling station along Kubwa Expressway, Wuse Zone 4, Wuse Zone 6 (Berger), and other locations in Abuja visibly adjusted their fuel pump price to reflect the new price.

 

The reduction represents an N15 downward petrol price review in NNPCL retail outlets.

NNPCL is not alone in the petrol reduction; Dangote Refinery’s retail partner, MRS filling stations in Abuja, also reduced their petrol price by N25 to N885 per litre from N910.

Similarly, other filling stations in Abuja, such as Ranoil and Empire Energy, also reduced their petrol pump prices to N910 and N915 per litre on Tuesday from the previous N920 and N935.

The development comes hours after Ekwutosblog exclusively reports that Nigerian Petroleum Products Marketers announced a plan to slash petrol prices to between N900 and N920 per litre in Abuja.

Recall that Dangote Refinery reduced its ex-depot petrol price twice this July so far.

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Private or public, let the refineries work – IPMAN to FG, NNPCL

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The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Port Harcourt Depot Unit, has stressed that the Port Harcourt Refinery requires more than periodic rehabilitation, calling instead for a “consistent and experienced management focused on functionality and long-term sustainability”.

The position was made known in a statement signed on June 12, 2025, by the Chairman of IPMAN Port Harcourt Depot Unit, Tekena Thankgod Ikpaki.

The association was reacting to a recent statement by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, who hinted that the Federal Government may consider selling some of its refineries as a solution to persistent rehabilitation and efficiency challenges.

Ikpaki noted that as major stakeholders in the downstream oil sector, petroleum marketers fully understand the strategic importance of the Port Harcourt Refinery, not just for Rivers State and the Niger Delta region, but for the Nigerian economy as a whole.

He observed that the brief resumption of operations at the refinery in November 2024, followed by another shutdown in May 2025 for maintenance, once again underscored the lingering operational and technical issues affecting Nigeria’s refineries.

Ikpaki, however, stated that it is less concerned about who manages the facility and more focused on ensuring the refinery functions optimally.

He said, “Whether the facility remains under the direct control of the NNPCL or is eventually handed over to a private entity, the most critical issue for us at this point is ensuring the Port Harcourt Refinery operates at optimal capacity.

“We believe that a fully functional refinery will have far-reaching benefits, offering alternative sources of refined products, stabilizing the domestic market, creating jobs, boosting local content, and contributing to national energy security,” the statement added.

The association appealed to the Federal Government and NNPCL to ensure that any future sale or concession process prioritizes competence and technical proficiency.

IPMAN urged the authorities to “prioritize competence, technical expertise, and a proven track record in refinery operations in selecting any prospective buyer or management partner, should the company proceed with the sale or concessioning process.”

The association emphasized that privatization should not be pursued for its own sake but must lead to measurable improvements in output, performance, and national benefit.

Ikpaki concluded by reaffirming the association’s willingness to collaborate with all stakeholders to ensure a successful transition.

“We are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that the transition, if and when it happens, will be transparent, accountable, and ultimately beneficial to Nigerians, particularly those of us who operate directly within the value chain,” he said.

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NNPCL: We will conclude review of Port Harcourt Refinery by December – Ojulari

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The Group Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company, Bayo Ojulari, has said the state-owned oil firm is planning to conclude its review of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries before the end of December 2025.

Ojuari disclosed this in an interview with Bloomberg published on Thursday, at the sideline of the a recent seminar for the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

He noted that NNPCL would make a decision on selling the refineries after it had concluded its review process.

According to him, some of the technologies brought in to revamp the refineries have not worked as expected due to the old nature of the plants.

“So our refineries, we have made quite a lot of investment in over the last several years and brought in a lot of technologies. We have been challenged that some of those technologies have not worked as expected so far. As you know, refining a very old refinery that has been abandoned for some time becomes a little bit complicated. So we are reviewing all our refineries strategies now. We hope before the end of the year we will conclude the review.

“The review will lead to us doing things differently.

When asked by Bloomberg whether selling the refineries is an option, Ojulari said, “What we are saying is that a sale is not out of the question; all the options are on the table. That decision will be based on the outcome of the review.

Ojulari’s comments come after NNPCL, on May 24, 2025, announced the shutdown of the Port Harcourt refinery for planned maintenance and sustainability assessment.

In November and December last year, the former GCEO of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, announced the successful rehabilitation and commencement of operations at the Port Harcourt and Warri refineries.

 

 

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