Tomato Scarcity as Metaphor by Reuben Abati

One of the major news items in circulation has been the scarcity of tomato. Incidentally, Nigeria is (was) the 14th largest producer of tomato in the world and the second largest producer in Africa, after Egypt, but our country hardly produces enough to meet the local demand of about 2.3 million tonnes, and lacks the capacity to ensure an effective storage or value chain processing of what is produced. Out of the 1.8 million tonnes that the country produces annually, 900, 000 tonnes are left to rot and waste. Meanwhile, tomato-processing companies in the country operate below capacity and many of them have had to shut down. 

      The CEO of Erisco Foods, Lagos, Eric Umeofia laments that tomato processing companies lack access to foreign exchange to enable them buy heat-resistant seedlings and other tools that would help ensure the country's sufficiency in local production of tomato paste. Similarly, Dangote Tomato Factory recently suspended operations due to the scarcity of tomatoes and the assault on its tomato farms by a tomato leaves destroying moth, known as "tuta absoluta" - a South American native, also known as the Tomato Ebola, because of its Ebola-like characteristics.

A Country In Search of a Miracle by Reuben Abati

"You look tired"

"Ha, my brother. Thanks for being observant. I have been trekking."

"Trekking?"

"I went to buy fuel at that fuel station by the Estate gate. I had to abandon the car there. On my way back home, I could not find okada or any other form of transportation."

"No wonder you are sweating."

"All the tricyclists and the okada people claim they have no fuel."

"It is good for you big men to have a taste of what poor people go through. This fuel scarcity is an effective leveler. It is no respecter of persons."

"I can't wait for April 7 to come."

"What's special about April 7?"

"That's the day we are told this scarcity will end, and there will be no more scarcity of petroleum products."

It's time to put Nigeria first by Reuben Abati

Long queue in a Nigeria filling station

This commentary is inspired by Olusegun Adeniyi's "Of wailers, counterwailers and Buharideens" (ThisDay, March 31). In that piece, the ace journalist and public affairs commentator successfully defines the tri-polarities governing public responses to the Muhammadu Buhari administration.  The take-away is that the biggest challenge that Nigeria faces at the moment is political partisanship, which has divided the country into the camps of rights and wrongs and a fierce and bitter contestation over who is right or wrong.

       One year after the last Presidential election that led to the exit of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), after 16 years in office and power (sorry, the 60 years project failed) and the exit also, of the Goodluck Jonathan administration, there is now a bitter fight out there on the streets over whether or not Nigerians took the right decision by voting for change, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari. President Goodluck Jonathan's over 12.8 million supporters have proven to be loyal and indeed that they exist as a serious, organized political force.

Subsidy must go – Finance Commissioners, NECA

Removal ‘ll impoverish Nigerians; it’s corruption that should go— NLC

Commissioners for Finance from the 36 states of the federation rose from their monthly Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC, meeting in Abuja, yesterday, insisting that petroleum products subsidy must be removed.
While their position was consistent with that of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, it sharply contradicted the thinking of the Nigerian Senate, which held a few days ago that petroleum subsidy should remain.
The commissioners had, three months ago, decided that the current subsidy was not in the interest of the nation and wrote a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan, demanding an end to it.
The Chairman, Forum of Commissioners of Finance, Mr. Timothy Odaah, told journalists shortly after the meeting that there was no going back on their position and that they had fully briefed their principals— state governors.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF NEW NNPC COMPANY SECRETARY

PRESIDENT JONATHAN APPROVES APPOINTMENT OF NEW NNPC COMPANY SECRETARY
President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has approved the appointment of Mr. Ikechukwu Oguine as the Coordinator, Legal Services and Company Secretary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Mr. Oguine who has over 29 years of legal experience, hails from Anambra State.

He was previously the General Counsel of Chevron Nigeria Limited  and has been a partner in Advisory Legal Consultants, a Law Firm specializing in oil, gas, power and mining.

Mr. Oguine replaces Mr. Anthony Chukwuma Madichie, also from Anambra State, who has served as the NNPC Legal Adviser and Secretary to the Corporation since February 2011.

Reuben Abati
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 7, 2014

Petrol Scarcity: 18 Ships Arrive Lagos With Fuel

Eighteen ships are waiting to berth and discharge petroleum products at various oil terminals within the Lagos ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) said on Thursday.
The Shipping Position, a daily publication of the NPA, stated that 13 ships were laden with petrol.
According to the publication, two ships each are carrying kerosene and aviation fuel while one ship will discharge diesel.
The NPA document indicated that four other ships were waiting to discharge general cargoes, including rice and containers. The publication further stated that 92 ships carrying different cargoes would arrive in Lagos ports between 26 September and 22 October. It added that 17 of the ships would convey petroleum products.

Arepo: Fuel scarcity hits Lagos, Oyo, Kwara

Several states in the South-West, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Kwara, will suffer petroleum products shortages, pending when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, is able to repair the Arepo distribution pipeline, which erupted in flames following the vandalisation.

The pipeline repairs might take a little while, as NNPC told Vanguard that it cannot afford to send more men to the site of the damaged pipeline, since the first batch of engineers were abducted and killed, while trying to repair the pipelines last week.