Economy & Politics
Nigeria spent N206.6 billion on fuel subsidy in two months – NNPC
Latest figures obtained from the NNPC has shown that it spent over 1,174 percent in subsidizing Premium Motor Spirit
The latest figures obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has shown that Nigeria’s fuel subsidy payment increased by 1,174% within two months.
According to reports, NNPC spent a total of N206.59 billion on subsidy between January and February 2019, having spent a lesser amount (N16.21 billion) in November and December 2018.
The NNPC has classified the spending as under-recovery. This means that Nigeria is incurring an additional cost in subsidizing the price of petrol to make sure it falls within the regulated price of N145 per litre, even though the real market price is above this regulated rate.
[READ ALSO: Average Petrol Price Falls to ₦146.80 in July]
According to NNPC’s Monthly Financial and Operations Report for May 2019, released on Thursday, the difference between what the oil firm spent on subsidy in January/February 2019 and November/December 2018 is N190.37 billion.
NNPC has been the sole importer of petrol into the country since 2017. It removes the cost incurred in its importation before remitting it to the Federation Account.
In the latest report, the Corporation stated that it recorded under-recovery of N104.35 billion in January 2019, rising by 682% or N91 billion from N13.34 billion recorded in December 2018.
By February 2019, the amount paid as under-recovery dropped by 1.9% to N102.338 billion.
The report further shows that the amount declared as under-recovery by the Corporation in November 2018 was at N2.88 billion, meaning it dropped from N40.53 billion as recorded in October 2018.
[READ MORE: Currency-in-circulation declines by 6% in 5 months]
NNPC to collaborate with Chevron: The NNPC has called for a collaboration with Chevron Nigeria Limited to establish a condensate splinter refinery in order to grow local refining of crude oil.
The Group Managing Director of NNPC, Mele Kyari, had appealed to the Management of Chevron led by Jeff Ewing, Chevron’s Managing Director during a business visit to the NNPC’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to Kyari, it is not the responsibility of NNPC alone to set up refineries to end the shame of fuel importation but also the responsibility of its venture partners.
He further urged Chevron Nigeria Limited to work closely with the Corporation to improve the cost structure of crude oil production in Nigeria in order to boost profit and revenue for the country.
“We hold Chevron Nigeria Limited in very high esteem for her efficiency and cost optimisation. We look more up to the company to increase production and reserve, reduce cost and increase local refining capacity.”
[FURTHER READ: N5 trillion debt: AMCON to partner with ICPC, others]
Economy & Politics
WTO: US opposing consensus to declare Okonjo-Iweala as DG – Foreign Affairs Ministry
The Ministry announced Okonjo-Iweala has secured the support of the majority of the member nations but is being opposed by the US.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a statement that Nigeria’s candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has secured the support of the majority of the member-nations – but is yet to be declared and returned as the winner, as the United States is opposing the consensus.
This was announced in a statement by the Ministry on Thursday evening to inform the nation that the third and final round of the selection process of the WTO DG position was formally announced on Wednesday 28th October 2020.
READ: This is what Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is up against
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja __________________________________
PRESS RELEASE pic.twitter.com/K557KyJQzO— Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria 🇳🇬 (@NigeriaMFA) October 29, 2020
What you should know
Nairametrics reported this week that Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is close to being appointed as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
A group of ambassadors also known as “troika” had proposed Okonjo-Iweala to lead the WTO giving her a clear path to becoming the first woman to head the WTO since it started 25 years ago. The three ambassadors are thought to wield significant powers in determining what is a very “intricate and opaque” process.
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The U.S President, Donald Trump blocked the appointment of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala as the WTO’s next DG on Wednesday, citing support for South Korea’s Yoo Myung-hee.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala stated that she is positive despite hiccups in her bid to emerge as the next DG of the organization. She said, “Happy for the success & continued progress of our WTO DG bid. Very humbled to be declared the candidate with the largest, broadest support among members and most likely to attract consensus. We move on to the next step on Nov 9, despite hiccups. We’re keeping the positivity going.”
READ: WTO: Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala gets European Union support
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in its statement that, “Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has secured the support of the majority of the member countries, but is yet to be declared and returned the winner. This is because apart from winning the election, all 164 Member States of WTO were expected to adopt the winner by consensus. In accordance with the rile of the procedure of the WTO.”
It is important to highlight that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has secured cross-regional backing with only the United States opposing the consensus.
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The Ministry added that a meeting would be held by the General Council of the WTO on the 9th of November 2020 to declare a final decision on the election process.
Economy & Politics
WTO: Okonjo-Iweala says she is positive despite hiccups
Okonjo-Iweala has announced her excitement about being declared candidate with the largest and broadest support among members.
In an optimistic outlook, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has declared that she is positive despite hiccups in her bid to emerge the next Director-General, World Trade Organisation (WTO).
As the candidate with the largest, and broadest support among members of WTO and most likely to attract consensus, she is optimistic that success is hers.
This was revealed by the former coordinating minister of the Economy herself, through her verified Twitter page.
READ: Trans-Nationwide Express Plc suffers N79 million loss in Q3 2020
Happy for the success & continued progress of our @wto DG bid. Very humbled to be declared the candidate with the largest, broadest support among members & most likely to attract consensus. We move on to the next step on Nov 9, despite hiccups. We're keeping the positivity going!
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) October 29, 2020
Backstory: Recall that Nairametrics had earlier reported that Okonjo Iweala is close to being appointed as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organization.
This is after a rigorous selection process that has seen the former minister of Finance scale through a lot of hurdles, making it to the top two.
READ: Why Okonjo-Iweala should win the WTO DG role – Prof. Moghalu
What you should know: According to a press release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the third and final round of the selection process of the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) was concluded on Tuesday, 27 October 2020 and the result was announced on Wednesday, 28th October 2020.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala secured the support of the majority of the member-countries but is yet to be declared and returned the winner.
This is because apart from winning the election, all 164 member-states of WTO were expected to adopt the winner by consensus, in accordance with the rule of procedure of the WTO.
It is important to highlight that Dr. Okonjo-Iweala has secured cross-regional backing with only the United States opposing the consensus.
(READ MORE: WTO accepts nomination of Okonjo-Iweala as DG despite opposition from Egypt)
A meeting of the General Council of the WTO has been scheduled for 9th November, 2020 for the final decision on the election process.
What they are saying: Expressing her optimism in winning the race, Dr. Okono-Iweala said: “Happy for the success & continued progress of our @wto DG bid. Very humbled to be declared the candidate with the largest, broadest support among members & most likely to attract consensus. We move on to the next step on Nov 9, despite hiccups. We’re keeping the positivity going.”
Explore some Advanced Financial Calculators on Nairametrics
Economy & Politics
Nigeria’s Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala close to being announced as new DG of WTO
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is expected to be announced as the new DG of the World Trade Organisation.
Nigeria’s former Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonji-Iweala, is close to being appointed as the new Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
READ: Okonjo-Iweala gets Organised private sector’s endorsement for WTO job
According to Reuters, a group of ambassadors also known as “troika” has proposed Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to lead the WTO giving her a clear path to becoming the first woman to head the WTO since it started 25 years ago. The three ambassadors are thought to wield significant powers in determining what is a very “intricate and opaque” process.
READ: Buhari assures Okonjo-Iweala that the country will push until she emerges WTO DG
Most Nigerian Media houses have already announced NOI as the winner of the process even though this is yet to be made official by the WTO.
The winner for the role of DG of WTO is expected to be announced formally by the WTO later today.
However, there appears to be a new twist, in the expected announcement of her emergence as the new Director-General of the WTO.
The United States through its representative at the WTO has insisted that the South Korean candidate is still in contention and that Washington will not recognize Okonjo-Iweala as the consensus candidate for appointment as Director-General.
As a result, the General Counsel of WTO, postponed the announcement of a new Director-General until November 9, after the US presidential election, after further consultations would have been made.
The announcement of Okonjo-Iweala, who is reported to have gotten the support of a vast majority of members states, including the EU, Japan and China, as the new boss of the World Trade Organization, would have been a huge boost for Africa
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