Angelus Blog

Light At The End Of The Tunnel   According to the Cambridge Dictionary, a light at the end of the tunnel refers to “signs of improvement in a situation that has been bad for a long time, or signs that a long and difficult piece of work is almost finished.” In the image above, the light appears distant from the tunnel’s entrance. It shines brightly, drawing attention with its allure and symbolizing hope, faith, endurance, and perseverance. Yet, because the tunnel stretches long and far, reaching that light requires effort and determination. Sadly, this expression is often misunderstood. Some interpret it as though blessings simply fall from the sky—like manna from heaven—or as if success arrives by sheer luck. But that is not the case. No one reaches the light at the end of the tunnel without deliberate effort. Success demands purposeful action; otherwise, any achievement will be fleeting, lacking the foundation of sincere work. You cannot move left while aiming for something ...

Dangote Refinery, Lagos Nigeria   With the Dangote Refinery poised to start selling fuel directly to consumers—especially Nigerians—the pressing question is whether the government should simply relax and depend solely on this refinery to satisfy the country’s fuel demands. If the answer is no, what strategic steps should follow? Before exploring the path forward, it is essential to acknowledge the widespread dissatisfaction among Nigerians regarding both petrol pricing and the distribution framework currently in place. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has effectively established a monopoly over the purchase and distribution of Dangote Refinery’s products. Under this system, independent marketers and private oil sector operators are barred from buying directly from the refinery. Instead, they must procure fuel through NNPCL at a fixed price and then resell it to consumers with their own margins. This arrangement has eliminated the price uniformity Nigerians ...

Dangote Refinery   It is no longer news that the highly anticipated Dangote Refinery has been completed and is now ready to supply products to the market. Given the current fuel scarcity and rising petrol prices in Nigeria, many expected the refinery to start operations immediately after completion. However, this has not happened due to bureaucratic hurdles. Reports indicate that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL), currently the sole importer of refined petroleum products in Nigeria, is restricting Dangote from selling petrol to independent marketers or other petrol merchants, allowing only NNPCL and its affiliates to distribute the products. While some sources deny that NNPCL plans to monopolize Dangote’s products, conflicting reports continue to emerge, creating uncertainty and instability that is detrimental to the country. If there is no conflict between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery, why has petrol sales not commenced days after the refinery’s completion? Alik...

Nigeria Labour Congress protesting fuel price increase   On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) announced a significant increase in the price of Petroleum Motor Spirit (petrol). The new price now ranges between N897 and N930 per litre nationwide, marking approximately a 50% rise from the previous price of N617 per litre. This development has sparked widespread concern and criticism among Nigerians, who fear the negative repercussions on their daily lives. One of the most immediate impacts of the fuel price hike will be on transportation costs. Commercial vehicle operators are expected to raise their fares to offset the increased fuel expenses, placing additional financial burdens on the average Nigerian worker. Fuel is a critical input for many sectors of the economy, including manufacturing, banking, and the informal sector—such as vulcanizers, barbers, and small business centers—largely because electricity supply remains unreliable, m...

  A typical Lagos Motor Park  In Lagos, motor park touts, commonly known as Agberos or Alayees, are predominantly men—and occasionally women—who have taken it upon themselves to act as informal managers of motor parks. Some operate under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), while others are affiliated with the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN). The Agberos linked to the NURTW generally represent the lower tier of touts, whereas those associated with RTEAN occupy senior positions. Beyond these two groups, there exists a third category of touts who are unaffiliated with any union. These operate mainly at night, do not issue receipts for the levies they collect, and are notorious for their aggressive enforcement tactics. Motorists who resist their demands often face severe consequences. For years, the activities of these touts have been a source of distress for commercial drivers, motorists, and private vehicle owners in Lagos. Instead of co...