“In spite of Organised Labour’s recognition of the real advantages that a deregulated downstream oil sector would bring to the economy, there is yet no sign that Labour’s opposition to this policy has waned! Labour, of course, recognizes that NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation), like all monopolies (especially state run monopolies) create price and market distortions which do not generally favour the masses. Thus, even when it is clear that deregulation will not only release at least N600bn revenue annually for critical infrastructural upliftment, but also reduce the space for corrupt enrichment within the petroleum subsector and induce keen competition with improved consumer services, Labour is not convinced that deregulation would translate into cheaper or stable petrol prices, especially when global crude oil prices usually follow an upward trajectory over time.

Mrs Rachael Ogbah is the Chief Executive Officer of Reachy Travels and Tours Limited. In a chat with Vanguard in her Ilasa, Lagos office last week, she spoke on several issues including how Reachy Travels and Tours Limited came into being and the challenges facing the travel industry.

Few days after the expiration of the 30-day ultimatum of the Federal Government to cement manufacturers to bring down the price of their product, the price of the product is still high, at between N1,800 and N2,200 per 50 kilogram bag from N2,500 per bag, a point which forced government’s intervention.

The aegies of recognised ad-vertising agencies in Nigeria, the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN), said it has concluded plans to hold its 38th Annual General Meeting/Congress which holds in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as it honours newly elected senators.

Practitioners in the insurance sector are not disposed to demystifying the way the industry works consequently, their attitudes have contributed in making the industry a closed entity.