Re-branded Nigerian

In a speech welcoming the lawmakers in the red chamber back from an eight-week recess on Tuesday, Akpabio said it is their duty to respond with “urgency and compassion”. Despite inflation easing in two consecutive quarters according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Nigerians have continued to endure economic hardship. “In the face of rising economic pressures, our fellow citizens have been grappling with the harsh realities of inflation, soaring living costs, and an unpredictable market,” he said. “These challenges have tested the very fabric of our society, and I stand here today to express our deepest empathy for every Nigerian who bears the burden of these trying times. “Your struggles are not lost on us; it is our sacred duty, as your earnest representatives, to respond with urgency and compassion.” Akpabio said despite the issues confronting the country, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has made progress in some sectors of the economy. “Yet, amidst the...

THE President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has called on the Federal Government to end the petrol subsidy. He said the subsidy removal would help determine the actual petrol consumption in the country, adding that refining from his $20 billion refinery in Lagos would ease pressure on the Naira. In an interview with Bloomberg Television in New York, he said: “Subsidy is a susceptible issue. Once you subsidise, people will bloat the price and the government will end up paying what it is not supposed to pay. It is the right time to get rid of subsidy.” On his refinery, he said: “This refinery will resolve a lot of issues. It will show Nigeria’s accurate petrol consumption. Now, nobody can tell you. Some people say we consume 60 million litres of gasoline per day. “Some say, it’s less. But right now, if you look at it by us producing, everything can be counted. So everything can be accounted for, particularly for most of the trucks or ships that will come to load from us. W...

Oil marketers have assured Nigerians that the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol will crash if they are allowed to lift petrol directly from the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Plant. Ripples Nigeria reports that controversies were stoked recently when the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) emerged as the sole off taker of the product from the 650k barrel per day refinery despite initial denial. During a press briefing where the NNPC-Dangote refinery petrol supply deal was announced, Wale Edun, the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy disclosed that the Dangote Refinery will only sell to NNPC Ltd. “From October 1, NNPC Ltd. will commence the supply of about 385,000 bpd of crude oil to the Dangote refinery, to be paid for in naira,” he said. “PMS will only be sold to NNPC, NNPC will then sell to various marketers for now,” he said. Reacting to this, the spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Associat...

The ex-Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, who handed over to the current governor of the state, Usman Ododo in January this year after his two terms of four-years-tenure, has consistently been in the news in the past eight months. It has been from one drama to the other bordering on his stewardship and how he handled the affairs of the state under his tenure. Bello, who was alleged to have defrauded the state to the tune of N84 billion during his tenure, have done everything in and out of the books to avoid his trial spearheaded by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On Thursday, March 14, 2024, the EFCC had dragged the former governor before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja for alleged N84 billion money laundering offences, alongside his nephew Ali Bello, Dauda Sulaiman and Abdulsalam Hudu. The Anti-graft agency was prosecuting the quartet on an amended 17-count charge of money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of...

September 23, (THEWILL) – The Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed a suit seeking the removal of Abdullahi Ganduje, as the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The Northern Central APC Group had dragged Ganduje, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to court praying for nullification of the appointment of Ganduje by APC on the ground of gross violations of the party’s Constitution. Led by Saleh Zazzaga, the Group had filed the suit to query the propriety of Ganduje’s appointment as the National Chairman of the APC when he is not from the North Central geo-political zone, whose turn it was to fill the position. NCDMB Solar Trainning Advert 6pm - Contending that the appointment of Ganduje breached Article 13 of the APC Constitution, the plaintiff argued that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the APC breached the party’s Constitution when it appointed Ganduje, from Kano State in the North West geo-political zone to replace Abdull...

The Action People’s Party (APP) in Rivers State says it will appeal the decision of a Federal High Court which dismissed its suit seeking the replacement of the pro-Nyesom Wke lawmakers in the State. Speaking at a press briefing in Port Harcourt on Friday, the State Legal Adviser of the party, Henry Ekine, maintained that the court’s decision does not alter the party’s stance on the composition of the state legislature. “What is fundamental is the judgement of Peter Lifu today of the Federal High Court is not final and then has not changed substantially the position of the Rivers State House of Assembly with respect to the leadership of the Assembly as far as the APP,” he said. “I think we’re going to review that and then we will get that proper review, we will be taking the appropriate step that I think we would agree to take,” he noted. Ekine encouraged APP members to be optimistic, noting that while the case was dismissed, the court acknowledged the party’s legal standing to in...

The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Steel Development, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Russian consortium for the rehabilitation, completion, and operation of the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and the National Iron Ore Mining Company (NIOMCO). The agreement, which was formalized during a visit led by the Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, to Moscow, marks a major milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to revamp its steel sector. The consortium, including Messrs Tyazhpromexport (TPE), Novostal M, and Proforce Manufacturing Limited, will spearhead the project aimed at revitalizing the steel industry in Kogi State. Firms inspected Nigerian facilities in August 2024 The MoU signing comes after the Russian-led consortium inspected the steel and iron ore mining facilities in Ajaokuta and Itakpe in August 2024. Prince Shuaibu emphasized that the project is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s mandate to industrialize Nigeri...

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced an advanced Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system to enhance the monitoring and management of the national power grid. This initiative, spearheaded by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), is funded by the World Bank and aims to reduce frequent power grid collapses while ensuring a more reliable electricity supply across the country. During the launch event held at the National Control Centre (NCC) in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Adebayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, emphasized the significance of the SCADA system in transforming the grid’s operational efficiency. Represented by Emmanuel Nosike, the acting Permanent Secretary, Adelabu stated that the technology allows for real-time monitoring of the grid’s performance, improving response times to outages and optimizing system load management. “The SCADA system will enable us to monitor the entire electricity network from a centralized location, ensuring prompt respons...

September 19, (THEWILL) – Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday night, allegedly laid siege to the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to arrest former governor Yahaya Bello. Bello’s Media Office Director, Ohiare Michael, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday night, alleged that operatives of the EFCC shot sporadically in the air in the bid to arrest the former governor. “It has come to our notice that people suspected to be operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are currently around the Kogi Government Lodge, Asokoro in an attempt to forcefully arrest former Governor Yahaya Bello. They were shooting sporadically. “It was reported earlier that the former Governor went to the EFCC office voluntarily earlier today but the commission told him to leave and come at a later date, only to mount a Gestapo-like attack on the Kogi State Government facility in Asokoro. “We want to place it on record that the EFC...

Nigeria’s largest container port terminal, APM Terminals Apapa, revealed on Monday that it has experienced a continuous increase in export volumes over the past four years. The terminal reported that its half-year (H1) export figures for non-oil cargo in 2024 reached 51,000 TEUs, a 25% year-over-year increase compared to 47,000 TEUs for H1 2023. APM Terminals Apapa Terminal Manager Steen Knudsen described non-oil export cargo as an integral part of the terminal’s business. To sustain this growth in non-oil exports, Knudsen announced that the terminal will host its second exporters’ forum on September 19th. He stated, “The exporters’ forum is our way of supporting the Federal Government’s non-oil export drive. The forum is essentially a brainstorming session where we collaborate with various exporting associations in the country to address their challenges and facilitate more efficient movement of exports into the ports. More exports out of Nigeria translate to lower shipping cost...

The Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, has confirmed 25 deaths in a fatal road accident at Saminaka in Lere Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Sector Commander, Kaduna State Sector Command, Corps Commander, Kabir Nadabo, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria in Kaduna on Monday. Mr Nadabo said that the road traffic crash occurred on Sunday at 1.00 p.m. at LEA Primary School, Lere. The sector commander stated that a J5 bus with registration number NSL 08 AA carrying 63 people on board crashed into a DAF trailer with registration number DKA 454 XY. He explained that a combined team of FRSC, police, and Kaduna State Traffic Laws Enforcement Authority, KASTLEA, arrived at the scene of the accident at about 1:08 p.m. and began rescue operations. According to him, the town of Saminaka was filled with travellers, mostly to celebrate the Maulud festival. He disclosed that the initial investigation revealed that the driver of the J5, who was on high speed, lost contr...

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has announced that Nigeria’s inflation rate decreased to 32.15 per cent in August 2024. The NBS said that Nigeria’s inflation rate dropped from 33.40 per cent recorded in July 2024 to 32.15 per cent in August. The bureau made the announcement via its Consumer Price Index (CPI) report for August 2024 released on Monday, September 16, 2024. The latest development showed that Nigeria’s inflation rate decelerated for two consecutive months. The NBS announced that the headline inflation rate decreased to 33.40 per cent in July 2024. The headline inflation rate reduced from 34.19 per cent recorded in June 2024. The NBS, however, noted that Nigeria’s inflation rate further eased to 32.15 per cent in August 2024, adding that the food inflation stood at 37.52 per cent in the same month. The bureau said Nigeria’s inflation rate in August showed a decrease of 1.25 per cent points when compared to the July 2024 headline inflation rate. It stated: “However, ...

Agabi spoke when he appeared as a guest on Laolu Akande‘s “Inside Sources,” a socio-political programme aired on Channels Television on Sunday. The former minister said there is a misconception about democracy among political parties in Nigeria. “We believe that in politics, good and bad are equal. They are not,” he said. “We believe that the end justifies the means. If you can get away with it, you can take it illicitly now and negotiate later. The political parties are not democratic institutions. “They don’t comply with their own rules. They make peace and compromise. So as long as that is happening at the party level, what do you expect the end product to be? precisely the kind of problems that we’re now having. Primaries are rigged at the party level. “But giving it a spiritual dimension, when you have stolen the office that you are holding, do you expect God to partner with you in it? No! “Can you pray over that office? No, you can’t. Can you use it to do any good? You can...

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the appointment of four substantive Commissioners of Police for Abia, Lagos, Ebonyi and Akwa Ibom state Commands . The appointments followed the recent promotion of some senior Police Officers by the Commission which created vacancies in some State Commands. The new Commissioners are, Isah Danladi Nda, Abia State Command; Olarewaju Ishola Olawale, Lagos State Command; Anthonia Adaku Uche Anya fdc, Ebonyi state Command and Miller Gajere Dantawaye, Akwa Ibom State Command. Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu rtd, mni said the new State Command Commissioners must be prepared to make a positive difference in the security management of their states of posting. DIG Argungu said the Commission will monitor their performance stressing that they should not waste time to hit the ground running He told the new Commissioners that it is their duty to build a competitive, competent and efficient Police Force in their states of posti...

As Nigeria continues to grapple with the aftermath of devastating floods in Maiduguri, Borno State, and other parts of the country, the Federal Government has issued an urgent warning about impending flooding along the Niger and Benue rivers. The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, issued the alert in Abuja on Friday during a press briefing on the flooding situation in Maiduguri. He warned that a large volume of water was flowing through the rivers down to the Niger Delta region, stressing the need for heightened vigilance and proactive measures, particularly in southern Nigeria, to mitigate the effects of potential flooding. Utsev attributed the flood disaster in Maiduguri and Jere areas of Borno State to the overflow of water from Alau Dam, located about 10 kilometres from Maiduguri city centre, due to a massive inflow from Ngadda River, a major tributary of River Yedzaram. According to him, the 2024 Annual Flood Outlook publication by the Nigeria Hyd...

The federal government has through the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack inaugurated the Committee on Consequential Adjustments in Salaries for civil servants. The committee was established to implement the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act of 2024, which increased the national minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000. The committee, comprising 16 members from the federal government and Trade Union sides, is chaired by the Head of Civil Service of the Federation. Its terms of reference include negotiating and agreeing on consequential adjustments in salaries and developing a template for the implementation of the approved minimum wage. Walson-Jack in her opening remarks during the inauguration of the committee on Friday in Abuja, emphasised the significance of the committee’s assignment, stating that it is crucial for maintaining industrial peace and harmony. She expressed confidence that the committee will execute its mandate in the ...

Justice Mojisola Dada of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, convicted an American businessman, Marco Antonio Ramirez, for $1.2 million EB-5 visa scam . The Judge also convicted him for a separate $368,698.24 fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, prosecuted Ramirez alongside his companies, USA NOW LLC, Eagle Ford Instalodge Group LP and USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, for an alleged $1,235,000 EB-5 visa scam. The defendant allegedly obtained the money from his victims as processing fees for their investments in his company, USA Now Energy Capital Group LP, in the Employment-Based Fifth Preference (EB-5) United States of America Investor Programme, which would qualify them to be eligible for the issuance of USA Green Card. The defendant, however, allegedly reneged on his promise. He was initially arraigned on a 12-count charge, to which he pleaded "not guilty". He was also re-arraigned by the EFCC on...

Gani Adams, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, has expressed displeasure over the policies and administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Gani Adams, in an open letter to the President, said that Tinubu’s administration has become indifferent, insensitive and unresponsive to the plight of Nigerians. In the letter, titled ‘President Bola Tinubu, Time is Going,’ Adams lamented that the government has failed to address the economic hardship and insecurity faced by citizens. He said that President Tinubu’s policies had made Nigerians poorer, noting that it was obvious that the President did not care about the suffering of the masses. Adams stressed that there was no rationale behind the reforms and some policies of Tinubu’s administration, stating that it had exacerbated the suffering of Nigerians. According to him, “Tinubu’s administration has disappointed many Nigerians who had high hopes for his leadership.” He cited the increase in fuel prices, from less than N200 to over ...

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says it has successfully secured over N60 billion and $100 million for the oil and gas host community development trust fund. Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe disclosed this during the inauguration of the Body of Neutrals at the Upstream Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre in Lagos. Komolafe emphasised the commission’s ongoing efforts to effectively implement the Petroleum Industry Act’s robust provisions. He said that the funds were intended to add value to host communities and facilitate a conducive operating environment for industry operators, aiming to optimise the nation’s hydrocarbon resources. However, Komolafe noted that despite these efforts, challenges persist, adding that disputes within host communities often hinder the effective use of these funds. He explained that conflicts and legal battles among community members could delay the deployment of funds, exacerbating issues in an...

Terrorists on Monday kidnapped two nurses and two patients from the Primary Healthcare Centre in Kuyallo community in Birnin-Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State. A resident, Ishaq Usman, said the attackers turned on the health facility after their plan to abduct students of the Government Day Secondary School in the community failed. A source in Birnin Gwari town told PREMIUM TIMES that when the terrorists, locally called bandits, invaded the school around 9 a.m., they found no students. Another source, Musa Alhassan, a leader of the local vigilante group, confirmed the incident to reporters in Kaduna. The community lies on the Birnin Gwari-Funtua highway, about 60 kilometres from Birnin Gwari town. The police spokesperson in Kaduna, Mansir Hassan, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), did not respond to phone calls to comment on the incident when our reporter reached out to him Monday evening. But PREMIUM TIMES saw an internal security memo from one of the securi...

The Senior Prophet of Christ MercyLand Ministry, Jeremiah Fufeyin, says he did not use the name of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on its spiritual items to deceive Nigerians. Fufeyin, who refuted the allegation in a statement and criticized the report making the rounds with the caption ‘‘NAFDAC Investigating Pastor Jeremiah Miracle Water, Soap-DG’, said the publication was false. The statement said, Christ Mercy Land Deliverance Ministry is a law-abiding Christian Church and recognizes the extant laws of the land and even the NAFDAC Act in this regard, and as a Christian Association, “We are guided by Section 39 and 38 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that guarantees all Christians and our Church the Right to freedom of religion without interference whatsoever in this regard. “It is sequel to that, as a church we have been operating and guided by the tenets of our faith and biblical injunctions in the holy bible in t...

The Nigerian Army says that voluntary retirement, discharge of personnel is routine and in line with laid down procedures as contained in the Harmonised Terms and Conditions of Service (Officers/Soldiers) alike. The Director, Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, gave the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Abuja. Mr Nwachukwu faulted the recent publication by some media platforms, alleging mass resignation of soldiers over corruption, low morale and the like. He said the publication was not only misleading, but also a deliberate attempt to sow the seeds of disaffection and acrimony, as well as denigrate the patriotic service of personnel and reputation of the Nigerian army. According to him, it is crucial to clarify that service in the Nigerian Army, like most militaries the world over, is voluntary and not conscription. “This, therefore, provides that individuals are free and at liberty to disengage at will. The situation is the same as the Nigerian Army. “P...

Abuja, Nigeria — A fuel tanker collided head-on with another truck in Nigeria on Sunday causing an explosion that killed at least 52 people, the country's emergency response agency said. The fuel tanker was also carrying cattle in the Agaie area in north-central Niger state and at least 50 of them were burned alive, Abdullahi Baba-Arab, director-general of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, said. Search and rescue operations were underway at the scene of the accident, Baba-Arab said. Ibrahim Husseini, a spokesman for SEMA, later confirmed the death toll and said the victims were given a mass burial following the early morning explosion. Mohammed Bago, governor of Niger state, said residents of the affected area should remain calm and asked road users to "always be cautious and abide by road traffic regulations to safeguard lives and property." With the absence of an efficient railway system to transport cargo, fatal truck accidents are common along most of ...

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.), says it has no intention of becoming the sole off-taker of Dangote Refinery Limited (DRL) or any entity in a free market environment. The NNPC Ltd. said the refinery and any other domestic refinery were free to sell directly to marketers on a willing buyer, willing seller basis, which was the current practice for all fully deregulated products. Mr Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. made this known on Saturday in Abuja while reacting to claims that Dangote Refinery was being undermined by NNPC Ltd. actions. “The attention of the NNPC Ltd. has been drawn to a press release by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which claims that the Dangote Refinery is being undermined by actions of NNPC Ltd. “Specifically, MURIC asserts that recent changes to the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) will prevent the Dangote Refinery from offering lower prices. ” It said that NNPC Ltd. has become t...

Former National Vice Chairman (North-West) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Salihu Lukman, has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari, incumbent President Bola Tinubu and the ruling party of destroying Nigeria, and urged Nigerians to replace the party in 2027. Lukman who made the accusation in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, lamented the way his erstwhile party and the duo of Buhari and Tinubu had ruined the nation, saying 2027 presents a golden opportunity to replace them. He, however, noted that replacing the APC in 2027 will not be enough to remedy all the ills the party and its leadership had plunged the country into, but urged Nigerians to work hard to entrench a system whereby new political party that will produce the next leaders, has the power to put elected officials in check. The former APC chieftain lamented the lack of cohesion and purpose of the current crop of opposition politicians who are ‘working at cross-purposes as they are each focused on thei...

Kwankwaso Advised Nigerians Not To Be Swayed By Financial Incentives Or Gifts During Future Elections, Urging Them To Make Informed Decisions. Katsina, Nigeria – Rabiu Kwankwaso, the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), has declared the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) “dead” in Nigeria. Speaking on Saturday at the inauguration of a newly renovated NNPP office in Katsina State, Kwankwaso explained that he and his supporters had left the PDP because it no longer aligned with their vision. “I wish to remind you that PDP is dead because we left the party. Since they have gone out of the line, we decided to check out,” Kwankwaso said. Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the former Governor of Kano State expressed confidence in his chances, stating that the NNPP is poised to take over the presidency and secure significant wins across the states. Kwankwaso also advised Nigerians not to be swayed by financial incentives or gifts during future elect...

The 23-year-old outshone competitors China’s Cui Jianjin, who won silver with a 140kg lift, and Mexico’s Amelia Perez, who took bronze with a 130kg lift. Competing in the women’s 61kg division, Mark set a new world record with an incredible 150kg lift, surpassing the previous record held by fellow Nigerian, Lucy Ejike. Mark’s achievement continues Nigeria’s proud legacy in the Paralympics, particularly in powerlifting, where athletes such as Lucy Ejike and Bose Omolayo have previously set world records. Nigeria’s athletes have been consistent powerhouses in the Paralympics, with a strong track record in both powerlifting and track events. The country previously won ten medals, including four golds, at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, solidifying their status as one of the top nations in Paralympic powerlifting. Cresit report Afrique

The Federal Government has granted UTM Offshore Limited a ‘Licence to Construct’ (LTC) a 2.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility. The Federal Government has granted UTM Offshore Limited a ‘Licence to Construct’ (LTC) a 2.8 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) facility. The Minister of State, Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo, said this during the issuance of the licence to the company on Friday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chief Executive, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, presented the licence to the company. According to Ekpo, this licence marks a historic milestone as it will be the first floating LNG facility in Nigeria, aimed at boosting the country’s gas production and utilisation. “This is in line with the mission of President Bola Tinubu to grow gas production, distribution, and utilisation. “In line...

Nigerians in the diaspora, under the umbrella of Nigerian Professionals in Diaspora (NPID) have called for an urgent reassessment of the country’s monetary policies, following the recent hike in fuel prices. In a statement signed by Dr Obiora Okereke, president and Bukola Shonekan, secretary on Thursday, NPID expressed concern over the current state of Nigeria’s economy, particularly the recent spike in fuel prices, which has exacerbated the already challenging economic conditions for millions of Nigerians. The group blamed the economic managers of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration for failing to support the President’s vision with competent and effective policies, citing the poorly implemented floating of the Naira as a glaring example. NPID noted that instead of stabilising the currency and attracting foreign investment, the policy has resulted in further depreciation of the Naira, leading to an unstable exchange rate that has driven up the cost of goods and service...

Amid scarcity and hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit also known as petrol from N617 to N897 per litre across the country, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has stated that foreign exchange (forex) illiquidity has been a significant factor influencing the fluctuation in prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which are governed by unrestricted free market forces, as provided for in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Speaking on TVC News’ “Journalists’ Hangout” show on Thursday, the Executive Vice President of Downstream, NNPC Ltd, Mr. Adedapo Segun explained that the current fuel scarcity was expected to “subside in a few days as more stations recalibrate and begin selling PMS.” He said Section 205 of the PIA, which established NNPC Ltd, stipulated that petroleum prices were determined by unrestricted free market forces. According to him, “The market has been deregulated, meaning that petrol prices are now determined by market forces rather than by the g...

Amid squeezing hunger across the country, the Federal Government, Thursday, flagged off the sales of 30,000 metric tonnes of milled rice at N40,000 per 50kg bag to Nigerians as a measure to cushion the impact of high food prices that have persisted for over one year. The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, did the flag-off of the rice sale at the Ministry's headquarters in Abuja. Kyari said: "It is indeed my pleasure to welcome you all to this historical, all-important, and long-awaited flag-off of the sales of 30,000 MT of FGN milled rice to Nigerians at a subsidised rate of N40,000 per 50 kg. "This kind gesture was made possible at the expense and directives of the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who does not want Nigerian citizens to go to bed hungry and, in his wisdom, deemed it important to initiate this food intervention. "We are all aware t...