Category: 📃Supers News

As mixed reactions continue to trail the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by President Bola Tinubu, the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has said it will take legal action against the Federal Government.

The PUNCH had reported that President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara; his deputy, Ngozi Odu; as well as members of the state House of Assembly for six months.

The President then appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.) as the Sole Administrator of the state.

The PDP governors contended that the President’s actions were unconstitutional and threatened Nigeria’s democratic principles.

Seeking legal intervention, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, criticised the declaration of a state of emergency in the state, adding that the party’s governors’ forum would challenge the matter in court.

Makinde, in his bi-weekly newsletter— The Business of Governance (Issue 110)— noted that the suspension of democracy in the state was an illegal act that all well-meaning Nigerians must condemn.

The governor said, “I am glad that our great party, the PDP, is demonstrating the needed strength and leadership. The PDP Governors’ Forum rose from an emergency meeting where we unanimously decided to challenge the actions of President Tinubu in a court of competent jurisdiction. We cannot fold our hands and watch the democracy we built for almost three decades be trampled upon.

“I stand today to say that the declaration of the state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of the executive and legislative arms of government by the presidency is an illegality that right-thinking members of society must oppose.

“Our democratic tenets must never be trifled with, no matter our personal feelings and loyalties. This is the time to take a stand for fairness, equity and justice.”

Makinde urged Nigerians to speak out whenever anything threatened the nation’s progress.

Showing support for the governors’ forum, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the party, Timothy Osadolor, said the state of emergency would be challenged in court.

Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, Osadolor noted that President Tinubu was unmindful of the implications of his pronouncement.

The youth leader added that the court remained the last hope of the common man.

Osadolor said, “The President lacks the locus to suspend two elected arms of government; the legislature and executive in the state. There is no place in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that gives such powers.

“Has the President forgotten that the office is guided by law? Although he has the right to declare a state of emergency, there is nowhere it is stated that he can suspend officials. President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the past, and the governors still held the forte in their states.”

Corroborating Osadolor, a sociopolitical group, Niger Delta Youth Council, expressed full support for the PDP Governors’ Forum in their resolve to challenge the state of emergency in court.

This was contained in a statement by the President of the NDYC, Bene Mamamu, on Friday.

He alleged that the state of emergency declared on Rivers by President Tinubu “is an expression of his bias and hatred for the Niger Delta region.”

Reverse emergency rule, Ijaw group tells Tinubu

Meanwhile, an advocacy group, Ijaw People’s Association, decried the state of emergency, describing it as a “desecration of democracy” and “desperation taken too far”.

The IPA called on the President to show that he was a democrat by reversing the decision in the interest of peace and proper development to take place.

The President of the group, Patrick Ebikebuno, stated this while speaking with newsmen in Port Harcourt.

Ebikebuno noted that the declaration was disturbing for the Ijaw nation, including people of the ethnic group in Ondo, Delta, Akwa Ibom, and Bayelsa states.

He emphasised the peaceful nature of the Ijaw people, stating, “We are gentle in character and very accommodating.”

The South-South Governors’ Forum had earlier called for the reversal of the state of emergency in Rivers State.

This was in a statement signed by the Chairman of the South-South Governors’ Forum, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, in Yenagoa, the state capital.

According to the forum, the political crisis in Rivers State ought to be ideally resolved through legal and constitutional means rather than by executive fiat.

Meanwhile, the Government of Cross River State distanced itself from the position of the South-South Governors’ Forum’s to reject the emergency rule in Rivers.

The acting Governor of the state, Dr Peter Odey, said the government fully aligned itself with President Tinubu’s quest to bring peace and stability to the oil-rich state.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Ekpong, Odey said Cross River State was not consulted before the forum came out with its position.

Also rejecting the region’s governors’ stance, the Edo State Government dissociated itself from opposing the emergency rule declared in Rivers State.

In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Fred Itua, the government stated that the step taken by President Tinubu was based on his understanding of the issue.

Showing support for the President, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State expressed support for the declaration, describing it as a crucial move to ensure national security.

Emergency rule ‘democratic Armageddon’ – Bode George

Meanwhile, speaking on Friday in an interview on Arise TV, a former Deputy National Vice Chairman of the PDP, Bode George, condemned the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State by the President, describing it as an unconstitutional move aimed at political control.

George said, “Even if you want to declare a state of emergency, there are conditions. To me, this is a revisit of a democratic Armageddon in Nigeria, and we have to be extremely careful.”

George also took a swipe at Wike over his revocation of the PDP secretariat’s Certificate of Occupancy in Abuja, saying the minister should remember that the party was instrumental to his political rise.

 

Kwankwaso knocks NASS

The NNPP presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Rabiu Kwankwaso, expressed reservations for the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.

Confirming his opposition in a statement shared on Friday via his verified Facebook page, Kwankwaso also reflected on previous political misadventures and warned against repeating history.

Administrator receives withheld LG funds, other salaries

Addressing the heads of local government administrations, the state’s Sole Administrator, Ibas, allayed concerns over unpaid salaries, assuring them of his commitment by confirming the release of the withheld state allocation.

He said, “Let me assure you that the withheld allocations have now been released, and I hereby issue a directive that all the necessary steps be taken to ensure that the salaries are paid without any further delay.”

Earlier, in a separate meeting with monarchs, he warned against encouraging cultism and other vices in their communities.

However, a source within the Presidency revealed that the appointment of a sole administrator in Rivers State was aimed at reconciling the warring factions and stabilising the political landscape, rather than imposing full emergency rule.

According to the source, the move is in line with ongoing efforts by the Senate and South-South governors to mediate between the feuding parties.

“These are suggestions on the table. Customarily, the idea of an emergency rule is to allow the parties involved time to cool off and come to a resolution,” the source stated.

 

IYC drags FG before ECOWAS court

Members of the Ijaw Youth Council have filed a lawsuit against the Federal Government at the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States in Abuja, challenging the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.

The suit, dated March 20, 2025, lists the applicants as Comrade Ibiso, John Benjamin, Alpheus Ngere, Tamunokuro Tomquin, Benjamin Kemuel, Fabians Abbey, Williams Toby, Dabo Briggs, Precious Otoni, Attah Ebirin, and Tonye Stephen.

The applicants are seeking an order from the ECOWAS Court to set aside the suspension of elected officials and the dissolution of democratic structures in Rivers State.

Additionally, they are requesting a court order nullifying all decisions made by Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.), the sole administrator appointed by the President.

The suit also demands $10m in punitive and exemplary damages for the alleged violations and hardships caused by the Federal Government’s actions.

The Chairman of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, Dr Michael Emuh, urged the Federal Government to utilise trained youths for pipeline surveillance in the region.

Emuh, in a statement on Friday made available to Saturday PUNCH, called for caution and strategic action to protect the nation’s economic interests.

APC, opposition lawmakers clash

In another development, the ruling APC chided aggrieved opposition lawmakers and critics of the state of emergency, saying the action was in the best interest of the people.

The reaction came in the wake of renewed agitation by the senator representing Bayelsa West, Seriake Dickson; and his counterpart in the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Ireti Kingibe.

The National Assembly, on Thursday, endorsed the state of emergency imposed on Rivers State by President Tinubu.

The resolution was taken at separate plenary sessions of the two chambers, where they deliberated on the suspension of the state governor, his deputy, and the state assembly members.

The parliament backed Tinubu’s proclamation through a voice vote amidst calls from opposition leaders to reject it.

On Friday, Kingibe condemned the use of a voice vote in approving the declaration of emergency rule in Rivers State.

The FCT senator said the required two-thirds majority consensus could not be accurately determined by a mere voice vote.

Dickson, another high-ranking senator, opposed the emergency rule in Rivers State, describing it as unconstitutional.

In a statement released on Friday, the former Bayelsa State governor voiced his objections.

The lawmaker had, during Thursday’s plenary session at the Senate, argued that the declaration fell short of constitutional requirements.

“As I have stated repeatedly, I raised my objections during the closed session on how the declaration fell short of constitutional prescription, based on my views as a democrat sworn to uphold the Nigerian Constitution,” Dickson stated.

Dickson particularly commended Senator Aminu Tambuwal for challenging the legality of suspending elected officials in Rivers State.

He criticised the Senate President, accusing him of attempting to silence him and misrepresent his statements.

The former governor further argued that senators did not need the permission of the Senate President to express their views on national issues.

Reacting, the National Secretary of the APC, Senator Ajibola Basiru, dismissed their protests.

Basiru told Saturday PUNCH that there was no need to stir up the emotions of Nigerians, as the aggrieved lawmakers were doing, insisting that the President made the right decision.

His sentiment was shared by the APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeoma Arodiogbu, who stated that it was obvious the opposing lawmakers were playing to the gallery.

Fubara alive, well – Kinsmen

Controversy surrounding the whereabouts of the suspended governor was laid to rest on Friday as a close family source said he was alive and well.

Though the source, who pleaded anonymity, said she would not disclose the governor’s whereabouts, she confirmed that he was doing fine.

“I have spoken to the governor, and there is no cause for alarm,” the source added.

This comes as some members of the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council had raised the alarm over the whereabouts of the suspended governor, saying that they had yet to hear from him since he was suspended.

A village has been thrown into turmoil after a shocking revelation that a brother impregnated his younger sister.

The incident, which surfaced on TikTok, has sparked outrage, with a group of people seen holding flowers in protest.

The video’s caption, “Brother got his sister pregnant,” further explained the disturbing situation, drawing widespread attention.

As the clip gained traction online, concerned individuals flooded the comment section to express their thoughts and reactions.

See some reactions below: 

ATURA finest 🫡💯: “No blame the guy ooo. Some sister jus fin anyhow.”

DeroyAgu: “there’s mistake somewhere that can’t be his real sister cos if na the same mama and papa born them they won’t feel anything for each other.”

Bekee 🧿✌️: “e happen for my village 😭😭😭omo l don’t know what all this brothers sees in there sisters body.”

divinenation: “in football it is called own goal 😂…….. what is it called in sporty bet.”

Hun Ray✝️: “Nothing is new, anything happening now has happened before.”

Mu🧿NA🧿CHIM✈️SO🥰: “they fit b husband and wife for their past life 😅but alu.”

diogo: “hmmm things dey happen ooo so he no see another girl to date.”

@sunday93935

Brother got her sister pregnant😳😳🙏🙏👹👹👺👺

♬ original sound – popesworld

 

 

 

Nigeria Lady breaks down in tears as she laments over protracted singleness at 27.

The young lady took to her social media page to lament over her relationship status.

She stated that she’s already in her late 20s and has still not found herself in a relationship.

According to her, men do not usually ask her out as they do with most girls and she wonders whether it has something to do with her looks.

The video she shared showed her looking teary after crying over her singleness.

She wrote …

“I recently turned 27 years old. But I’m still single. Men don’t ask me out on dates. Do I look bad.”

Check out reactions below …

@janicedavis664 said: “Comb your hair, put on earrings and feel good about loving yourself. Excuses weigh you down!”

@user75483685227817 remarked: “They don’t ask any of us on a date anymore”

@johnnierogers05 said: “you are beautiful. The right man will come into your life and you will know it. So, don’t cry. Your time is coming.”

@Yasmaire marie wrote: “Queen you are absolutely beautiful, it’s your protection”

@Perps Nzuki said: “you are beautiful kamummy stop crying your turn is coming”

Nigerian man’s persistence pays off as he gets his first job in the UK after 7 years during which he applied for 750 different jobs, 7 years after arriving the country with no employment.

The man revealed that he had arrived in the United Kingdom 7 years ago but couldn’t secure a job.

However, he had persisted in applying for job at different companies.

He stated that he had sent out a total of 750 applications until one was finally accepted.

The UK-based Nigerian man shared a photo of him in corporate already at his place of work ready to commence his tasks.

Reactions have followed …

@Olamma🦋🦋🦋 said: “Wait!! U mean to say there are no jobs in the uk anymore, or maybe it’s because of the type of visa u came in with??”

@user9915935503570 wrote: “After one a year and two months in the UK I got a a job yesterday guys I cried”

@ify ofeeey said: “I won’t lie … na God run am for me… once and once only”

@Sylvia 💕 🇳🇬🇬🇧 said: “Congratulations dear everyone have different grace I came in 3weeks after I got agency work and support worker job which I was doing the two I later drop the agency got a care home job 1week later.”

@ezekielonitiju wrote: “Indeed experience should be a movie😂😂😂”

 

See post below …

 

The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association has strongly condemned the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria over the imposition of what NECA described as “outrageous” annual dues on private and non-quoted companies.

According to a statement, NECA warned that the move could cripple businesses and stifle economic growth.

“This outcry follows the implementation of the Financial Reporting Council Amendment Act 2023 (FRC Act), which expanded the scope of companies under the FRC’s regulatory oversight,” the statement said.

It mentioned that the new policy significantly increased the annual dues of private firms from N1m to hundreds of millions of naira, depending on their turnover.

Meanwhile, publicly listed companies’ dues remain capped at N25m. NECA’s Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, denounced the move as unjust and contradictory to the federal government’s efforts to enhance Nigeria’s business environment, attract investment, and create jobs.

He warned that the increased financial burden on private firms, already struggling with multiple taxation, regulatory bottlenecks, and rising operational costs, could force many to shut down or downsize.

“This policy is a direct contradiction to the Ease of Doing Business agenda and sends a negative signal to investors,” Oyerinde stated.

“Many companies, especially in manufacturing, trading, and essential services, operate on thin margins. Adding such arbitrary financial demands increases the risk of layoffs, business closures, and an economic downturn,” he added.

Oyeinde further noted that regulatory unpredictability discourages both local and foreign investments, weakening Nigeria’s global competitiveness.

“If regulatory agencies can impose arbitrary levies without due consultation, it erodes investor confidence and pushes businesses to the brink,” he added.

NECA urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to immediately suspend the enforcement of the new levies and revert to the previous N1m fee structure pending a comprehensive review.

Oyerinde also called for an urgent legislative amendment to the FRC Act to eliminate ambiguities and ensure fair and transparent oversight.

He called for dialogue between the Federal Government, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and key stakeholders, including NECA, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, to establish a more sustainable and justifiable compliance framework.

“The private sector is the backbone of our economy, and policies that hinder its growth will ultimately harm national development. The government must prioritize economic sustainability over excessive regulation.

“With growing discontent from businesses over multiple taxation and excessive levies, pressure is mounting on the federal government to reconsider the FRC’s new financial demands to avoid worsening Nigeria’s already fragile economic climate,”  Oyerinde stressed.

 

 

 

Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (corper) member, Ushie Uguamaye, has raised concerns over alleged threats following her viral video criticising President Bola Tinubu’s government over inflation and economic hardship.

In a video shared on her TikTok account #talktoraye on Saturday, Uguamaye expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions, lamenting that hard work seems futile amid financial struggles.

She openly criticised Tinubu, calling him a “terrible leader,” and questioned the government’s efforts to alleviate citizens’ suffering.

Additionally, she described Lagos State as a “smelling state,” complaining about its odour and poor living conditions.

Shortly after her video gained traction, Uguamaye alleged that she began receiving threats, reportedly from NYSC officials, pressuring her to take down the content.

Frustrated by the backlash, she took to Instagram #iamraye__ to express her disappointment at what she described as attempts to silence her, insisting that she only spoke the truth about Nigeria’s realities.

She wrote, “Dear Nigerians, I am already getting threatened by the NYSC board to stop speaking on this issue. Less than 24 hours, I’m already getting threatened by the government starting with the NYSC board!.

“Dear Nigerians, they have my address. In case you guys don’t see me online, please you know who to hold accountable. I didn’t do anything wrong I just asked that they work on the inflation.

“Why can’t I speak up? Being an NYSC corper doesn’t mean I signed up my right to complain.

“Why can’t the government listen to the critics of its citizens? They believe they have a chain on me, which is NYSC, and they are using it to hold me. #officialasiwajubat I didn’t do anything wrong. I criticised your government and I demand that we are being heard.”

She added, “Deleting this content is of no use: because they already know me. However, deleting it means whatever they do to me, nobody would know. If they decide to give me a hefty punishment, nobody would know because I used my own hands to cover it by deleting what I started.

“She’s asking people to Identify me? I’m not a criminal. Reading the NYSC rules, I didn’t commit any crime. Ask the NYSC lady to stop asking people to point me out, ATP she’s acting scary.

“All I did was lament, all I did was complain. I’m getting tons of messages like this from my fellow corpers. What is wrong with just one person complaining? Why are they looking for me like I’m a criminal? I’m not dumb.

“I made sure to not accuse the government of anything maliciously! I questioned them. I asked questions. As an NYSC Corper, I didn’t sign off my freedom of speech.

“Leave me alone bruh. they keep calling me and I’ve switched of my phones now they are texting me my personal details on WhatsApp to inform me they know me well.

“Dear NYSC if you say a corper has faulted, you wouldn’t treat them like this and scare them! You are scaring me for my dear life. Please, leave me alone. You told me to report to the office on Monday. Okay! What else? Why are you looking for me? I just exercised my right to using the ‘Freedom of Speech’
this is the right of every citizen. Except they tell me being an NYSC Corper removes me from being a citizen.”

Her allegations have sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians questioning whether the NYSC is suppressing free speech among corps members.

Click the link below to watch the video:

https://x.com/MobilePunch/status/1901231015365857441

Popular Fuel marketers decry closure of stations at border towns, citizens demand more Nigerian goods

Less than two years after President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, the effect of the decision is now being felt deeply by neighbouring Niger Republic.

Also, findings by THE PUNCH on Sunday from fresh data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic surged by 82 per cent in 2024 despite ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

This came as oil dealers raised concern about the closure of filling stations at border towns, stressing that marketers were losing so much revenue due to the development.

Since the start of March, Niger Republic has been grappling with an unprecedented shortage of the most widely used petrol in the West African country.

Economic activities were brought to a halt as filling stations in Niamey, the capital, and those in other towns ran out of petrol recently.

For several years, the country depended majorly on Nigeria for about 50 per cent of its local fuel consumption, industry players and experts confirmed. Petrol was usually smuggled into the neighbouring country through illegal routes.

However, since President Bola Tinubu’s administration removed the fuel subsidy in 2023, the price of petrol skyrocketed, making the smuggling of the product unattractive to illegal traders in border areas.

Aside from Niger, countries like Benin Republic and Togo were also beneficiaries of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy which stopped immediately after Tinubu took over on May 29, 2023.

The removal of subsidy and the attendant rise in the price of petrol has mounted pressure on Niger’s refinery, which can only produce a few tankers of fuel per day.

The Commercial Director of the state-owned Nigerien Company for Oil Products (Sonidep), Maazou Oumani Aboubacar, confirmed that half of the country’s consumption used to come from Nigeria until this was halted by the current administration.

Aboubacar told AFP that the Soraz refinery in Zinder is the only one in the country, saying it “can no longer satisfy domestic demand,” which has surged for more than a year now.

The reason is principally down to the drying up of the flourishing black market supplied from neighbouring Nigeria, a major global producer. It was learnt that the country’s refinery only provides Sonidep with “25 tanker trucks of petrol a day” when the daily national requirement is up to twice that.

Domestic consumption was said to have been boosted by a cut in fuel prices introduced by the military regime that seized power in Niger in 2023. The official stated that two years ago, prices tripled after the Nigerian President ended costly fuel subsidies.

“The fuel that came into Niger illegally from Nigeria represented up to half of the market. It supplied the large regions near the border between the two countries,” Aboubacar was quoted as having said.

With Nigerian smugglers supplying up to 50 per cent of the country’s daily petrol consumption up till 2023, the country’s refinery was producing a little to augment the supply from Nigeria.

However, the country faced the reality after Tinubu declared that “the fuel subsidy is gone” and tightened up the borders.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said the removal of subsidy, as well as the Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service going on across the borders, is taking its toll on Niger and other neighbouring countries.

Ukadike told our correspondent that when petrol was subsidised in Nigeria, neighbouring countries benefitted through illegal merchants who smuggled the product out of the country.

The marketer disclosed that the high cost of petrol reduced illegal bunkering, forcing Niger and others to either refine or import their petroleum products directly at the right price.

“It is true that when Nigeria was subsiding fuel, other neighbouring countries were enjoying subsidies too. As it is now, the rise in the price of fuel in Nigeria has reduced smuggling. The ongoing Operation Whirlwind has also reduced smuggling. The option available to the Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries enjoying our subsidy is to import PMS directly if they cannot refine it.

“When we subsidised our fuel, they were benefitting, and smuggling was thriving. Now that we have deregulated the downstream, smuggling has been reduced; security agencies are all over the borders through Operation Whirlwind. This has stopped illegal fuel export to Niger and it is one of the major reasons for their current fuel crisis,” Ukadike explained.

The PUNCH gathered that the fuel crisis in Niger reached alarming proportions last week after a litre of petrol sold for as high as N8,000 in some parts of the country.

Findings by our correspondents in Sokoto State, which shares a border with Niger, showed that the price of petrol varied depending on the distance from Nigeria.

A transborder businessman from Nigeria, Abubakar Usman, was quoted as saying, “There is a serious scarcity of fuel in the country. It depends on where one is getting the fuel.

“In Konni, the border town between Nigeria and Niger, you can get a litre at 1,200 CFA, which is about N2,500. If you go to Agadez, the same litre of fuel is 3,000 CFA, equivalent to N7,500 per litre. In Arilit, a local government under Agadez, which is the border town between Niger and Algeria, it is 3,500 CFA, which is about N8,750 when converted to our currency.”

To solve its fuel crisis, Niger Republic turned to Nigeria despite months of diplomatic tensions and a hostile relationship, as reported by Sunday PUNCH.

The report stated that a delegation of senior officials of the military junta travelled down to Abuja to meet Federal Government representatives behind closed doors.

At the end of the deliberation, 300 trucks of PMS were reportedly approved for delivery to the country as Nigeria, once again, played the ‘big brother’ role.

Sunday PUNCH also reported that a senior government official aware of the development said Nigeria approved the deal with the hope of using it as a “strategic bargaining tool” in ongoing negotiations with Niger.

According to the official, the delegation explained that Niger had been reliant on fuel from a Chinese refinery. However, due to issues with the supplier, the refinery was shut down, leaving the country with limited options.

“We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use it as a bargaining chip for negotiation as we continue to engage with them to bring them back to ECOWAS.

“Let them get more from us. I am confident that gradually they will come back to ECOWAS because they do not have enough resources to import food to sustain their citizens,” the source added.

Reacting, oil marketers said although they were not aware of the deal, the export of 300 tankers to Niger Republic would amount to about 13.5 million litres of petrol. It was calculated that 300 of 45,000-litre capacity trucks are about 13.5 million litres of petrol to be exported to the Niger Republic.

The dealers, however, stated that Nigeria had enough to save the junta-led country from the current fuel crisis rocking it. According to marketers, Nigeria may have passed the days of fuel scarcity as it now has the Dangote refinery, the Port Harcourt refinery, and others producing fuel locally even as importers bring more from other countries.

The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said he was aware of the fuel crisis in Niger Republic, adding that Nigeria had enough to bail out the country.

“I will not say we don’t have that capacity with the refineries we have in the country. I think we have enough to supply Niger Republic,” the IPMAN Vice President said

Similarly, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, agreed that the country had enough PMS to help its neighbours without running into any crisis. “If we have a diplomatic reason for that, it is doable,” Gillis-Harry asserted.

It was further gathered that the fuel crisis in Niger may have also been self-inflicted after a confrontation between the ruling junta and Chinese oil companies which had long dominated the country’s petroleum sector.

A security analyst, Zagazola Makama, in an article he published on X, revealed that trouble began in March 2024 when the China National Petroleum Corporation granted the Nigerien government a $400m advance, using future crude oil deliveries as collateral.

The deal was to help Niger cope with crippling economic sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States following the July 2023 coup in the country. However, when it was time to repay the debt, the junta was cash-strapped.

Instead of negotiating, the military rulers were said to have decided to strong-arm China, slapping an $80bn tax demand on Soraz (Zinder Refinery Company) despite the state-owned oil company, Sonidep already owing Soraz a staggering $250bn.

According to Makama, when China refused to provide additional loans, the junta retaliated by expelling Chinese oil executives from the country and seizing Soraz’s bank accounts. The decision was said to have backfired and led to the collapse of Niger’s petroleum sector, which is heavily reliant on Chinese expertise and investment.

Exports surge

Meanwhile, further findings by The PUNCH showed that trade between Nigeria and Niger rose by 82 per cent in 2024 despite ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that the total trade volume between the two West African neighbours climbed to N91.92bn in 2024, up from N50.48bn recorded in 2023.

The sharp rise was largely driven by Nigerian exports to Niger, which nearly doubled from N46.51bn in 2023 to N82.38bn in 2024. The PUNCH observed that exports to Niger account for 89.62 per cent of total trade between the two countries.

Imports from Niger also rebounded from N3.97bn in 2023 to N9.53bn in 2024, indicating a recovery in economic exchanges despite strained relations between the two countries.

Trade between Nigeria and Niger has been volatile in recent years. In 2020, total trade was valued at just N6.69bn, before surging to N88.60bn in 2021 as Nigerian exports to Niger jumped to N78.40bn.

The momentum continued in 2022, with total trade reaching N95.76bn. However, economic activity between the two countries nosedived in 2023, dropping by 47.28 per cent to N50.48bn, following the fallout from the political crisis in Niger.

The coup in Niger in July 2023, which led to the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum, triggered a diplomatic standoff between the country and Nigeria, which spearheaded ECOWAS’ sanctions against the military-led government.

The sanctions included border closures, financial restrictions, and the suspension of the electricity supply, all of which disrupted trade and economic activities between the two nations.

Despite the tensions, trade rebounded strongly in 2024. The 82 per cent surge suggests that demand for Nigerian goods in Niger remains robust, while the recovery in imports indicates a gradual resumption of economic ties.

Nigeria and Niger share deep economic and cultural ties, with trade spanning across agricultural products, manufactured goods, petroleum products, and livestock. Nigerian traders have historically supplied Niger with essential goods, while Niger’s exports to Nigeria include livestock, food products, and raw materials.

In August 2024, Nigeria and Niger signed a security cooperation agreement aimed at tackling insurgency, smuggling, and other security threats along their shared borders. The agreement was seen as a step towards rebuilding relations, even though full diplomatic ties between the two countries remain fragile.

The resurgence of trade between the two nations signals a pragmatic approach to economic engagement despite unresolved political differences.

Niger is a major trading partner to Nigeria as noted in the recently released NBS’ foreign trade statistics report for the fourth quarter of 2024, which read in part, “In the same vein, Nigeria’s major trading import partner within ECOWAS was Ivory Coast (N41.40bn), followed by Ghana (N22.96bn), Liberia (N4.04bn), Niger Republic (N2.62bn) and Togo of (N2.21bn) representing (90.45 per cent) of total imports from the ECOWAS region.”

The PUNCH further observed that about N9.34bn worth of cigarettes were imported from Nigeria into Niger Republic. It was also observed that Nigeria’s imports from Niger Republic in Q4 2024 were led by agricultural and raw materials, with fresh or dried dates topping the list, according to data from the NBS.

The report shows that Nigeria imported N956.68m worth of dates, making it the highest-valued import from Niger during the period. The second most imported commodity was cement, excluding white cement, with a total value of N919.07m.

This indicates a growing demand for cement products from Niger, potentially driven by infrastructure development and construction activities in Nigeria.

Fresh strawberries were another notable import, valued at N255.97m. While not a major staple, the increase in strawberry imports suggests rising consumer demand for fresh fruits, possibly linked to Nigeria’s expanding food processing and retail sectors.

Raw materials also featured among the top imports, with whole hides and skins (weighing more than 16kg) accounting for N125.65m in imports. The leather and tanning industry in Nigeria continues to rely on imports of raw hides, especially from neighbouring countries, to sustain production.

Also, Nigeria imported N80.66m worth of shelled pine nuts from Niger. These nuts are often used in food processing and are valued for their nutritional benefits.

The PUNCH further observed that Trade between Nigeria and the Sahel nations of Burkina Faso and Mali experienced significant fluctuations over the past five years, with a notable surge in 2024.

Fresh data from the NBS show a sharp increase in Nigeria’s total trade with both countries, driven by rising exports and a dramatic spike in imports from Mali. Nigeria’s trade with Burkina Faso rose from N12.92bn in 2023 to N18.26bn in 2024, marking a 41.4 per cent increase.

This growth was largely fuelled by higher exports, which climbed from N12.92bn to N18.20bn. Imports from Burkina Faso, though much smaller in volume, also recorded a sharp rise from N4.41bn to N59.16bn within the same period.

Similarly, Nigeria’s trade with Mali saw an unprecedented jump, with total trade reaching N199.21bn in 2024, a massive leap from N12.57bn in the previous year. The most striking change was in Nigeria’s imports from Mali, which surged from just N269.87m in 2023 to N183.79bn in 2024.

This marked a significant shift in trade dynamics, raising questions about the factors driving such an increase.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s exports to Mali also grew from N12.30bn in 2023 to N15.42bn in 2024, maintaining a steady upward trend.

The rise in trade with Burkina Faso and Mali comes amid the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States, a new regional bloc created by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in September 2023.

The alliance, established through the Liptako-Gourma Charter, aims to enhance security cooperation among the three military-led governments, following their deteriorating relations with the Economic Community of West African States.

The AES was formed as a response to ECOWAS sanctions imposed after the military takeovers in the three countries, leading them to seek alternative economic and security partnerships.

Despite political tensions, economic ties between Nigeria and the three Sahel nations appear to be strengthening.

However, the long-term sustainability of this trade surge remains uncertain, especially as ECOWAS continues to push for a resolution to the political crisis in the region.

The Economic Community of West African States recently activated its standby force to combat terrorism in the sub-region.

The regional body had, in October last year, hinted at the establishment of a 5,000-man kinetic force to tackle terrorism in the region.

Speaking at the 43rd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, said the activation of the standby force underscored the collective determination of member countries to confront the threat of terrorism.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, also said that despite the recent withdrawal of three African countries from the regional body, ECOWAS would maintain the free movement of persons and goods for their citizens.

He also said plans were in place to mitigate the unforeseen consequences of the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

Popular Dangote oil refinery will lose up to N32.5bn from 500 million litres stock of premium motor spirit following the recent price cut, The PUNCH reports.

A few days before the refinery announced a price slash, the President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, had told newsmen that the refinery had over 500 million litres of petrol in its tanks.

This revelation was made at a period the refinery was selling a litre of petrol at N890.

Our correspondent reports that the 500 million litres of petrol will amount to N445bn if sold at the old rate of N890 per litre.

In a statement last month, the Dangote refinery announced a reduction in the ex-depot price of petrol by N65, from N890 to N825 per litre, effective from February 27, being the second price reduction in the new year.

“It is important to note that Dangote Petroleum Refinery has consistently lowered the prices of petrol and other refined petroleum products to the benefit of Nigerians. This marks the second price reduction of PMS in February 2025, following a previous decrease of N60 earlier in the month.

“Additionally, in December 2024, during the yuletide period, the refinery reduced the price of PMS by N70.50, from N970 to N899.50 per litre, as part of its commitment to easing the cost of living and providing relief to Nigerians during the holiday season. This reduction has positively impacted the overall cost of living, benefiting various sectors of the economy, and has also ensured that Nigerians did not experience the perennial fuel scarcity and price hikes typically associated with the yuletide season,” the company stated.

It was calculated that selling the 500 million litres of PMS at N825 per litre following the reduction will lower the company’s expected income from the stock to N412.5bn, probably ridding it of its margin.

This means the company must have sold the 500 million litres at N32.5bn below its original value of N445bn.

However, experts have suggested that the crash in crude prices and the marginal strength the naira gained lately against the dollar would help the refinery recover its losses.

Earlier, fuel importers and marketers lamented the consistent price reduction by the Dangote refinery, stating that they were losing billions of naira.

As Nigerians rejoiced over the price slash, fuel importers counted their losses as they were compelled to sell below the landing cost.

According to some of them, the Dangote refinery is gradually making importation less attractive with the manner in which it has dropped the prices of petrol and diesel lately.

The importers said they have been managing to sell the imported products with little or no margin due to the need to compete well in the market.

The PUNCH estimates that importers may lose an average of N2.5bn daily and N75bn monthly following the latest PMS price reduction announced by the Dangote refinery.

Marketers with old stocks also lamented that they had incurred heavy losses with the latest price reduction.

But they were not the only ones affected by the development; even the refinery will have to sacrifice billions of naira.

Our correspondent confirmed that many filling stations had lowered their pump prices below N900 per litre following the reduction by the Dangote refinery.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited retail stations dropped prices to N860 per litre in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Nigerians have appealed to Dangote to increase the number of filling stations selling its petroleum products across Nigeria.

However, marketers have projected that petrol prices may drop to N800 as the landing cost now stands at N783.66 per litre, according to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria

 

 

The presidential aspirant of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, on Thursday, arrived in Bauchi State for a meeting with Governor Bala Mohammed.

The purpose of the visit remains unclear as both politicians are currently holding a closed-door meeting at the Government House in Bauchi.

Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, is expected to brief journalists alongside Obi after the meeting.

The 2023 presidential election saw former Lagos State governor, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, clinch victory after securing the highest number of votes across the country.

Tinubu won in 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states and amassed a total of 8,794,726 votes, nearly two million more than his closest challenger, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party, who polled 6,984,520 votes.

Labour Party’s Peter Obi, whose candidacy attracted an unprecedented wave of support, particularly among young voters, finished third with 6,101,533 votes.

Despite being a first-time presidential contender, Obi won in 11 states, including Lagos—Tinubu’s stronghold—and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Atiku, like Tinubu, secured victory in 12 states.

Following the election, opposition parties have intensified discussions about forming a coalition to challenge the APC in 2027.

Atiku has been seen in political meetings with Obi, former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, and other key figures across the country as strategizing for the next presidential contest gains momentum.