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Residents of Abuja are groaning as petrol prices surge to between N1,415 and N1,450 per litre, leaving motorists, workers and commuters to grapple with rising transportation costs and increased pressure on household budgets.

Oil marketers have raised the price of petrol by about N100 in the last two weeks, following an increase in the gantry price of petrol by Dangote Refinery from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre.

The latest increase has begun to affect households and businesses, with transportation bearing much of the impact as commuters are forced to spend more on daily trips.

The continued hostilities in the Middle East between Iran and the United States over the control of the Strait of Hormuz have also contributed to the global oil crisis since February this year.

Checks by the Nigerian Tribune in the city centre on Monday showed that Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail stations were dispensing petrol at N1,345 per litre, while major marketers were selling above N1,400 per litre.

AFDIN and AA Rano filling stations along Airport Road were selling at N1,415 per litre, while NIPCO and AYM Shafa on the same route were dispensing at N1,430 per litre.

At the Mararaba axis in Nasarawa State, along the busy Abuja-Keffi Expressway, Hariz and Zamson filling stations were selling petrol at N1,450 per litre.

Some government workers who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune expressed concern over the latest development, calling for urgent measures to cushion the effect on Nigerians who are already struggling with the rising cost of living.

Commuters are also paying more for transportation, as the fare from Masaka-New Nyanya-Ado-One-Man Village axis in Nasarawa State to Abuja has increased from N800 to N1,000.

A driver told the Nigerian Tribune that he bought petrol at N1,350 per litre last week and spent N50,000 to fill his vehicle, only to return to the filling station on Monday and find that the price had increased to N1,450 per litre.

He said, ‘Last week, I bought N50,000 worth of fuel last week at N1,350 per litre and I did not have any cause to go to filling station. Today (Monday), I was surprised when I bought it at N1,450 per litre and I did not even know until I looked at the pump.

I bought N10,000 fuel at N1,450 per litre and that is 6.9 litres, that is depressing. So, in Nigeria now, a litre of fuel is equivalent to $1 or more, what is happening?’

Also, a commuter who gave her name as Mary said the increase was putting additional pressure on her already limited income.

She said, ‘I work in Abuja, I stay in Masaka and I earned N40,000 as salary. Last Friday, I paid N800 to Abuja but the story has changed because I paid N1,000 with a lot of pleading because the driver actually said he was going to collect N1,200.

That is additional N200 for me and it’s affecting me. That is just to Abuja and it excluded the one I spend from my house to the junction and to my work place when I get to Abuja. I have not added feeding and some other things.’

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, urged the Federal Government to provide crude oil intervention to Dangote Refinery to enable it reduce its price to marketers.

He said such a reduction would eventually benefit motorists and other Nigerians.

According to the IPMAN president, Dangote, as a businessman, is focused on making profit and would sell his products based on prevailing market conditions.

‘We are advising the authority to see the way they can reducing the chain of the market price by using Dangote Refinery. That is to create an intervention for crude oil to him so that he (Dangote) too can reduce the price so that the marketers will buy at discounted rate through him and send to motorists at a lower rate.

Dangote, as I said needs intervention of crude oil. First we are doing well in Nigeria now, we’ve a refinery and at the same time we have crude oil in the country. So they should reduce the cost of that crude oil so that when he refines, he too will reduce the price for the marketers.

‘We cannot blame Dangote, we cannot blame marketers because already everybody knows that he has to go and sell this product outside at a higher rate and when he brought it, he refines it and there’s nothing he can do than to put his own profit and send to the marketers.

And for us too, when he increases his price, there is nothing we can do we have to increase our price so that we can get something out of it,’ Shettima said.

The MTN Foundation has received 20,983 nominations for public primary healthcare centres and secondary schools under the sixth phase of its What Can We Do Together (WCWDT) initiative.

The nominations followed the Foundation’s call in May 2026 for Nigerians to identify public health and education facilities in their communities requiring intervention. The deadline for submissions was later extended to June 22.

Following the close of nominations, the Foundation said it had completed physical verification of 149 facilities across the country.

The verified facilities comprise 113 public primary healthcare centres and 36 public secondary schools selected for consideration under the Science Laboratory Upgrade intervention.

According to the Foundation, the verification exercise involved on-site assessments to establish the ownership and accessibility of the facilities, and to assess existing infrastructure and determine their suitability for rehabilitation or upgrading.

The programme is now moving to the selection stage, where facilities that meet the required criteria will be chosen for intervention.

Under the sixth phase, the Foundation plans to revitalise 40 public primary healthcare centres and renovate and equip 15 public secondary school science laboratories across Nigeria.

The Executive Director of the MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya, said the initiative was designed to improve access to essential healthcare services and provide better facilities for practical science education.

She said, ‘The programme is aimed at supporting the development of stronger communities by improving access to essential healthcare services and giving the next generation of scientists, engineers, and doctors access to facilities where they can learn through practice and imagination.’

The Foundation said further announcements would be made as the selection process progresses.

HERE are shockwaves among motorists and businesses as petrol pump price climbed to as high as N1,400 per litre in parts of the country barely 24 hours after Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its petrol gantry price by N85 per litre.

The latest price adjustment has heightened fears of further increase in transportation, logistics and production costs, with consumers worried that petrol could sell for even more in other parts of the country because of transportation and distribution costs.

The development came after Dangote Refinery raised its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) gantry price from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre, representing a 6.7 percent increase.

The increase also came amid a sharp rise in international crude oil prices and higher petroleum product replacement costs. Industry data showed PMS landing cost had risen to about N1,311 per litre, bringing further pressure to the domestic market.

Checks showed that petrol was being sold at different prices across filling stations between N1,390 per litre and N1, 400 per litre. NNPC sold at about N1,380 per litre, while MRS and Matrix stations sold at around N1,395 per litre. In Lagos, some motorists reported buying the product for N1,390 to N1,400 per litre.

A motorist, who identified himself as Olufemi, said that the latest increase as another ‘routine burden’ on Nigerians already struggling with rising living costs.

He said he bought petrol at N1,390 per litre at an MRS station on Sunday morning, less than 12 hours after purchasing the product at a lower price.

The impact was also being felt in public transportation.

A commercial driver, Mr Anozie, said he increased his fare from 7-Up Bus Stop, Ojota, to Victoria Island to N2,000 per passenger, blaming the increase on the latest petrol price adjustment.

A filling station manager, who declined to be named, attributed the frequent changes in pump prices to fluctuations in wholesale and depot costs.

In Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Kwara, FCT and others states, things are not different as marketers sell between N1,380 and N4,000 per litre.

Former director-general of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr Muda Yusuf, warned that rising fuel prices were worsening the cost pressures confronting households and businesses.

He said higher fuel costs were increasing transportation, logistics and production expenses, weakening purchasing power and worsening the competitiveness challenges facing businesses, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises.

Yusuf said the current escalation in petrol prices had become a serious cost-of-living, inflation and competitiveness challenge, requiring urgent policy intervention.

The latest increase is the fourth upward review of Dangote Refinery’s petrol gantry price since August 21.

The refinery first raised its petrol price from N1,165 to N1,185 per litre on August 21, before increasing it to N1,200 on August 26.

It subsequently moved the price to N1,265 on August 29, and then to N1,350 per litre, representing a total increase of N185 per litre, or about 15.9 per cent, in 22 days.

With petrol prices now approaching the N1,400 mark in parts of the country, households, transport operators and businesses are bracing for another round of cost increases, particularly if the upward movement in crude oil and product replacement costs persists.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has warned that the suffocating energy tariffs and other challenges have continued to erode the nation’s industrial capacity, and hinder the growth of small and medium enterprises in the country.

The association argued that instead of expanding production lines or acquiring modern technology, most factories are presently preoccupied with keeping the lights on, thereby leaving the nation’s businesses less competitive, globally, due to high energy costs.

Citing the Q2 2026 minimal contribution of the nation’s manufacturing sector to GDP, MAN argued that sustainable national prosperity would only be achieved with active domestic manufacturing, and not just service consumption and extraction.

It argued that the underperformance in labour-intensive sectors such as textile, apparel and footwear directly threatens wage employment and risks triggering job losses across lower and middle income demographics.

Yusuf recalled that Nigeria previously spent an estimated $10 billion-$15 billion annually on petroleum-product imports, putting pressure on foreign-exchange liquidity and external reserves.

He said subsidy and under-recovery obligations also absorbed substantial public resources and encouraged arbitrage and cross-border diversion of subsidised petroleum products.

He argued that the former regime therefore created problems extending beyond petrol pricing, affecting public finances, foreign exchange and resource allocation.

He said that market-based pricing had improved the commercial prospects of domestic refining by providing investors with greater incentives to commit capital to the sector.

He noted that stronger domestic refining capacity would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products, conserve foreign exchange and create opportunities in petrochemicals, fertiliser, logistics, storage and other related industries.

He suggested that Nigeria should therefore pursue the development of a competitive regional refining and petrochemical hub.

He also cautioned against attributing the latest petrol-price increases entirely to subsidy removal, saying that petrol was selling at about N774-N800 per litre before the recent escalation in international energy prices, after which prices rose above N1,300 per litre.

Yusuf stressed that subsidy removal was a domestic structural reform, while the latest increase was also influenced by external crude-oil and refined-product price shocks.

Rather than reinstating universal petrol subsidy, the CPPE boss called for measures that directly address the causes of rising household and business costs.

He recommended expanded mass transit and rail freight, improved electricity supply, greater use of CNG and distributed energy, stronger food production, targeted social protection and improved public healthcare and education.

He also urged government to reduce energy, logistics and financing costs for MS-MEs and maintain a predictable policy environment for domestic refining investment.

He further called for greater transparency from the federal, state and local governments on how additional revenues arising from subsidy reform are being spent.

He said the success of the reform should ultimately be measured not only by fiscal savings but by whether those resources translate into better infrastructure, public services, lower structural costs, stronger domestic production and improved welfare for Nigerians.

The Labour Party (LP) has disowned Mr Abayomi Arabambi over a suit reportedly instituted against the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), concerning the academic records of the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi.

The party said Arabambi was no longer a member and therefore could not institute the action as its representative or chieftain.

The National Publicity Secretary of the LP, Mr Ken Asogwa, disclosed this in Abuja on Monday, saying the party was reacting to media reports describing Arabambi as an LP chieftain.

Asogwa said, ‘The Labour Party wishes to notify the general public that Abayomi Arabambi is not a member of the Labour Party.’

Arabambi had served as acting National Publicity Secretary of the party until around December 2022 and later emerged as the National Vice-Chairman (South-West) of one of the factions during the leadership crisis that rocked the LP.

The leadership dispute eventually led to judicial intervention, with the Independent National Electoral Commission recognising the National Working Committee led by Senator Nenadi Usman as the leadership of the party.

According to Asogwa, Arabambi was among 25 members suspended by the party’s National Executive Council on March 18, 2026, over alleged infractions bordering on anti-party activities.

He said the suspension was subsequently ratified by the party’s National Convention, the highest decision-making organ of the LP, on April 28, 2026.

‘Since that decision was taken by the Labour Party, no organ of the party has sat to revisit or reverse the decision concerning the affected members,’ Asogwa stated.

He said the party would not comment on the substance of the case, particularly as Obi was no longer a member of the LP.

Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election on the LP platform, is now the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2027 election.

Asogwa warned that any attempt by Arabambi to present himself as an LP chieftain or representative would be unauthorised and could amount to impersonation.

He added that the party’s lawyers were reviewing the matter to determine possible legal action, including a petition to relevant law enforcement authorities.

The LP spokesman stressed that the clarification did not amount to a position on the validity or otherwise of Arabambi’s claims against Obi, saying the party’s statement was solely to establish that the litigant had no current relationship with the organisation.

He urged the media and the public to take note of Arabambi’s status and desist from portraying him as an official or representative of the Labour Party.

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has explained why he no longer wants to be referred to as the richest man in Africa, saying he prefers a description that reflects his desire to create wealth for other people.

Dangote spoke on Monday while sounding the gong at the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) in Lagos to mark the formal launch of the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals.

The businessman said he would rather be recognised for helping others build wealth than for his personal wealth.

‘I don’t want anybody again to call me the richest man in Africa. I want to be called the wealthiest man in Africa so that I can create wealth for others,’ he said.

Dangote said the refinery’s IPO would give investors a chance to own part of the business and take part in what he sees as a new phase for Nigeria and the wider African economy.

Explaining the significance of the share offer, he said it was more than a transaction, as it would allow people to participate in the growth of the refinery and the economy.

‘Today, we are not merely offering shares. We are offering an opportunity to participate in the transformational chapter of not only Nigeria’s economy, but Africa’s economy,’ Dangote said.

He also called for greater participation in the Nigerian capital market, saying wider ownership could help create more prosperity.

Dangote urged Nigerians to work towards strengthening the market and expanding opportunities for people to own assets and benefit from economic growth.

‘Together, let us deepen our capital market. Together, let us create prosperity through ownership. Together, let us build a stronger Nigeria. Together, let us ensure prosperity for Africa,’ he said.

The billionaire also reflected on the demands of building his business empire and the time he spent away from his family.

Dangote acknowledged his three daughters, Mariya, Halima and Fatima, for their understanding and support, noting that his business responsibilities had meant spending less time with them over the years.

The IPO opened on Monday, September 14, 2026, with 4.1 billion new ordinary shares of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals offered at N525 per share.

Investors can subscribe for a minimum of 10 shares, valued at N5,250. The offer is expected to close on October 13, 2026, subject to the terms in the prospectus.

Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA) candidate for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency in the 2027 general election, Hon. Godwin Aliuna, has withdrawn from the House of Representatives race, citing the need to promote peace, progress and development in Ebonyi State.

Aliuna, who announced his decision after extensive consultations with his constituents, political associates and prominent stakeholders across the state, said the broader interest of Ebonyians must take precedence over individual political ambition.

In a statement issued at the weekend, the politician said the decision was not an easy one, given his commitment to the people of Ebonyi/Ohaukwu and his desire to provide purposeful, effective and people-oriented representation at the National Assembly.

He said his decision followed a careful assessment of the prevailing political circumstances in the state and the views and expectations expressed by constituents and stakeholders during the consultations.

Aliuna, however, stressed that his withdrawal from the 2027 contest would not diminish his commitment to the people, noting that his political aspiration had always been driven by the desire to contribute to the development of the constituency through effective representation, legislation, empowerment and strategic interventions.

According to him, his development agenda for Ebonyi/Ohaukwu includes massive investment in infrastructure, particularly roads and rural connectivity, as well as provision of potable water through boreholes and other projects capable of improving the quality of life of residents.

He also identified agriculture, education and human capital development as key areas requiring urgent attention, saying an agricultural revolution could empower farmers, create employment, generate wealth and reduce poverty among rural communities.

The DLA candidate expressed concern over poverty, unemployment and economic hardship confronting families in the constituency, stressing that the challenges required urgent, innovative and sustainable interventions from all levels of government.

He said young people must be equipped with relevant skills and provided opportunities to secure meaningful employment, establish businesses and become productive contributors to the economic growth of Ebonyi State.

Although he expressed confidence that the DLA and its support base were capable of winning the 2027 election, Aliuna said he had chosen to step aside ‘for the sake of peace’ and in recognition of the peace-building efforts of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.

He said political contests should not become sources of division, bitterness or instability, insisting that the collective interest of Ebonyians should remain greater than individual political ambitions.

Consequently, Aliuna announced that he would mobilize his loyalists, supporters and people of Ebonyi/Ohaukwu Federal Constituency to support Nwifuru in the 2027 governorship election, saying the governor had demonstrated commitment to the interests of the people.

He appealed to his supporters who might feel disappointed by the decision to remain calm, patient and hopeful, assuring them that his political journey was not over.

Rather, Aliuna said he would use the period to regroup, strengthen his political structures and deepen engagement with the people ahead of the 2031 general election, when he intends to return to the political contest with renewed determination.

He also urged Nwifuru to remain focused on delivering greater dividends of democracy, particularly in the areas of employment, infrastructure, education, healthcare, agricultural transformation and empowerment.

Aliuna further appealed to the governor to prioritize competence, accountability and performance, warning against non-performing or incompetent aides, associates or relatives whose actions, he said, could undermine the administration’s achievements or create a disconnect between the government and the people.

The politician thanked his constituents, supporters, political associates and stakeholders who supported his aspiration, assuring them that their sacrifices and confidence would remain appreciated.

He called on Ebonyians to remain peaceful, united and hopeful, stressing that his decision was taken in the interest of peace and the greater good of the state.

‘Our journey continues, and with God Almighty, the future will provide us with an even greater opportunity to serve,’ Aliuna said.