Category: Daily Trust

The Federal Government has approved only two checkpoints on the Mile 2-Seme border access route, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced.

This move is aimed at reducing the number of checkpoints, curbing extortion, and ensuring smoother movement of goods and people without compromising national security.

Comptroller Wale Adenuga, Comptroller of the Seme border area command, who disclosed this at the weekend explained that the approved checkpoints are located at Gbaji and Agbara along the Badagry-Seme road.

The Comptroller convened a major stakeholders’ forum which brought together security agencies, traditional rulers, and customs officials from the Benin Republic to address trade bottlenecks and harmonize border operations.

At the meeting he emphasized that any other Customs checkpoint outside of these two is considered illegal and should be exposed.

The Comptroller also warned that the Seme Command of the Nigeria Customs Service will no longer tolerate the proliferation of illegal checkpoints, which he said, have been a source of frustration for motorists and traders.

According to him, the development is expected to ease the movement of goods and people along the Mile 2-Seme route, which is a critical trade corridor between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin.

‘The approved checkpoints by the Federal Government, which Customs is working in tandem with, are Gbaji and Agbara. That’s for Customs. Any other Customs checkpoint you see is illegal. I can speak for the Seme Command: Gbaji and Agbara are the legitimate, approved checkpoints. Patrols are simply for intervention and reinforcement.

‘We have a patrol base; some officers are operating there and can easily be called for reinforcement. We have placed some teams in Gbaji and Agbara to complement the permanent officers there. They are not permanent at Agbara, but they are there for reinforcement. You will never see Seme checkpoints in Mowo or elsewhere on the roads. If you see them, expose them. The media should help us. Do your due diligence; you are the people who can help us build this country.

‘We have started synergy and collaboration among all the agencies-both the military, the police, and others. In fact, yesterday, I came in around 3:00 a. m to look at what is happening on the road. The checkpoints are reducing, but you see, they cannot be totally eliminated at once,’ he added.

The senator representing Bauchi North, Dr. Samaila Dahuwa Kaila, has dumped the leading opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

His defection was announced in a letter read by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during plenary, on Tuesday.

Senator Kaila, in the letter, cited internal crisis in the PDP as a major reason for his defection.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that no judge of the FCT will live in a rented apartment by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first tenure.

Wike made the promise at the flagging off of the construction of 40 units of duplexes for heads of courts in Abuja.

At the ceremony, the Minister stated that funding for the project was contained in the 2024/2025 budget of the FCT Administration, as proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approved by the National Assembly, and assented to by the President.

Breaking down the project, Wike said the duplexes would be distributed as follows: 10 for Court of Appeal Judges, 10 for Federal High Court Judges, and 20 for FCT High Court Judges.

He assured that the houses would be handed over to the beneficiaries by President Tinubu after the 12-month project timeline. He emphasised the ownership structure of the properties, stating: ‘I want to make it clear that what we are doing today is not just for the heads of courts who will simply leave when they retire. No. As they retire, the property becomes their own. This is the approval of Mr President, and that is why we issued the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) in their names.’

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has demanded immediate compensation for the families of Fulani herders who were killed and injured in the September 28th attack in Tanda Village, Southern Kaduna, describing the violence as a calculated act of ethnic persecution and a national failure.

In a strongly worded statement issued by its State Chairman, Alhaji Abdulhamid Musa Albarka, on Monday, the association insisted that compensation for the victims is not just a moral obligation, but a constitutional right, following what it called the government’s failure to prevent or respond to the attack despite clear warnings.

According to MACBAN, Suleiman Idris was murdered in cold blood, while Yusuf Abdullahi, Hamidu Dauda, and Ibrahim Hassan sustained ‘severe and permanent injuries’ after being ambushed by armed militias in Tanda Village, Jema’a Local Government Area. The attack allegedly occurred after they challenged the illegal blockade of a long-established cattle route.

‘This was not a clash. It was a premeditated assault designed to destroy lives and livelihoods. Their cattle were scattered into the wilderness – their only means of survival taken from them in one day.

‘The suffering of Suleiman Idris, Yusuf Abdullahi, Hamidu Dauda, and Ibrahim Hassan embodies the ongoing injustice. Their families must be compensated. Anything less is a continuation of the same betrayal that led to the attack in the first place,’ Albarka said.

The leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday, warned the federal government to stop threatening members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) with its ‘unproductive ‘no work, no pay’ policy’.

The Congress said it would not hesitate to mobilise all workers across the country including those critical sectors to paralyse economy if the government failed to heed the request of ASUU.

Joe Ajaero, President of NLC, who stated this via a statement shared with journalists on Monday, called on the government to immediately set aside its threat against ASUU and use the two-week window to resolve all the issues.

Daily Trust reports that all branches of ASUU across all universities nationwide have been directed to embark on a two-week total and comprehensive warning strike against the government over unmet demands.

The government, while banking on labour laws and some sections of the constitution, subsequently threatened that it would invoke ‘no work no pay’ policy if the university teachers carried out their directive.

Reacting to the development, Ajaero said ASUU’s struggle is not a fight of university teachers alone but a fight for Nigeria’s future, insisting that any attempt by government to invoke ‘no work no pay’ will be met with stiff resistance.

‘This struggle extends beyond an isolated industrial dispute. It reflects a broader societal issue. While the children of the elite attend private institutions or study abroad, the children of the working class and the poor are left in a public education system being systematically weakened.

‘This creates an educational divide that limits social mobility and perpetuates inequality. An educated populace is essential for a progressive nation, and the current approach appears designed to reserve quality education as a commodity for the privileged few.

‘In light of this, the Nigeria Labour Congress hereby declares its full solidarity with ASUU and all other unions in the tertiary education sector. Consequently, we state the following:

‘We call on the Federal Government to immediately set aside its threats and address the core issues in the negotiated agreements with ASUU.

‘We serve notice that if, after this two-week warning strike, the government remains unresponsive, the NLC will not stand idly by.

‘The NLC will convene an emergency meeting with its affiliates in the tertiary education sector to develop a comprehensive strategy for engaging the government.

‘The struggle of ASUU is our struggle. The fight for public education is a fight for Nigeria’s future. We will no longer allow these unions to stand alone.

‘We demand that the Federal Government use this two-week window to present a concrete plan for the full implementation of all agreements.

‘The choice is clear: honour the agreements and salvage public education, or face the resolute and unified force of the entire Nigerian workforce,’ the labour leader declared.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has formally announced his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ending weeks of speculation over his political future.

The governor, who made the announcement in a televised broadcast on Tuesday, described the move as a ‘decision made after deep reflection’ and one he believes is in the best interest of the people of Enugu State.

‘Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress,’ Mbah declared.

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He expressed confidence that his decision would bring about a new era of development and progress to Enugu State.

He said:’The voice of Enugu people and indeed that of the South-East people would now be heard in Abuja.

‘This is no whimsical decision. It is a collective move by the political family in Enugu state, comprising members of the National Assembly, members of the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council, all the local government chairmen, all councilors, all political appointees, and over 80% of party executives.’

Mbah thanked the PDP for standing by him throughout his election period, but lamented that despite the South-East’s loyalty to the party, ‘our voices were too often disregarded.’

‘To the Peoples Democratic Party which provided us the platform on which we campaigned and won, I extend deep gratitude. The PDP supported us through a demanding campaign and joined us in celebrating the victory,’ he said.

The governor expressed optimism that his new partnership with the APC would bring about a brighter future for Enugu and the nation.

In a depiction worth a thousand words, Daily Trust cartoonist Mustapha Bulama, captured the reality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms. One side shows the President gleefully smiling, while the other shows him disapprovingly frowning – both in response to World Bank Report released last week. The reforms – hailed internationally as bold and necessary – has delivered a painful paradox for millions of Nigerians, especially the poor in the North. The World Bank’s Nigeria Development Update (NDU) report of October 8, 2025, titled ‘From Policy to People: Bringing the Reform Gains Home,’ paints a grim picture of worsening poverty, rising inflation, and eroded purchasing power despite claims of macroeconomic stability. While the reforms may have corrected past policy missteps and helped Nigeria avoid a looming fiscal crisis, their social cost has been devastating. The removal of petrol subsidy (raising prices from about N250 to nearly N900 per litre), foreign exchange liberalization, and tax recalibration have all contributed to surging living costs. Inflation, especially food inflation, has pushed basic survival out of reach for many families. T-Pain is real.

In 2023, the northern poor wondered about the meaning of the emblem on President Bola Tinubu’s cap. Today, they know that it is a shackle symbolizing renewed hardship. According to the World Bank, the number of poor Nigerians rose from 81 million in 2019 (40% of the population) to 139 million in 2025, representing 61% of the population. By next year, the figure could reach 141 million, with the poverty rate stabilizing around 61-62% through 2027. Tragically, the majority of these poor Nigerians live in the northern region. The northern states – already grappling with insecurity, weak infrastructure, low industrial base, and fragile education systems – are now witnessing an unprecedented erosion of livelihoods. The reforms, though nationally intended to restore fiscal balance, have translated into a harsher economic reality for ordinary northern households. Food prices have skyrocketed, transport costs have multiplied, and small businesses dependent on cheap energy and stable exchange rates have collapsed. For millions of subsistence farmers in Kano, petty traders in Azare, artisans in Jos, and low-income earners throughout the North, the so-called ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ has so far brought Renewed Hardship.

The World Bank report warned that while macroeconomic indicators may be stabilizing, the benefits have not ‘reached the people.’ It described the recovery as ‘timid’ and insufficient to reverse the devastating loss of livelihoods in the next two years. This situation is particularly acute in the North, where poverty levels are highest and economic diversification is weakest. Northern Nigeria contributes significantly to the national population and holds about 70% of Nigeria’s arable land but lags far behind in economic opportunities. The region’s heavy dependence on fuel and transport-sensitive activities has magnified the negative effects of subsidy removal. Commuting to the farm, irrigation, and harrowing, all require fuel. Rural markets now experience low consumer turnout, while urban centres face rising unemployment and informal sector collapse.

The reforms’ benefits are unevenly distributed – stabilizing fiscal metrics in Abuja and Lagos, but destabilizing kitchens in Kano, Katsina, and Maiduguri. A poor nursing mother in Damaturu may hear you say, ‘Renewed Hope,’ but her crying baby reflects Renewed Hardship.

Interestingly, the same World Bank report revealed a significant fiscal development: for the first time in recent history, state governments collectively received more revenue from the Federation Account than the federal government. In 2024, states got N5.3 trillion compared to the federal government’s N5 trillion. This windfall, largely a result of palliative funds and debt refunds, creates an opportunity – and a moral obligation – for state governments to cushion the suffering of their citizens.

If the federal reforms have strained livelihoods, state governments must now act as shock absorbers. They must design and implement poor-friendly economic policies tailored to their local contexts – from targeted food subsidies, youth empowerment programs, and small-scale industrial support, to improved agricultural productivity and social safety nets. States in the North, flush with increased allocations, can no longer hide behind federal excuses. They must invest strategically in agriculture value chains, rural infrastructure, and skills training to stimulate local economies and reduce dependence on federal interventions.

Behind every percentage point of inflation or poverty is a family in Yola unable to eat, a child dropping out of school in Gusau, a farmer unable to afford fertilizer in Lokoja, and a widow among the industrious people of Bida, losing her small business to rising costs. These are not abstract economic effects – they are human tragedies unfolding across the North. In Lagos, the statistics may invoke pity; in northern cities and towns, they confirm known reality.

Unless immediate corrective actions are taken, Nigeria risks deepening its regional inequalities, sowing the seeds of future instability. Last week, I had a four-day assignment in Ibadan. Every day around 8am, I commuted from the city to a university on the outskirts along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. I used the opportunity to observe my subjects – people going about their daily businesses. I couldn’t help comparing it with similar scenes in Kano City. The tale of the two cities is very revealing. Ibadan is cleaner, has more orderly traffic, fewer potholes on the road and complete absence of Almajiri on the street. The number of manufacturing and other companies along the expressway is staggering. The relatively higher prosperity of Ibadan over Kano is glaring. Inadvertently, I conducted a non-scientific field experiment on the economic disparity between the Southwest and the Northwest. This disparity must be considered for any sustainable economic adjustment in Nigeria. For the North, the economic reforms without social protection are like medicine without dosage – potentially curative, but immediately harmful.

President Tinubu’s reforms may indeed have been unavoidable to avert economic collapse. However, their hasty and poorly sequenced implementation has placed unbearable pressure on the most vulnerable citizens – particularly in northern Nigeria. The federal government must retool its approach to prioritize human welfare alongside fiscal balance. At the same time, northern state governments must seize this moment – not to spend recklessly, but to invest wisely in policies that directly improve the lives of their people. From food security initiatives to localized micro-credit programs and urban employment schemes, the path to recovery must be people-centered.

Reform without inclusion breeds resentment. And unless Nigeria’s economic transformation translates into tangible relief for its northern poor, the promise of ‘Renewed Hope’ will remain, for millions, a renewed hardship or a distant dream.Baba El-Yakubu is a Professor of Chemical Engineering at Ahmadu Bello University

Motorists and commercial motorists yesterday expressed shock as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) increased pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) across the country.

Most NNPCL retail stations yesterday adjusted their pump prices, raising the price by almost N100.

From N860 in Lagos, the pump price was increased to N922. Some motorists expressed fear that the pump price may sell at N1000 per litre in the remotest parts of the country.

Also in Kano, NNPCL stations raised the price from N905 to N968 while other filling stations have equally adjusted pump prices.

In Lagos, commercial drivers lamented over the upward review of the cost of pump price at different filling stations.

Daily Trust findings yesterday showed that many filling stations jerked up their prices. NNPC sold at N922 while eterna filling station sold at N950 in Ogba.

Prior to the recent increase, the price of fuel has been fluctuating, but many filling stations previously sold for N865, the price which was maintained for a long time before the announcement for an increase.

Some of the commercial drivers expressed concerns, highlighting the ripple effect on their businesses.

Michael Oje who plies Berger to Ogba, described the increase as outrageous, saying it has affected the expense on fuel consumption to power his tricycle.

‘The increase in the price of fuel has affected many businesses. I bought at N950 per litre and I spent N35,000. When it was N865, I used to spend N19,000.

‘This is not good at this time when the cost of food is still high and I feed myself with this business. I am not sure the government considers the plight of the people. The prices of several items are just increasing.

‘The government should intervene,’ he begged.

Tunde Adam stressed that motorists are at the mercy of market forces in the petroleum industry, saying, ‘The government should be doing what it wants,’ he said.

Also, a tricyclist who spoke to Daily Trust stated that he had purchased the pms earlier yesterday at N860 and was returning to buy again only to be told a liter is now N922.

‘If I knew the price will increase I would have charged a different price on my way down here. I even wanted to buy three liters but now I will just buy two.’ He lamented.

A private motorist also expressed disbelief when the fuel attendant told him the new rate.

He said he was unaware of the increase and refused to buy from other outlets due to the credibility and fair price NNPC offers.

Also, in Abuja, the price has risen to N955 from N905. It was learnt that the highest price is in Kwara, where petrol now sells for N975 per litre, followed by Gombe and Sokoto at N965. The lowest prices were recorded in Ondo and Osun, both at N900 per litre, according to Daily Trust finding.

NNPC adjusts pump price to N968 in Kano

NNPP retail filling stations in Kano had adjusted the PMS pump price to N968 from N905.

Most filling stations Like Aliko, AA Rano were selling at N920 since the faceoff between Dangote refinery and Petroleum Natural Gas Workers Association PENGASSAN penultimate week.

NNPC retail station at Kofar Nasarawa near Kano line adjusted to N968 on Monday. Though no reason was advanced for the increase, motorists including commercial tricycles were seen buying fuel at the station.

Kabiru Muhammed a motorcycle owner said he bought fuel at the same NNPC filling station at N905 per litre on Sunday.

Our reporter also observed that AMMASCO filling station at Gyadi-Gyadi court road has also adjusted its pump price from N930 to N960 on Monday.

However, Abubakar Danzaria, a resident, said he just bought fuel at N885 per litre at MRS filling station Sabo Bakinzuwo road, Tarauni.

There was no official comment from the NNPCL as of press time while efforts to speak with the Chief Spokesperson of the NNPCL, Andy Udey were unsuccessful.

Cooking Gas Scarcity May End Next Week – FG

In another development, the Federal Government yesterday assured Nigerians that the recent scarcity and sharp rise in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), popularly known as cooking gas, will ease by next week as supply to the domestic market stabilises.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, gave the assurance, expressing concern over the sudden increase in the price of LPG from between N1,000 and N1,100 per kilogram to as high as N1,500-N1,700 per kilogram in some parts of the country.

Ekpo, in the statement signed by his spokesman, Louis Ibah, appealed for calm and understanding from Nigerians, stating that the current situation was temporary and would soon normalise.

He attributed the price surge to two factors including the industrial action embarked by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) at the Dangote Refinery, which temporarily halted LPG loading, and ongoing maintenance work at the Nigeria LNG Train 4 facility, which reduced the volume of gas available for local consumption.

‘These disruptions led to a shortfall in supply and a consequent increase in prices due to demand-supply imbalance,’ the Minister explained.

He stated that the situation had begun to ease, as operations at the Dangote Refinery have resumed with the loading of LPG for the domestic market already underway.

Similarly, he added that the Bonny River Terminal operated by Seplat Energy has commenced loading activities, while Nigeria LNG is gradually restoring normal operations as maintenance nears completion.

‘With these developments, supply to the domestic market is expected to stabilise by next week, leading to a gradual reduction in prices,’ the statement said.

He assured Nigerians that the government remains focused on stabilising energy prices and expanding access to gas infrastructure in order to make cooking gas affordable and accessible to every home.

‘Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo reassures Nigerians that the Federal Government remains committed to ensuring sufficient and affordable gas supply to all households across the country,’ Ibah said.

The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has declared that no judge of the FCT will live in a rented apartment by the end of President Bola Tinubu’s first tenure.

Wike made the promise at the flagging off of the construction of 40 units of duplexes for heads of courts in Abuja.

At the ceremony, the Minister stated that funding for the project was contained in the 2024/2025 budget of the FCT Administration, as proposed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, approved by the National Assembly, and assented to by the President.

Breaking down the project, Wike said the duplexes would be distributed as follows: 10 for Court of Appeal Judges, 10 for Federal High Court Judges, and 20 for FCT High Court Judges.

He assured that the houses would be handed over to the beneficiaries by President Tinubu after the 12-month project timeline. He emphasised the ownership structure of the properties, stating: ‘I want to make it clear that what we are doing today is not just for the heads of courts who will simply leave when they retire. No. As they retire, the property becomes their own. This is the approval of Mr President, and that is why we issued the Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os) in their names.’

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee investigating the Economic, Regulatory, and Security Implications of Cryptocurrency Adoption and Point-of-Sale (POS) Operations in Nigeria has faulted the N500 million to N1 billion capital requirement set by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for Virtual Assets Service Providers (VASPs), describing it as excessive and counterproductive.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Olufemi Richard Bamisile, stated this during a technical session with key regulatory and security agencies at the National Assembly complex, Abuja, on Monday.

Lawmakers observed that while effective regulation of the cryptocurrency space is necessary, the current capital threshold could stifle innovation, discourage legitimate investment, and exclude young entrepreneurs who are driving growth in Nigeria’s digital economy.

The committee, therefore, urged the SEC to review the capital requirement to make it more inclusive and supportive of innovation.

During the session, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) revealed that all confiscated virtual and digital assets linked to criminal activities are in its custody.

The commission said it operates dedicated digital wallets across its zonal offices for the safekeeping of such assets.

In response, the committee directed the EFCC to furnish it with comprehensive records of all digital asset confiscations to aid its ongoing legislative review and policy recommendations.

The committee expressed displeasure over the failure of several key institutions including the Office of the National Security Adviser, Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigerian Communications Commission, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Ministry of Finance, and Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy to honour its invitation.

Bamisile urged the agencies to take seriously the economic and security implications of the rapidly evolving digital finance sector.