News
Fuel crisis: Nigeria Approves 300 Trucks To Assist Niger Republic
The West African country reached out to Nigeria despite months of diplomatic tensions and hostile rhetoric.
A delegation of senior officials of the military junta travelled down to Abuja to meet Federal Government representatives.
At the end of the deliberation, 300 trucks of Premium Motor Spirit were reportedly approved for delivery to the country.
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.
Our correspondents gathered that Niger turned to Nigeria after the fuel shortage problem became critical. However, the details of the arrangement are said to be secret.
“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.
Officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited said the deal could have been done by the Presidency, as the national oil firm now operates as a limited liability company.
Similarly, a source at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery declined comments due to diplomatic concerns.
The Presidency also declined comments on the matter.
Niger fuel crisis
The fuel crisis in Niger reached alarming proportions last week after a litre of petrol sold for 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, Mallam Abubakar Usman, said, “There is 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.”
Usman attributed the scarcity to the deteriorating relationship between Nigeria and Niger.
An official of the Nigerian Immigration Service, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that some trucks carrying petrol were sighted passing through the border.
Niger-China oil firm clash
The fuel crisis in Niger may have 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 ECOWAS 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 Sonidep already owing Soraz a staggering $250bn.
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.
The Soraz refinery, the lifeline of Niger’s fuel supply, ground to a halt, and fuel shortages spread like wildfire.
But the Commercial Director of the state-owned Nigerien Company for Oil Products (Sonidep), Maazou Aboubacar, told AFP that the Soraz refinery in Zinder could no longer satisfy domestic demand.
According to him, the reason is principally down to the drying up of the flourishing black market supplied from Nigeria.
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.
Nigeria the good neighbour
Niger Republic’s Head of State, Brig. Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, had accused Nigeria of colluding with France to destabilise his country through the terror group, Lakurawa.
Speaking in Hausa in December 2024, Tchiani claimed that there were plans to establish a terrorist training camp in Gaba Forest, near Sokoto, as part of a supposed agreement between France and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
He further alleged that Nigerian authorities were aware of these developments.
The Federal Government denied the allegations.
In February 2025, Niger reportedly stopped some Nigerians from entering into its cities because they carried ECOWAS passports.
Makama, the counter- insurgency expert, said despite the false accusations and diplomatic snubs, Nigeria stepped in to help Niger with fuel which had been crossing into the country to ease the crisis.
While sharing videos of some of the fuel trucks going into Niger, he said the junta remained too proud to admit its dependency.
“While fuel shipments from Nigeria have already started alleviating the crisis, Niger’s state media has deliberately avoided reporting where the fuel is coming from. Instead, the government has attempted to portray the fuel availability as a result of its own internal measures, a claim that many Nigeriens are beginning to question,” he said.
Nigeria supplied 13.5 million litres of petrol
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 is about 13.5 million litres of petrol to be exported to 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.
News
Ogarabe Returns To Enugu As Commissioner Of Police As PSC Deploys New Commissioners To Four States
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the deployment of four new Commissioners of Police to Enugu, Plateau, Nasarawa and Ondo states.
Among the newly deployed officers is CP Fidelis Ogarabe, who has been appointed Commissioner of Police for Enugu State.
Ogarabe was formerly the Commissioner of Police in charge of the INTERPOL Annex, Lagos.
Other officers affected by the deployment include CP Sunday J. A. Okoebor, formerly Commissioner of Police, Police Accounts and Budget, Force Headquarters, who has been posted to Plateau State.
CP Sheikh Mohammed Danko, formerly Commissioner of Police, Force Intelligence Annex, Lagos, has been deployed to Nasarawa State, while CP Johnson Ayodeji Babalola, formerly of the Special Inquiry Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, has been posted to Ondo State.
The appointments followed a series of interviews conducted by the commission to assess the officers’ fitness, competence and suitability for their new responsibilities.
The deployment was approved on Thursday at the Solomon Arase Conference Hall, Police Service Commission Headquarters, Abuja.
In a statement signed by the commission’s Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Torty Kalu, the PSC said the appointments were made in accordance with its constitutional mandate.
The Chairman of the commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, said the appointments were consistent with Section 215(1)(b) of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the commission’s authority in the appointment of Commissioners of Police for the states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Argungu, who was represented by a board member, Justice Paul Adamu Galumje (JSC, rtd.), said the officers had been found worthy in learning and character following the assessment.
He charged the newly deployed commissioners to discharge their responsibilities with impartiality, professionalism and a strong commitment to the expectations of their respective offices.
News
Failed Government: Nwifuru Praises Mbah’s Achievements in Enugu, Fails to Highlight Own Projects at APC Rally
The Anyichuks Campaign Office has criticised Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, for failing to showcase any significant achievements of his administration during the Southeast presidential campaign flag-off of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Women’s Mobilisation held at Okpara Square, Enugu, describing his remarks as another indication of the absence of tangible accomplishments to justify his four years in office.
The campaign office expressed disappointment that while the governors of Imo and Enugu states used the opportunity to reel out projects and development initiatives executed with their respective states’ resources and federal allocations, Governor Nwifuru chose to devote his speech to praising his Enugu counterpart, Governor Peter Mbah.
According to the campaign office, the contrast was particularly striking because the event provided an opportunity for the three governors to demonstrate what their respective administrations had achieved and how they had deployed public resources to improve the lives of their people.
“But when the microphone got to Governor Nwifuru, what did Ebonyi people hear? Instead of telling the audience what he has done with the enormous resources accruing to Ebonyi State, he chose to commend Governor Peter Mbah for his achievements in Enugu State.
“Why couldn’t he tell the gathering what he has done with Ebonyi people’s money? Why was he more interested in celebrating another governor’s achievements than presenting his own scorecard to the people he was elected to serve?” the campaign office queried.
It recalled that Nwifuru, in his remarks, praised Governor Mbah for initiatives aimed at promoting unity, developing skills and introducing innovations to women, but offered no comparable account of what his administration had done to advance the welfare and economic fortunes of Ebonyi residents.
The campaign office said the governor’s decision to focus on another state’s achievements, rather than present his own administration’s record, was a missed opportunity that had further reinforced public concerns about his performance.
“It is particularly unfortunate that a governor who has spent almost four years in office could stand before an audience of political leaders and party faithful without identifying concrete achievements of his administration that ordinary Ebonyi people can relate to.
“Ebonyi people deserve more than political slogans, praise-singing and repeated appeals for votes. They deserve leadership that can point to measurable improvements in their living conditions, infrastructure, education, healthcare, employment and economic opportunities.”
The campaign office further argued that Nwifuru’s remarks were symptomatic of what it described as an administration that had failed to add sufficient value to the lives of ordinary men and women in Ebonyi State.
It said the governor’s appeal to women to support the APC and his declaration that the party had an open manifesto would mean little to citizens who, according to the campaign office, were more interested in the practical benefits of governance than political promises.
The office said the growing clamour for Anyichuks to emerge as Ebonyi State’s next governor was rooted in the people’s desire for a departure from what it described as years of disappointing leadership and unfulfilled expectations.
It maintained that Ebonyi could not afford another administration that would merely occupy the Government House without delivering meaningful improvements in the lives of its citizens.
“The growing support for Anyichuks is a reflection of the people’s hunger for a government that understands their struggles and is prepared to translate public resources into tangible benefits.
“Ebonyi people cannot continue to endure an administration that adds little or no value to the everyday lives of ordinary citizens. They want a government that will create opportunities, empower families, support businesses and ensure that the state’s resources work for the people.
“Leadership is not about praising another governor for what he has accomplished. It is about being able to stand before your own people and account for what you have done with the mandate and resources entrusted to you.”
The campaign office therefore urged Ebonyi residents to look beyond party slogans and political endorsements and begin demanding accountability, measurable performance and leadership that places the welfare of the people above political interests.
It said Anyichuks represented the aspiration for a new direction in Ebonyi State, insisting that the state deserved leadership capable of converting its resources and enormous human potential into prosperity for its people.
By Ugoo Aniagoh
From the restoration of electricity at the local government secretariat after 13 years to renewed road, water, sanitation and security initiatives, the Okakpu-led administration is setting its governance agenda in motion.
The administration of Hon. (Dr.) Ikechukwu Okakpu, popularly known as OKD Jnr, and his Deputy, Hon. Ifunanya Nwanadile, has recorded a number of developmental milestones as the duo mark their first 30 days in office as Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Since assuming office on October 3, 2026, the administration has initiated interventions across critical sectors, including infrastructure, environmental sanitation, water supply, grassroots governance and community security.
One of the notable achievements recorded within the period is the restoration of electricity at the Njikoka Local Government Secretariat after 13 years without public power supply. The development marks a significant improvement in the working environment at the council headquarters and is expected to enhance administrative efficiency.
In the area of water infrastructure, rehabilitation of pipe-borne water facilities across the local government has commenced, reflecting the administration’s commitment to improving access to basic amenities.
The administration has also strengthened its governance structure through the appointment and inauguration of elected councillors, Supervisory Councillors and Special Advisers to support grassroots representation, policy implementation and effective service delivery.
Environmental sanitation has received considerable attention, with over 100 ad-hoc workers engaged to support waste management, routine cleaning and general environmental sanitation across the local government.
On infrastructure development, the administration has commenced a Public-Community-Private Partnership (PCPP) road project along the Awovu–Osili axis in Enugwu Ukwu. An assessment of Ezi Norbert Road has also been conducted as part of efforts to identify infrastructure needs and explore possible interventions.
Security has equally featured prominently in the administration’s first-month activities. Adopting a zero-tolerance stance towards insecurity, the council has mounted CCTV cameras at strategic locations to strengthen surveillance and improve security monitoring.
In a grassroots-driven security initiative, local traders and street operators have also been engaged as Community Safety Marshals. Equipped with walkie-talkies, the marshals are expected to serve as additional sources of community security intelligence, promptly reporting suspicious movements and activities to the appropriate authorities.
These initiatives represent some of the administration’s early efforts to address longstanding challenges while laying the groundwork for sustained development across Njikoka’s six communities.
Speaking through its first-month performance record, the administration maintains that its focus remains on practical governance, improved public services, environmental responsibility, infrastructure development and a safer community.
Although the administration is still in its early days, its first 30 days have provided an indication of its immediate priorities and development direction.
For residents of Njikoka, the expectation will now be to see these initial interventions translated into sustainable projects, measurable improvements and lasting impact across the local government.
Thirty days down, more work ahead. Njikoka First.
The Federal Government has released guidelines explaining how Nigerians selected for its N50,000 relief grant can confirm their eligibility, accept the offer, access the funds and withdraw the money.
The government also warned beneficiaries against fraudsters seeking to exploit the intervention by demanding money or sensitive personal information.
The National Emergency Relief and Stabilisation Intervention (NERSI) is designed to support vulnerable households struggling with rising living costs.
The programme, managed by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, provides a one-off grant of N50,000 to selected beneficiaries through mobile wallets operated by five approved payment providers.
According to the frequently asked questions published on the programme’s website and sighted by PUNCH Online on Thursday, the grant is not a loan, requires no repayment and can be accessed without a smartphone or internet connection.
Here are the key things Nigerians need to know about the programme.
1. Who qualifies for the N50,000 grant?
The government said beneficiaries were selected from the National Social Register and verified national identity records.
It explained that individuals cannot apply directly or pay anyone to secure a place on the beneficiary list.
Selection is based on need, with beneficiaries drawn from the six geopolitical zones, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation.
The government also clarified that payments would be made in phases, meaning not everyone would receive a notification at the same time.
2. How can you check if you are eligible?
Selected beneficiaries will receive SMS notifications from one of the five approved payment providers: ALAT, MoMo PSB, NairaGram, OPay and Moniepoint.
The messages will confirm their selection and provide a USSD code to dial to accept the grant.
Beneficiaries can also dial their assigned provider’s USSD code and select the eligibility-check option to confirm their status.
Those who are not selected will receive a notification informing them that they are currently not eligible for the relief support.
3. How do beneficiaries claim the N50,000?
Recipients are required to dial the USSD code contained in the notification from their payment provider and follow the instructions.
The process activates a mobile wallet, after which the N50,000 is credited and a confirmation SMS is sent.
The government stressed that receiving a selection message does not automatically mean the money has been paid. Beneficiaries must first accept the offer.
Those who mistakenly reject the offer can dial the code again and select the acceptance option.
4. Can people without smartphones receive the grant?
Yes. The government said beneficiaries do not need smartphones or internet access to receive the money.
A basic mobile phone is sufficient because the USSD codes work without an internet connection.
However, customers of OPay, Moniepoint and MoMo PSB can also use their providers’ official mobile applications to access their wallets and carry out transactions.
5. How can beneficiaries withdraw the money?
Beneficiaries can withdraw their funds through Point of Sale agents by transferring money from their mobile wallets and collecting cash.
Each approved payment provider also offers alternative withdrawal and transfer options.
The available USSD codes include:
- ALAT: Dial 94523Account NumberAmount# to transfer funds.
- MoMo PSB: Dial 6710# or use the MoMo NG application.
- NairaGram: Dial 72600#.
- OPay: Dial 95520# or use the OPay application.
- Moniepoint: Dial 557327# or use the Moniepoint application.
Beneficiaries can withdraw the entire N50,000 or take only part of it, leaving the balance in their wallets.
They can also transfer the money to personal bank accounts or other beneficiaries through the available channels.
6. Are there charges for receiving the grant?
The government said accepting the grant, receiving the money and responding to programme SMS notifications are free.
However, POS operators may charge their usual withdrawal fees when beneficiaries collect cash.
Recipients are therefore advised to confirm the applicable charges before completing transactions.
7. What if you have not received an SMS?
The government explained that payments were being made in phases, with payment providers contacting beneficiaries in batches.
Therefore, not receiving an SMS does not necessarily mean an individual has been permanently excluded.
Interested persons can check their eligibility through their assigned provider’s USSD code.
The government, however, warned that nobody could add an individual to the beneficiary list or accelerate payment in exchange for money.
8. How can beneficiaries avoid fraud?
The government warned Nigerians against individuals claiming they could help them secure or release the N50,000 grant for a fee.
It stressed that programme officials and payment providers would never request beneficiaries’ PINs, one-time passwords or Bank Verification Numbers.
Genuine messages will come only from the official sender names of the five approved payment providers and will not contain links.
Beneficiaries were also advised against clicking unfamiliar links, downloading unknown applications or forwarding WhatsApp messages claiming that sharing them would guarantee access to the grant.
The government further warned recipients not to refund money to anyone claiming that the payment was made in error. Such claims should first be verified through the provider’s official customer service channels.
9. What happens if you lose your phone or SIM card?
Beneficiaries who lose their phones or SIM cards should immediately contact their payment providers to secure their wallets.
They should also obtain replacement SIM cards bearing the same phone numbers from their network operators.
The government assured beneficiaries that their money would remain in their mobile wallets even if they lost their phones or SIM cards.
10. What should beneficiaries do if their USSD codes stop working?
The programme advised beneficiaries to check their network signals and retry if their USSD codes fail.
If the problem persists, they should contact their payment providers through their official customer service channels.
The following helplines were provided:
- ALAT by Wema: 0803 900 3700
- MoMo PSB: 671 or 0803 106 7100
- NairaGram: 0201 330 0880 or 0201 330 0881
- OPay: 0700 888 8328 or 0201 888 8328
- NERSI programme: 0700-022-2222
Enquiries concerning mobile wallets and payments should be directed to the respective providers, while questions about the intervention can be addressed to the programme’s helpline.
11. Which organisations are authorised to disburse the grant?
The Federal Government identified five approved payment providers for the N50,000 intervention.
They are ALAT, the digital banking platform of Wema Bank; MoMo PSB, a licensed Payment Service Bank; NairaGram, a digital money transfer service; OPay, a licensed mobile money operator; and Moniepoint, a licensed microfinance bank.
Beneficiaries were advised to deal only with their assigned providers and use official channels for enquiries and transactions.
The government reiterated that beneficiaries do not need to pay anyone, click external links or download unfamiliar applications to access the grant.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Pro-Biafran agitators based in the United Kingdom have challenged the three leading presidential contenders ahead of the 2027 general elections to address the lingering consequences of the Nigerian Civil War and the plight of families affected by the conflict.
The agitators, operating under the platform of the Biafran Diaspora Movement (BDM), specifically challenged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to make the Biafran question and the concerns of affected families part of their political conversations.
The group expressed displeasure over what it described as the continued reluctance of political leaders to openly discuss measures aimed at addressing the historical grievances surrounding the Biafran struggle.
Speaking with reporters in Awka on Thursday, the BDM Luton Zonal Officer, Adeze Vivian Nzelu-Iheanacho, argued that the campaigns of the presidential contenders should address the political foundations of the country and offer concrete commitments towards healing the wounds of the civil war.
According to her, the Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970 left behind unimaginable suffering, broken families and painful memories, particularly among Igbo communities.
“The Nigerian Civil War of 1967–1970 left behind unimaginable suffering, broken families and painful memories. For many Igbo families, the consequences of that war are not simply a chapter in history books.
“Decades later, concerns about marginalisation, political representation, insecurity and belonging continue to shape conversations across the Southeast.
“We cannot keep asking why people feel angry or unheard without being willing to listen to what they are saying,” she stated.
Nzelu-Iheanacho noted that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had become a prominent voice in the campaign for Biafran self-determination, adding that its supporters view the movement as an avenue for expressing concerns about identity, political exclusion and the future of the Southeast.
She, however, maintained that the Biafran question transcended any individual or organisation, insisting that changes in political leadership and continued security operations would not automatically resolve the historical and political grievances associated with the struggle.
“The Biafran question is bigger than any individual or organisation. Even when political leaders change or security operations continue, the historical and political questions surrounding Biafra do not automatically disappear,” she said.
She urged the Federal Government to distinguish between legitimate political grievances and criminal activities, arguing that security measures alone could not provide a lasting solution to the concerns driving agitation in the region.
“A government can disagree with IPOB’s demands, challenge its ideas and act against criminal conduct where evidence supports doing so. But these actions do not remove the need to address the deeper issues that keep political grievances alive.
“A problem left unresolved today may become more difficult to address tomorrow,” she added.
The BDM official observed that while political leaders engage in debates, security operations continue and various movements advance their demands, ordinary citizens bear the consequences of the prevailing situation.
She identified mothers worried about the safety of their children, traders afraid of losing their livelihoods, young people uncertain about their future and families struggling to go about their daily activities as among those affected.
“There are mothers who worry about their children, traders who fear losing their livelihoods, young people who wonder what the future holds, and families who simply want to go to work, send their children to school and return home safely,” she said.
Nzelu-Iheanacho maintained that the group’s position was anchored on justice, protection of human life, respect for peaceful voices and the need for government to address genuine grievances.
“Our position is simple: justice must be fair, human life must be protected, peaceful voices must be heard, and genuine grievances must not be ignored.
“Let justice be done. Let innocent lives be protected. Let the people be heard. And let peace be built on truth, not silence.
“Because at the end of the day, beyond the politics and arguments, ordinary people simply want to live, raise their children and grow old in peace. Surely, that is not too much to ask,” she said.
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