News
About 5,000 fuel stations closed as petrol price war rages
They attributed this to rising financial losses from unpredictable and volatile costs in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) sold by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and PMS importers.
This comes against the backdrop of frequent changes in the price of petrol by the refinery. The $20bn refinery has changed the price of petrol about six times this year. It reviewed petrol prices six times between January and April 2025, with an initial cost of N950 per litre, followed by gradual reductions to N835.
Findings on Wednesday showed that marketers are lamenting the development. The situation has compelled marketers to scale down the volume of petroleum products they purchase, with as many as three or more marketers now pooling resources to afford a single truckload of fuel.
However, players without the required financial war chest have been forced to close their businesses.
Recall that the current administration, after the removal of subsidies on petrol, fully deregulated the downstream segment of the oil industry in October 2024, effectively placing pricing at the mercy of market forces.
This triggered a fierce battle for market share between the 650,000-barrel-per-day Lekki-based refinery and fuel-importing marketers, as both sides strive to prevent the emergence of a monopoly and assert dominance in the newly liberalised market.
But this crisis, industry players say, is being driven by unregulated pricing, logistics bottlenecks, and the absence of clear market signals from dominant refiners, forcing independent petroleum marketers and retailers to either shut shop or adopt cost-sharing survival strategies.
They urgently called for robust economic buffers and more effective regulatory oversight to stabilise the market and protect their businesses from further shocks.
Confirming the dire situation, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria said over 70 per cent of its 7,000 retail outlets have closed shop due to unsustainable operating conditions. This implies that 4,900 retail stations owned by members have been closed.
PETROAN President, Billy Gillis-Harry, told our correspondent that the issue had worsened due to the lack of loans from commercial banks.
He said, “PETROAN has over 7,000 retail outlets, and over 70 per cent of those outlets are closed and are out of business today. And the reason is that we struggle to take loans from the bank. You buy products from a supplier and then before you can get to your filling station, prices have either increased or it has been dropped for no justifiable reason.
“And then they have a few filling stations that would be selling at lower prices, and of course, all traffic goes there, even if motorists have to stay in the queue for hours. So what happens, people are thrown out of business. So what choice do we have?”
He explained that to remain afloat, many dealers have had to source fuel from alternative suppliers offering “soft landing” deals to cushion the market shocks and allow recovery.
“That situation has forced us to source products from those who can give us a soft landing, and then we can be able to recover and compete, because if someone knows that there are products and he is going to buy and do his business, there is no need to stay on a queue for fuel.
The closure is not peculiar to retail outlet owners. The PUNCH had earlier reported that over 70 tank farm operators had ceased operations in the last two years, leaving their facilities abandoned and idle as retailers and station owners increasingly avoid utilising their services.
These dormant tank farms, representing 65 per cent of the total 120 approved facilities, now stand idle, with operators increasingly bypassing the storage facilities in favour of alternative trucking options.
The business closure was primarily driven by the removal of the fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which led to a significant increase in petrol prices and affected the purchasing power of fuel marketers.
Similarly, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria also confirmed that its members were grappling with heavy losses due to fluctuating prices and worsening logistics.
IPMAN’s National Publicity Secretary, Chinedu Ukadike, noted that the association’s members have recorded poor performance across key indicators, citing persistent downward reviews.
He attributed much of the setback to price instability, severe logistics and transportation challenges, stating that many trucks now spend up to three days in transit before reaching their destinations.
He said a recent review by the association revealed that its members lost between N300,000 and N1m, depending on the quantity of products per truck.
Ukadike said, “The uncertainty and disparity in price are always present in any liberalised market. Once the price is not being regulated, you would experience inherent fluctuations, and this makes buyers careful of how many litres they would be buying because of speculations and a price drop. All of these things modulate buyers’ and marketers’ behaviour. I also know that in the last few days under review, it has not been easy for independent marketers.
“We have experienced downward reviews in our key performance indicators, and because of our logistics and transportation problems, most of our trucks spend three days on the road before they get to our destination, and when they get there, prices have dropped resulting in losses ranging from N300,000 to over N1m depending on the quantity.
“You now find out that marketers sell at a loss, and this has remained the only reason why we don’t change prices immediately when they happen. The effect of that decrease is on the marketers to bear. We don’t have buffers or an economic wedge to regain the loss. We have been getting losses and losses within the period under review. But we are businessmen, and we are still on the ground. We would continue to push and see how we can maintain our filling station and ensure service delivery to the nation.”
Despite these challenges, the association maintains that its members, numbering over 20,000, remain resilient.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
The Anambra State chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the state government to suspend further salary deductions affecting workers pending the conclusion of investigations by a committee set up to address the issue.
For the past three months, workers in the state have complained about unexplained deductions from their monthly salaries, describing the development as unacceptable. Many affected workers insist that even those who report to work regularly and punctually have had portions of their salaries deducted.
Some workers have accused the state government of implementing punitive measures linked to the prolonged Monday sit-at-home order previously enforced by the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which kept many workers away from their duties for several years.
Speaking with journalists, the Anambra State NLC Chairman, Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, disclosed that the issue was raised during the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration, prompting Governor Charles Soludo to establish a committee to investigate the allegations.
According to Nwafor, the committee comprises the NLC Chairman, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, the Commissioner for Finance, and the Head of Service.
He explained that during the committee’s meeting last week, members resolved that salary deductions should be suspended pending the submission of the committee’s final report. The responsibility of addressing the issue in the interim was assigned to the Commissioner for Finance and the Head of Service.
“We met last week and resolved that those deductions should be put on hold for now while the Commissioner for Finance and the Head of Service manage the situation. Organized Labour has agreed to stay action while the government looks into the matter,” Nwafor said.
Efforts to obtain comments from the Head of Service, Barrister Ngozi Anuli-Iwuono, were unsuccessful. When contacted, she expressed frustration over frequent calls from journalists and declined to comment on the matter.
This reporter had earlier contacted her on Monday, when she explained that she was attending an Executive Council meeting and could not immediately respond. However, when contacted again on Tuesday, June 9, at about 1:25 p.m., she stated that she was in another meeting.
“I am in another meeting. Why are journalists calling me every time? Last time it was Tribune, today it is Telegraph. Please, you people should stop calling me,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, assured workers that the matter was receiving attention and revealed that some affected employees had already started receiving the balance of their deducted salaries.
Mefor explained that most of the affected workers were stationed outside the state headquarters. He noted that the Ministry of Finance relies on attendance records submitted by various departments and unit heads to determine salary payments.
“It is based on the information available to the Ministry of Finance regarding those who reported for duty through the attendance clock-in system. This issue mainly affects workers in outstations and not those at the headquarters,” he said.
“People have started receiving their full salaries, and many of those who failed to clock in were affected. This is already being verified.”
Using the Ministry of Information as an example, Mefor said the ministry has about 185 workers, the majority of whom serve as Information Officers across local government areas. He added that evidence of their attendance was submitted to the Ministry of Finance to facilitate payment.
“Here in the Ministry of Information, we have about 185 workers, most of whom are posted to local government areas. We provided evidence of their attendance to the Ministry of Finance, and necessary adjustments are being made,” he stated.
The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed the death of three persons following the derailment of the Warri-Itakpe train in Agbor, Delta State.
The corporation disclosed that four coaches left the rail track during the incident, which occurred on Monday, June 8, 2026.
In a statement, the Managing Director of the NRC, Dr. Kayode Opeifa, said emergency response teams and other relevant authorities were immediately mobilised to the scene to manage the situation and provide assistance to affected passengers.
“The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has confirmed a serious train accident involving the Warri-Itakpe Train Service (WITS) corridor at Agbor, Delta State,” the statement said.
According to Opeifa, rescue and emergency response operations were activated immediately after the accident, and all passengers on board have since been accounted for.
“Sadly, three fatalities have been confirmed at this time,” he stated.
He added that relevant authorities are continuing to assess the full circumstances surrounding the incident, while support is being provided to injured and affected passengers.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families, and loved ones during this difficult time,” Opeifa said.
The NRC urged members of the public to rely only on verified information and official updates from the corporation as investigations into the cause of the derailment continue.
A newly married Nigerian woman who was recently declared missing by her family in Abuja has reportedly left her matrimonial home after discovering that her husband allegedly had two children with different women.
The woman, from Mbabum Community in Ukum Local Government Area of Benue State, had been the subject of a public appeal by her family, who sought assistance in locating her after she allegedly left her husband’s residence in Abuja.
According to a statement attributed to a family representative, Hon. Goshi Peter, the woman married Goshi Bem in March 2026 but left her matrimonial home about two weeks ago and had not returned.
However, in an update shared on Saturday, June 6, 2026, a Facebook user, Tyom Alexander, claimed she had spoken with the woman by phone.
According to Alexander, the woman said she left her husband’s home after discovering that he had two children from different women, information she alleged was not disclosed to her before their marriage.
“I have been able to speak with this woman through the phone number provided by the whistleblower,” Alexander wrote.
“She said her husband didn’t tell her that he had children before their marriage. She only discovered this after they relocated to Abuja.
“The first child is five years old, while the second child is two years old, both from different mothers.”
Alexander further claimed that the woman stated she was safe and still in Abuja, and reportedly warned her husband not to bother searching for her.
“According to her, the man should not bother looking for her as she is doing fine in Abuja,” Alexander added.
“If this is true, then the man has disappointed me. I wait to hear the man’s side of the story.”
As of the time of filing this report, the husband’s response to the allegations had not been made public.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
The fate of Nigerian roads especially the highways appears to be under threat of this year’s rainy season following fears by professionals that the over 200,000 kilometers of roads may collapse by the end of the year .
Deepening this apprehension is the lack of maintenance of those roads which have yearly carried loafs above it’s capacity occasioned by heavy duty trucks and tankers .
Expressing these fears , Consultant Engineer to the Federal government Patience Aningo noted that if urgent steps are not taken this year’s rainy season would spell doom for motorists and other road users across the country.
“Without consistent enforcement of axle load limits, and steady maintenance of our federal highways there strong indications that the country is at the risk of loosing over 200,000 kilometers of roads ”
“Roads require precision from proper compaction to correct layer thickness”
“By then, what could have been addressed with minor engineering challenges would become a huge cost of maintenance”
“The frustrations lies a deeper issue and the persistent failure of roads that should last far longer is compromised by laxity on the part of the authorities concerned”
“The outcomes are sometimes undermined by weak supervision, inconsistent material quality, and cost”
She observed that poor drainage system has also been the bane of the Federal roads in the country.
“Nigeria has one of the largest road networks in Africa estimated at over 200,000 kilometers yet a
One major factor is inadequate drainage”
“Roads are not just paved surfaces; they are engineered drainage
systems, sealing cracks, and timely patching remains underutilized, despite its proven
underlying soil, and accelerates structural deterioration”
“In a country with intense seasonal rainfall, neglecting drainage is one
of the fastest ways to shorten a road’s lifespan.’
“Regulations must be enforced consistently to protect infrastructure investments”
“Similarly, the Abuja–Kaduna Highway remains a critical but vulnerable route, where
pavement distress and operational challenges continue to highlight the strain placed on key compromise
during construction directly reduces durability and increases long-term costs”
“Drainage must be treated as a core design element, not an afterthought which affects Axle load against
what they were originally designed for”
“Heavy-duty trucks often overloaded introduce stresses that affect the roads ”
“Many Nigerian roads now carry traffic volumes and axle loads far beyond routes in the country
and despite ongoing reconstruction efforts, sections have deteriorated quickly ”
“When water is not properly managed, it penetrates the pavement layers, weakens the
This pattern is evident on major corridors such as the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, one of the busiest in the country “she stated.
Enugu Govt Dismisses Viral UNN Attack Alert, Moves to Track Perpetrator
The Enugu State Government has dismissed as false and misleading a viral social media post alleging an imminent terrorist attack on the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), assuring students, staff, and residents that there is no credible security threat to the institution.
The government described the post as the handiwork of criminal elements seeking to create panic, fear, and confusion within the university community and across the state.
In a statement issued on Monday, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Malachy Agbo, said the government had taken note of the viral message warning of a possible attack by individuals described as terrorists and jihadists.
According to him, investigations indicate that the alarm is false and part of a deliberate attempt by criminal elements and their collaborators to undermine public confidence in the state’s security efforts.
Agbo recalled that similar false alerts had been circulated in the past concerning locations such as Holy Ghost, Obollo Afor, Opi, Nsukka, Gariki, Awgu, and other parts of the state. He noted that those behind previous misinformation campaigns often operated anonymously and recycled old videos to create the impression of ongoing attacks.
He added that many of the perpetrators of the earlier false alarms were eventually identified and apprehended by security agencies.
The commissioner disclosed that the state government is already working closely with security agencies to track down those responsible for the latest viral post and ensure they face the consequences of their actions.
Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to public safety, Agbo said the government had continued to invest heavily in modern security infrastructure and technology to strengthen security operations across the state.
He stressed that the protection of lives and property remains a top priority of the administration of Peter Mbah, noting that recent investments have significantly improved the capacity and responsiveness of security agencies operating in the state.
The government therefore urged members of the UNN community, residents of Nsukka, and the general public to remain calm and continue their lawful activities without fear, assuring them that adequate measures are in place to guarantee their safety.
It further reiterated its resolve to sustain efforts aimed at maintaining peace and security across Enugu State while taking decisive action against individuals who spread false information capable of causing public panic.
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