News
Nigerians groan over Dangote petrol price hike
Nigerians across major cities are grappling with rising petrol prices after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery increased its gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit to N995 per litre, triggering retail price adjustments nationwide and pushing pump prices above N1,000 per litre in some states.
Petrol now sells between N1,000 and N1,190 per litre depending on location and retail outlet.
This has led to rising transport fares as costs of goods and services soar in many parts of the country, according to findings by Sunday PUNCH.
Although the price increase has not triggered panic buying in most states due to steady supply, motorists, transport operators and small business owners say the new price regime is placing additional strain on household incomes already stretched by inflation.
Middle East crisis
The latest surge in petrol prices across Nigeria is closely linked to the escalating geopolitical crisis in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which has disrupted global oil supply chains and pushed crude oil prices upward.
The conflict intensified after joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian targets in late February 2026, leading to retaliatory attacks by Iran across the region and escalating tensions around key energy infrastructure.
One of the most critical developments in the crisis has been the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. This is a narrow maritime corridor between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula that serves as one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.
The strait handles nearly 20 per cent of global oil and natural gas shipments, making it a vital chokepoint for international energy trade.
Following the escalation of hostilities, Iran issued warnings to vessels linked to the United States and Israel as attacks on ships in the area made maritime traffic through the strait to drop dramatically.
At one point, tanker movements fell sharply and many vessels remained anchored outside the waterway to avoid security risks.
The disruption has stranded millions of barrels of crude oil and refined products in the Gulf, raising fears of a global supply shortage.
The crises has already pushed Brent crude prices above $90 per barrel, with projections that prices could climb even higher if the conflict persists.
Since global oil prices serve as the primary benchmark for petroleum products, the shock to supply has quickly filtered into fuel markets worldwide, including Nigeria.
Abuja commuters brace for transport hike
In the Federal Capital Territory, commuters are already bracing for higher transport fares as filling stations adjusted pump prices to above the N1,000 mark.
A market survey conducted by Sunday PUNCH showed that most filling stations in Abuja now sell petrol between N1,052 and N1,105 per litre.
At MRS Oil Nigeria, a retail partner of Dangote Refinery, petrol was sold at N1,060 per litre, while Nipco Filling Station along Airport Road dispensed the product at N1,105 per litre, the highest price recorded during the survey.
Other outlets, including Matrix Energy, Bovas, Shafa, Shema and A.A. Rano adjusted pump prices upward to between N1,052 and N1,092 per litre.
Despite the price increase, fuel was readily available at the stations visited and there were no queues.
However, the price hike has already begun to impact transport fares.
A commercial driver operating along the Federal Secretariat-Asokoro route, Daniel Ishyaku, said he had increased fares from N400 to N700 to cope with rising fuel costs.
“Fuel is now more than N1,000 per litre. I bought petrol at N1,060 today. If I don’t increase the fare, I will run at a loss,” the driver said.
Some commuters expressed frustration over the development, saying frequent fuel price adjustments were worsening the cost-of-living crisis.
“When fuel goes up like this, transport fares follow immediately. But our salaries have not increased,” one passenger who doesn’t want to be named lamented.
Lagos motorists pay up to N1,190
In Lagos, the country’s commercial hub, petrol prices climbed as high as N1,190 per litre in some outlets early on Saturday.
Visits by Sunday PUNCH to filling stations across the metropolis showed petrol selling between N1,005 and N1,190 per litre.
At a Mobil Filling Station along Agege Motor Road in Mushin, petrol was sold at N1,018 per litre.
A dispatch rider, Augustine Akor, said the increase had forced him to raise delivery charges.
“I bought fuel at N1,018 in Iju-Ishaga this morning. I delivered a package to Ogba and had to charge N4,800 instead of N4,000 because of the fuel increase,” he said.
At the NNPC Filling Station on Yaya Abatan Road, petrol sold for N1,005 per litre, although the price was not displayed on the station’s signboard.
Nearby, an AP Filling Station sold the product at N1,039 per litre, where customers were seen purchasing fuel with 25-litre jerrycans.
A boutique owner, Chukwudi Anioke, said the rising cost of fuel could force him to increase prices of goods in his shop.
“I pay for Band A electricity but power supply is not stable, so I rely heavily on my generator. Now that petrol has increased again, we will have no option but to increase prices,” he said.
At Oniwaya Bus Stop in Agege, petrol was sold at N1,030 per litre.
A tricycle operator, Kamoru Saheed, said transport fares had already doubled on some routes.
“We have increased fares from N100 to N200 because of the fuel price. Everything keeps increasing,” he said.
Kaduna, Taraba residents buy N1,070
In Kaduna State, checks showed petrol selling between N1,060 and N1,070 per litre across major stations in the Kaduna metropolis.
Stations including AA Rano, Rainoil, NNPC Mega Station and Future View dispensed fuel without the long queues typically associated with price hikes.
A motorist simply identified as Ibrahim said that residents had no reason to panic.
“There is no scarcity of fuel, so there should be no panic buying. Fuel is available everywhere,” he said.
A similar situation was observed in Taraba State, where petrol sold between N1,000 and N1,060 per litre in Jalingo and Wukari.
A commercial driver, Ibrahim Usman, while speaking n the development, said the availability of fuel had prevented panic buying.
Edo, Rivers adjust to new price regime
In Benin City, the Edo State capital, petrol sold between N1,050 and N1,072 per litre on Saturday.
At Hifly filling station on Sakponba Road, motorists purchased fuel at N1,072 per litre without queues.
Similarly, Raptors Filling Station on Sapele Road sold petrol for N1,050 per litre.
However, the NNPC station in the city was not selling the product at the time of visit, though an attendant said petrol sold at N995 per litre the previous day.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, petrol prices ranged between N1,050 and N1,075 per litre.
At Restore Park filling station along Elekahia, petrol sold for N1,050 per litre, with only a few vehicles seen buying the product.
A motorist identified as Andy expressed frustration at the sudden increase.
“I bought petrol for N1,030 yesterday. Today it has jumped to N1,050,” he said.
Another motorist, Felix Naamime, lamented the economic impact.
“Petrol is expensive in a country with four refineries. Government must do something to help citizens,” he said.
Fuel sells N1,250 in Gombe
In Gombe, petrol sells for between N1,080 and N1,250 per litre, as residents continue to express concern over the rising cost of the commodity.
A visit to several filling stations within Gombe metropolis revealed that the lowest price was recorded at Bovas Petroleum, where petrol is sold at N1,080 per litre.
However, many other stations dispense the product at prices between N1,150 and N1,250 per litre.
A commercial motorcyclist in Gombe metropolis, Ibrahim Musa, said the high cost of petrol has significantly affected his daily income.
“We are really suffering. Before now, I could buy fuel with less money and still make a profit at the end of the day. Now, most of what we make goes back into buying petrol,” he said.
Similarly, a resident of the city, Aisha Mohammed, said the situation had worsened the cost of living for ordinary citizens.
“The price of everything is increasing because transport fares are going up. When fuel is this expensive, it affects food prices and other essential goods. It is becoming difficult for families to cope,” she said.
Panic buying in Jigawa
Unlike other states, some parts of Jigawa State witnessed panic buying after the price increase.
Another motorist said that motorists in Dutse rushed to filling stations amid fears of further hikes.
At Matric filling station along FUD Road, petrol sold for N1,050 per litre, while the NNPC Mega Station dispensed the product at N1,020 per litre.
A commercial driver, Abubakar Mohammed, described the situation as troubling.
“This price hike will affect our business and daily earnings,” he said.
In Kano, petrol prices climbed to about N1,150 per litre at major stations.
A tricycle rider, Abdulkarim Abdullahi, said the increase had affected transport operators.
“We now spend more on fuel for the same amount of work,” he said.
Residents lament economic impact
In Sokoto, motorists expressed frustration as petrol prices jumped from N930 to between N1,050 and N1,100 per litre.
A resident, Abdulazeez Bello, said that the situation had become unbearable.
“The price of fuel is now on the other side. How does the government expect us to survive?” he asked.
Similarly, in Bauchi, petrol sold between N1,100 and N1,106 per litre.
A motorcycle rider, Umar Musa, said the increase had already affected his livelihood.
“With this kind of increase, commodity prices will also rise in the market,” he said.
In Yobe, residents complained after petrol rose to as high as N990 per litre in Damaturu and Potiskum.
Commercial tricycle operator Musa Ibrahim said the development would reduce daily earnings.
“If petrol is close to N1,000 per litre, most of the money we make will go back to fuel,” he said.
Analysts caution that rising petrol prices often trigger a chain reaction across the economy, as higher transportation and energy costs typically translate into increased food prices, rising production costs and higher market prices for essential goods.
With petrol now selling above N1,000 per litre in several states, many Nigerians fear the economic ripple effects may only just be beginning. (Sunday PUNCH)
….Records 1,521km of roads, 7,000 classrooms, 260 Type-2 PHCs, sweeping reforms
Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has unveiled a compendium of more than 10,000 milestones recorded in the first term of his administration across critical sectors of the Enugu State economy.
The compendium, entitled “A Thousand and One Reasons Why Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah Should be Re-elected as Governor of Enugu State,” was presented to the public at the International Conference Centre, Enugu, on Wednesday.
The compendium of milestones records, among others, over 1,521 kilometres of constructed and reconstructed roads, over 7,000 classrooms, 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres, Enugu Air, the New Enugu Smart City, and the revamp of moribund assets.
Represented by the Deputy Governor, Barr. Ifeanyi Ossai, Mbah said the compendium aligns with the Citizens Charter, also known as Executive Order 001, which he executed immediately he was sworn into office on 29th May 2023 to emphasise his administration’s commitment to accountability, traceability and transparency.
He, however, said the compendium highlighted the administration’s philosophy of disruptive innovation and its focus on large-scale infrastructure, noting that it did not contain all that had been done up to the day of unveiling.
“Our assignment today is not just to unveil the Citizens Charter via the compendium. It is a lot more than that. It is a conversation on the sacrosanct duty and responsibility you gave to us to midwife and preside over your resources.
“But above all, it is important to note that the document we are about to unveil does not entirely capture everything this government has done because, given the time it took to prepare this document, there was a cut-off point running months behind.
“So, this document that we shall unveil shortly does not in any particular material represent the actual successful modest achievements of this government as at 9th of September 2026.”
He thanked those who believed in his vision and worked for his election in 2023 and urged those affected in any way by the tough decisions the administration had to make, assuring them that Enugu was on its way to greatness as a $30bn economy and the preferred destination for investment, business, tourism, and living.
“I also want to thank all those who made sacrifices, who lost their friends because they felt supporting us was the right thing to do. I want to thank all those who invested their resources. I want to thank all those who took pains in very unimaginable circumstances to ensure that Enugu moves to the next level.
“But what you must take home with you is that our intentions are noble. What we try to do is to put Enugu on a reversible path of greatness. What we try to do is to ensure that Enugu will not compete with Nigeria or within Nigeria,” he added.
In his welcome address, the Secretary to Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said the state had pursued an extensive urban development agenda, including the New Enugu Smart City, environmental sustainability and urban renewal.
He added that the State’s fiscal architecture had undergone significant reform through revenue automation, reforms at the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, improved financial management, the Treasury Single Account, enterprise resource planning and broader institutional restructuring.
According to him, the administration had also sustained investments in youth empowerment, women development, technology, skills acquisition, social protection, tourism, environmental sustainability and community development.
He said the ultimate goal is to improve the lives of the people.
“Behind every project is a community; behind every policy is a citizen; and behind every statistic is a human being whose life government seeks to improve,” he concluded.
He also stressed the importance of institutional reforms in sustaining government programmes, stating: “Sustainable development requires not only projects that citizens can see, but institutions and systems that can sustain those projects.”
The Deputy National Chairman (South) of the All Progressives Congress, Dr. Ben Nwoye, commended the administration for its development record and the scale of projects executed across the State.
The Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Uchenna Ugwu, commended the Governor for his developmental strides, pledging the continued support of the legislative arm of the state government.
The Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Igwe Samuel Asadu, equally spoke glowingly about the administration’s performance, saying a performing government should be supported to continue till 2031.
“We have never had it so good. It is not about party. But let us give the job to those who understand the job. The governor wants to move the Enugu State economy to a $30bn economy and that is exactly what he is doing,” he stated.
Chief of Staff to the Governor, Victor Udeh, described the compendium as an evidence-based publication and a commitment to accountability.
The event brought together political leaders, traditional and religious leaders, captains of industry, professionals, public servants and other stakeholders, who commended the administration for the scale and spread of its interventions across the State.
Twelve years after his ministry in Kenya, East African Italian-born Catholic priest Sandro Ferretto has married Sharon Jepng’ok, a Tugen woman from Baringo County.
According to Kenya Times, the couple exchanged vows in a traditional ceremony on 6 September at Seretion Village in Kasiela, a community where Mr Ferretto previously served as parish priest.
The event brought together relatives, local leaders, elders and friends of the bride, who witnessed the Koito ceremony, a significant Kalenjin custom centred on dowry negotiations and family blessings.
Ferretto’s ministry
Mr Ferretto, 55, began his priesthood in Italy before taking his ministry to Kenya, where he spent more than a decade working with local communities.
The Diocese of Padua ordained him as a priest, and he arrived in Kenya in 2008 to begin missionary service. He worked around Kasiela and Mochongoi under the Diocese of Nyahururu and became involved in pastoral outreach, youth programmes and community-based development efforts in Baringo.
He eventually returned to Italy in December 2020 with another missionary, Fr Mariano Dal Ponte.
In 2023, the priest assumed responsibility for a pastoral unit in Saletto, Borgo Veneto, in the Padua diocese. His duties covered eight churches in the area.
His tenure, however, lasted only several months. In December 2023, he celebrated a final Mass before stepping aside from the position to take time for reflection.
The decision reportedly caught some of his colleagues off guard because he gave them little notice.
The Diocese of Padua later acknowledged his withdrawal from pastoral duties, stressing that he continued to serve as a priest and had no connection to any controversy. The diocese described the decision as a requested period away from pastoral ministry.
During his break, Mr Ferretto was reportedly involved in volunteer work with a migrant support group in Padua.
Reunion and law
Mr Ferretto later returned to Kenya and reunited with Ms Jepng’ok, whom he met during his missionary work in Baringo.
Residents of the area widely knew him as “Father Sandro” after he spent more than a decade working with families, youth organisations and church congregations. Baringo is also Ms Jepng’ok’s home region.
Catholic canon law requires Latin Rite priests to observe celibacy and bars them from marrying while they remain in active ministry. The Church considers the commitment a lifelong obligation of the priesthood.
For a priest to marry, he must first be formally removed from the clerical state through a process approved by the Vatican. Known as laicisation, the process ends his status as a priest and normally includes a dispensation from the obligation of celibacy.
Only after receiving the necessary approval can a former priest marry. Without it, the marriage would contravene Catholic canon law and would not be recognised by the Church.
The Ondo State Government on Wednesday confirmed the deaths of some people in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state following the consumption of a herbal liquid substance.
No fewer than 24 residents of two communities in the council area, Araromi Obu and Odigbo town, reportedly lost their lives after consuming the substance.
The incident, which was said to have occurred on Saturday, has thrown the affected communities into mourning.
A source in the area said the deceased consumed the substance on Saturday at different locations but later became unconscious, leading to their deaths, while some others who also consumed the substance were rushed to the hospital.
The source said, “They (the deceased) drank the herbal substance and started dying, eight people died in Araromi Obu while 16 lost their lives in Odigbo town but we are yet to confirm if it is what they drank that killed them but we are sure that the people died after drinking the herbal drinks.
“Some of the people died in their sleep while some died when they got home and many are still in the hospital as I am talking to you.”
Confirming the incident in a telephone interview, the Chairman of Odigbo Local Government, Mr Taiwo Adegoroye, said the deceased consumed the substance before the incident, adding that they were waiting for a medical team to carry out autopsies to determine the actual cause of the deaths.
Adegoroye said, “We can confirm the death of 24 people, eight in Araromi Obu and 16 in Odigbo town and many are still on admission at hospitals. But we are yet to ascertain the cause of the death and we are still waiting for the team from the state Ministry of Health to carry out the test on the deceased. That is why we can’t specifically say the real cause.”
The chairman also said he had placed a ban on the sale and consumption of locally brewed alcoholic drinks in the area as a precautionary measure.
According to him, a preliminary verbal autopsy conducted by the local government health team indicated a possible link between the reported deaths and the consumption of the substances.
In the same vein, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Ajaka, also confirmed the incident in a telephone interview, saying investigations were underway to establish the actual cause of the deaths.
Ajaka did not immediately disclose the specific substance suspected to have caused the deaths, but said medical and health officials would conduct further assessments in the affected communities.
“The government is taking the matter seriously and we will provide more details after the ongoing investigation has established the circumstances surrounding the incident.”
Meanwhile, some youths in the town staged a mini protest and went to the palace of the Odigbo traditional ruler to demand explanations and urgent measures to prevent further loss of life.
Addressing the youths, the monarch of the town, Oba Rufus Akinrinmade, appealed for calm and assured them that efforts would be made to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the deaths and find a lasting solution to the situation.
-
News1 day agoEnugu begins commercial production of Palm Oil, targets product refining
-
News9 hours ago
46 arrested for allegedly obstructing Obi’s convoy in Benue
-
News1 day ago
Obi ignored protocol, courting trouble – Benue commissioner
-
News1 day ago
Again, armed thugs disrupt Peter Obi’s visit to Benue
-
News1 day ago
FCC boss, Omidiran set to lead Youth-Focused Conversation at Peter Eze Youth Connect 2026
-
News1 day ago
Benue PDP guber candidate, Obidient Movement condemn attack on Peter Obi in Makurdi
-
News9 hours ago
24 die after consuming herbal drinks in Ondo
-
Politics2 days ago
Peter Obi can rescue Nigeria, POMR replies Datti-Baba Ahmed
