Gunmen ambush security patrol in Nigeria’s northwest, killing 8

Gunmen ambushed a security personnel in Nigeria’s northwestern Zamfara state and killed at least eight people, the state’s governor said.

The attack took place Thursday on the Gusau-Funtua road in Zamfara state’s Tsafe area, and killed five police officers and three members of a local paramilitary group that works with the police, Gov. Dauda Lawal said in a statement posted on Facebook.

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the killings.

Such attacks are common in Nigeria’s northern region, where local herders and farmers often clash over limited access to land and water. The farmers accuse the herders, mostly of Fulani origin, of grazing their livestock on their farms and destroying their produce.

In recent months, there has been an increase in attacks by armed groups who kidnap residents for ransom in northwest Nigeria, and particularly in Zamfara state.

“We pray to God to bring an end to this security problem in Zamfara state and Nigeria,” Lawal said on Facebook.

Buhari Morki, a resident of Gusau, told The Associated Press that the gunmen waited in the bushes along the road where law enforcement officials usually patrol.

“The bandits were moving to a community in the area when they saw the patrol,” Moriki said.

Nigeria is also battling to contain Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast, where some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, according to the United Nations.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Nigeria’s $35m modular refinery scandal deepens as lawmakers launch probe

The project, intended as a 2,000-barrel-per-day modular refinery, was initiated by Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited in partnership with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to enhance local refining capacity, create jobs, and deepen indigenous participation in the petroleum industry.

Despite an initial $35 million (₦50 billion) investment made in 2020, the refinery has remained dormant for four years, with no visible progress on the ground.

Reports suggest the project has become the subject of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigation over alleged fraudulent practices.

Raising the alarm during Wednesday’s plenary, Hon. Billy Osawaru, representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwode Federal Constituency in Edo State, described the situation as “a monumental economic sabotage.”

“Despite this huge investment, enough to fund key components of the national budget, nothing is on the ground to show that any progress has been made,” Osawaru told lawmakers.

He noted that in May 2024, a stakeholder petitioned the EFCC to probe the NCDMB’s multi-million-dollar investments, including the Brass modular refinery.

However, nearly a year later, “nothing has been heard about this profound national waste,” he said.

Osawaru warned that the continued inaction surrounding the project “raises significant questions about the management of public funds and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms in Nigeria.”

The motion, titled “Need to Investigate the Abandoned $35 Million Modular Refinery Project in Brass, Bayelsa State,” received overwhelming support when Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu put it to a voice vote.

Following the resolution, the House referred the matter to its Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) for further legislative action. The committees have four weeks to submit their findings.

Across Africa, modular refineries have been promoted as a quicker, cost-effective solution to local refining shortages.

However, the Brass refinery’s fate now serves as a cautionary tale on how governance lapses and corruption can stall industrial progress, even amid the continent’s renewed push for energy self-sufficiency.

By Segun Adeyemi, Business Insider Africa

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CGTN Africa

MTN Nigeria Unveils Plan to Connect 8 Million Homes with Fibre Network by 2028

The initiative supports the federal government’s National Broadband Plan and Digital Economy Policy, aiming to deliver reliable, high-speed internet to households, businesses, and SMEs across the country.

MTN Nigeria has announced plans to expand its fibre network to reach over eight million homes nationwide by 2028, reinforcing its commitment to broadband growth and digital inclusion.

The initiative supports the federal government’s National Broadband Plan and Digital Economy Policy, aiming to deliver reliable, high-speed internet to households, businesses, and SMEs across the country. MTN said the expansion is driven by Nigeria’s growing population, urbanisation, and increasing demand for low-latency connectivity to support data-heavy services and remote work.

To achieve this, the company is partnering with infrastructure providers, state governments, and local contractors to ensure sustainable fibre rollout. MTN also plans to integrate fibre into new housing projects while addressing challenges such as vandalism, right-of-way constraints, and network damages from road construction.

The telecom operator commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) for designating telecom infrastructure as national assets and facilitating supportive policies. MTN reaffirmed its goal to deliver affordable, reliable broadband access and strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy.

Tech Africa News

Nigeria turns to China for a new $2 billion loan to rebuild ailing power grid

After decades of unreliable electricity and frequent blackouts, Nigeria is seeking a $2 billion lifeline to rebuild its ailing power grid and restore confidence in its industrial energy supply.

Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, confirmed the development during an economic summit in Abuja, noting that the new grid will connect Nigeria’s eastern and western regions, where a significant proportion of industrial activities are concentrated.

“It is part of the government’s plan to decentralise power generation and encourage large-scale commercial users, who exited the national grid due to its unreliability, to return,” Adelabu stated.

A Persistent Power Deficit

Nigeria’s energy crisis remains one of the most pressing constraints on its economic growth. Despite an installed generation capacity of about 13 gigawatts, the national grid delivers barely 4 gigawatts to more than 200 million citizens.

Frequent blackouts and outdated infrastructure have pushed many factories, businesses, and households to rely on self-generated power from diesel and gas generators.

The resulting operational costs have constrained productivity, raised inflationary pressures, and diminished competitiveness in the manufacturing sector.

By contrast, South Africa, with about a quarter of Nigeria’s population, has an installed generation capacity of roughly 70 gigawatts, underscoring the vast energy gap that continues to constrain Nigeria’s industrial competitiveness.

However, the proposed super grid is expected to enhance transmission efficiency, improve reliability, and ensure greater power delivery to key industrial zones. Minister Adelabu confirmed that the Federal Executive Council has already approved the project’s financing framework.

Expanding China’s Energy Footprint in Africa

The $2 billion super grid loan forms part of President Bola Tinubu’s broader economic and energy reform strategy designed to attract foreign investment and reposition Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s power market.

It also reinforces China’s growing role in financing major infrastructure projects across the continent.

Beyond the EximBank talks, Nigeria has secured $1.1 billion from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to expand electricity access, $70 million from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) for mini-grid development, and $328.8 million from Chinese firm CMEC to upgrade transmission infrastructure.

In October 2023, the government also signed a $2 billion Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Chinese firms to invest in power generation and digital economy projects. In addition, Nigeria and China renewed a $2 billion currency-swap agreement in late 2024 to strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties.

Adelabu’s team confirmed to Bloomberg that discussions with China’s EximBank are ongoing and “progressing positively.”

Tariff Reforms and Financial Stability

The minister further revealed that recent tariff adjustments for urban consumers have improved the financial sustainability of the electricity sector. Industry revenues increased by 70 percent in 2024 and are projected to rise by a further 41 percent this year, reaching ₦2.4 trillion ($1.6 billion).

“These changes will enable power firms to reinvest in infrastructure, expand access, and improve reliability,” Adelabu said.

The tariff reforms, though controversial, are part of the government’s effort to create a cost-reflective pricing system capable of attracting long-term investment.


Powering Africa’s Industrial Ambitions

The “super grid” initiative aligns with President Tinubu’s wider economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidies, overhaul of tax laws, and improved security in oil-producing regions to boost crude output.

Since assuming office in 2023, Tinubu has placed energy reform at the heart of his administration’s agenda for industrialisation and job creation.

Despite ongoing interventions, Nigeria’s national grid continues to suffer from instability. Data from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) show multiple partial and total collapses in 2024, including two nationwide blackouts.

Adelabu said the proposed super grid would deploy advanced transmission technology to increase capacity and reduce system failures.


Toward a Regional Power Hub

Nigeria’s energy reform efforts have continental implications. The development of a super grid could not only stabilise domestic supply but also enable the country to export power to neighbouring states through the West African Power Pool (WAPP) framework, advancing regional energy integration.

By Olamilekan Okebiorun, Business Insider Africa

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