Billions wasted on broken refineries - Africa's richest man tells his side of the story

Dangote, CEO of the Dangote group recently called into question the likelihood of the state-owned Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries being operational again.

He did this at his own oil refinery, where he gave members of the Global CEO Africa from the Lagos Business School a tour of the facility while highlighting the ludicrous amount already spent on reviving the state-owned refineries.

Dangote specified that his refinery, which he initiated after the country's 16th head of state, the late President Umar Yar'adua's cancelled his plans to acquire government refineries, now produces more than 50% of its output in the form of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), while even government refineries only devote 22% of their output to this product.

“The refineries that we bought before, which were owned by Nigeria, were doing about 22 per cent of PMS. We bought the refineries in January 2007. Then we had to return them to the government because there was a change of government,” he stated.

“And the managing director at that time convinced Yar’adua that the refineries would work. They said they just gave them to us as a parting gift or so.

And as of today, they have spent about $18bn on those refineries, and they are still not working. And I don’t think, and I doubt very much if they will work,” he added.

The Nigerian billionaire emphasized that the refineries' turnaround maintenance was similar to attempting to update a car that was manufactured forty years ago, even though technology had since evolved, as reported by the Punch.

“(The turnaround maintenance) is like you trying to modernize a car that was built 40 years ago, when technology and everything have changed.

Even if you change the engine, the body will not be able to take the shock of that new technology engine,” he elaborated.

Dangote's statement corroborated the claims of Yar’adua predecessor, former president Olusegun Obasanjo last year on the refineries, two of which were closed when Mele Kyari, the former NNPC Group Managing Director, declared them open.

The NNPC understood it was unable to handle the refineries, according to Obasanjo, who further stated that when he asked foreign oil corporations like Shell to run the facilities, they refused.

Aliko Dangote and other Nigerians had invested $750 million to gain control of the refineries, but his successor Yar'adua annulled the agreement, according to Obasanjo.

What Obasanjo had said

“So, why do we do this kind of thing to ourselves? NNPC knew that they could not do it, but they knew they could eat and carry on with the corruption that was going on in NNPC. When people were there to do it, they put pressure. In a civilized society, those people should be in jail,”

Obasanjo had stated. Again, in January, Obasanjo said, “I was told not too long ago that since that time, more than $2bn have been squandered on the refineries and they still will not work.

“If a company like Shell tells me what they told me, I will believe them. If anybody tells you now that it (the refinery) is working, why are they now with Aliko (Dangote)? And Aliko will make his refinery work; not only make it work, he will make it deliver.”

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa

Security forces kill 30 gunmen after armed attacks in northwest Nigeria

Nigerian security forces have killed at least 30 gunmen after armed attacks in the country’s troubled northwest, authorities said Thursday.

The joint police and military operation occurred Wednesday after hundreds of armed men attacked several villages, State Commissioner for Home Affairs Nasir Mua’zu said in a statement.

Mua’zu said three police officers and two soldiers died during the counter-attack which was launched against the gunmen who attacked the villages Tuesday evening.

“We are working tirelessly with federal security agencies to ensure the safety of all citizens,” he said.

In recent months, the northwestern and north-central regions of Nigeria have recorded an uptick in attacks by armed gangs on communities in these regions. Hundreds have been killed and injured in the attacks.

Bandit groups are known for mass killings and kidnappings for ransom in the country’s conflict-battered north. Most of the groups are made up of former herders in conflict with settled communities.

Dozens of armed groups take advantage of the limited security presence in Nigeria’s mineral-rich northwestern region, carrying out attacks on villages and along major roads. Kidnappings for ransom have become a lucrative way for bandit groups to fund other crimes and control villages.

Aside from the conflict in the country’s north-central and northwest, Nigeria is battling to contain an insurgency in the northeast where some 35,000 civilians have been killed and more than 2 million displaced, according to the U.N.

By, Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Nigeria rejects US push to accept Venezuelan deportees

Nigeria has pushed back on accepting Venezuelans deported from the United States, after US media reported President Donald Trump was urging African countries to take in deportees from around the world.

Deporting people to third countries has been a hallmark of the Trump administration's crackdown on undocumented migrants, notably by sending hundreds to a notorious prison in El Salvador.

"The US is mounting considerable pressure on African countries to accept Venezuelans to be deported from the US, some straight out of prisons," Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar said in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday.

"It will be difficult for Nigeria to accept Venezuelan prisoners. We have enough problems of our own," he added.

Tuggar also suggested the US motivation for threatening tariffs against the Brics political bloc – of which Nigeria is a member – was related to the issue of deportations.

Trump has announced a 10 percent tariff on Nigerian goods exported to the US.

Contentious deportations

The president of Guinea-Bissau told reporters that Trump had raised the issue of deportations to third-countries but "he didn't ask us to take immigrants back".

RFI

We’ve uncovered massive fraud in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry – EFCC

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, said the agency conducted a preliminary probe into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and discovered ‘mind-boggling’ corruption cases.

Mr Olukoyede disclosed this on Wednesday during the third day of the National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance, organised by the Public Accounts Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives in Abuja.

“In the last three weeks, we launched a commission-wide investigation into the extractive industry, particularly the oil and gas sector. What we have discovered is mind-boggling. And we have only just opened the books. If this is what we’re seeing at the surface, imagine what lies beneath,” he said.

The EFCC chairman argued that the corruption in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector directly contributes to rising insecurity across the country.

“There is a very strong connection between the mismanagement of our resources and insecurity. When you look at banditry, kidnapping, terrorism, trace it back, and you will find a pattern of corrupt practices and diversion of funds meant to improve people’s lives,” he stated.

PREMIUM TIMES reports that this is not the first time corruption in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has been uncovered. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), the key player in the country’s oil industry, is currently facing scrutiny from the National Assembly.

In June, the Senate Committee on Public Accounts queried the company over N210 trillion allegedly unaccounted for in its audited financial statements between 2017 and 2023.

During a hearing, the committee demanded detailed explanations from the NNPC’s Chief Financial Officer, Adedapo Segun, and other top officials, directing them to provide a detailed explanation regarding the whereabouts of the funds within seven days.

However, the agency failed to meet the initial seven-day deadline because its top officials were attending a retreat at the time and requested an additional 20 days to review relevant documents. The committee rejected the request and issued another 10-working-day ultimatum, which will expire tomorrow. As of now, it remains unclear whether the NNPC will comply.

Bill to criminalise unexplained wealth

The EFCC chairman called on members of the National Assembly to pass a bill that would criminalise unexplained wealth as part of the strategy to reduce fraudulent financial practices by Nigeria’s public officers,

“Help me pass the Unexplained Wealth Bill. I’ve been begging for the past year. This same bill was thrown out in the last Assembly. If we don’t make individuals accountable for what they own, we’ll never get it right,” he added.

Mr Olukoyede mentioned a scenario involving a civil servant who had accumulated five properties in Maitama and Asokoro, areas which are considered as part of the most expensive neighbourhoods in Abuja.

“Someone has worked in a ministry for 20 years. We calculate their entire salary and allowances. Then we find five properties—two in Maitama, three in Asokoro. Yet we’re told to go and prove a predicate offence before we can act. That is absurd.”

EFCC tracks illicit assets abroad

Mr Olukoyede also announced that the commission is expanding its asset recovery drive to other countries, noting that several assets acquired through illicit means by Nigerians have been traced overseas.

“Last month alone, I visited four or five countries chasing Nigeria’s stolen assets. An ambassador even told me they discovered an estate in Iceland owned by a Nigerian. Iceland of all places!” he exclaimed.

Despite these efforts, he acknowledged the limits of what the EFCC can achieve in recovering stolen funds.

“There is no amount of capacity I can build, no level of effort I can put in, that will enable me to recover even half of what has been stolen from Nigeria, because the custodians of those assets in foreign countries don’t want to let go. Under international law, the custodian of stolen assets is just as guilty as the original thief,” he said.

Culture of impunity and poor oversight

The EFCC boss condemned the culture of impunity in the country, noting that individuals under investigation for financial crimes are often celebrated in public spaces.

“We see people who have stolen our money. We have shown you evidence. We’ve traced where the money went. We are already in court. Yet, they’re being celebrated all over the place. Does that show we’re serious?” he asked.

He also questioned the National Assembly’s ability to effectively oversee more than 700 federal Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), many of which operate without adequate internal controls.

“How many books can you check? How many files will you read? We need to build strong internal compliance systems that can proactively checkmate corruption.

“That money could have built hospitals, schools, and supported millions of Nigerian students from primary to tertiary level,” he said. “Nigeria has no business borrowing to survive, given the natural and mineral wealth it possesses.”

He urged political leaders to put aside ethnic and party divisions and unite against the scourge of corruption.

“If we execute even 60 per cent of our capital budget efficiently between 2025 and 2026, we will empower small and medium-scale industries. We’ll build infrastructure. We’ll be fine,” he said.

“What we need is transparency in revenue generation and accountability in public expenditure.”

By Abdulqudus Ogundapo, Premium Times

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Nigeria becomes first African country to regulate media portrayal of tobacco, rituals

Nigeria has become the first African country to formally regulate the portrayal of tobacco use, money rituals, and narcotics in media content, according to a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB).

The announcement was made following the board’s presentation at the 2025 World Tobacco Conference held in Ireland, where the country’s new policy was praised as a bold and visionary step toward safeguarding public health and cultural values.

The National Film and Video Censors Board, NFVCB, which positioned Nigeria as a trailblazer in African media regulation, said the regulation borders on the control of the promotion and glamourisation of tobacco, narcotics, ritual killings, and money rituals at the World Tobacco Conference in Ireland, held from 22- 27 June 2025.

The regulation, a first of its kind in Africa, was lauded as a bold step toward safeguarding public health and cultural values.

At the world conference, the Executive Director of the NFVCB, Shaibu Husseini, delivered a status report detailing the regulation’s objectives, stakeholder engagement process, and enforcement mechanisms.

Policy

The policy, which was approved and gazetted in 2024 under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, targeted harmful portrayals in Nigerian films, music videos, and skits.


The conference recognised Nigeria as the first African nation to implement such a comprehensive measure, with attendees commending Mrs Musawa’s leadership as “a courageous and visionary move to protect public health and preserve cultural values.”

One significant outcome of the conference was the various pledges by several international organisations to assist Nigeria in continuing to implement the regulation.

The support—set is expected to be delivered through their local partner, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, which will include logistical and technical assistance to enhance compliance and awareness.

Mr Husseini highlighted the significance of this backing at the conference, stating, “The recognition received at the World Tobacco Conference is a direct result of the Honourable Minister’s unwavering commitment to responsible cultural governance and public safety.”

Commitment to Enforcement

The NFVCB emphasised its dedication to ensuring the regulation’s success, collaborating with local and international partners to prevent the Nigerian creative industry from promoting harmful behaviours or ideologies.

The policy’s focus on curbing the glamourisation of tobacco, narcotics, and ritualistic practices aligns with global efforts to mitigate the influence of media on public health.

By Omotoyosi Idowu, Premium Times

US cuts visa validity for most Nigerian applicants

The United States has announced sweeping changes to its non-immigrant visa policy for Nigeria, cutting the duration and conditions under which most Nigerian travellers can enter the country.

Staring 8 July, the US Department of State says nearly all non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to Nigerian citizens will now be single-entry and valid for only three months.

It says this is part of a global reciprocity realignment, a sharp shift from previous visa terms, which often allowed for multiple entries over two years or more.

Nigeria also offers single-entry visas valid for three months only for those planning to visit the country from the US.

The Nigerian government has not yet commented.

The State Department says visa policies remain "subject to ongoing review" and may change depending on evolving diplomatic, security, and immigration benchmarks.

In a statement, the US government said it was working closely with Nigerian authorities to ensure the country meets key international standards.

These include: issuing secure travel documents, managing visa overstays, sharing security or criminal data for public safety purposes.

The US also ordered that the social media accounts of all foreigners applying for visas, including from Nigeria, would be vetted for "any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States".

Nigerians account for one of the highest number of student-visa applications to the US in the world.

By Chiamaka Enendu and Mansur Abubakar, BBC

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Over 43m risk river blindness as Nigeria moves toward elimination target

Despite significant progress in eliminating river blindness, also known as onchocerciasis, over 40 million Nigerians remain at risk.

This is as the federal government, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, NIMR, yesterday confirmed that transmission of the disease had been interrupted in at least 10 states, including Kaduna, Nasarawa, Anambra and Abia.

Speaking at NIMR’s monthly media chat in Lagos, the Director of Research at NIMR and a leading public health parasitologist, Dr. Babatunde Adewale, stated that children under 10 were now being targeted for blood sampling in endemic communities where treatment had been ongoing for more than a decade.

If these children test negative, it is an indication that transmission has stopped.

Onchocerciasis, transmitted by blackflies, is a major cause of preventable blindness in sub-Saharan Africa.

Nigeria began using Ivermectin through mass drug administration, MDA, in the 1990s to control the disease.

However, due to its effectiveness and growing scientific evidence from countries such as Nigeria, Mali, and Senegal, global focus had shifted from control to total elimination.

“We are no longer just controlling the disease, elimination is now within reach. By 2030, we hope Nigeria will be declared free of onchocerciasis,” Adewale said.

He noted that over 37 million Nigerians had received treatment, adding that using Ov-16 antigen tests on samples collected must show positivity rates below 0.1 per cent to confirm transmission interruption.

NIMR also contributes to public health education and ethics, focusing on neglected tropical diseases that impact rural communities, which are key to Nigeria’s food security.

“These communities are the backbone of our food system,” Adewale said, emphasising that their health must not be overlooked.

He recalled that Nigeria’s success did not happen overnight, stressing that it followed decades of mass campaigns, supported by the World Health Organization, WHO, the federal ministry of health, and other partners, using community-directed treatment with Ivermectin, CDTI. This approach empowers locals to lead the fight by administering the drug themselves.

Onchocerciasis is caused by the Onchocerca volvulus parasite and is the world’s second leading cause of infectious blindness. Nigeria has adopted a phased strategy toward elimination: Phase one is the interruption of transmission; phase two involves post-treatment surveillance for 3–5 years; and phase three, verification by WHO experts.

Challenges remain, particularly insecurity in parts of the country that limit access to some communities. Only Lagos and Rivers States remain officially non-endemic.

Whie expressing optimism about its elimination, Adewale said: “We are doing better than many other African countries. Only Niger has been validated for elimination, and Nigeria is much larger.”

NIMR’s Senior Research Fellow Dr. Kazeem Osuolale, called for stronger community engagement and economic empowerment to improve health outcomes.

“Health interventions must be people-centered,” he said, noting that financially empowered individuals were more likely to comply with treatment.

Also speaking, Mr. Adeniyi Adeneye, a Research Fellow at NIMR’s Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, stressed the importance of health literacy.

He said: “Without public understanding of disease causes and prevention, even the most expensive innovations may fail.’’

By Chioma Obinna, Vanguard

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing communication, productivity, and innovation, but most of these models are not tailored for an African audience. Flawed voice recognition systems often fail to understand African names, languages, and accents. The Africa-centric voice technology platform, Intron, is addressing this with its AI model, Sahara.

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Tributes paid after Nigeria keeper Rufai dies aged 61

 

Peter Rufai has been hailed as a "giant of football" after the former Nigeria goalkeeper died aged 61 on Thursday following a prolonged illness.

Affectionately known as Dodo Mayana, he helped the Super Eagles win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and also represented his nation at the Fifa World Cup in 1994 and 1998.

Born in Lagos, Rufai enjoyed a stellar international career, earning 65 caps between 1983 and 1998.

His safe hands, commanding presence and calm demeanour made him a stand-out performer for Nigeria's golden generation of the 1990s.

"We mourn the passing of legendary Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai - a giant of Nigerian football and a 1994 Afcon champion," the Nigeria Football Federation posted on X.

"Your legacy lives on between the sticks and beyond."

Rufai's death marks yet another loss from Nigeria's celebrated 1994 squad, the team that not only conquered Africa but also announced the country's arrival on the global stage by reaching the last 16 on their World Cup debut in the United States.

He becomes the sixth member of the that side to pass away, following the late Stephen Keshi, Rashidi Yekini, Wilfred Agbonavbare, Thompson Oliha and Uche Okafor.

After starting his playing career locally with Stationery Stores and Femo Scorpions in Nigeria, Rufai went on to play professionally in Benin, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal.

Known not just for his reflexes and shot-stopping abilities, Rufai's dedication and professionalism inspired a generation of goalkeepers who followed in his footsteps.

"We lost an African legend Peter Rufai. May his soul rest well," former Nigeria team-mate Kanu posted on social media.

"May your spirit continue to inspire all of us and future generations."

Super Eagles forward Ahmed Musa said that the "nation mourns a hero" following Rufai's death.

"Your heroic reflexes and unwavering presence between the posts brought us moments of pride on the world stage," Musa said.

"Though you've left us, your legacy soars higher than any trophy. Fly high, Dodo Mayana."

By Isaiah Akinremi, BBC

Tinubu: We’re Changing Nigeria’s Infrastructure Story Through Tangible Projects

President Bola Tinubu has declared that his administration is changing the story of infrastructure development in Nigeria through the execution of tangible projects across the country.

Tinubu restated his administration’s resolve to build a Nigeria where every community was connected, every business thrived, and every citizen enjoyed a life of dignity and opportunity.

The president made the declaration on Wednesday at the inauguration of the dualised and upgraded Ushafa to War College/Army CheckPoint roads and other ancillary roads in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Tinubu, represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, underscored the recent inauguration of infrastructure projects across the country by his administration, saying it is an expression of commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development.

He stated, “We have transformed a path of frustration into a corridor of opportunity. These dualised and upgraded roads will not only ease traffic congestion, they will breathe new life into economic activities, improve access to education and healthcare, and uplift the overall quality of life for the good people of Ushafa, Bwari, and the neighbouring communities.”

Enumerating the significance of the road projects, the president said, “There is something even more remarkable to celebrate today: this entire project was awarded to an indigenous contractor. That decision was deliberate. It was born out of our belief in the competence, resilience, and ingenuity of Nigerian professionals and businesses.

“We are not just building roads. We are building capacity. We are creating jobs. We are fostering a sense of ownership and pride within our communities. And above all, we are demonstrating unequivocally that, given the right support and enabling environment, Nigerian contractors can deliver infrastructure that rivals the best in the world.”

Earlier, Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, said the ongoing inauguration of projects in Abuja was unprecedented and a demonstration of the president’s love and care for inhabitants of the nation’s capital.

According to him, the provision of road infrastructure, as witnessed in the FCT satellite towns, is key to opening up the areas for economic development and improvement of the livelihoods of the people in all ramifications.

The minister expressed satisfaction with the conduct and capacity of the contractor that handled the project. He said the history of the project from start to finish depicted commitment and faith in local contractors and support for their growth and development.

Giving the vote of thanks, FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, thanked Tinubu and Shettima for their leadership that had seen the transformation of the satellite towns in the FCT into settlements with modern infrastructure.

Mahmoud said the projects will not only improve the livelihoods of the people but will also rewrite the history of the territory and reposition the area for genuine growth and development.

In his remarks, Coordinator, Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, thanked Tinubu for the deliberate and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects in the territory.

Zulkiflu said people of the satellite towns in the FCT appreciated the gesture and remained solidly in support of the Tinubu administration.

By Deji Elumoye, Arise News

Chinese companies grab stake in Nigeria’s lithium and EV future

Chinese companies are taking up positions at both ends of Nigeria’s clean energy supply chain in a bid to dominate the electric vehicle future of Africa’s most populous country. Two factories for the processing of lithium, a vital element in the batteries for electric vehicles, are planned in Nigeria this year, both backed by Chinese investors.

One is a $600m facility under construction on the boundary of Kaduna and Niger states in the country’s north by Jiuling Lithium Mining Company, which is due to start production this quarter. Another, a $200m facility by Canmax Technologies located in Nasarawa state, just outside the capital, Abuja, will start in the third quarter.

The Chinese firms have the majority stake, funding more than 80% of the ventures, with the minority stakes held by local investors.

Founded in 2011, Jiuling has grown into a leading global supplier of lithium salts for electric car batteries. It counts among its customers the US electric-car maker Tesla, and China’s BYD group, the global leader in electric vehicles.

Canmax began life in 1997 as a supplier of battery materials but has veered squarely toward lithium processing in recent years. More plants are also due to start operation this year, bringing current Chinese investments in Nigerian lithium facilities to about $1.3bn, according to the Ministry of Solid Minerals.

They join a few other early starters in Nigeria’s lithium sector including Ganfeng Lithium Industry, a company registered in Nigeria by Chinese nationals, which opened a $250m lithium processor in Nasarawa state last year. Also in the Nigerian lithium fray is UK company Jupiter Lithium, which discovered high-quality lithium deposits in Kaduna state.

Discoveries indicate huge potential

Nigeria does not yet count among the world’s leading lithium producers – Australia, Chile and China account for more than 80% of global production – but discoveries made so far indicate huge potential, according to the prospectors. A lithium belt has been mapped by the Nigerian Geophysical Survey Agency (NGSA), across the country from the northwest through the country’s centre to its southeastern edges near the Cameroon border.

A major attraction of Nigerian lithium is its high grade, with some deposits containing as much as 13% lithium oxide. Deposits with a mere 0.4% lithium are often worth exploitation. Nigeria is also incentivising exploration – investors get a five-year tax holiday, duty exemptions on plant and machinery, deferred royalty payments to the government and a capital allowance of 95%.

Local value addition

President Bola Tinubu‘s administration, which took office two years ago, cites its changed approach to mining, neglected for decades after Nigeria discovered crude oil, as the reason for new investors’ commitment. The government now prohibits the export of mined raw materials, insisting on some local processing. “Under our new local value-addition policy, we said investors must show us plans for local refining,” minister of solid minerals development Dele Alake told reporters recently. “That has led to these two factories.”

The main rival to the Chinese companies so far in the race for Nigeria’s lithium is Jupiter Lithium, which capped some two decades of work in Nigeria with the discovery of significant lithium reserves in the northern state of Kaduna. Jupiter teamed up with US-based ReElement Technologies, a refiner of rare earth minerals, to build its first concentrator facility. It started production in the first quarter, with plans to produce 55,000 tons of 6% lithium this year, increasing output to 167,000 tons in two years, according to the company. Though Jupiter has an agreement to supply some local electric vehicle companies, the bulk of its output is aimed at meeting the demand of manufacturers in Europe and America, according to its chairman Stephen Davis.

The ultimate aim is to set up local electric vehicle assembly plants that will run on the lithium batteries produced in Nigeria, Alake said. And after an 18 May meeting with Alake, China’s ambassador to Nigeria Yu Dunhai said: “Plans are under way to establish electric vehicle factories.” Chinese companies are already deeply involved in Nigeria’s mining sector, from exploration to processing.

Fledgling indigenous companies

While Nigeria may have been a latecomer to electric vehicles due to a history of poor and erratic mains power supply, China’s BYD nonetheless opened shop in Nigeria in April after reaching a distribution deal with French trading company CFAO for sports utility vehicles.

BYD is joining a Nigerian electric vehicles market still in its early stages, with fledgling indigenous companies such as the Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC) and Saglev. EMVC, based in Abuja, produces a range of electric-powered vehicles from tricycles to cars, buses and farm equipment. Lagos-based Saglev is for now focused on sedans and sports utility vehicles.

For power, the industry appears to be adopting the same off-grid response used to cope with power shortages and outages. While in the past most of those who could do so acquired fossil-fuel generators, electric vehicle owners are switching to solar power and storage systems to support their mobility.

“Just like any serious Nigerian business makes alternative power arrangements, the future of electric vehicles here is mostly off-grid,” says Ardo Mohammed, an Abuja-based enthusiast who says he recently gave up his gasoline-powered car for a BYD Atto 3 model.

Solar-powered charging stations

To encourage more rapid adoption, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology has started building solar-powered fast-charging stations in Abuja, in collaboration with indigenous EV maker EMVC. “It is a direct reflection of Nigeria’s commitment to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, enhancing energy security, and promoting green innovations,” Uche Nnaji, the minister, said at the recent unveiling.

To further consolidate its lead in the emerging electric vehicles sector in Nigeria, China is moving to increase its engagement with the Nigerian government. When Tinubu visited China in September his bilateral talks with President Xi Jinping centred on infrastructure, energy, the green economy and mining. Both countries also decided to elevate their relations from a strategic partnership to “a comprehensive strategic partnership,” indicating even deeper relations.

Nigerian foreign minister Yusuf Tuggar visited Beijing this June to follow up on those discussions and participate in the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. On the table were new Chinese proposals for green technology, non-tariff market access and digital infrastructure investments. “Nigeria is ready to work more closely with China, not just as a partner but as a strategic ally in delivering economic transformation and sustainable development,” Tuggar told reporters at the end of the meetings.

By Dulue Mbachu, African Business

Related stories: Global investors eye Nigeria’s lithium reserves

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Starlink Fully Resumes New Activations in Nigeria, Expands Access to Major Cities

Starlink, the satellite internet service from Elon Musk’s SpaceX, has officially resumed new customer activations in Nigeria after more than seven months of suspension.

The company had halted new residential kit orders in November 2024, with prospective users receiving a notice that activations were temporarily on hold pending regulatory clearance from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC). Since then, Nigerians were unable to place new orders, particularly in major cities such as Abuja and Lagos.

Over the past month, users in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe began reporting renewed access to Starlink’s sign-up portal, suggesting a phased return of services. At that time, however, Abuja was still listed as unavailable. Recent checks now indicate that Starlink is once again accepting new orders in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, and other urban areas.

Neither SpaceX nor the NCC has issued an official statement on the development, but the resumed access to residential kits signals that earlier restrictions may have been eased or lifted.

This quiet return marks a notable shift in Nigeria’s broadband landscape, where demand for reliable, high-speed internet—especially in underserved and congested areas—continues to grow.

By Joyce Onyeagoro, Tech News Africa

Nigeria theme park offers escape from biting economy

At Magicland, a privately owned theme park in Nigeria's capital, Abuja, the country's recurrent crises -- from galloping inflation to armed insurgencies -- fade into the background, at least for one afternoon.

Nigeria's fragile middle class has been battered by two years of soaring prices amid the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation.

At Magicland, one content creator from Borno state -- where international headlines typically centre on jihadist attacks -- filmed TikTok dances as a brightly coloured big wheel towered behind her.

Others took to the carnival rides, including 26-year-old public health worker Mary Adeleke, who said she'd once been an adventurous person.

"But as I grew up, with how the country's structured and all the struggles, I lost that part of me," she said, adding she was on a quest to regain it, one roller coaster at a time.

The west African nation is, by some metrics, a success story: a tech powerhouse, a major exporter of global cultural staples like Afrobeats, and the continent's leading oil producer.

But rampant inflation, a cost of living crisis and continued insecurity have proven hard for much of the country's 228 million people.

Walking out of a swinging pendulum ride, Victor Bamidele, 28, offered a review.

"I thought it was something that would take my soul out of my body," the medical device supplier said in typically colourful Nigerian English.

"But it definitely did not," he added. "It was quite enjoyable."

Victoria Friday drove 30 minutes from Nasarawa state. She paid the 1,500 naira ($1) entry fee, but seemed less keen on buying ride tickets.

In a move relatable to budget-conscious young people the world over, the 20-year-old stylist said she "just came to snap my friend" -- taking photos for social media among the colourful backgrounds.

"Our prices are still very low," said park manager Paul Oko.

"Those who don't earn much can still come," he added, though he admitted the number of visitors has declined.

AFP

Dozens of Ghanaians trafficked in football job scam rescued in Nigeria

Some 76 Ghanaians who were trafficked to Nigeria under a fraudulent recruitment scheme have been rescued, Ghanaian police say.

The victims, mostly young men, were lured with promises of football contracts with top foreign teams, job placements abroad or assistance with visa processing.

Upon arrival, their travel documents and mobile phones were seized, and they were housed in overcrowded rooms under poor conditions, police say.

The victims were forced to contact their families to solicit about $1,000 (£727) in the guise of paying training or facilitation fees. The fraud masterminds also allegedly used the victims' phone contact lists to scam their friends and relatives.

Seven Ghanaian suspects have been arrested in connection with the trafficking.

The head of Ghana's Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Lydia Yaako Donkor, said at a press briefing that the rescue operation was conducted in collaboration with Interpol and Nigerian law enforcement agencies.

The victims were rescued from different states in Nigeria between 19 May and 27 June this year, and are yet to be repatriated to be reunited with their families in Ghana.

The CID boss cautioned families to verify lucrative job offers and educational opportunities abroad before taking them up.

She said once the victims are convinced into the scam, they are usually instructed to travel by road to an unfamiliar country.

They are later transferred to "holding camps" - rented rooms where as many as 40 people are forced to live in substandard conditions. Under pressure, they are coerced into recruiting others, deceiving even their own families and friends, Ms Donkor said.

"The psychological and economic harm caused to these victims and their families is devastating," she said, adding that in many cases, the victims are "so malnourished and psychologically affected" that they are unable to resume their normal lives.

QNET, a global lifestyle and wellness marketing company allegedly linked to the recruitment scam, has been banned from operating in Ghana since 2022 for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme.

The company has repeatedly denied any involvement in fraudulent activities.

Cases of individuals being lured with false job promises and getting into internet fraud schemes are not uncommon in Ghana and Nigeria.

The police say efforts are ongoing to arrest all of those behind the scam.

By Thomas Naadi, BBC