Nigeria drops planned fuel import tariff

Nigeria has ended plans to impose a 15% import duty on petrol and diesel amid assurances of adequate supply during the year-end holidays, the downstream regulator said on Thursday.

The tariff, approved by President Bola Tinubu as part of fiscal reforms to boost non-oil revenues, was disclosed in a leaked government memo last month. It was supposed to take effect in December.

"The implementation of the 15% ad-valorem import duty on imported premium motor spirit and diesel is no longer in view," the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said in a statement.

Fuel marketers had lobbied against the measure, warning it could restrict imports and leave the country reliant on a single source, the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos.

Africa's biggest oil producer spends millions of dollars each year importing fuels and this has continued even after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery began processing crude last year.

The NMDPRA assured buyers of adequate supply during the holiday and warned against panic buying.
"The Authority will continue to monitor supply and take necessary steps to avoid disruptions, especially during this peak demand period," it said.

By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters

Video - Nigeria’s return to global debt market signals confidence amid caution

Nigeria’s successful $2.35 billion Eurobond issuance helped renew investor confidence in its economic reforms and leadership. The government aims to use the funds to bridge its fiscal deficit and support efforts to stabilize the economy.

CGTN Africa

Nigeria boycott training before World Cup play-off

Nigeria players and technical staff boycotted training on Tuesday, just two days before their crucial 2026 Fifa World Cup play-off against Gabon in Morocco.

The protest relates to longstanding unpaid allowances and match bonuses, with some payments dating back to 2019.

The team, including stars like Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, are demanding a resolution to the dispute with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

The boycott has cast a shadow over preparations for their African play-off semi-final at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Thursday (16:00 GMT).

"Once resolution is found we will be the first to confirm," Super Eagles centre-back and captain William Troost-Ekong said in a post on X., external

"All we want and continue to do is focus on the big games ahead."

The NFF did not respond to requests from BBC Sport Africa for comment, but sources indicate urgent talks are ongoing.

The Super Eagles are expected to resume training on Wednesday, pending a resolution to the financial stand-off which reportedly includes allowances for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers and the current 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

The NFF has a history of delaying payments and this latest development has sparked widespread reaction from Nigerians, with many calling for the federation to resolve the issue swiftly.

Nigeria must beat Gabon to keep alive their hopes of reaching next year's World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

The winners will face either Cameroon or DR Congo in Sunday's African play-off final, which will decide which country progresses to an intercontinental qualifier to be held next March.

That six-team tournament will provide two qualifiers for the finals.

By Emmanuel Akindubuwa, BBC

Nigeria teams up with US and UK to investigate cocaine haul

Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said Tuesday it is working with its US and British counterparts to investigate the origins of one of the country's largest drug hauls.

Authorities recovered a ton of cocaine from a container at Lagos' Tincan Island Port.

The shipment, worth more than 338 billion naira ($235 million, €232 million), was discovered during a joint inspection last weekend.

Officials described it as the largest single seizure of cocaine at Tincan Island Port.
Global investigation to find drug smugglers

NDLEA says officers from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) "have already joined the ongoing investigation to track the cartel behind the consignment."

"The essence of collaborating with our international partners on this case is to ensure no stone is left unturned and every gap is sufficiently covered so that ultimately we can get all the masterminds of this huge consignment brought to book wherever they are located across the globe," the NDLEA chair Mohamed Buba Marwa said.

Nigeria is a major transit hub for drugs in West Africa and is also becoming a key producer, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

By Louis Oelofse, DW

Video - Nigeria’s women-only ride app faces roadblocks

In Abuja, rising cases of “one chance” taxi crimes inspired Monsurah Oluwafuyi and her team to launch HerRyde in 2022. The women-only ride platform connects verified female drivers with female passengers. HerRyde completed over 2,000 trips and empowered women with financial independence. However, the platform suspended operations after a year due to financial constraints.

CGTN Africa