Gunmen kill at least 30 in Nigeria's Plateau state attack

Gunmen attacked a university community in Nigeria's central Plateau state on Sunday night, killing ​at least 30 people, residents and local officials said on Monday, ‌the latest bloodshed in a region scarred by deadly farmer-herder conflicts.

Violence in central Nigeria, known as the Middle Belt, is often painted as ethno-religious between ​mainly Muslim Fulani herders and Christian farmers. But many experts ​and politicians say climate change and expanding agriculture stoke ⁠competition for land, leading to conflicts regardless of faith or ethnicity.

Markus ​Audu Kando, a resident and co-chair of Plateau youth interfaith group ​said by phone: "As I speak with you, the figure is now 30 ... There are injured people at the hospital, but I cannot confirm their number."

Residents said ​the gunmen arrived in the Gari Ya Waye community of ​Angwan Rukuba district and shot at people indiscriminately.

The Plateau state government said the gunmen ‌were ⁠unknown and imposed a 48-hour curfew in the district. The University of Jos suspended examinations due to start on Monday.

“People were here in the evening and unfortunately, wicked terrorists came and attacked our ​people. We have ​counted scores ⁠of people who are now dead and then so many others are also in the hospital receiving ​treatment,” Paul Mancha, a resident and chairperson of the ​youth ⁠council in Plateau, said earlier.

U.S. President Donald Trump last November re-designated Nigeria "a country of particular concern" saying Christians were being targeted and authorities ⁠were failing ​to protect them, which the Nigerian ​government denies.

Reuters

Press groups condemn Nigeria police beating journalist covering Eid celebrations

Press rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Media Rights Organization (MRA), and International Press Centre, on Friday condemned the March 21 beating of Nigerian journalist Muhammad Sani Adamu in Bauchi state by local police.

The CPJ called for authorities to transparently conduct investigations and hold those responsible to account. The CJID described the incident as a gross violation of human rights and press freedom, emphasizing the importance of media protections and calling the press a “constitutionally recognized pillar of democracy” that requires a safe environment to function properly. The CJID also pressured Nigerian police to cover Adamu’s medical expenses.

The MRA told the Bauchi state police commissioner that he must act decisively to end attacks against journalists, including instituting appropriate training for police officers on the rights and constitutional duties of journalists, issuing operational directives on engagement with media, and enforcing disciplinary consequences for violations.

Organizations collectively called for greater accountability for police abuses and protection for journalists. The CPJ said that attacks against journalists in Nigeria occur “with general impunity.” WikkiTimes Media Foundation, a local media group, said the violence was “not an isolated incident” and worried that it reflected a “recurring pattern of police violence against journalists.” The CPJ has previously condemned other attacks against journalists in Bauchi state, including 14 attacks against journalists covering Nigerian presidential and federal elections in February 2023 and criminal charges levied against two journalists in July 2022 for political reporting.

Adamu had attempted to gain access to Eid Durbar festivities held in Tafawa Balewa Square in Bununu, in northeastern Nigeria. He told press groups that he tried to show his press badge to police and identify himself as a journalist. The situation quickly escalated as two officers began to physically assail him. A group of at least 10 policemen then reportedly joined to flog him with sticks, cutting his head open.

A police spokesperson said Bauchi police planned to conduct an investigation into the incident and publicly release findings.

The attack reflects a pattern of reported state abuse of Nigerian journalists, including arbitrary detention and criminalization of reporting. The MRA had filed a lawsuit that resulted in a February 2024 federal high court judgment ordering authorities to investigate and appropriately punish all attacks by journalists. The court held that the state had violated Principle 20 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information in Africa, which protects the safety of journalists.

By Tony Xun, Jurist News

146 deaths recorded, 38 health workers infected as Lassa fever spreads in Nigeria

Nigeria has reported 146 deaths from Lassa fever between January and mid-March, as infections continue to spread across the country.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) disclosed this in its latest situation report for Epidemiological week 11, spanning 9 to 15 March.

The infectious disease agency said 38 health workers have also been infected so far this year, highlighting ongoing risks within healthcare settings.

The report shows that the case fatality rate (CFR) stands at 25.1 per cent, significantly higher than the 18.7 per cent recorded during the same period in 2025.

During the reporting week, confirmed cases rose from 40 in week 10 to 66, with new infections recorded in Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Plateau, Edo, Benue, Kogi, Gombe and Niger states.

Cumulatively, 21 states and 82 local government areas have recorded at least one confirmed case in 2026.

According to the NCDC, five states —Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, and Edo—account for 85 per cent of all confirmed cases.

Bauchi leads with 28 per cent of infections, followed by Ondo (21 per cent), Taraba (20 per cent), while Benue and Edo each account for eight per cent. The remaining 15 per cent of cases are distributed across 16 other states.

More details

NCDC noted that young adults aged 21 to 30 years remain the most affected group, although cases have been recorded across a wide age range, from 1 to 90 years.

Despite the rise in weekly cases, the NCDC said no new infections among health workers were recorded in week 11.

However, the cumulative figure of 38 infections among frontline workers highlights the persistent gaps in infection prevention and control measures.

Infections among health workers have consistently been attributed to inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE), low suspicion for Lassa fever during early patient contact, and weak infection control practices in some facilities.

Contributing factors

The report also indicates that while the number of suspected and confirmed cases is lower compared to the same period in 2025, the proportion of deaths remains high, suggesting continued challenges with late presentation and case management.

To strengthen response efforts, the NCDC said the national multi-partner, multi-sectoral Incident Management System has been activated to coordinate interventions across affected states.

However, several challenges continue to hinder effective control of the outbreak. These include poor health-seeking behaviour driven by the high cost of treatment, low awareness in high-burden communities, and poor environmental sanitation, which contributes to the spread of the virus.

The agency urged state governments to intensify community engagement and prevention efforts year-round, particularly in high-risk areas.

It also advised healthcare workers to maintain a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever, ensure early diagnosis and referral, and strictly adhere to infection prevention and control protocols.

About Lassa Fever

Lassa fever is a viral haemorrhagic disease transmitted primarily through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine or faeces of infected rodents.

Human-to-human transmission can also occur through contact with bodily fluids.

Symptoms typically begin with fever, weakness and headache but can progress to severe complications, including bleeding, respiratory distress and organ failure if not treated early.

By Mariam Ileyemi, Premium Times

Giant oil refinery in Nigeria fails to prevent record gasoline prices

Fuel prices in oil-producing Nigeria have reached record-high levels, industry figures show, as maximum output from the giant Dangote Petroleum Refinery has failed to shield ​the country from the energy market impact of war in the Middle East.

The 650,000 barrels-per-day refinery, Africa's largest, became fully operational early this year. It was designed to ‌transform Nigeria into a major exporter of refined products after decades of inadequate refinery capacity. In the past, that repeatedly led to fuel shortages but government subsidies kept pump prices low.

President Bola Tinubu removed this buffer when he took office in 2023, promising reforms that earned plaudits from international investors.

Now Nigerians face the shock of a 65% price spike - the largest among major African economies as the impact of the new refinery has been blunted by the need to import ​large volumes of expensive crude from abroad, even though Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer.

INTERNATIONAL OIL MAJORS TAKE THEIR SHARE

The constraint stems from Nigeria’s financing model: state oil firm the ​Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s joint‑venture crude is tied to oil-backed loans and pre‑export deals.

That means much of Nigeria's roughly 1.5 million barrels-per-day of production goes ⁠to paying debts to international oil majors, banks and traders. The NNPC does not disclose its obligations, but analysts estimate they amount to about 400,000 bpd.

David Bird, managing director at Dangote, told local ​TV that the company can only source about five crude cargoes a month locally, far short of the 13–15 required. It has to import the rest at prices dictated by the impact of the Middle ​Eastern war. For Nigeria the size of a cargo is typically around a million barrels.

The difficulty is compounded because Nigeria does not have a strategic fuel reserve and the government has yet to begin action to set one up.

"A strategic reserve would have shielded Nigeria somewhat from the inflationary effects of price spikes and keep refineries supplied during prolonged disruptions," Mikolaj Judson, an analyst at advisory company Control Risks, said.

IRAN WAR CAUSES UNPRECEDENTED SUPPLY DISRUPTION

The energy supply disruptions ​that have followed U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, which began at the end of February, are unprecedented. As a result of the conflict, shipment through the Strait of Hormuz, a route for about one-fifth of ​global energy supplies, is effectively closed for commercial shipping.

International oil prices have leapt to well above $100 a barrel, roughly 50% higher than before the war began, boosting the profits of many energy majors, while governments and ordinary ‌consumers grapple with ⁠the risk of a surge in inflation.

In Nigeria, pump prices have risen by 65%, more than elsewhere in the region, where government price controls have limited the rise.

Between March 2 and March 21, fuel prices rose by about 10–17% in Ghana, were unchanged in Kenya due to price controls, and increased by around 1% in South Africa, according to industry and regulatory pricing data.

INFLATION IS REIGNITED AFTER IT HAD BEGUN TO COOL

In Nigeria, inflation had begun to ease after reaching a record high last year, but since the start of the war, the cost of transport and some food items has doubled.

“We are already feeling it ​in Nigeria,” said Salau Sodiq, a 25‑year‑old frozen-food-seller ​in Lagos. "The prices of fish and chicken have ⁠doubled, customers are complaining, sales are falling, and it’s becoming harder for us to buy the volumes we need."

Ride‑hailing drivers in Lagos last week staged protests.

Nigeria's unreliable grid means many others are also exposed to expensive refined products as businesses and households rely on gasoline and diesel to power generators.

INCREASED VOLUMES DOMESTICALLY ​AND ALSO ABROAD

Dangote has raised gasoline supplies to Nigeria’s domestic market this month, even as it met growing demand from across Africa.

It sets its fuel ​prices in line with international ⁠fuel and crude benchmarks, factoring in freight and insurance costs.

The result was it raised its wholesale price by about 61% between early and late March, meaning customers are paying around 1,400 naira ($1.02) per litre in Lagos and Abuja, the highest Nigerians have ever paid.

After meeting Tinubu last week, Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Group, said the conflict in the Middle East would worsen economic hardship across Africa unless it was urgently resolved.

Businesses and ⁠labour unions have ​called on the government for emergency relief, including tax incentives for refiners, more naira‑based crude supply and temporary cushioning measures, ​while accelerating longer‑term energy reforms.

In southern Oyo State, the governor approved a 10,000‑naira transportation allowance for state government workers, to run for three months from April, to help offset rising fuel prices.

But Wale Edun, Nigeria's finance minister, said the government will not ​interfere with an "orderly market pricing system", preferring instead to focus on ways of helping people to adapt.
($1 = 1,377.8300 naira)

By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters

Gunmen kill at least 20 in nighttime attack in Nigeria

A night attack on a community in Nigeria ’s north-central region left at least 20 people dead, residents and authorities said.

The attack occurred on Sunday night in Gari Ya Waye community in the Jos North area of Plateau state, Joyce Lohya Ramnap, the state commissioner for information, said in a statement. She did not give the number of casualties, but said there was “loss of lives” and injured.

The state government imposed a 48-hour curfew to prevent further attacks, Ramnap said.

No group has claimed responsibility but residents told The Associated Press that many gunmen on bikes shot sporadically into the community.

Ibukun Falodun, a resident, said that 20 people were confirmed dead.

Attacks in Plateau State are part of a long-running cycle of violence in north-central Nigeria, where disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities frequently escalate into deadly clashes. Criminal gangs are also active.

AP

Semiconductor shortages reshape tech use in Nigeria

Global demand for AI is straining semiconductor supplies, driving up prices for smartphones, laptops, and smart devices. In Nigeria, this is already altering how people buy and use mobile technology.

CGTN Africa

Middle East war drives more buyers to seek Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas exports

Nigeria is experiencing rising demand for its liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargoes as disruptions from the Middle East conflict create new commercial opportunities for the West African producer.

Buyers are increasingly turning to Nigeria due to its proximity to major consuming markets and the scale of its gas reserves, according to NNPC Executive Vice President Olalekan Ogunleye.

Nigeria LNG (NLNG), in which NNPC is the largest shareholder, has an export capacity of up to 22 million metric tons per year and is currently building a seventh production train expected to be completed in 2027, Reuters reported.

“We are right in the middle of the market. We are 10 sailing days from Europe, close to the Atlantic Basin and close to Asia,” Ogunleye said. “We see commercial opportunities, especially given that we have the largest gas reserves in Africa.”

Ogunleye noted that global demand for natural gas remains resilient and is unlikely to be derailed by ongoing geopolitical tensions.

He added that NNPC has begun discussions on adding two new LNG trains and is also advancing a 12 million metric tons per annum (mtpa) LNG project, alongside gas-based industrial hubs, to unlock more than 200 trillion cubic feet of reserves in Nigeria.

Global Shift Drives Interest in African Gas

Martin Houston, an LNG developer and consultant, said the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran has intensified the need for buyers to diversify supply sources.

He noted that countries in Africa and South America with proven gas reserves but limited market access could benefit from the growing interest in new LNG supply, including floating LNG solutions.

This trend is already playing out across Africa. Business Insider Africa earlier reported that Italy is seeking to increase gas imports from Algeria—Africa’s largest gas producer and exporter—after both countries agreed to deepen energy cooperation.

Spain is also considering boosting pipeline imports from Algeria as it looks to shore up supplies amid rising prices driven by the war in the Middle East.

By Adekunle Agbetiloye, Business Insider Africa

Nigeria eases FX rules, lets oil firms retain full export proceeds

Nigeria's central bank has removed a requirement that forced international oil companies to temporarily retain part of their export earnings, allowing them ​to repatriate all proceeds in a move aimed at improving liquidity and ‌confidence in the foreign exchange market.

In a circular dated March 25, the central bank said it had scrapped earlier "cash pooling" requirements that allowed authorised dealer banks to transfer only half of ​oil export proceeds immediately, with the balance held for up to 90 ​days.

Under the new directive, oil companies may repatriate all export earnings ⁠through authorised banks, subject to documentation and monthly reporting, with immediate effect.

The move ​signals further liberalisation of Nigeria’s foreign exchange regime for oil exporters, a key source ​of dollar inflows, though it is unlikely to produce an immediate jump in supply.

The central bank said the move was part of ongoing reforms to “further liberalise and deepen the market in ​line with current market realities,” as it works to stabilise the naira currency ​and attract investment.

For international oil companies, the reform restores greater control over cash-flow management, allowing firms ‌to ⁠decide when and how to deploy export earnings without mandatory holding periods.

Industry executives say freer access to dollar revenues improves treasury efficiency and marginally lowers financial risk in Nigeria’s upstream sector, where confidence over capital mobility remains key.

The change reverses a restriction ​imposed in February 2024 ​amid acute dollar ⁠shortages that pushed the naira to record lows. At that time, the central bank capped immediate transfers of oil export proceeds ​at 50%, with the remainder held locally for 90 days ​in a ⁠bid to shore up dollar liquidity.

That earlier measure formed part of a broader package of reforms following years of foreign exchange strain linked to low oil prices and ⁠the ​COVID-19 shock.

Since then, the central bank has also raised ​open-market rates to attract investors and scrapped caps on foreign-exchange spreads in the interbank market as it ​unwinds controls introduced during periods of stress.

By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters

Nigeria’s TB fight highlights urgent need for early diagnosis

On World Tuberculosis Day, Nigeria faces one of the highest TB burdens globally, with an estimated 510,000 new cases each year. Children are especially vulnerable, often showing symptoms similar to common respiratory infections, making early diagnosis critical. Families like Aisha Peter highlight the human impact behind the statistics, showing that timely treatment can save lives.

CGTN Africa

Dangote Refinery Boosts Africa Fuel Supply Amid Global Disruptions

Nigeria’s Dangote Refinery is emerging as a key supplier across Africa, ramping up fuel exports just as global energy flows face disruption due to the Iran war. With the plant now running at full capacity, shipments have begun reaching multiple countries, including South Africa, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana. The move is helping ease regional fuel shortages and highlights Africa’s growing role in stabilising energy supply chains.

WION

Nigeria rolls out locally made armoured carriers as army ramps up defence capabilities

 

The Nigerian Army has taken delivery of a new batch of armoured personnel carriers, combining locally manufactured platforms with foreign-supplied vehicles, in a move that underscores the country’s growing ambitions in defence production and its continued reliance on international partnerships.

More than half a dozen Vanquisher light armoured personnel carriers, produced by the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria in collaboration with Vanquish Industries Limited, were delivered alongside dozens of Dagger APCs from French defence firm Arquus.

According to Defence Web, a total of 15 Vanquisher vehicles were formally handed over on March 4, marking what military officials described as a key milestone in Nigeria’s drive toward self-reliance in military hardware.

Built on a modified Toyota Land Cruiser platform and equipped with mounted weapon systems, the vehicles are tailored for Nigeria’s operational terrain, particularly in counter-insurgency missions.

Speaking at the handover, Major General Bamidele Alabi, Chief of Policy and Plans (Army), emphasized that indigenous defence innovation remains critical to achieving combat readiness and operational superiority.

He noted that locally developed platforms such as the Vanquisher are designed to address Nigeria’s unique security challenges while strengthening rapid response capabilities.

Nigeria’s investment in domestic defence manufacturing comes at a time when the country is battling persistent security threats, including insurgency in the northeast and banditry in other regions.

By expanding local production capacity, authorities aim to reduce reliance on imports, cut costs, and retain capital within the economy.

At the same time, the acquisition of Dagger APCs from France highlights Abuja’s pragmatic approach, combining homegrown innovation with international support to quickly scale its military capabilities.

The 4×4 Dagger weighs 5.5 tonnes and is designed for mobility in urban and complex environments. Powered by a 170 hp diesel engine, it can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h with a range of 800 km.

It carries two crew members and six troops, and can be fitted with either a pintle-mounted or remotely operated 7.62 mm machine gun. Over 1,200 units have been produced for countries including France, Chile, Romania, and Togo

Director-General of DICON, Major General BI Alaya, credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting the expansion of Nigeria’s military-industrial base, describing the development as central to national sovereignty and long-term security.

Analysts say Nigeria’s dual-track strategy which involves building local manufacturing while maintaining foreign defence ties, positions it as an emerging player in Africa’s defence industry.

If sustained, this approach could not only strengthen national security but also open opportunities for Nigeria to supply military hardware to other African nations facing similar threats.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

Demand surges in Nigeria for new HIV prevention injection ahead of rollout

Interest is rising across Nigeria in a new long-acting HIV prevention injection, even before its full nationwide rollout.

Health workers and community organisations say people are actively seeking access to Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable drug designed to prevent HIV infection. The treatment, developed by Gilead Sciences and endorsed by the World Health Organisation in 2025, offers an alternative to daily preventive pills.

Nigeria’s government has begun introducing the drug in selected pilot states, with an official launch expected this week. Authorities say more than 11,000 doses have already been delivered, out of a planned 52,000.

The rollout will initially cover several states, including Lagos, Kano and Benue, as well as the federal capital, Abuja. The injection will be administered free of charge at designated public health facilities, not through private pharmacies.

High demand-and confusion

Civil society groups and frontline health workers report strong demand, particularly among people at higher risk of HIV exposure, including couples where one partner is HIV-positive.

However, some organisations say there is widespread misunderstanding about the drug. Many people believe it can cure HIV, when in fact it is only designed to prevent infection in those who are HIV-negative.

“People are asking for it even before it becomes widely available, but some think it’s a treatment rather than prevention,” one health worker said.

Nigeria has one of the largest HIV burdens globally, with around two million people living with the virus, according to recent estimates.

Caution from experts

Medical professionals have welcomed the innovation but stress the need for careful rollout. Pharmacists and regulators say the drug must undergo strict safety and quality checks before broader distribution.

Authorities have also issued guidance on its use, noting that it is currently approved only for non-pregnant individuals.

Despite these concerns, public health advocates say early adoption could help reduce new infections, especially among high-risk groups, if awareness improves and access expands nationwide.

Africa News

Related story: US withdrawal from WHO puts strain on Nigeria’s health budget

Blackouts drive more Nigerians off-grid as solar demand booms

When the lights went out for the third time in a week at his Lagos textile factory, Emeka Okafor did not wait for the utility company to restore power. He called a solar installer instead.

“Diesel was eating us alive. The grid gives us maybe five hours a day if we’re lucky,” said Okafor, whose factory now runs almost entirely on a rooftop solar array paired with battery storage. “We haven’t looked back.”

His story is being replicated across Nigeria at a scale that is fundamentally redrawing the country’s energy map. Nigeria installed 803 megawatts of new solar capacity in 2025, a year-on-year surge of 141 percent, making it Africa’s second-largest solar market.

The driving force is not government ambition or climate policy; it is the chronic, grinding failure of the national grid.

Over the past decade, Nigeria’s power grid has suffered nearly 140 recorded malfunctions, with some areas receiving reliable electricity for only five to six hours per day. In the first two months of 2026 alone, the national grid collapsed twice. For households and businesses running Africa’s largest economy, patience has finally run out.

Off-grid installations, private mini-grids, solar home systems, and commercial rooftop arrays, account for roughly 1.15 gigawatts, or about 96 percent of Nigeria’s total installed solar capacity.

The Nigeria renewable energy and solar off-grid market is now valued at approximately $2.5 billion, driven by persistent grid unreliability, declining costs of solar and storage technologies, and surging private sector investment.

Key urban centers are leading the charge. Lagos, as the country’s commercial hub, has seen a surge in distributed solar installations, while Abuja’s policy environment and government-backed programs have fostered investment in renewable energy.

Battery storage is scaling even faster than the panels themselves. Installed battery capacity increased from around 10 megawatt-hours to 40.6 megawatt-hours in a single year, a rise of about 305 percent. Analysts note that those figures are likely understated because most projects are behind the meter and go untracked in official data.
Economics Tipping Against Diesel

The financial calculus has shifted decisively. Commercial and industrial users who adopt on-site renewables are achieving savings of 20 to 30 percent compared to diesel self-generation. With diesel costs running above $0.30 per kilowatt-hour, manufacturers in Lagos, Kano, and Port Harcourt are locking in 20-year power purchase agreements at fixed tariffs well below that threshold.

Nigeria’s extensive solar resource, delivering 4.5 to 6.5 kilowatt-hours per square meter per day, produces capacity factors 40 to 60 percent higher than those of many European sites, amplifying the economic case. Global module price declines have further compressed costs, bringing grid-parity economics to Nigeria’s sun-rich northern states.

Pay-as-you-go financing models are extending solar access to smaller firms and households, with payback periods now as short as three to five years.

Legislation is beginning to align with market realities. The 2023 Electricity Act decentralises market oversight and allows states to define their own feed-in tariffs tailored to local conditions, while seven-year tax holidays tilt project economics further in favor of renewables.

Nigeria’s renewable energy market is projected to grow from 3.13 gigawatts in 2024 to 5.01 gigawatts by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of nearly 10 percent. More bullish forecasts place total installed capacity at 14.07 gigawatts by 2031, implying a compounded annual growth rate of more than 25 percent.

Nigeria already accounts for nearly 80 percent of West Africa’s solar additions. Under base-case projections, the wider region could add a cumulative 4.9 gigawatts between 2026 and 2029, cementing West Africa’s emergence as a major frontier solar market.

The rush off-grid carries a paradox. As wealthier households and businesses defect, the utility base that might fund grid repairs shrinks further, accelerating the very cycle of decline that drove them away in the first place.

The Nigerian government has announced an annual investment of $600 million in electricity subsidies between 2025 and 2027, aimed at bridging the gap between cost-reflective prices and regulated tariffs. Whether that is enough to reverse decades of underinvestment remains deeply uncertain.

By Oladehinde Oladipo, Business Day 

Related story: Gas-rich Nigeria faces blackouts amid five-year high flaring

Gas Leaks Trigger Health Emergency in Bille Nigeria

Thousands of residents in Bille, a fishing community in Rivers State in Nigeria’s Niger Delta, are facing a serious health emergency. Since October 2025, methane gas has been bubbling up in nearby rivers, swamps, and drinking wells. As a result, the contamination threatens both water sources and public health.

In December 2025, the Nigerian government stated that it had conducted an investigation. However, authorities have not shared the findings with the community and have not taken action to stop the leaks.

Nigerian authorities must urgently complete a transparent investigation, stop the gas leaks, and take immediate steps to protect residents from further harm.

Gas leaks spread across Bille community

Residents first reported the gas leaks in October 2025, when fishermen noticed bubbling water and a strong sulphurous smell in nearby swamps and rivers. Within a week, more residents reported similar leaks at multiple locations, including inside the town. The leaks continue to this day.

As a result, many people believe their drinking water has been contaminated. Several residents have reported illness. In addition, some children became sick and started vomiting, forcing a school to relocate them for safety.

Lack of action and transparency

In December 2025, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency carried out air quality tests at several sites. At one location, methane levels were recorded at 10,000 times higher than normal background levels. However, authorities have not published the full findings.

Despite the severity of the situation, the government has not taken effective steps to stop the leaks or protect public health. This lack of transparency and action continues to put residents at risk.

Environmental damage and government responsibility

Communities in the Niger Delta, including Bille, have long lived with pollution from oil operations. In many cases, oil companies have failed to properly clean up contaminated land. As a result, residents continue to face serious risks to their health and environment.

The Nigerian government has a duty to protect people from these harms, including those linked to private actors such as oil companies. Previous research has raised concerns about the condition of oil infrastructure and its impact on human rights, including the right to health and a safe environment.

Amnesty International has supported Bille and the nearby community of Ogale for more than a decade. Both communities have faced widespread environmental damage from oil spills, which destroyed livelihoods and left thousands without access to clean water. Their legal case against Shell is ongoing, with a trial expected in 2027.

At the same time, methane leaks contribute significantly to global warming. Therefore, the Nigerian government should also take steps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet its international climate obligations.

Amnesty International

Northern Nigeria on edge following series of attacks

A renewed wave of attacks in northern Nigeria, including suspected suicide bombings targeting crowded public places, has heightened tensions. At least 20 people have been killed and more than 100 others injured by militia in Borno State. The violence has also raised fresh security concerns ahead of Nigeria’s next general elections, with analysts warning it could depress voter turnout in the northeast, where displacement and fear remain widespread.

CGTN Africa

Galatasaray's Osimhen to buy Istanbulspor and build Nigeria-Türkiye talent pipeline

 

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen is reportedly planning to purchase Istanbulspor, one of Türkiye's historically established football clubs, in a move that signals the Nigerian forward's ambitions well beyond the pitch.

According to a report by Afrik-Foot, Osimhen's goal is not simply club ownership. The 26-year-old wants to establish what has been described as a "football bridge" between Nigeria and Türkiye, creating a structured pathway for young African talent to develop and eventually reach European football.


A pipeline from Lagos to Istanbul

Under the reported plan, Osimhen intends to open a football academy branch in Nigeria dedicated to scouting and developing young players from grassroots levels. Those players would then be funneled through Istanbulspor, using the Turkish club as a launchpad for eventual transfers into the broader European market.

The system Osimhen envisions would see young Nigerian footballers develop and gain experience before moving to Europe through Istanbulspor, effectively turning the club into a development hub with direct ties to West African talent.


Why Istanbulspor

Istanbulspor, founded in 1926, is one of Istanbul's oldest football institutions. The club has experienced significant fluctuations in its fortunes over the decades, competing at various levels of Turkish football. Its status as a historic but lower-profile club could make it an attractive acquisition for an investor looking to reshape a team's identity and sporting model without the financial burden associated with Türkiye's top-tier clubs.

The concept of active players investing in club ownership, while still uncommon, has gained traction in recent years across global football, as high-earning athletes increasingly look to leverage their wealth and industry knowledge into long-term business ventures within the sport.


Osimhen's prolific season continues

The reported acquisition plan comes during one of the most productive stretches of Osimhen's career. The Nigerian international has appeared in 29 matches across all competitions for Galatasaray in the 2025-26 season, scoring 19 goals and providing 7 assists.

Osimhen originally rose to prominence in European football through spells in Belgium, Germany, France, and most notably Italy, where he became one of Serie A's most feared strikers during his time at Napoli. His move to Türkiye has done nothing to diminish his output, and his off-pitch ventures suggest he is already thinking about life after playing.

Türkiye Today

US drones deployed to Nigeria alongside troops for intelligence, training

The U.S. military has multiple MQ-9 drones operating in Nigeria alongside 200 troops to provide training and intelligence support to the military, which is fighting Islamist militants across the north, U.S. and Nigerian officials told Reuters.

The troops are not integrated within Nigerian units on the frontline and the drones are collecting intelligence and not carrying out airstrikes, officials from the two countries said.

However, the U.S. deployment, which follows U.S. airstrikes targeting militants in northwest Nigeria in late 2025, shows the U.S. getting back involved in tackling Islamic State and al Qaeda-linked insurgencies that are spreading across West Africa.

The U.S. military previously had a $100 million drone base in neighbouring Niger with about 1,000 troops monitoring militants across the Sahel region, but that was closed in 2024 after the Niger junta requested their departure, part of a broader rejection of western military support by countries in the Sahel region.

An assault by suicide bombers on a northeastern Nigerian garrison town this week showed how a 17-year insurgency there can still strike urban centres.

Meanwhile, militants have stepped up their attacks in the northwest, near the border with Benin and Niger, where a long-running banditry crisis risks mutating into another operating zone for Islamists.

A U.S. defence official said the drones had been deployed alongside troops at the request of the Nigerians to collect intelligence. “We see this as a shared security threat,” the official said.

Major General Samaila Uba, director of defence information at Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, confirmed that the U.S. was operating assets from Bauchi airfield in the northeast.

“This support builds on the newly established U.S.-Nigeria intelligence fusion cell, which continues to deliver actionable intelligence to our field commanders,” he told Reuters. “Our U.S. partners remain in a strictly non-combat role, enabling operations led by Nigerian authorities.”


‘IDENTIFY, TRACK AND RESPOND’

Uba said the timeline for the U.S. deployment in Nigeria would be determined in agreement by both sides.

MQ-9 drones, which are sometimes known as Reaper drones and can loiter at high altitude for more than 27 hours, can be used for both intelligence gathering and airstrikes.

Neither Uba nor the U.S. official would comment on specific cases where U.S. intelligence had led to the Nigerians targeting militants, but Uba said that U.S. forces were helping Nigeria “identify, track and respond to terrorist threats”.

Late last year, Reuters reported that aircraft based in Ghana had been conducting intelligence gathering flights for the U.S. military over Nigeria.

MILITANTS REMAIN A PERSISTENT THREAT

The United States – which has had a long partnership with Nigeria’s military, providing training and selling weapons – said it carried out airstrikes in the northwest on Christmas Day to stop the targeting of Christians in the region.

Nigeria’s government and experts on the conflict have rejected claims of a concerted anti-Christian campaign, saying it oversimplifies a complex crisis.

It was not immediately clear who carried out the March 16 attack on the garrison town.

Uba said it was still being investigated, adding that both Boko Haram militants and ISWAP, an Islamic State-allied faction, remain a persistent threat, adapting their tactics over time.

“We continue to assess that these organisations will seek opportunistic targets and may attempt to demonstrate relevance through high-visibility attacks,” he said.

By David Lewis, Reuters

Nigeria says it has pulled in $2.6 billion into mining as it seeks US backing to make Africa a global critical minerals hub

Nigeria has attracted more than $2.6 billion in foreign direct investment into its mining sector over the past two years, as the government steps up reforms and seeks to position the country as a key player in the global supply chain for critical minerals.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, disclosed this during a panel session at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington, D.C., where policymakers and investors discussed Africa’s role in meeting rising global demand for minerals used in electric vehicles, batteries and renewable energy technologies.

Speaking on the panel titled “Critical Minerals in Africa: Meeting Global Demand,” Alake said recent reforms in Nigeria’s mining sector, including digitised licensing, improved regulation and tighter security, had helped restore investor confidence and attract new capital.

He said the government has also moved to tackle illegal mining through a special enforcement unit known as the Mining Marshals, which has arrested more than 350 suspects in the past year, with over 150 cases already in court.

“We have successfully de-risked and sanitised the mining environment, making it conducive to foreign direct investment,” Alake said.

Push for regional energy and mining corridors

Beyond domestic reforms, Nigeria is pushing for broader African cooperation to strengthen the continent’s role in global mineral supply chains.

Alake urged the United States and African governments to support the development of regional energy hubs and industrial corridors to power cross-border mining operations and local processing.

He pointed to existing infrastructure initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor as models that could be replicated across the continent.

Similar corridors, he said, could be developed along the Lagos–Abidjan Corridor in West Africa and the Walvis Bay Corridor in Southern Africa to support mining, manufacturing and regional trade.

According to him, shared energy infrastructure, including large-scale power projects, could support multiple countries within a corridor, reducing costs and encouraging local mineral processing rather than exporting raw materials.

“If three to five such corridors are developed in Africa, we would significantly advance industrialisation across the continent, creating a win-win outcome for both Africa and the West,” he said.

Reforms aimed at diversifying Nigeria’s economy

Nigeria has long relied on oil for government revenue, but the sector’s volatility and declining production have pushed authorities to accelerate efforts to diversify the economy.

Mining, which contributes less than one per cent to GDP, has been identified as a priority sector due to Nigeria’s deposits of lithium, gold, tin and other critical minerals.

Alake said reforms introduced over the past two and a half years now guarantee secure tenure for mining licences, a key demand from investors who require long-term stability before committing capital to exploration and processing projects.

To further attract investment, the government is offering tax waivers on imported mining equipment, allowing full repatriation of profits after taxes and royalties, and expanding access to certified geological data to reduce exploration risk.

U.S. lenders signal interest, but warn on stability

At the same event, Sarah Whitten of the Export-Import Bank of the United States said American financial institutions are willing to support mining projects in Africa, particularly those linked to the energy transition, but stressed that political stability and consistent policies remain critical.

“American banks are ready to support projects, but our role is to catalyse and unlock private sector capital,” she said.

The discussion also included government officials and executives from mining investment firms and technology companies, reflecting growing international competition for access to Africa’s mineral resources as countries race to secure materials needed for clean-energy technologies.

By Ayodeji Adegboyega, Business Insider Africa

Related story: Poverty forces Nigerian families into backyard mining

Alleged ‘Fake Prince’ Arrested in Nigeria as Another Apparent Victim of the Romance Scam Comes Forward

Within a week of the release of an OCCRP documentary exposing an online fraud operation, Nigerian authorities arrested a man allegedly involved in the scheme, while another apparent victim of the same scam came forward in Romania.

In last month's documentary, Exposed: Fake ‘Dubai Prince’ Tracked to Nigeria, reporters identified Nzube Henry Ikeji, 31, who was afterwards taken into custody. Charges have not been filed, a spokesman for Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crime Commission told OCCRP.

Ikeji’s arrest came nearly a week after the video revealed how he allegedly posed as the real-life Crown Prince of Dubai, cultivating a romance that defrauded $2.5 million from Laura, a Romanian businesswoman.

A second apparent victim of the scam came forward to OCCRP's Romanian member center Context.ro after watching the documentary. Ana, who is also Romanian, presented Context.ro with documents indicating she was targeted by the same operation that left Laura in debt.

Both women were first contacted on LinkedIn by someone posing as the Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and claiming to represent a humanitarian foundation affiliated with the royal family of the United Arab Emirates.

Communications provided by the women show that Ana first heard from the fake prince in October 2022, while he reached out to Laura a month later. Both were offered and accepted “an official vip humanitarian membership permit” for the sum of 7,748 UAE dirhams, which was paid out as 1,850 euros ($2,112).

It is common for romance scammers to impersonate the Crown Prince of Dubai in a variation of the classic romance scam, which involves an impersonator cultivating an online relationship with a victim with the goal of milking them for as much money as possible before they realize they’ve been swindled.

In the case of both Laura and Ana, identical email addresses with similar messages and fake royal membership cards were used, indicating they were victims of the same group of scammers. Laura is a first name and Ana is pseudonym, as both victims wish to remain anonymous out of embarrassment.

Ikeji could not be reached for comment on the latest allegations involving Ana. An email bounced back undelivered, while his previous lawyers did not respond to a request for comment. Message to his WhatsApp did not deliver. He previously told reporters that he did not scam Laura or anyone else, and alleged that OCCRP’s documentary was a “targeted plan” to destroy his reputation.

The woman whom Context.ro identifies as Ana said she was invited by the fake prince to apply for a job at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the humanitarian foundation launched by the actual crown prince’s father and ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Laura, meanwhile, was asked by a fake prince to help MBRGI invest millions of dollars in humanitarian aid in Romania.

Neither of the opportunities were real. After they paid 1,850 euros for “official vip humanitarian membership permit” cards, both received messages saying their cards had been granted, but required another payment to be activated. Ana paid another 10,550 euros ($12,045), while Laura paid 12,550 euros ($14,328).

A fake prince had earlier steered their communications to Skype and later to WhatsApp, where he cultivated romances with them.

He told Ana that he wanted to visit her in Romania, but it would require Ana transferring 42,000 euros ($47,951). When Ana refused to send more money that she did not have, the fake prince texted her: “Now you’ve lost me and the 13,000 euros you have paid.”

While Ana stopped at that point, Laura continued deeper into the scam, exchanging thousands of messages over two years with the fake prince and even meeting his “financial manager” in London to facilitate opening a bank account.

By Marionela Toma, OCCRP

Related stories: Nigerian extradited to US for sextortion, death of an American

Nigerian man handed 76-year sentence in sextortion of B.C. boy

Nigeria’s president meets King Charles during historic UK visit

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu was welcomed by King Charles at Windsor Castle during a historic visit, the first by a Nigerian leader in nearly four decades. Tinubu is expected to sign agreements on trade, investment and defence with the UK, as citizens hope the visit will help address economic reforms and security challenges at home.

CGTN Africa

Nigerian army says 80 militants killed

Nigerian soldiers killed at least 80 suspected militants near a military base in the northeastern Borno state, the country's army said on Wednesday.

Backed by air support, the Nigerian military said it repelled a coordinated overnight assault by insurgents of an unclear affiliation near the Niger border.
Attack comes on heels of suicide bombings

Wednesday's attack follows escalating jihadi violence in the conflict-battered state by Boko Haram and its rival offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province. Earlier this week, three suspected suicide bombings killed at least 23 people and wounded more than 100 others in Borno's capital, Maiduguri.

While no group claimed responsibility for the bombings in the city of around 1.2 million people, officials' suspicion fell on Boko Haram. The jihadi group launched an insurgency 17 years ago in northeastern Nigeria with a radical interpretation of Sharia law.

On Wednesday, Nigerian army spokesman Sani Uba described the military's attack as an "offensive-defensive" ​response.

Authorities added that "no fewer than 80 terrorists" were killed, including "high-profile" commanders.

International media have not been able to independently verify these claims.

Since its insurgency in 2009, Boko Haram has killed more than 40,000 and displaced around 2 million people, according to figures by the United Nations.

By Sean Sinico, DW

Nigeria records one of highest global fuel price increases as Iran conflict disrupts oil markets

Nigeria has emerged as one of the hardest-hit countries in the global fuel price rally triggered by the ongoing tensions involving the United States, Iran, and Israel, despite being one of Africa’s largest oil producers and home to the continent’s biggest refinery.

Data from Investorsight shows that gasoline prices in Nigeria have risen by 39.5%, placing it second globally just behind Vietnam, highlighting deep structural challenges in the country’s downstream oil sector.

Oil remains the world’s most critical energy resource, powering roughly 70% of global demand and underpinning industries from transportation to agriculture.

As geopolitical tensions disrupt supply chains and threaten key shipping routes, the resulting price shocks are being felt unevenly across countries, with import-dependent economies and those with fragile refining systems bearing the brunt.

Nigeria fuel prices surge amid global oil shock

Fuel prices in Nigeria have risen sharply since the outbreak of the Iran war, highlighting the country’s exposure to global oil shocks.

At the refinery level, Dangote Refinery increased ex-depot prices from about ₦774 to ₦874 per litre in early March, a roughly 13% jump with retail prices climbing to ₦1,075–₦1,175 per litre in some areas.

Meanwhile, NNPC Limited recorded steeper increases, with pump prices rising from ₦900–₦1,000 to ₦1,200–₦1,400 per litre across major cities reflecting a 30–40% surge.

Overall, Nigeria’s average petrol price has increased by nearly 40%, reflecting how quickly global disruptions are transmitted into the domestic market.

With fuel pricing now deregulated, both refinery and retail prices respond rapidly to shifts in crude oil prices, exchange rates, and supply risks, leaving even an oil-producing nation highly vulnerable to external shocks.

The sharp increase in Nigeria’s fuel prices reflects a paradox that has long defined its energy sector. Despite being a major crude oil exporter, the country has historically relied on imported refined petroleum products due to underperforming state-owned refineries.

Even with the operational ramp-up of the Dangote Refinery (Africa’s largest) Nigeria is still navigating a transitional phase. The refinery has yet to fully stabilize domestic supply or eliminate dependence on imports, leaving local prices exposed to global market shocks.

Additionally, the full deregulation of Nigeria’s downstream sector has linked domestic fuel prices more directly to international crude benchmarks.

This means that any geopolitical disruption such as tensions in the Middle East affecting oil transit routes like the Strait of Hormuz quickly translates into higher pump prices locally.

Currency pressures have also amplified the impact. The depreciation of the naira increases the cost of importing refined products and crude feedstock, further pushing up retail fuel prices.

In contrast, some developed economies on the list have strategic reserves, diversified energy mixes, or subsidy buffers that help cushion price volatility.

Nigeria’s high ranking, therefore, highlights not just global pressures, but persistent domestic vulnerabilities in refining, logistics, and foreign exchange stability.

By Solomon Ekanem, Business Insider Africa

UK agrees deal to ease migrant returns to Nigeria

 

The government has agreed a deal with Nigeria to make it easier to remove people with no right to be in the UK.

For the first time, the Nigerian government will recognise UK letters - an identification document issued to individuals without a valid passport - so people will no longer have to wait for emergency travel documents to be issued before they can be returned.

The agreement was struck during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu state visit to the UK.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the president's visit - the first by a leader of a west African nation in 37 years - as "historic".

On Wednesday, the King hosted a spectacular state banquet at Windsor Castle for the president and first lady, praising the strength of the ties between the two nations.

President Tinubu also met the prime minister at No 10.

A Downing Street spokesperson said the two leaders "committed to deepening their long-term partnership on trade, infrastructure and sustainable growth".

They also agreed to work more closely together on defence and security in response to transnational crime and terrorism, the spokesperson said.

The Home Office said the immigration deal would make it easier to return people who overstay their visas, foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers.

It said annual returns to Nigeria had nearly doubled to 1,150.

The two countries have also agreed to launch joint operations and share information to crack down on criminal gangs abusing visa routes.

A new standardised document-checking system will be introduced to verify the authenticity of applications.

The Home Office said it followed a series of high-profile cases involving fake job sponsorships, sham marriages and forged financial or employment records.

Meanwhile, Nigeria will review its laws to ensure the toughest possible sentences are given to immigration offenders.

Border Security and Asylum Minister Alex Norris said: "Nigeria is a key partner in our work to tackle illegal migration, as the UK's largest African visa market and home to thousands of Nigerians who have built their lives here."

A separate deal, worth £746m, will see two major ports in Lagos refurbished with the help of UK-backed loans.

UK Export Finance (UKEF), the UK government's export credit agency, has provided a guarantee to the banks loaning the funds under the condition at least 20% of the contracts are sourced from the UK.

At least £236m of supplier contracts will be directed to British firms, including £70m for British steel - the company's largest ever export backed by UKEF.

It comes as the UK sets out a new strategy to boost the domestic steel industry.

Tinubu's visit was also the first to the UK by a Muslim leader during Ramadan in almost a century.

Special adaptations were made to the state banquet, with a prayer room set aside in Windsor Castle, while the usual lunch hosted by the King did not take place as Tinubu was fasting.

On Thursday, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who is Christian, also visited Lambeth Palace, the London home of the archbishop of Canterbury.

The visit comes at a time of tension within Nigeria, with a series of suspected suicide bombings this week in the north-eastern state of Borno, in which at least 23 people were killed and 108 injured in attacks blamed on hard-line Islamist militants from the Boko Haram group.

By Becky Morton, BBC

Nigeria loses $21 million daily as oil output falls below OPEC target

Nigeria is losing an estimated $21 million daily as crude oil production remains below its 1.5 million barrels-per-day target set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Averaging 1.42–1.45 million barrels per day, the shortfall is straining the national budget and foreign exchange reserves despite crude prices above $100 per barrel.

CGTN Africa

Nigeria strengthens security after Maiduguri bombings

Nigeria is on high alert after suicide bombings in Maiduguri killed at least 23 people and injured more than 100 on Monday evening. Authorities have deployed additional troops, with Boko Haram insurgents suspected to have carried out the attack, though no group has claimed responsibility.

CGTN Africa

Related story: Nigeria suicide attacks kill 23, wound more than 100

Africa’s largest refinery drives $3.74 billion crude imports into Nigeria

Nigeria's oil trade dynamics shifted dramatically in 2025, with crude imports related to the Dangote Refinery reaching $3.74 billion, an unexpected event for a country famed for its crude exports.

This data was contained in the latest Balance of Payments report of the West African country’s central bank, which cited the refinery's crude oil acquisitions as a significant factor influencing the nation's current account.

Per the report, Nigeria's current account surplus was $14.04 billion in 2025.

While this represents a drop from the $19.03 billion posted in 2024, it remains a substantial improvement compared to the $6.42 billion surplus recorded in 2023.

The reduction from the previous year was attributed in part to changing oil trading patterns, particularly the importation of crude for domestic processing, linked to the world’s largest single-train refinery.

Export numbers reflect this transition, with crude oil shipments declining to $31.54 billion in 2025 from $36.85 billion in 2024, a 14 percent decrease.

Despite this dip, Nigeria's goods account improved, with a surplus of $14.51 billion, up from $13.17 billion in 2024.

This surge was primarily driven by activities related to the Dangote refinery, as well as improved performance in other export areas, as seen in the Punch.

The export of refined petroleum products was a major highlight, bringing in $5.85 billion for the year. Increased gas exports also contributed to the improving trade position.

At the same time, the refinery's operations seem to be changing Nigeria's import profile. With more locally refined fuel available, the country's reliance on imported petroleum products has decreased dramatically.

Fuel imports fell drastically to $10 billion in 2025, down from $14.06 billion the year before, an almost 29 percent decrease.

However, this development was partially offset by an increase in non-oil imports, which rose to $29.24 billion from $25.74 billion in 2024, indicating sustained demand for foreign goods.

The central bank's report further highlighted a rise in investment outflows, as Nigerians raised their holdings in both direct and portfolio investments abroad this past year.

Overall, Nigeria's balance of payments remained favorable, with a surplus of $4.23 billion in 2025. Though this sum is lower than the $6.83 billion reported in 2024, it still represents a rather stable external position.

Meanwhile, the country's external reserves expanded, reaching $45.75 billion at the end of December 2025. This marks a 13.83 percent gain year on year, aided by increased inflows and improved external buffers.

By Chinedu Okafor, Business Insider Africa

President Tinubu meets royals in UK state visit

 

The UK’s King Charles III has welcomed Nigerian President Bola Tinubu at Windsor Castle in the first state visit by the leader of Africa’s most populous nation in nearly four decades.

More than 1,000 soldiers were out in force on Wednesday for the diplomatic show of soft power by the royal family.

With trade between the two countries at a record high, Charles is using the two-day visit to highlight the pair’s deep cultural and commercial links.

Tinubu has made less formal visits to the United Kingdom several times during his tenure, and the two countries remain major partners in trade, aid and defence. London is also home to a large Nigerian diaspora of about 300,000 people.

Nigeria’s presidency said the visit signalled a “renewed chapter” and reflected a shared commitment to “advancing trade and strengthening diplomatic ties”.

Calling the visit “historic”, London announced Nigerian companies, including banks, are expanding operations and creating hundreds of jobs in the UK, strengthening it as a global hub for African business.

Nigerian flags and Union Jacks

King Charles and Queen Camilla greeted the president and his wife in Windsor, west of London, as artillery fired salutes.

Both Nigerian flags and Union Jacks fluttered amid the procession.

The Nigerian president and his wife earlier chatted with heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Catherine, at a hotel in the town.

The party then rode in carriages to the historic Windsor Castle.

Later, the king and queen showed the president and first lady items from the UK’s colonial rule of Nigeria, which existed until 1960.

Later on Wednesday evening, a lavish state banquet took place.

On Thursday, Tinubu is expected to meet British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, as well as members of the Nigerian community abroad, according to the official schedule.

Missing from the official schedule is the traditional meeting between the visiting head of state and the British opposition.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch, who is of Nigerian descent, has repeatedly publicly criticised the country she was raised in over corruption and violence.

The last Nigerian state visit to the UK took place in 1989, although Tinubu was received by Charles in September 2024.

Before the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022, Charles also visited Nigeria four times as prince of Wales.

Tinubu’s visit went ahead, despite a deadly bombing in northeastern Nigeria’s Borno State on Monday, which killed 23 people and injured more than 100, with the president condemning the attacks and insisting “Nigeria will not succumb to fear.”

By AFP and Reuters

Nigerian exporters eye China with tariffs set to drop

Nigerian exporters are shifting focus to China ahead of new tariff cuts on African goods, as global trade uncertainty lingers. Beijing is preparing to remove tariffs on selected agricultural and mineral goods imported from African economies from May 1.

CGTN Africa

Gunmen kill at least 15 in attacks on two villages in northwestern Nigeria

Gunmen killed at least 15 people on Tuesday during attacks on two villages in northwestern Nigeria, authorities said.

The villages of Falale and Kadobe — neighbouring communities in the Jibia area of Katsina State — were attacked in the early afternoon, according to Nasir Mu’azu, the state’s Commissioner for Home Affairs.

Mu’azu said local security forces had previously killed three gunmen during a firefight in the area. In retaliation, gunmen carried out a reprisal assault on Tuesday that left at least 15 people dead.

“Security forces have since restored order and stabilized the situation,” he said in a statement. “We appeal to residents to remain calm and allow security forces to complete their investigation.”

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Armed groups, known as ‘bandits’, regularly carry out raids and kidnappings for ransom in the northwest and north-central part of Nigeria.

Authorities have said the bandit groups include mostly former herders who took up arms against farming communities after clashes between them over increasingly strained resources.

Alongside attacks by bandits, Nigeria is also plagued by an insurgency fought by the Boko Haram extremist group and its splinter faction, the Islamic State West Africa Province. Both groups are mostly active in northeastern Nigeria.

On Monday, suspected suicide bombings killed at least 23 people and wounded 108 others in the northeastern city of Maiduguri.

The security crisis in Africa’s most populous country has worsened recently to include other militants from the neighbouring Sahel region, including the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which claimed its first attack on Nigerian soil last year.

Several thousand people in Nigeria have been killed, according to data from the United Nations. Analysts say not enough is being done by the government to protect its citizens.

The U.S. sent troops last month to the West African nation to help advise its military on the fight against insecurity.

By Dyepkazah Shibayan, AP

Poverty forces Nigerian families into backyard mining

Across Africa, artisanal mining supports millions of families. The sector, however, remains largely unregulated, and highly dangerous, with thousands of deaths reported across the continent annually. For many of these Nigerian miners, and increasingly their children, there are few alternatives for survival.

CGTN Africa

Related stories: Toxic gas leak at mine in Nigeria kills at least 37 miners

Nigeria opens negotiation for $5.7bn Chinese investment across power and mining

EFCC chair seeks strong whistleblower protection law amid reprisal in Nigeria

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has urged the National Assembly to enact strong legislation to protect whistleblowers and strengthen transparency in the fight against corruption amid widespread reprisal in Nigeria.

According to a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Monday, Mr Olukoyede made the call on Thursday in Calabar, Cross River State, during a nationwide sensitisation programme on the implementation of Nigeria’s whistleblowing policy.

Speaking on the theme, “Benefits of the Whistleblowing Policy in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria,” Mr Olukoyede stressed the need for a strong legal framework that would shield whistleblowers from victimisation and remove bureaucratic obstacles that delay access to financial rewards promised under the policy.

“I reiterate that we need a robust Act of the National Assembly to protect those who risk their lives to disclose corruption in this country,” he said.

The EFCC chair noted that only a few countries within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have enacted whistleblower protection laws.

“I find it depressing that in a region where deeply rooted corruption undermines development efforts, only Ghana and Senegal have enacted whistleblower protection laws,” he said.

Mr Olukoyede was represented at the event by the acting Uyo Zonal Director of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Oshodi Johnson.

Mr Johnson said the whistleblowing policy should motivate citizens to expose corruption primarily to prevent the theft of public funds rather than solely for financial rewards.

“The appeal here is that citizens should be more interested in whistleblowing that prevents the stealing of public funds rather than focusing on recovery, because once funds are looted, they may never be fully recovered,” he said.

He also urged lawmakers to domesticate provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), particularly Article 33, which provides measures for protecting individuals who report corruption.

Background

Nigeria introduced its whistleblowing policy in 2016 to encourage citizens to report corruption and financial misconduct.

Under the programme, whistleblowers are entitled to between 2.5 and 5 per cent of recovered funds. The policy recorded early success in 2017 when a tip led to the discovery of about $43 million in cash in an apartment in Lagos.

However, analysts say the programme still lacks a comprehensive legal framework to protect whistleblowers from retaliation.

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that whistleblowers in Nigeria and 13 other West African countries face severe risks, including harassment, job loss, and even death, due to the absence of comprehensive legal frameworks to shield them.

The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) Coordinator, Chido Onumah, described whistleblowers as “endangered species” across the region because of their relevance to the fight against corruption.

In the absence of legal protection, Mr Onumah said, whistleblowers face all kinds of retaliation ranging from stigmatisation and discrimination, dismissal from place of work, criminal sanctions and death in extreme cases for daring to take what is obviously a delicate conscious action.

Of the 15 member states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), only Ghana has implemented legislation to protect whistleblowers.

The rest of the countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo – either lack or have insufficient legal protection for whistleblowers.

Mr Onumah said though many of these countries have adopted the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) but their lackadaisical attitude towards having a law has brought harm to many.

“We totally agree with the ECOWAS Commission that one of the best ways of giving them cover is for member states to provide a comprehensive legal framework through the whistleblowing legislation for disclosure of information and protection against any retaliation as a result of making disclosure,” he noted.

In Nigeria, many whistleblowers frequently face job termination or harassment after revealing corruption or workplace infractions, which contributed to the urgent need for legal protection.

Also, AFRICMIL has raised the alarm over an alleged attempt by officers of the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 7 Headquarters in Abuja, to abduct whistleblower Yisa Usman from his residence on 16 July 2025.

The statement said Mr Usman, a former deputy director at JAMB, was sacked after exposing alleged procurement fraud and administrative malpractices within the agency.

Mr Onumah stated that the former deputy director has reportedly faced a string of reprisals including termination of his appointment, criminal charges, and threats to his life.

However, in a statement shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Friday, AFRICMIL renewed calls for a whistleblower protection law after Nigerian whistleblower Mr Usman received international recognition as the closest runner-up for the Ellsberg Whistleblower Award in Berlin, Germany.

Mr Usman was recognised for exposing alleged violations of public financial management procedures and recruitment irregularities within the examination body.

AFRICMIL said Mr Usman could not attend the award ceremony due to alleged reprisals he has faced in Nigeria, including dismissal from public service, legal battles and threats to his safety.

The organisation therefore urged the Nigerian government to urgently enact a whistleblower protection law to safeguard individuals who disclose wrongdoing in the public interest.

Participants at the EFCC event included representatives of anti-corruption agencies, lawmakers, security agencies, and other stakeholders involved in Nigeria’s anti-corruption efforts.

By Emmanuel Agbo. Premium Times

Tinubu departs for UK amid worsening insecurity in Nigeria

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu departed Abuja on Tuesday, March 17, for a state visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

The President, accompanied by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, will be hosted at Windsor Castle from March 18 to 19.

The visit is considered historic, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian leader to the UK in 37 years, and the first time a Nigerian president will be received by a British monarch at Windsor Castle.

According to the Presidency, the trip is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations between both countries, with key discussions expected to focus on trade, investment, immigration, and cultural exchange.

During the visit, Tinubu and his wife will view a special Royal Collection exhibition featuring items connected to Nigeria. The president is also expected to hold private talks with King Charles III and participate in engagements with organisations involved in interfaith dialogue.

A state banquet will be hosted in honour of the Nigerian delegation.

Tinubu will also meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, where both countries are expected to sign agreements covering trade, investment, defence, and cultural cooperation.

The president is expected to witness the signing of a £746 million financing deal involving UK Export Finance and Nigerian authorities, including the Nigerian Ports Authority, to support the rehabilitation of the Lagos Port Complex in Apapa and the Tin Can Island Port Complex.

He will also attend the Nigerian Modernism exhibition and engage with business leaders as well as members of the Nigerian diaspora.

Meanwhile, authorities in Windsor have rolled out tight security measures ahead of the visit. Thames Valley Police say they are working with local authorities, the Royal Household, and other agencies to coordinate security operations for the high-profile event.

The police announced that airspace restrictions over Windsor Castle would be extended on March 18, alongside road closures and parking limitations expected to take effect from March 17, which might disrupt movement in the area.

Officials said the operation would include the deployment of specialised units such as armed officers, search teams, mounted patrols, and road policing personnel. Additional measures include surveillance systems and protective barriers to ensure public safety throughout the visit.

The visit comes amid a surge in killings across parts of Nigeria, with recent incidents of violence raising concerns about the country’s security situation.

Tbe ICIR reported earlier today that at least 23 people were confirmed dead following multiple explosions in Maiduguri, Borno State capital Monday night.

The Borno State Police Command, in a statement, said 108 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the attacks, which were carried out by suspected suicide bombers.

According to the police, the explosions occurred at about 7:24 p.m. at three locations — Monday Market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, and the Post Office Flyover area.

The attacks are the latest in a chain of killings, abductions and other criminal activities in Nigeria under Tinubu’s watch.

By Esther Tomo, ICIR

Nigeria suicide attacks kill 23, wound more than 100

Multiple explosions staged by suspected suicide bombers rocked the northeastern Nigerian city of Maiduguri, killing at least 23 people and wounding more than 100 others, police said Tuesday.

The three blasts, which struck on Monday evening, came after an attack on a military post overnight Sunday to Monday, which authorities blamed on suspected militants.

Combined with the attack on the military position the evening prior and a mosque bombing in December, the assaults have wrecked a peaceful stretch in the city, which had become a relative oasis of calm as Nigeria's long-running insurgency was pushed to the rural hinterlands.

Fighters from Boko Haram and rival group Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have recently stepped up attacks in northeastern Nigeria.

Their 16-year campaign to establish a caliphate in the country has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced around two million.

"Preliminary investigation reveals that the incidents were carried out by suspected suicide bombers," police spokesman Nahum Kenneth Daso said in a statement.

"Regrettably, a total of twenty three (23) persons lost their lives, while one hundred and eight (108) others sustained varying degrees of injuries," he added.

An anti-extremist militia member told AFP the death toll from the explosions in the city could be as high as 31.

An AFP reporter at a city hospital on Monday evening saw dozens of wounded people seeking treatment, as well as multiple bodies covered by sheets on the sidewalk outside.

The attackers struck the city's main market, the gate of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and an area around the city's Post Office flyover.

Mala Mohammed, 31, who escaped the market blast said he initially heard two explosions and saw panicked people running.

"At that moment, we were not sure what had happened. But after about two or three minutes, other people who were running along the road started shouting that it was a bomb at the market entrance.

"Many of them ran toward the Post Office area because the market entrance and the Post Office are not far apart. Unfortunately, as they were running towards Post Office, the person who had the explosive device ran into the crowd while people were still trying to escape," said Mohammed.

'Barbaric' attacks

Police said in the early Tuesday morning statement that "normalcy has been fully restored in the affected areas" and that security forces have increased their "presence and surveillance across Maiduguri and its environs to prevent any further occurrences".

Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum called the apparent bombings "barbaric" and said "the recent surge in attacks is not unconnected with intense military operations in the Sambisa forest," a known militant stronghold.

The earlier attack was launched around midnight Sunday into Monday, on a Nigerian military post in Ajilari Cross district, a southwestern suburb of Maiduguri and just a few kilometres (miles) from the city's airport.

That same evening there was an attack in the Damboa local government area, south of Maiduguri.

AFP

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Gas-rich Nigeria faces blackouts amid five-year high flaring

Nigeria holds one of the world’s largest untapped gas endowments, yet millions of its citizens continue to grapple with chronic electricity shortages led by grid collapses, load shedding or disturbances.

Despite sitting on an estimated 600 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of unproven gas reserves, the country has recorded persistent power outages in recent weeks, largely driven by gas supply shortfalls to generation companies (GenCos).

Major cities across Nigeria have experienced worse-than-usual electricity disruptions since last week, as power outages grow more frequent and prolonged.

Data from the Nigerian Oil Spill Monitor, corroborated by the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), paints a less encouraging picture of gas utilisation efforts in the country.

According to the data, oil and gas companies flared an estimated 323.2 million standard cubic feet (scf) of gas in 2025, highlighting persistent inefficiencies in Nigeria’s upstream operations and ongoing challenges in fully commercialising associated gas resources.

Flaring figures stood at 349.3 million scf in 2020. Since then, Nigeria has recorded volatility, recording 264.6 in 2021, 230.1 million scf in 2022, 278.3 million scf in 2023, and 301.3 million scf in 2024.

“Are we truly prepared for significant gas uptake and usage, especially considering the ‘Decade of Gas’ initiative from 2020 to 2030, with 40 percent of this period already elapsed and little tangible progress in flare reduction,” asked Oyinkepreye Orodu, a subface and energy researcher.

The rise in gas flaring comes at a time when Nigerian residents and local manufacturers are grappling with soaring energy costs, persistent gas shortages, and erratic power supply– factors that have forced many firms to scale down operations or shut down entirely.

Many gas-fired power plants are also operating below capacity due to fuel shortages, worsening electricity shortages across the country.

The Transmission Company of Nigeria confirmed that reduced gas supply has significantly cut electricity generation, leaving distribution companies with less power to deliver to homes and factories.

“With thermal plants forming the dominant share of Nigeria’s generation mix, any disruption in gas supply directly impacts grid output,” the Nigerian Independent System Operator (NISO) said.

Thermal plants, which account for the bulk of Nigeria’s generation mix, require an estimated 1,629.75 million standard cubic feet (MMSCF) of gas per day to operate at optimal capacity.

However, as of February 23, 2026, actual gas supply stood at approximately 692 MMSCF per day, representing less than 43 percent of daily requirements.

Industry analysts have warned that without stronger regulatory enforcement and better investment incentives, oil companies operating in Nigeria will continue to flare gas as a cheaper alternative to processing or reinjecting it.

Jide Pratt, country manager of TradeGrid, expressed concern over the persistent rise in gas flaring despite several government interventions aimed at curbing the practice.

According to him, weak penalties and the high cost of building gas infrastructure remain the primary reasons companies continue to flare associated gas.

Data from the NOSDRA showed that oil and gas companies incurred $646.3 million in penalties for gas flaring in 2025.

Pratt, who also serves as chief operating officer of AIONA, noted that incentives such as those introduced under Executive Order 40, which targets investments in non-associated gas, could help drive progress in reducing flaring.

“Fines for flaring should be increased to make reinjection more attractive,” he added. “Most companies take the cheaper option of paying fines rather than investing in extraction and piping.”

Nigeria has introduced several legislative measures to curb gas flaring since 1969. Since 1984, it has been illegal to flare gas without written approval from the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Under current regulations, companies producing more than 10,000 barrels per day pay a penalty of $2 per 1,000 standard cubic feet (scf) of gas flared, while those producing below that threshold pay $0.50 per 1,000 scf.

Elijah Wisdom, chief executive officer and founder of Creek Transitway Ltd, said the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) should allow international oil companies to choose their own flare gas offtakers rather than having them assigned by regulators.

Wisdom also downplayed concerns over gas pricing, arguing that the key challenge lies in infrastructure and cost-reflective tariffs. Gas prices in the United States vary widely depending on location. The key issue is infrastructure and cost-reflective tariffs, he said.

He added that recent adjustments under the Domestic Gas Delivery Obligation (DGDO) have made pricing more reasonable, but outstanding debts within the sector, including obligations owed by NNPC Limited to the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, continue to affect operations across the gas-to-power value chain.

New grid asset company proposed to fix Nigeria’s power Bottleneck

President Bola Tinubu initiated plans to establish a Grid Asset Management Company (GAMCO) as part of efforts to address persistent challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, particularly within the transmission segment.

He disclosed this while briefing journalists at the State House in Abuja after a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by the president.

Mohammed Idris, minister of Information and National Orientation, said the council approved the setting up of a panel to drive the initiative following a memorandum presented by Tinubu for deliberation.

According to him, the proposal is aimed at strengthening the transmission component of Nigeria’s electricity value chain, which the government considers the most critical bottleneck to achieving stable and reliable power supply across the country.

He noted that following the deregulation of the power sector, the industry was unbundled into three key segments, generation, transmission and distribution, but the transmission arm has remained the weakest link.

“The proposed Grid Asset Management Company will be responsible for managing and strengthening the national electricity grid to improve efficiency and enhance power delivery nationwide,” Idris said.

To advance the plan, the FEC approved the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee tasked with developing the operational framework for the proposed company.

By Abubakar Ibrahim, Business Day