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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CGTN Africa

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

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France 24

Nigeria accuses mining firm of smear campaign ahead of Tinubu’s UK visit amid lithium dispute

Nigeria’s government has accused a mining firm, Jupiter Ltd, of planning to spread false claims about the country’s mining sector as a dispute over revoked mineral licences escalates ahead of President Bola Tinubu’s visit to the United Kingdom.

In a statement on Sunday, Segun Tomori, special assistant on media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, said the company was allegedly preparing to circulate misleading information following a report titled “Nigeria Seizes British Lithium Project Under Armed Guard.”

The publication claimed Nigerian authorities had taken control of a lithium project linked to the firm and handed it over to Chinese operators.

Tomori rejected the claim, saying the government has no relationship with any company operating under the name Jupiter Lithium.

“We made it unequivocally clear that the allegations are baseless and unfounded. The Federal Government, through the Ministry and the Nigeria Mining Cadastral Office (NMCO), has no legal or contractual relationship with any company known as Jupiter Lithium, as the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (NMMA 2007) expressly prohibits the granting of mining licences to foreign companies,” he said.


Licence revocation

According to the government, the controversy stems from the cancellation of mineral titles held by Basin Mining Ltd, a Nigerian company linked to Australian national Steve Davis.

Tomori said the licences were withdrawn after the company failed to pay statutory annual service fees required under Nigeria’s mining regulations.

“The revocation was done after due notice was served on the company in line with extant laws on default in payment of annual service fees,” he said.

“Hence, the mineral titles were revoked due to failure to pay statutory annual service fees amounting to Two Billion, Four Hundred and Ninety-Four Million Naira (₦2,494,000,000) for mineral titles 45454ML, 45117ML, 45118ML, 40532ML, and 40533ML for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.”

The ministry also dismissed claims that the licences were reassigned to a Chinese operator.

“Jupiter, though unknown to the mining authorities, peddled falsehoods by claiming that its titles were revoked in favour of a Chinese firm. This is a complete fabrication!” Tomori said.


Company’s claims

In a statement issued on 12 March, Stephen Davis, chairman of Jupiter Lithium Ltd, alleged that Nigerian authorities had revoked the company’s mining rights and allowed Chinese operators to take control of the project.

The firm said it had spent years exploring and developing what it described as a major lithium deposit in Nigeria after securing mining rights in 2006. It also claimed security personnel escorted Chinese operators to the site following the revocation, allowing them to begin extracting lithium ore.

Jupiter warned that the dispute could raise questions about investor protection in Nigeria and potentially affect the country’s efforts to attract Western investment into its mining sector.


Speculative licences

Nigeria’s government rejected the allegations and said the dispute was strictly about regulatory compliance.

Tomori also alleged that Davis is linked to several companies operating in Nigeria’s mining industry, including Comet Minerals Ltd, Basin Mining Ltd, Range Mining Ltd, Northern Numero Ltd, Sunrise Minerals Ltd and Iron Ore Mining Ltd.

Authorities say some operators obtain mineral titles but fail to develop them, a practice that limits opportunities for serious investors and contributes to illegal mining.

“Such practices worsen Nigeria’s challenge of illegal mining, as speculators obtain licences without undertaking actual mining operations, thereby denying serious investors with genuine capital the opportunity to develop the sector,” Tomori said.


Global lithium race

The dispute comes as global demand for lithium continues to rise due to its critical role in electric vehicle batteries and energy storage technologies.

Countries are increasingly competing for access to the mineral as the transition to cleaner energy accelerates. Nigeria has attracted growing investor interest after lithium deposits were identified across several central and northern states.

The government has been introducing reforms aimed at tightening oversight of mineral licences, encouraging local processing and attracting long-term investment into the sector as part of efforts to diversify the economy beyond oil.

Despite the dispute, officials said the reforms will continue.

“The Federal Government of Nigeria cannot and will not be intimidated or blackmailed into abandoning reforms by the antics of any individual or company,” Tomori said.

He added that Nigeria remains open to investors willing to operate within its legal and regulatory framework, noting that incentives such as tax waivers on imported mining equipment and the repatriation of profits are designed to support responsible investment.

By Ayodeji Adegboyega, Business Insider Africa