Headlines

An explosion at Gabster Mega Petrol Station in Orita Challenge, Ibadan, claimed two lives on Tuesday, the Oyo State Fire Services Agency has confirmed.

In a statement, Yemi Akinyinka, General Manager of the agency, said the victims—a petrol tanker driver and his motor boy—were burnt beyond recognition.

The fire service received a distress call about the incident at approximately 5:15 a.m. and immediately deployed personnel to the scene.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the tanker driver lost control due to a brake failure, causing the vehicle to spill its contents, which subsequently ignited.

“We got information about the GABSTAB Mega Petrol Station, Orita Challenge, fire incident at 5:15 a.m. and deployed our men immediately. The driver and motor boy were burnt to death,” Akinyinka stated.

He added that the fire had been extinguished and further details would be provided as investigations continue.

The House of Representatives has directed MultiChoice Nigeria to suspend the recent increase in subscription rates for its DStv and GOtv packages.

The resolution was passed during Tuesday’s plenary session following the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Esosa Iyawe, a lawmaker from Edo State.

On February 24, MultiChoice announced a price hike across its subscription packages, nearly a year after a similar increase. Under the new pricing, which took effect on March 1, the DStv Premium bouquet rose from N37,000 to N44,500, while Compact+ increased from N25,000 to N30,000. The Compact package also saw a rise from N17,000 to N19,000.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had earlier, on February 27, ordered MultiChoice to maintain its current subscription rates pending the conclusion of an investigation into the price adjustments.

Presenting the motion, Iyawe argued that MultiChoice holds a dominant position in Nigeria’s pay-TV sector, and its frequent price hikes place undue financial pressure on consumers. He noted that many subscribers have voiced their frustration on social media, citing a lack of service improvement despite the repeated increases and the government’s perceived inaction.

The motion was adopted after Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put it to a voice vote.

Following the resolution, the House mandated its Committee on Information to investigate the alleged arbitrary pricing by MultiChoice and ensure the implementation of cost-effective policies in the pay-TV sector for the benefit of consumers.

Senator David Jimkuta (APC-Taraba South) has alleged that 19 senators were denied permission to land at Kashimbilla Airport in Taraba State.

Speaking during his Senatorial Empowerment Programme in Wukari, where he distributed various items to constituents, Jimkuta expressed disappointment over the incident.

He explained that the Senate had selected the lawmakers to accompany him and witness the empowerment initiative. However, he was later informed that the airport had been temporarily closed, despite all necessary flight procedures being completed.

Jimkuta, who also serves as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Councils, said the visit was intended to help the senators assess the state’s needs and identify areas for intervention. He lamented that the unexpected closure of the airport had prevented them from attending the event.

During the programme, the senator urged beneficiaries not to sell the empowerment items but to utilize them for self-improvement. He also pledged logistical support to security agencies to enhance safety in the district.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, from N890 per litre to N825 per litre as competition intensifies in the country’s downstream sector.

NNPCL’s spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, confirmed the development in an interview with reporters on Monday. He stated that since the deregulation of the petroleum sector, the company has continued to adjust prices in response to market dynamics.

“As an energy company, it is not our practice to issue press releases or make public announcements for routine price adjustments at the pump, as such changes are a fundamental aspect of a market-driven system,” Soneye said.

He explained that the adjustments reflect prevailing market forces and ensure energy security while fostering an open and competitive environment in compliance with regulatory frameworks.

The price reduction follows a similar move by Dangote Refinery, which on March 1, 2025, lowered its ex-depot price by N65 per litre. This led its partner retail outlets to adjust pump prices to N860 per litre in Lagos, N870 in the South-West, N880 in the North, and N890 in the South-South and South-East.

Dangote Refinery stated that the adjustment was aimed at providing financial relief to Nigerians, particularly in celebration of the Ramadan season. The company said the move aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic recovery policy and is part of its commitment to reducing the cost of refined petroleum products.

The refinery noted that this marks its second price reduction in February 2025, following an earlier N60 decrease. It also recalled a previous reduction of N70.50 per litre in December 2024 during the Yuletide period, as part of efforts to ease the cost of living for Nigerians.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called for urgent intervention in the dispute between Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.

Chairman of the association, Rev. John Joseph Hayab, described the feud as “shameful and unfortunate,” urging well-meaning Nigerians to step in to restore peace and maintain decorum in the National Assembly.

“There is a need for elders to intervene in the Akpabio-Natasha feud because all members of the National Assembly are honourable and should be accorded respect. Nigerians hold them in high regard,” he said.

Hayab emphasized that lawmakers must take necessary steps to resolve the issue and allow peace to prevail, stressing the importance of responsible conflict resolution.

He also cautioned against downplaying allegations of sexual harassment, stating that Nigeria had moved past the era where individuals claimed to be underdogs or minorities to evade serious accusations.

The CAN chairman urged the media to avoid sensationalizing the conflict, warning that such coverage could further divide the nation.

He called on National Assembly members to focus on improving the lives of Nigerians through their legislative duties, particularly after passing the 2025 national budget.

Hayab appealed to all parties involved in the dispute to exercise restraint and refrain from comments that could deepen divisions along gender or regional lines.

President Bola Tinubu has approved provisional licenses for 11 new private universities in Nigeria.

The announcement was made on Monday during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, Abuja.

According to a statement by Tinubu’s aide, Sunday Dare, the president remains committed to expanding educational opportunities and infrastructure across the country.

The newly approved universities include:

• New City University, Ayetoro, Ogun State
• University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State
• Eranova University, Mabushi
• Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun Annex
• Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Agba, Kwara State
• Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State
• Lens University, Ilemona, Kwara State
• Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota, Ogun State
• Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City
• Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos
• Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo, Enugu State

The approvals mark another step in the federal government’s efforts to enhance access to higher education in Nigeria.

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has confirmed the rescue of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Modestus Ojiebe, who was abducted along the Abuja-Kaduna Expressway on Sunday.

Ojiebe, attached to the Kwara State Police Command, was reportedly attacked while attempting to fix his broken-down vehicle near the Dei-Dei Police Barracks in Abuja.

According to sources, the assailants searched and robbed Ojiebe and his wife of their mobile phones and ATM cards. However, upon discovering his police identity card, they forced him into their vehicle and fled, leaving his wife and their car at the scene.

FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Josephine Adeh, confirmed in a statement that the officer had been rescued and reunited with his family.

“Upon receiving the distress call, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Dawaki swiftly led his patrol team and alerted all police checkpoints and key entry and exit points into the FCT. This decisive response enabled the successful rescue of the officer and his reunion with his family on the same night,” the statement read.

She added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects, who abandoned the victim and fled into the bush in Garaku, Nasarawa State.

Truck owners and drivers under the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Plateau State Council, have protested against the persistent killings of drivers and destruction of trucks in the South-East region of the country.

The drivers, who gathered at the NURTW branch office in the Laranto, Katako area of Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, on Sunday, decried the continued attacks on their members. They alleged that drivers transporting goods through the region have been repeatedly targeted, killed, and had their trucks vandalized or set ablaze by gunmen.

Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the protesters expressed concerns over frequent assaults allegedly carried out by suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Some of the routes identified as dangerous include Enugu to Lobanta, Lobanta to Okigwe, and Okigwe to Umuahia in Abia State. The protesters called for urgent intervention and the prosecution of perpetrators to prevent a possible boycott of goods transportation to the region.

NURTW Treasurer, Bulus Andrawus, described the hardships faced by truck drivers traveling from northern Nigeria to Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

A truck owner, Lawan Shuaibu, recounted attacks on his vehicles, including an incident on Monday when a truck traveling from Jos to Port Harcourt came under fire at Labanta on Umuahia Road around 9 a.m. The assailants shattered the windshield, injuring the driver.

Shuaibu further narrated another incident where conductors of a truck traveling from Port Harcourt were abducted and tied to a coconut tree by unidentified individuals. He said the driver managed to escape and alerted military personnel, who later secured their release after payment.

He lamented the recurring violence, stating, “One of my drivers was beaten, and his truck was destroyed for no reason. We are just trying to earn a living, not looking for trouble. We are Nigerians too, not foreigners. People from the South settle peacefully in the North, yet we face constant attacks in the East. We are not safe.”

The drivers appealed to the government to take immediate action to ensure their safety and prevent further attacks.