By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The financial burden on Nigerian consumers is set to intensify following a sharp increase in petrol prices by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, marking the third adjustment in less than a week.

Effective Monday, the refinery raised the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, to ₦1,175 per litre. This represents a significant jump of ₦180, or approximately 18.1%, from the ₦995 per litre price announced just last Friday. In a parallel move, the gantry price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) was also revised upward to ₦1,620 per litre.

Confirming the development to our correspondent, a senior official at the refinery, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public commentary, stated that the changes have been formally communicated to marketers and depot operators.

“Yes, the gantry prices have been adjusted. PMS is now ₦1,175 per litre while Automotive Gas Oil is ₦1,620 per litre,” the official said. “The market has been extremely volatile, and replacement costs have shifted significantly in recent days. These adjustments reflect prevailing market fundamentals and the cost environment we are currently operating in.”

Data from the industry pricing platform, petroleumprice.ng, confirmed that the revised rates have been integrated into depot pricing systems nationwide, effectively resetting the benchmark for downstream marketers.

This latest surge—which has seen gantry prices climb from ₦774 to over ₦1,175 in a matter of days—is already translating to higher costs at the pump. Retail outlets in several states are now selling petrol for approximately ₦1,200 per litre, adding another layer of economic strain on households and businesses.

The increase is expected to trigger a fresh wave of price adjustments across the country. Higher fuel costs invariably lead to increased expenses for transportation, logistics, and production, costs that are typically passed on to consumers. This dynamic threatens to exacerbate Nigeria’s already high cost of living.

The price hikes underscore the challenges facing the Federal Government’s efforts to stabilize the downstream sector. Through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, the government has been working to secure crude oil supply for the Dangote refinery via third-party international traders in a bid to sustain local refining and, ultimately, moderate prices.

However, officials caution that these interventions may not yield immediate relief for consumers. As the 650,000-barrel-per-day Lekki-based refinery adjusts its prices in response to volatile market realities, Nigerians are left grappling with the immediate consequences of a deregulated market where pump prices are increasingly subject to global and local market forces.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Turaki, SAN, thereby upholding the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to intervene in matters concerning the party’s planned national convention.

Delivering judgment in a set of nine consolidated appeals, a three-man panel of the appellate court unanimously affirmed the earlier decision of the lower court. The Federal High Court had previously barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or validating any convention organised by the Turaki-led faction.

The legal battle stemmed from a dispute over the party’s scheduled national convention, initially planned for November 14 and 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The Turaki faction had challenged a lower court order that restrained the party from proceeding with the event.

In its ruling on Thursday, the Appeal Court rejected the appellants’ contention that the matter constituted an internal affair of the party and was therefore outside the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court. The panel held that the Federal High Court was fully competent to hear the suit.

Delivering the lead judgment, the court stated that the appellants could not “repackage a clear violation of the party constitution and that of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as an internal party affair.” It emphasised that the issues raised extended beyond internal party politics and touched on statutory and constitutional violations.

Consequently, the court dismissed the appeals for lacking in merit and awarded a cost of N2 million against the appellants, to be paid to the respondents.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has urged women and girls to actively participate in the digital space, emphasizing the importance of online safety and emerging technologies.

The call was made on Sunday during a one-day workshop organized by CITAD at Sudawa College of Nursing & Midwifery, Kano. The workshop, themed “AI Deepfakes, Cyberbullying, Harmful Content Reporting, and Data Protection,” aimed to equip participants with practical knowledge to navigate the digital world safely.

Speaking on behalf of CITAD Executive Director Malam Yunusa Zakari Ya’u, CITAD Programme Officer Isah Garba said the organisation uses information and communication technology (ICT) to promote social development, good governance, and education.

“Every 8th of March, CITAD marks International Women’s Day with unique activities that empower women and girls,” Garba said. “Our focus is on promoting women’s rights, fighting gender-based violence, advancing digital inclusion, cybersecurity, peace-building, and youth entrepreneurship training.”

He added that the workshop was particularly designed to address challenges posed by emerging artificial intelligence technologies, including AI deepfakes and cyberbullying.

“The session equips participants with practical skills to identify AI-manipulated images and videos, report harmful content using platforms like Repotrix, and safeguard their personal data online,” Garba explained.

On her part, Miss Ogedegbe Sarah, representing the students of Sudawa College of Nursing & Midwifery, lauded the initiative and called on participants to apply the knowledge gained.

“In today’s world, where artificial intelligence plays a significant role, it is crucial that we understand how to protect ourselves online and report harmful content,” she said.

International Women’s Day, celebrated every 8th of March, commemorates women’s struggles for equality and liberation, spotlighting issues such as gender equality, reproductive rights, and the fight against violence and abuse.

The theme for IWD 2026 is: “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”