By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed its planned nationwide voter revalidation exercise till after the 2027 general election.

In a statement on Friday, Mohammed Haruna, INEC’s national commissioner and chairman of the information and voter education committee, said the decision was made at a meeting between the commission and resident electoral commissioners (RECs).

“Following deliberations, the commission resolved to postpone the exercise until after the 2027 General Election,” the statement reads.

Since the Commission’s resolve to embark on the revalidation exercise, reactions have trailed, especially from the opposition coalition camp, the ADC.

It cited an allegation of wanting to sabotage eligible electorates in favour of the ruling party.

The World Bank has urged the Nigerian government to reopen the petrol market to competition by reinstating import licences in an effort to reduce the inflationary pressures caused by the fallout of the Middle East conflict.

In its latest Nigeria Development Update released , the Washington-based lender says the suspension of petrol import licences since January 2026 “has reduced competition, allowing prices to exceed import-parity levels”.

Word Bank further says

“Allowing qualified marketers to resume imports would restore competition, reduce pricing distortions and better align domestic prices with global benchmarks,” it says. “Greater market contestability would also strengthen supply security by reducing reliance on a single refinery and broadening sourcing options, while remaining consistent with domestic refining objectives.”

The World Bank recommends reinstating petrol import licences to dismantle a supply monopoly, aiming to lower domestic fuel costs that currently sit 12% above global benchmarks.

“Allowing qualified marketers to resume imports would restore competition, reduce pricing distortions and better align domestic prices with global benchmarks,” it says. “Greater market contestability would also strengthen supply security by reducing reliance on a single refinery and broadening sourcing options, while remaining consistent with domestic refining objectives.”

The World Bank points out that following the recent surge in global oil prices, the Dangote refinery – the main supplier of refined petrol after the regulator ceased issuing import licences in early 2026 – raised its ex-depot petrol price to about ₦1,275 ($0.92) per litre as of 23 March 2026.

That compares to an estimated import-parity price of around ₦1,122 per litre, implying a cost differential of roughly 12%, according to the report.

On 13 March, The Africa Report reported that the battle for survival among Nigeria’s traditional fuel importers had intensified in the first quarter of 2026 following the non-issuance of petrol import licence .

With the Africa report on the World Bank’s stand on Nigeria’s petroleum market, Nigerians continued to express their mixed feelings, noting that other company owners have staff to pay, they were not given the opportunity to import, Nigeria is a big country and a single company and refinery cannot supply sufficient fuel to the teeming millions of Nigerians. It is the nation’s economy; it cannot be handled by a single individual, and if there is a problem, he cannot handle it alone.

Source:Africa Report

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Malam Inuwa Waya, has emphasized the growing influence of digital journalism, noting that online media now plays a dominant role in shaping public opinion ahead of traditional platforms.

Waya made this known while receiving members of the Kano Online Media Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), where he highlighted how the speed of information dissemination has transformed the media landscape.

According to him, in the past, there was often a significant delay between events and when the public became aware of them. “Before, by the time news filtered through, people had already moved on,” he said. “Now, with the emergence of online media, the gap between newsmakers and the public is no more than three minutes.”

The APC stalwart stressed that digital platforms have effectively taken over all segments of the media industry. He observed that audiences increasingly consume online news multiple times before turning to traditional outlets such as radio, television, or newspapers.

“Today, readers go through online reports repeatedly before considering traditional media,” Waya stated. “This places a greater responsibility on online journalists to eliminate negativity and uphold professionalism in their reporting.”

He further described online media as a critical tool for maintaining checks and balances between the government and the public. However, he cautioned practitioners to operate strictly within ethical standards, noting that the media serves as a mirror of society.

Waya warned that while libel was previously more associated with conventional electronic media, online platforms are now increasingly vulnerable to similar legal risks due to the speed and volume of publication.

He urged journalists to prioritize fairness, accuracy, and objectivity in their work to avoid legal consequences. “You must ensure your reports are balanced and factual,” he advised. “This will provide you with a strong defence should you ever be called upon to answer in a court of law.”