The father of Nigerian singer Asake, Fatai Odunsi has confirmed that he and his son have reconciled following their recent dispute.

Naija News reports that Odunsi made this known in a viral video on Sunday, recorded at what appears to be his residence in Isale Eko, Lagos.

Earlier, he had publicly appealed for financial assistance to manage his deteriorating health, alleging that Asake had abandoned him for years—an accusation the singer swiftly denied.

Asake insisted that he had sent money to his father multiple times and was being pressured.

In the midst of the controversy, his family also accused him of neglecting his alleged 11-year-old daughter, Zeenat, and her mother, Adijat.

Following public backlash, Odunsi released another video revealing that the issue had been resolved.

He stated that Asake reached out to the family and agreed to cover financial obligations related to his health.

“I am proud of him. He will never fall. It’s just that it had been a while since I last saw him. Even his mother should have asked him when last he saw me. She didn’t. That was what enraged me,” Odunsi said.

“Asake has listened to me. He says he would gift me whatever I want. He has asked that a house be bought for me.

“They’re still looking for a good one to buy. He’s already looking for it here in Lagos. He and I have settled.

“He has spoken to me. He has agreed to take care of his daughter. There was never a time when he denied his daughter.”

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reaffirmed his commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, citing political loyalty and gratitude for his ministerial appointment.

Speaking during an interactive session on TVC on Sunday, Wike stated that his political allegiance remains with Tinubu, who played a crucial role in his political stability.

Wike emphasized that loyalty should be reciprocal, arguing that Tinubu’s support for him cannot be ignored.

“When someone helps you, it is only right to stand by them in return,” he said.

He further explained that his political camp had initially expected Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara to prioritize their interests but claimed that the governor had not lived up to those expectations.

“If someone remembers you when you need help, you should also remember them when the time comes. If the President had not given us this position, what would have happened to us?” Wike asked.

For this reason, he said he sees no justification for withdrawing his loyalty from Tinubu in the next election.

Wike also criticized ethnic politics in Rivers State, particularly the narrative that favors Governor Fubara as an Ijaw man.

He argued that the Ijaw people have not benefited significantly from Fubara’s leadership, stressing that performance—not ethnicity—should determine political choices.

“Many politicians manipulate ethnic narratives for personal gain but fail to share the benefits with the people they claim to represent,” he noted.

Wike urged political stakeholders to shift focus from ethnic and sentimental politics and instead prioritize long-term benefits and development.

Naija News recalls that Wike, who is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, had in the past admitted that he did not support his party’s candidate in the 2023 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar.

The recently freed Afenifere National Youth President, Eniola Ojajuni, has disclosed that kidnappers have established at least 55 operational camps across the South-West region.
In a statement on Sunday, Ojajuni, who spent 12 days in captivity, revealed that Ondo State has the highest number of these camps, followed by Ekiti, Osun, and Ogun states.

He called on authorities to conduct comprehensive security operations in forests spanning Edo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Ibilo, and Lagos states to dismantle these criminal hideouts.

Recounting his ordeal, Ojajuni noted that the kidnappers openly discussed their intentions to intensify abductions, particularly in Ondo and Lagos states.

He stressed the need for enhanced intelligence gathering by security agencies and state governments to tackle the rising threat.

“The criminals have established well-organised kidnapping camps across South-West Nigeria, strategically positioned for their operations: Ondo State – 27 camps; Ekiti State – 16 camps; Osun State – seven camps; Ogun State – five camps,” he stated.

“During my captivity, the kidnappers boasted of their plans to intensify abductions in Ondo and Lagos states, citing their hidden camps in these regions. They also revealed details of their operations along the Sagamu–Ijebu Ode Road, near Oso-Sa Ijebu, weeks before my abduction.”

Ojajuni was kidnapped on February 17, 2025, while traveling from Ondo State to Abuja, sparking widespread outrage and demands for his release.

As negotiations dragged on, the kidnappers released distressing images and videos of him, appealing to Nigerians to raise a 100 million naira ransom.

In response, Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, deployed officers from the Intelligence Response Team, leading to Ojajuni’s eventual freedom.

Following his release, Ojajuni addressed the media, urging South-West leaders to take urgent and decisive measures against the worsening security situation.

He proposed the formation of a strong regional security network in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Forest Guards.

He also called on the Ondo State government to act swiftly in dismantling criminal networks operating in the region.

“The Ondo State government, in particular, has been criticised for its lack of urgency in addressing this crisis,” he said. “The growing audacity of these criminals must not go unchecked. Immediate action is needed to restore security and bring the perpetrators to justice.”

Ojajuni pledged to share critical intelligence gathered during his captivity to aid security forces in dismantling the kidnappers’ operations.

He also emphasized the need for more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders to curb escalating criminal activities.

“The Nigerian government must act swiftly and decisively to combat this crisis by deploying additional security personnel to high-risk areas, establishing more security checkpoints along highways and forest borders, enhancing intelligence-gathering and surveillance operations, and identifying and prosecuting collaborators aiding these criminals,” he urged.

Commending the Inspector General of Police for the intelligence-led rescue operation, he also appreciated the Nigeria Forest Team’s prompt intervention but insisted that more needs to be done.

“This intelligence should serve as a wake-up call to all security agencies and state governments in the South-West. If urgent measures are not taken, more innocent lives will be at risk,” Ojajuni warned.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, Olajide Adediran, popularly known as Jandor, is set to reveal his next political platform on Monday (today) after resigning from the PDP.

A close associate of Jandor disclosed that he held a strategic meeting with his political movement, Lagos4Lagos, on Sunday at his office in Liberty House, Ikeja.

During the meeting, Jandor reportedly updated his supporters on the progress of his ongoing consultations with political stakeholders regarding his next move.

Speaking to Western Post, the source said: “Jandor had a meeting with us, the inner caucus of the Lagos4Lagos Movement, today in Liberty House. He informed us of what he had done so far after resigning from the PDP.

“And we assured him of our utmost support in the ongoing consultations. We are with him 100 percent.”

Jandor has been engaging with key political figures since leaving the PDP.

Last Monday, he met with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa for nearly two hours. He also met with former Heads of State, Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Additionally, he consulted with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, and other national political leaders.

The PDP National Secretary and other party leaders have also visited him, urging him to reconsider his resignation from the party.

The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has reported that soldiers entered their substation and took two staff members into custody early Friday morning, allegedly due to power supply concerns.

Speaking to TheCable on Sunday, Babatunde Lasaki, EKEDC's general manager of corporate communications and strategy, confirmed that military personnel from the 15th Field Engineer Regiment, Topo Barracks, Badagry forcibly accessed the substation premises around 1:00 AM on March 14th.

According to Lasaki, the soldiers detained both a distribution substation operator and a security guard who were on duty. The staff reportedly sustained injuries after being physically assaulted, though they were released later that same morning.

Lasaki explained that the power outage prompting the incident was caused by an ongoing upgrade project at the Transmission Company of Nigeria's Agbara facility. He noted that this information had previously been communicated to "Lt. Col. S.L. Lawn," the commanding officer of the barracks.

While no infrastructure was damaged during the incident, EKEDC has filed a police report and submitted a formal complaint to military leadership in Abuja.

This follows a similar occurrence on March 6th, when Nigerian Air Force personnel reportedly entered Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company premises following an electricity disconnection at Sam Ethnan Air Force Base. In that incident, IKEDC reported office vandalism, staff assault, and theft of company property.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Nigerian singer Ahmed Ololade popularly known as Asake has finally taken action after intense public scrutiny over his ailing father Fatai Odunsi.

Earlier Odunsi’s emotional plea for help as he battled severe health challenges.

In a recent video interview with content creator Mr. Milgaga, the elderly man expressed deep pain, lamented that his son had not reached out to him for a long time.

However, a shift appears to be underway. Odunsi stated that he has let go of past grievances, acknowledged that Asake has now stepped up to take responsibility for his medical treatment.

He also disclosed that the singer is making arrangements to secure a house for him and has promised to care for his abandoned daughter.

When questioned about his past role as a father, Odunsi stood firm, insisting that no one could claim he was anything but responsible.

His stance was further reinforced by the interviewer, who cited testimonies from Isale Eko residents. According to them, Asake’s father played a significant role in his son’s upbringing and welfare.

SEE VIDEO POST BELOW

State governors have launched a fresh push against the planned disbursement of federal allocation to the local government councils in a renewed bid to delay the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict on LGA autonomy.

Some of the governors, during a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja, last Tuesday, kicked against payment of the LG allocation through the Central Bank of Nigeria, citing the need to address the multi-billion dollar debts allegedly incurred by the councils.

Presidency officials said the governors used the opportunity of the Iftar dinner to lobby the President and renew negotiations on direct allocation to the councils, which has suffered delays.

“When the governors came on Monday for Iftar, they sought to meet the President, which they did on Tuesday afternoon. Some of the governors came to meet the president. They were there with him for long. They left around past six that evening,” one insider told The PUNCH. 

Speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, another official privy to the details, explained further, “They finally met the President on Tuesday to try to find a solution. They are jostling for a favourable outcome.

“What is happening are two things. The Federal Government wants the allocations paid to the CBN, and all local government areas should open an account with the CBN.

“But the governors said no. They don’t want it that way. They said if the money goes to the CBN, it is as good as the Federal Government still controlling the whole thing.”

A source privy to Tinubu’s discussions with the governors revealed that the state executives wanted the disbursements sent to commercial bank accounts instead.

“One of the governors said that with the CBN handling the account, they would need approval from the Accountant-General. That means it is still under FG’s control, and they don’t want it that way. They want it to go to commercial banks. But the FG is saying no,” the source stated.

On the outcome of the meeting, the official revealed, “They said the meeting was positive. But I don’t know what they agreed upon. It appears they are working with some officials to find a way out. But the main thing is that the local government allocation was being withheld. It has not been paid. And it is because of this.”

Historically, the funding of local governments has long been a contentious issue, primarily due to the power dynamics between the state and local governments.

On July 11, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment affirming the fiscal autonomy of local governments nationwide.

It ruled that federal allocations to the LGAs must be paid directly to their respective accounts, bypassing state governments.

This followed a suit filed by the Federal Government, which sought to enforce fiscal autonomy for LGAs as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The Supreme Court emphasised that state governments receiving and disbursing LGA funds was unconstitutional and ordered an immediate end to the indirect payment system.

The judgment also included a provision that only democratically elected LGA leaderships are eligible to receive federal allocation.

The provision was introduced to address the widespread practice of state governors appointing caretaker committees or administrators to manage LGAs.

The court ruled that such appointed officials are unconstitutional and that only leaders elected through a democratic process can legitimately access and manage LGA funds.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria had mandated all LGAs to submit a two-year account audit before funds can be disbursed.

The CBN had also begun opening accounts for local governments to facilitate direct payments.

The apex bank in February announced that it had begun profiling local government chairmen and signatories to the bank accounts of the 774 local government areas as part of the process to implement financial autonomy.

The Director of Legal Services at the CBN, Kofo Salam-Alada, stated that this step was necessary to ensure financial accountability.

However, the National Union of Local Government Employees cautioned the CBN against aiding governors in obstructing financial autonomy, following reports that the bank had refused to open accounts for some councils due to alleged non-compliance with auditing requirements.

On its part, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria said it had received no formal communication from the apex bank regarding the opening of accounts.

Nonetheless, direct payments to LGAs have faced resistance and logistical challenges nine months later.

On March 2, 2025, this paper reported that the immediate-past Account-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein and the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, had commenced talks on the implementation of the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.

In a move to enforce the verdict, the two senior officials were said to be holding consultations on the modalities for submitting LGAs’ bank accounts for direct payment of council allocation but are reportedly facing challenges identifying LGAs with democratically elected officials.

This was contained in the Federation Account Allocation Committee Technical Sub-Committee meeting minutes.

On January 1, 2025, President Tinubu said that his administration was in no battle with state governors over the controversial local government autonomy.

Tinubu, however, called for collaboration from the 36 state executives, highlighting their crucial role in grassroots development.

“There were gossips that we had disagreements on local government autonomy. No…Nobody wants to take them away from you, but we need collaboration,” the President said when he received Vice President Kashim Shettima and members of the Nigeria Governors Forum, who paid him a New Year homage at his Ikoyi residence in Lagos.

“We will not fight within us. I will drive the change. You control your local governments. You can restore hope by effectively fulfilling what the people expect at the grassroots level. Just drive development at the local government. Let’s do it together and ensure Nigeria is better off for it,” Tinubu added.

Meanwhile, indications have emerged that the NGF was pushing for a delay in implementing direct allocation to the LGAs over multi-billion dollar debts reportedly incurred by the governors in the name of the LGAs.

Speaking with The PUNCH, ALGON’s Secretary-General, Mohammed Abubakar, said the apex bank was facing bottlenecks in implementing the judgment.

He hinted that governors were pressuring the apex bank to delay the process over the multi-billion dollar liabilities incurred in the name of the local government areas of their states.

Abubakar said, “The Federal Government is also having its bottlenecks. The last time I engaged the FG team, it said the governors were also coming up with different excuses that they have some liabilities incurred in the name of local government. So all these things need to be properly itemized and there is a need to find a way to balance each other.”

He pointed out that the local government may be worse off as the CBN was particularly under pressure from the governors to divert local government funds to settle the debts.

Rather than the haphazard implementation of the Supreme Court judgment, he called for the engagement of stakeholders to address the looming mismanagement of local government allocation by the governors.

“The proper thing to be done is to engage the stakeholders, put things on the table, involve stakeholders like the ALGON, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, those who have had the opportunity to be in the system and some other professionals with experience on how things can be done to achieve a common goal without getting to further endanger the fund of the local government.

“This is because if they just do it the way they want to do it haphazardly, I can assure you that local government funds may begin to go into the hands of some people using the CBN again as a funding path to divert local government money by saying they are paying debts owed by local governments and the local government do not even know when these debts were incurred. So, we need to be careful. All these have to be looked into,” Abubakar insisted.

He acknowledged the fear of local governments losing their allocation to creditors who might have obtained judgments and garnishee orders against the CBN.

Abubakar also expressed concerns that the CBN may have engaged multiple consultants in a manner that could hinder local governments’ access to funds.

He further highlighted the risk of local government funds being mismanaged due to court-ordered financial settlements involving consultants.

The ALGON scribe noted, “There is this fear from our end that the CBN is in court with many so-called consultants, who have been working for local governments through ALGON.

“And the kind of judgment and garnishee orders they have procured from the courts is a thing that we’re also not too sure how CBN can handle such a situation, because, in previous times, CBN would say it doesn’t have money for local government so taking us to court to liquidate whatever the local government is owing is going to be difficult.

“Now, if the money now gets there, what excuse will CBN give again for them not to take their money when they already have their judgment and even the Attorney-General and Ministry of Finance have cleared them to be paid? So, the local government may end up losing money as this debt we’re talking about is in billions of dollars.

“And if these people fall on that money in CBN, you should be rest assured that the local government may end up even worse than before.”

He added that the LG chairmen should be diplomatic to allay the anxiety of governors that implementing the financial autonomy may hurt their relationship with the councils.

“Yes, ALGON is the coordinating body for the 774 local government areas but you have to carry the chairmen along so that they can, in turn, talk to their governors to assure that the judgment will not harm them, hinder their operations or deny them the relationship with governors.

“So, things have to come in very plain terms so there won’t be a question of they are leaving the usual way of doing things and going for the worse.

“You can rest assured that some of these chairmen wait on their governors to direct them on what to do. And if these governors are not up to date on what to do at the CBN and how it will be coordinated, they will slow down their chairmen from going to engage CBN in that process,” Abubakar added.

Furthermore, Abubakar attributed the delay in implementing the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government financial autonomy to the CBN’s failure to provide clear guidelines on account submissions and signatory verification for local government chairmen.

He stressed that information about how the LG chairmen are to engage the CBN is unavailable, noting that the council leadership was not well-informed about how to engage the CBN.

Expressing concern over the opaque process, Abubakar urged the CBN to clarify which department local government chairmen should approach and to outline the specific procedures required for them to receive funds directly from the Federation Account.

“The proper information and the guidelines are not available. Our chairmen have not received any properly documented details of how they should go about this. You just asked the chairmen to approach CBN and we expect that there should be a proper detailing process that clarifies this whole thing.

“The information about how they want to run it is scanty. If it’s CBN, put it in the public domain. What department in CBN is handling it? Everything must be out there.

“The last information we received is that the committee set up by the Federal Government is working on it. There’s a committee that has an ongoing discussion on how to go about it. Yes, there’s a subcommittee of that committee and the subcommittee has to submit their recommendations to the main committee,” Abubakar said.

He emphasized that the AGF should play a coordinating role in ensuring a smooth implementation of the process.

He urged the committee headed by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, along with other relevant offices, to engage in broader consultations with ALGON, NULGE, and other key stakeholders in local government administration.

“My advice is that the office of the Attorney-General, which is coordinating this committee, should engage in more consultations. They should reach out to the stakeholders and those components that have common interests in the administration of local government in this autonomy regime can be successful.

‘’But if you’re handling these things just within the confines of your committee, without reaching out to other stakeholders who provide solutions and advice on how things can work out, you begin to dish out instructions that people will hardly obey because there’s no proper information. You should be able to speak out. Let people understand what it is.

“We have made our position known to the office of Attorney-General via our lawyer, Mike Ozekhome,(SAN), that information and what is being profiled from the committee should be in the public domain. Let everybody know; Call a stakeholders’ meeting, and get their opinion so that we can move on.

“If stakeholders are carried along, the people who know what is at stake, are all on the table to discuss this matter, autonomy will commence as soon as possible,” he declared.

Former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, has dismissed reports claiming he has defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), stating that such rumors exist only on social media.

Reports emerged on Saturday suggesting that Odigie-Oyegun, along with some former ministers who served under ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, had joined the SDP. The speculation follows a recent wave of defections from APC to SDP, especially after former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, left the ruling party.

Reacting to the reports, Odigie-Oyegun denied the claim, emphasizing that at 86 years old, he is no longer interested in active politics.

He said: “I also saw the social media report the way you saw it.

“At 86 years, I should not be talking active politics. However, if there is a need to rescue Nigeria and it is a mass movement, I would not hesitate to participate.”

Meanwhile, Okoi Obono-Obla, a former Special Adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, criticized the former ministers accused of defecting, labeling them as selfish politicians with little influence.

In a WhatsApp post, Obono-Obla stated that these ministers failed to support loyal CPC members while in power and are now attempting to claim leadership in the opposition.

He said: “The so-called former ministers from the Buhari administration are not as influential or powerful as they claim to be. In fact, they’re seen as selfish and self-centered, having destroyed the bond and solidarity among members of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

“While they were in positions of authority, they did little to help CPC supporters. Instead, they prioritized their own interests, abandoning those they now claim to represent. It’s no surprise that former CPC supporters don’t respect them or acknowledge their leadership.”

Obono-Obla identified Senator Umaru Tanko Al-Makura as the true leader of the defunct CPC bloc within the APC.

He said: “Senator Al-Makura was the only governor elected on the CPC platform in 2011 and single-handedly financed staff payments at the CPC National Secretariat between 2011 and 2015.

“He also funded the CPC Merger Committee and covered allowances for its members from January 2013 to July 2013.

“Senator Al-Makura is a staunch supporter of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and genuine APC supporters remain loyal to the party and its president.”

Obono-Obla dismissed the media reports on former Buhari ministers leaving APC, describing them as mere propaganda.

“The media hype surrounding former Buhari ministers leaving the APC is mere propaganda, especially since former President Muhammadu Buhari has reaffirmed his loyalty to the APC, expressing gratitude for the party’s support during his presidency,” he said.

Fuel marketers decry closure of stations at border towns, citizens demand more Nigerian goods

Less than two years after President Bola Tinubu removed the fuel subsidy in Nigeria, the effect of the decision is now being felt deeply by neighbouring Niger Republic.

Also, findings by THE PUNCH on Sunday from fresh data sourced from the National Bureau of Statistics indicated that trade between Nigeria and Niger Republic surged by 82 per cent in 2024 despite ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

This came as oil dealers raised concern about the closure of filling stations at border towns, stressing that marketers were losing so much revenue due to the development.

Since the start of March, Niger Republic has been grappling with an unprecedented shortage of the most widely used petrol in the West African country.

Economic activities were brought to a halt as filling stations in Niamey, the capital, and those in other towns ran out of petrol recently.

For several years, the country depended majorly on Nigeria for about 50 per cent of its local fuel consumption, industry players and experts confirmed. Petrol was usually smuggled into the neighbouring country through illegal routes.

However, since President Bola Tinubu’s administration removed the fuel subsidy in 2023, the price of petrol skyrocketed, making the smuggling of the product unattractive to illegal traders in border areas.

Aside from Niger, countries like Benin Republic and Togo were also beneficiaries of Nigeria’s petrol subsidy which stopped immediately after Tinubu took over on May 29, 2023.

The removal of subsidy and the attendant rise in the price of petrol has mounted pressure on Niger’s refinery, which can only produce a few tankers of fuel per day.

The Commercial Director of the state-owned Nigerien Company for Oil Products (Sonidep), Maazou Oumani Aboubacar, confirmed that half of the country’s consumption used to come from Nigeria until this was halted by the current administration.

Aboubacar told AFP that the Soraz refinery in Zinder is the only one in the country, saying it “can no longer satisfy domestic demand,” which has surged for more than a year now.

The reason is principally down to the drying up of the flourishing black market supplied from neighbouring Nigeria, a major global producer. It was learnt that the country’s refinery only provides Sonidep with “25 tanker trucks of petrol a day” when the daily national requirement is up to twice that.

Domestic consumption was said to have been boosted by a cut in fuel prices introduced by the military regime that seized power in Niger in 2023. The official stated that two years ago, prices tripled after the Nigerian President ended costly fuel subsidies.

“The fuel that came into Niger illegally from Nigeria represented up to half of the market. It supplied the large regions near the border between the two countries,” Aboubacar was quoted as having said.

With Nigerian smugglers supplying up to 50 per cent of the country’s daily petrol consumption up till 2023, the country’s refinery was producing a little to augment the supply from Nigeria.

However, the country faced the reality after Tinubu declared that “the fuel subsidy is gone” and tightened up the borders.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chinedu Ukadike, said the removal of subsidy, as well as the Operation Whirlwind of the Nigeria Customs Service going on across the borders, is taking its toll on Niger and other neighbouring countries.

Ukadike told our correspondent that when petrol was subsidised in Nigeria, neighbouring countries benefitted through illegal merchants who smuggled the product out of the country.

The marketer disclosed that the high cost of petrol reduced illegal bunkering, forcing Niger and others to either refine or import their petroleum products directly at the right price.

“It is true that when Nigeria was subsiding fuel, other neighbouring countries were enjoying subsidies too. As it is now, the rise in the price of fuel in Nigeria has reduced smuggling. The ongoing Operation Whirlwind has also reduced smuggling. The option available to the Niger Republic and other neighbouring countries enjoying our subsidy is to import PMS directly if they cannot refine it.

“When we subsidised our fuel, they were benefitting, and smuggling was thriving. Now that we have deregulated the downstream, smuggling has been reduced; security agencies are all over the borders through Operation Whirlwind. This has stopped illegal fuel export to Niger and it is one of the major reasons for their current fuel crisis,” Ukadike explained.

The PUNCH gathered that the fuel crisis in Niger reached alarming proportions last week after a litre of petrol sold for as high as N8,000 in some parts of the country.

Findings by our correspondents in Sokoto State, which shares a border with Niger, showed that the price of petrol varied depending on the distance from Nigeria.

A transborder businessman from Nigeria, Abubakar Usman, was quoted as saying, “There is a serious scarcity of fuel in the country. It depends on where one is getting the fuel.

“In Konni, the border town between Nigeria and Niger, you can get a litre at 1,200 CFA, which is about N2,500. If you go to Agadez, the same litre of fuel is 3,000 CFA, equivalent to N7,500 per litre. In Arilit, a local government under Agadez, which is the border town between Niger and Algeria, it is 3,500 CFA, which is about N8,750 when converted to our currency.”

To solve its fuel crisis, Niger Republic turned to Nigeria despite months of diplomatic tensions and a hostile relationship, as reported by Sunday PUNCH.

The report stated that a delegation of senior officials of the military junta travelled down to Abuja to meet Federal Government representatives behind closed doors.

At the end of the deliberation, 300 trucks of PMS were reportedly approved for delivery to the country as Nigeria, once again, played the ‘big brother’ role.

Sunday PUNCH also reported that a senior government official aware of the development said Nigeria approved the deal with the hope of using it as a “strategic bargaining tool” in ongoing negotiations with Niger.

According to the official, the delegation explained that Niger had been reliant on fuel from a Chinese refinery. However, due to issues with the supplier, the refinery was shut down, leaving the country with limited options.

“We do not want to blow our trumpet. Rather, we want to use it as a bargaining chip for negotiation as we continue to engage with them to bring them back to ECOWAS.

“Let them get more from us. I am confident that gradually they will come back to ECOWAS because they do not have enough resources to import food to sustain their citizens,” the source added.

Reacting, oil marketers said although they were not aware of the deal, the export of 300 tankers to Niger Republic would amount to about 13.5 million litres of petrol. It was calculated that 300 of 45,000-litre capacity trucks are about 13.5 million litres of petrol to be exported to the Niger Republic.

The dealers, however, stated that Nigeria had enough to save the junta-led country from the current fuel crisis rocking it. According to marketers, Nigeria may have passed the days of fuel scarcity as it now has the Dangote refinery, the Port Harcourt refinery, and others producing fuel locally even as importers bring more from other countries.

The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, said he was aware of the fuel crisis in Niger Republic, adding that Nigeria had enough to bail out the country.

“I will not say we don’t have that capacity with the refineries we have in the country. I think we have enough to supply Niger Republic,” the IPMAN Vice President said

Similarly, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, agreed that the country had enough PMS to help its neighbours without running into any crisis. “If we have a diplomatic reason for that, it is doable,” Gillis-Harry asserted.

It was further gathered that the fuel crisis in Niger may have also been self-inflicted after a confrontation between the ruling junta and Chinese oil companies which had long dominated the country’s petroleum sector.

A security analyst, Zagazola Makama, in an article he published on X, revealed that trouble began in March 2024 when the China National Petroleum Corporation granted the Nigerien government a $400m advance, using future crude oil deliveries as collateral.

The deal was to help Niger cope with crippling economic sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States following the July 2023 coup in the country. However, when it was time to repay the debt, the junta was cash-strapped.

Instead of negotiating, the military rulers were said to have decided to strong-arm China, slapping an $80bn tax demand on Soraz (Zinder Refinery Company) despite the state-owned oil company, Sonidep already owing Soraz a staggering $250bn.

According to Makama, when China refused to provide additional loans, the junta retaliated by expelling Chinese oil executives from the country and seizing Soraz’s bank accounts. The decision was said to have backfired and led to the collapse of Niger’s petroleum sector, which is heavily reliant on Chinese expertise and investment.

Exports surge

Meanwhile, further findings by The PUNCH showed that trade between Nigeria and Niger rose by 82 per cent in 2024 despite ongoing diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics revealed that the total trade volume between the two West African neighbours climbed to N91.92bn in 2024, up from N50.48bn recorded in 2023.

The sharp rise was largely driven by Nigerian exports to Niger, which nearly doubled from N46.51bn in 2023 to N82.38bn in 2024. The PUNCH observed that exports to Niger account for 89.62 per cent of total trade between the two countries.

Imports from Niger also rebounded from N3.97bn in 2023 to N9.53bn in 2024, indicating a recovery in economic exchanges despite strained relations between the two countries.

Trade between Nigeria and Niger has been volatile in recent years. In 2020, total trade was valued at just N6.69bn, before surging to N88.60bn in 2021 as Nigerian exports to Niger jumped to N78.40bn.

The momentum continued in 2022, with total trade reaching N95.76bn. However, economic activity between the two countries nosedived in 2023, dropping by 47.28 per cent to N50.48bn, following the fallout from the political crisis in Niger.

The coup in Niger in July 2023, which led to the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum, triggered a diplomatic standoff between the country and Nigeria, which spearheaded ECOWAS’ sanctions against the military-led government.

The sanctions included border closures, financial restrictions, and the suspension of the electricity supply, all of which disrupted trade and economic activities between the two nations.

Despite the tensions, trade rebounded strongly in 2024. The 82 per cent surge suggests that demand for Nigerian goods in Niger remains robust, while the recovery in imports indicates a gradual resumption of economic ties.

Nigeria and Niger share deep economic and cultural ties, with trade spanning across agricultural products, manufactured goods, petroleum products, and livestock. Nigerian traders have historically supplied Niger with essential goods, while Niger’s exports to Nigeria include livestock, food products, and raw materials.

In August 2024, Nigeria and Niger signed a security cooperation agreement aimed at tackling insurgency, smuggling, and other security threats along their shared borders. The agreement was seen as a step towards rebuilding relations, even though full diplomatic ties between the two countries remain fragile.

The resurgence of trade between the two nations signals a pragmatic approach to economic engagement despite unresolved political differences.

Niger is a major trading partner to Nigeria as noted in the recently released NBS’ foreign trade statistics report for the fourth quarter of 2024, which read in part, “In the same vein, Nigeria’s major trading import partner within ECOWAS was Ivory Coast (N41.40bn), followed by Ghana (N22.96bn), Liberia (N4.04bn), Niger Republic (N2.62bn) and Togo of (N2.21bn) representing (90.45 per cent) of total imports from the ECOWAS region.”

The PUNCH further observed that about N9.34bn worth of cigarettes were imported from Nigeria into Niger Republic. It was also observed that Nigeria’s imports from Niger Republic in Q4 2024 were led by agricultural and raw materials, with fresh or dried dates topping the list, according to data from the NBS.

The report shows that Nigeria imported N956.68m worth of dates, making it the highest-valued import from Niger during the period. The second most imported commodity was cement, excluding white cement, with a total value of N919.07m.

This indicates a growing demand for cement products from Niger, potentially driven by infrastructure development and construction activities in Nigeria.

Fresh strawberries were another notable import, valued at N255.97m. While not a major staple, the increase in strawberry imports suggests rising consumer demand for fresh fruits, possibly linked to Nigeria’s expanding food processing and retail sectors.

Raw materials also featured among the top imports, with whole hides and skins (weighing more than 16kg) accounting for N125.65m in imports. The leather and tanning industry in Nigeria continues to rely on imports of raw hides, especially from neighbouring countries, to sustain production.

Also, Nigeria imported N80.66m worth of shelled pine nuts from Niger. These nuts are often used in food processing and are valued for their nutritional benefits.

The PUNCH further observed that Trade between Nigeria and the Sahel nations of Burkina Faso and Mali experienced significant fluctuations over the past five years, with a notable surge in 2024.

Fresh data from the NBS show a sharp increase in Nigeria’s total trade with both countries, driven by rising exports and a dramatic spike in imports from Mali. Nigeria’s trade with Burkina Faso rose from N12.92bn in 2023 to N18.26bn in 2024, marking a 41.4 per cent increase.

This growth was largely fuelled by higher exports, which climbed from N12.92bn to N18.20bn. Imports from Burkina Faso, though much smaller in volume, also recorded a sharp rise from N4.41bn to N59.16bn within the same period.

Similarly, Nigeria’s trade with Mali saw an unprecedented jump, with total trade reaching N199.21bn in 2024, a massive leap from N12.57bn in the previous year. The most striking change was in Nigeria’s imports from Mali, which surged from just N269.87m in 2023 to N183.79bn in 2024.

This marked a significant shift in trade dynamics, raising questions about the factors driving such an increase.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s exports to Mali also grew from N12.30bn in 2023 to N15.42bn in 2024, maintaining a steady upward trend.

The rise in trade with Burkina Faso and Mali comes amid the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States, a new regional bloc created by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger in September 2023.

The alliance, established through the Liptako-Gourma Charter, aims to enhance security cooperation among the three military-led governments, following their deteriorating relations with the Economic Community of West African States.

The AES was formed as a response to ECOWAS sanctions imposed after the military takeovers in the three countries, leading them to seek alternative economic and security partnerships.

Despite political tensions, economic ties between Nigeria and the three Sahel nations appear to be strengthening.

However, the long-term sustainability of this trade surge remains uncertain, especially as ECOWAS continues to push for a resolution to the political crisis in the region.

The Economic Community of West African States recently activated its standby force to combat terrorism in the sub-region.

The regional body had, in October last year, hinted at the establishment of a 5,000-man kinetic force to tackle terrorism in the region.

Speaking at the 43rd ordinary meeting of the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff in Abuja, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, said the activation of the standby force underscored the collective determination of member countries to confront the threat of terrorism.

The ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, Dr Abdel-Fatau Musah, also said that despite the recent withdrawal of three African countries from the regional body, ECOWAS would maintain the free movement of persons and goods for their citizens.

He also said plans were in place to mitigate the unforeseen consequences of the withdrawal of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has called on the government to avoid intimidating or harassing a National Youth Corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, for her statement against President Bola Tinubu.

He also warned the authorities of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) against subjecting the lady to any form of intimidation.

Peter Obi, in a statement on Sunday evening, said the current government has a worrying trend of threatening those who speak out against them or offer constructive comments.

Naija News recalls Uguamaye, in a viral video, had lamented the hardship faced by citizens as a result of the economic policies of the current administration and described Tinubu as a “terrible president.”

The development has earned her a summon by the NYSC administration and also support from public figures likes of Mr. Macaroni, Omoyele Sowore and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

In his reaction, Obi said the action so far taken by the government against the lady resembles the intimidation, harassment, and name-calling he also suffers from the same government.

He said such actions against those who dare to speak the truth to power are unacceptable, undemocratic and worrying as the government should not silence the citizens.

“The National Youth Corps member, Ushie Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye, recently had an experience that highlights a troubling trend in our nation—one where voices of reason and truth are met with intimidation rather than dialogue and engagement.

“Reports indicate that she has faced threats from NYSC officials simply for expressing her concerns about the current administration.

“This pattern is not isolated. I, too, have been subjected to threats for daring to offer constructive suggestions and comments.

“I now face daily intimidation, harassment, and name-calling simply for expressing solution-based views on government policies.

“Such actions are antithetical to the principles of democracy. A government that silences its citizens is not democratic or one that is subject to accountability and good governance and is most often corrupt,” he said.

The former Anambra State Governor instead called on the government to allow constructive criticism.

He also charged the citizens not to allow fear or intimidation to stop them from speaking the truth as freedom of speech is a constitutional right and important feature of democracy.

He charged the government to instead focus on taking action on addressing issues raised by Nigerians.

“I urge the current administration to reflect deeply on its approach to dissent and recognize that constructive criticism is a cornerstone of democratic progress.

“To all patriotic Nigerians: Our nation’s future and development depend on our collective courage to speak out against misgovernance, injustice, and intimidation.

“Do not let fear stifle your voice. Stand firm, support one another, and continue to advocate for Nigeria we all envision—a nation where freedom of speech is sacrosanct, and leadership is accountable to the people, especially in critical areas such as education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.

“A just and prosperous Nigeria should be one where people like Raye are encouraged to speak out about the challenges they face, while those in government take urgent action to address these issues.

“A New Nigeria is POssible! -PO,” he said.