By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s headline inflation rate in April 2026 rose to 15.69 per cent, beating analysts’ expectations of 15.95 per cent, as the fallout from the Iran war continued to affect the global economy.

The statistical office on Friday showed the headline inflation rate for April on a month-on-month basis was 2.13 per cent, while the food inflation rate in the review month was 16.06 per cent on a year-on-year basis.

The rise in prices comes as an energy price shock stemming from the continued conflict in the Middle East, which stoked food prices and affected relative exchange rate stability.

According to the NBS, “this can be attributed to the rate of change in the average prices of the following products: Millet whole grain, yam flour, ginger (Fresh), beef, garri, tam tuber, pepper (Fresh), cray fish, cassava tuber, Beans, Irish Potatoes, tomatoes (fresh), wheat grain (Sold loose), soya beans, guinea corn, plantain, carrots (Fresh) etc.”

“The average annual rate of food inflation for the twelve months ending April 2026, relative to the previous twelve-month average, was 17.55%, which was 17.05% points lower than the average annual rate of change recorded in April 2025 (34.60%),” the NBS said.

Analysts at Coronation Research had earlier projected that the inflation rate in Nigeria would be at 15.95 per cent on a year-on-year basis in April 2026. It added that the expected inflation rate signals a return toward the underlying disinflation trajectory and could be a pivotal data point in shaping Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) deliberations at the next policy meeting.

It also expects food inflation to further ease, as food and non-alcoholic beverages remain the dominant contributor to headline CPI, accounting for about 40 per cent of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket.

The MPC of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will meet this month, the first since the Iran War started in late February, to review core monetary policies and possibly make adjustments.

The committee reduced the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) by 50 basis points from 27.0 per cent to 26.5 per cent at its 304th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in February.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria’s 650,000 barrels-per-day Dangote Refinery hit its highest-ever monthly crude intake in April 2026, taking in about 635,000 barrels per day of crude oil, according to Argus tracking data.

Deliveries in the review month rose from 565,000 barrels per day in March, bringing the refinery close to its full installed capacity.

The increase followed the completion of maintenance work on one of the refinery’s crude distillation units earlier this year.

This indicates that the Dangote Refinery is steadily ramping up operations toward full capacity after a gradual start since late 2023.

The refinery received 21 separate crude cargoes in April — a record since operations began.

All supplies came from West Africa, mainly Nigerian crude grades, with one cargo from Cameroon.

Nigerian grades delivered included Bonny Light, Escravos, Qua Iboe, Bonga, Forcados, Brass River, Amenam, and others.

Cameroon’s Ebome crude was supplied to the refinery for the first time.

April receipts comprised 160,000 barrels per day of Bonny Light, 65,000 barrels per day each of Escravos, Qua Iboe and Bonga, 50,000 barrels per day of CJ Blend, then 25,000-35,000 barrels per day each of Nigerian Utapate, EA, Jones Creek, Amenam, Forcados, Brass River, plus 25,000 barrels per day of Cameroon’s Ebome.

The strong rise in local and regional crude supply could also reduce the refinery’s dependence on imported crude grades and strengthen Nigeria’s domestic fuel production capacity.

The Argus report said that no US crude was delivered in April, despite the US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude previously being a major feedstock for the plant in 2025.

The refinery relied heavily on Suezmax tankers, with some vessels making multiple shuttle trips between offshore terminals and the refinery.

Average crude receipts in the first four months of 2026 climbed to 495,000 barrels per day, significantly above last year’s average of 375,000 barrels per day.

The data assessed Dangote’s April receipts at a weighted average of 35.1°API and 0.2 per cent sulphur content, compared with 37.2°API and 0.2 per cent sulphur in March. Receipts averaged 37.1°API and 0.15 per cent sulphur in January-April, compared with 36.8°API and 0.2 per cent sulphur across 2025.

The report also added receipts for May appear good as the refinery should get a cargo each of Qua Iboe and Odudu this week.

By Bon Peters

About 17 containers containing illicit items worth over N2 billion have been seized by the Area 11 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Onne, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between January and April 2026.

In the period under review, the agency generated about N258 billion as revenue, a statement signed by the command’s acting spokesman, Mr Paul Istifanus Gimba, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs 1, disclosed on Thursday.

The Customs Area Controller for the Command, Comptroller Aliyu Mohammed Alkali, said last month, more than N77 billion was generated, noting that this reflects the command’s unwavering commitment to revenue generation, trade facilitation, and the enforcement of extant government fiscal policies.

He stated that in the second month of this month, his men intercepted an attempt to smuggle one 40-foot container declared to contain plumbing materials, with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N185.2 million.

According to him, upon examination, it was discovered that the perpetrators had concealed the original container number and replaced it with a fake one in an attempt to unlawfully remove the container from the port without payment of duty.

Furthermore, he hinted that in April 2026, the command intercepted six 20-foot containers carrying a total of 1,100 jerricans of Super Delicieux Vegetable Oil with a DPV of N494.0 million, in contravention of section 55 of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, 2023, which prohibited the importation of refined vegetable oils and fats in order to protect and promote local industries, particularly domestic vegetable oil producers and agro-allied businesses.

The senior customs officer highlighted other items seized by his men during the period under review, including cartons of chilli cutters, ceiling fans, and food packs.

The Comptroller reminded all mischievous importers and their agents that the command remained unwavering in its resolve to combat smuggling and all forms of illegal trade practices at the port, even as he strongly encouraged all law-abiding traders to remain compliant and resist the temptation to engage in activities that contravene the law.

Mr Alkali praised the professionalism of the officers and men of the command as well as their vigilance and dedication to duty.

He also thanked members of the press for their continued partnership and commitment to disseminating accurate and reliable information about the activities of the agency to the public.