General
Over 12,000 Refugees Return to Nigeria
By Dipo Olowookere
More than 12,000 refugees returned to north-eastern Nigeria from Cameroon in the month of May, with 1,800 returning in just one day early last week, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, has disclosed.
In view of this, the agency has promised to step up its response.
It was gathered refugees are arriving to difficult conditions in the town of Banki, some 100 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri and just inside Nigeria.
Though returns have dropped significantly since last week – with only 24 coming back on Monday – the UN arm said it was concerned as Banki was already hosting a large population of nearly 45,000 internally displaced people, and is far from ready to receive such large numbers.
Spokesperson of UNHCR, Babar Baloch, disclosed that the decisions to return were being taken by refugees themselves – people variously cite difficult conditions at Cameroon’s Minawao camp or the need to be back for the farming season. The refugees also organize their own transport.
In Banki, and also at nearby towns where people are hoping to head, humanitarian access is very limited and largely dependent on the availability of military escorts. As most returnees are still unable to travel onwards to their home villages where security remains uncertain, there is a pressing need for additional land for more shelter and other facilities at the IDP site.
People are having to sleep alongside their few possessions in the open. In the absence of cooking fuel many are burning plastic. Sanitation is a major worry too as what is available cannot serve the number of people in the site. There is little separation between areas for washing clothes and ablutions. With little or no drainage system at water collection points, and the incoming rainy season, the risk of waterborne disease is great. UNHCR and the government of Nigeria have alerted the refugees in Cameroon that such rate of returns are a strain on the few existing services and create a new emergency for which the response capacity is very limited.
“UNHCR and our partners in Banki are doing what we can, given difficult circumstances, to improve conditions both there and in other areas that returnees are seeking to reach such as Gwoza which lies further south of Banki. Plastic sheeting is being provided and some 1500 emergency shelters are under way along with non-food aid kits. Currently food aid is an urgent need and we are appealing to other humanitarian partners to come forward with additional expertise and help,” Baloch stated.
On March 3 UNHCR, with the governments of Cameroon and Nigeria, signed a Tripartite Agreement aimed at facilitating voluntary returns. The objective and purpose of the tripartite agreement is to ensure that returns comply with international standards.
The situation in Nigeria and Cameroon is part of a wider displacement crisis in the Lake Chad Basin that has displaced over 2.7 million people, including some 210,000 Nigerian refugees into neighbouring countries. As of mid-May, 96,000 of these were registered as being in Cameroon. UNHCR is monitoring the situation on both sides of Nigeria’s border with its neighbours and we continue to urge all countries in the region to allow safe haven and asylum procedures to all those in need. Taking into account the security constraints, UNHCR has started strengthening presence in border entry points for better monitoring and reporting.
By Bon Peters
The Airport Chapter of the Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) at Omagwa Rivers State has praised the Customs Area Controller for Customs Area 1 Command, Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku.
At the end-of-the-year party attended by stakeholders, including the leader of the association’s chapter, Mr Charles Onyema, said the customs officer has done well in stakeholder engagement and trade facilitation.
At the event held last Friday, he said his association has been enjoying a very cordial relationship with other organisation in the ecosystem.
“You can see what is happening today, everybody is working together and our operations here are seamless,” he noted.
He stated that apart from creating a very robust business environment for his members and other stakeholders to operate, he has taken a decision to build and commission a befitting ANLCA Secretariat which would be completed soon and be commissioned by the ANLCA national president, Mr Emenike Nwokeoji.
The ANLCA chapter chief said since “Comptroller Salamatu Atuluku assumed office at Customs Area 1, Port Harcourt Command, it has been a different ball game, facilitating trade and increasing Revenue generation.”
“I remember I told her she was a mother during her maiden visit to the airport.
“You know when you have a woman in charge of an affair, food will not lack, compassion will not lack and motherly love will not lack.
“She is very wonderful in stakeholder engagement, revenue generation and trade facilitation,” Mr Onyema enthused.
Projecting into the future, Mr. Onyema said the year 2026 would be better for his members, adding that he has advised them on financial discipline which he said would help them during the trying period.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has declared Thursday, December 25, and Friday, December 26, 2025, as public holidays to mark Christmas and Boxing Day respectively.
The government also declared Thursday, January 1, 2026, for the New Year celebration.
The declaration was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mrs Magdalene Ajani, on behalf of the Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the Minister urged Nigerians to reflect on the values of love, peace, humility and sacrifice associated with the birth of Jesus Christ.
Mr Tunji-Ojo also called on citizens, irrespective of faith or ethnicity, to use the festive season to pray for peace, improved security and national progress.
He further advised Nigerians to remain law-abiding and security-conscious during the celebrations, while wishing them a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Business Post reports that on these public holidays – the foreign exchange market, the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), as well as the NASD Over-the-Counter (OTC) Securities Exchange will not open to trade.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Local crude oil refiner, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, has kicked against attempts to put consumers of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, under untold hardship in the country.
The company, which commenced nationwide sales of the product at a pump price of N739 per litre across all MRS Oil Nigeria Plc filling stations, appealed to Nigerians to report any of its marketers who sell above this price.
“Any attempt to create artificial scarcity or manipulate supply to frustrate recent price reductions is unpatriotic and unacceptable.
“We urge regulatory authorities to remain vigilant and take firm action against such practices, especially during this critical festive period,” the Lagos-based refinery said in a statement.
It noted that the significant price reduction was part of its mission to deliver affordable fuel to consumers and stabilize the downstream petroleum market.
With over 2,000 MRS stations nationwide, the new pricing is expected to be implemented across all outlets, ensuring that the benefits of this reduction reach consumers nationwide.
Dangote Refinery applauded marketers who have embraced the new pricing regime and urged others to follow suit in the interest of national economic recovery.
“We commend MRS and other marketers who have demonstrated patriotism by reflecting the reduced price at the pump. We call on others to join this effort as a show of support for Nigeria’s economic recovery,” the refinery stated.
Historically, the festive season has been associated with fuel scarcity and sharp price hikes. However, Dangote Refinery has delivered a decisive market intervention—crashing pump prices at a time when Nigerians typically brace for hardship. Backed by a guaranteed daily supply of 50 million litres, this initiative fundamentally alters the supply dynamics during the holiday period.
By refining locally at scale, the refinery is reducing Nigeria’s exposure to volatile global markets, conserving foreign exchange, stabilizing the Naira, and strengthening energy security. This sustained price cut and steady supply are providing relief to households, businesses, and transport operators nationwide.
Consumers were advised to resist purchasing fuel at inflated prices when cheaper, high-quality alternatives are readily available.
“We encourage Nigerians to avoid buying PMS at excessively high prices when they can access locally refined fuel at N739 per litre from over 2,000 MRS stations nationwide. Report any MRS station selling above N739 per litre by calling 0800 123 5264,” the refinery said.
“We also call on other petrol station operators to patronize our products so that the benefits of this price reduction can be passed on to Nigerians across all outlets, ensuring broad-based relief and a more stable downstream market,” it added, reaffirming its commitment to steady supply, price moderation, and energy security, emphasizing that its operations are anchored on long-term national interest rather than short-term market pressures.
“Our objective remains clear: to ensure consistent supply of high-quality petroleum products at affordable prices for Nigerians, while supporting economic stability and reducing dependence on imports,” the refinery concluded.
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