General
Nigerians Turn to Solar Energy as Petrol Prices Bite Harder
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerians continue to seek alternative power sources, primarily solar, causing the consumption of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, to fall by 16.9 per cent in March 2026.
Prices of the petroleum products have been up since last month as a result of the US-Israel attack on Iran and its blowback.
According to data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), daily petrol consumption dropped from 56.9 million litres in February to 47.3 million litres in March, marking one of the steepest month-on-month declines in recent times.
This fall is significant not just for its size, but for what it signals in a country where petrol has long remained the dominant fuel for transport and off-grid electricity generation, which has been epileptic.
The drop of over 9 million litres per day suggests that households, transport operators and small businesses had to adjust their consumption patterns in response to sustained fuel price pressure, which rose to as high as N2,000 in some parts of the country, following the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
At the same time, total PMS supply rose marginally from 39.5 million litres per day in February to 40.1 million litres in March, representing a 1.5 per cent increase. This contrast between rising supply and falling demand points to a market that is not constrained by availability but increasingly shaped by affordability and substitution effects.
Prices of petrol in Nigeria typically rise due to global market conditions since the government removed fuel subsidy, which led to changes in the cost of buying the fuel weekly.
Also, Dangote Refinery, which handles a chunk of Nigeria’s domestic supply, relies on international markets to get crude feedstock due to shortages from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited. This comes into play when pricing for the local market.
Also, the March figures could suggest rising renewable energy adoption as residential estates, businesses and commercial buildings are gradually expanding, driven largely by the need to escape rising diesel and petrol costs.
However, adoption is slow because of how expensive a solar power setup is, with the cost running into millions of Naira.
Energy experts told Business Post that, beyond cost, there are several factors, such as holding false beliefs as well as a lack of energy management.
Mr Danieel Anomfueme, a Port Harcourt-based solar expert, told this newspaper, “While going solar is a much better alternative to fuel-based generation (napkin maths puts it at ~3 years fuel cost ), most can’t make the move because they lack the upfront money. While there are solar financing companies, the credit cost and options don’t make it attractive.”
“We are wasteful energy-wise because we grew up with it being heavily subsidised electricity, and we don’t bother to know about energy conservation or efficiency of appliances. This is why someone will be spending 400k+ monthly on band A, but expect their “#6m setup” to power all those appliances 24/7 daily,” he added.
For the expert, interested Nigerians can design a solar setup, have an overview of it and get to build it up little by little as the money comes.
“They don’t have to deploy everything at once.”
General
Edo Assembly Gets New Speaker as Blessing Agbebaku Quits
By Dipo Olowookere A new Speaker has emerged for the Edo State House of Assembly, and he is Mr Osamwonyi Atu, representing Orhionmwon East constituency. His assumption of office followed the resignation of Mr Blessing Agbebaku, representing Owan West Constituency, on Monday. The leadership change in the legislative arm of government in Edo State was […]
By Dipo Olowookere
A new Speaker has emerged for the Edo State House of Assembly, and he is Mr Yekini Oisayemoje, representing Akoko Edo Constituency II.
His assumption of office followed the resignation of Mr Blessing Agbebaku, representing Owan West Constituency, on Monday.
The leadership change in the legislative arm of government in Edo State was not what was seen coming too soon.
This development, according to observers, could further restructure the political dynamics within the state’s tier of government.
According to reports, Mr Agbebaku decided to step down from the exalted position because he suspects he could be impeached as Speaker, and to avert denting his political image, he quickly resigned.
The lawmaker was elected as the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly in June 2023 under the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), but in 2025, he defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), a party of the Governor of Edo State, Mr Monday Okpebholo.
There have been speculations that he may still be loyal to the immediate past governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki. This may have prompted rumours of his purported impeachment.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has unveiled plans to accelerate Nigeria’s journey to sugar self-sufficiency, with a target of producing about two million metric tonnes of sugar locally under the Nigeria Sugar Master Plan (NSMP) 2.0.
NSDC Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kamar Bakrin, disclosed this when he received members of the Abuja Chapter of the Chartered Institute of Directors (CIoD) at the Council’s headquarters in Abuja.
Mr Bakrin described NSMP 2.0 as an “acceleration mandate” designed to compress Nigeria’s timeline to sugar self-sufficiency and reduce the country’s dependence on imported sugar.
Nigeria currently consumes about 1.8 million metric tonnes of sugar annually, while approximately $1 billion is spent on sugar imports each year.
The NSDC said increasing local production would help retain this value within the Nigerian economy while creating jobs, supporting rural development, saving foreign exchange and driving industrialisation.
Mr Bakrin said the council’s ambition goes beyond sugar production, noting that sugarcane can also support the production of ethanol, animal feed and electricity, thereby creating a broader bio-industrial ecosystem.
He identified governance and implementation as major challenges facing the sector, saying Nigeria has adequate policies but has struggled with effective execution.
The council is also strengthening the Backwards Integration Programme (BIP), noting that companies seeking import quotas must demonstrate genuine commitment to the integration programme, while major refiners are required to submit audited production commitments linked to their quotas.
He said the organisation plans to use satellite imagery and physical inspections to verify activities at project sites and enforce compliance.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Electorates in Osun State have been applauded for demonstrating remarkable resilience, courage and determination in exercising their constitutional right to vote despite the atmosphere of tension, intimidation and violence that preceded the governorship election on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
This commendation came from the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) through a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr James Ezema.
CNPP is the umbrella body of registered political parties and political associations in Nigeria.
In the statement issued on Sunday, the group noted that the Osun governorship poll offers an important lesson for Nigerians as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
The organisation said the reported killings and other violent incidents in the build-up to the election made the courage of Osun voters even more significant, noting that the decision of citizens to turn out and participate in the electoral process demonstrated that intimidation must not be allowed to determine who governs the people.
“Osun State has once again reminded Nigerians that democracy belongs to the people and that the ballot remains one of the most powerful instruments available to citizens for determining who governs them.
“The resilience of the people of Osun State, who refused to be intimidated or driven away from the polling units by the atmosphere of violence and fear that preceded the election, deserves commendation.
“Those who seek to intimidate voters understand one fundamental weakness of democracy: when citizens refuse to participate, they create a vacuum that can be exploited by those who seek to manipulate the electoral process.
“Therefore, ahead of the 2027 general elections, Nigerians must emulate the courage demonstrated by Osun voters. Refusal to vote does not punish politicians; rather, it opens the door and clears the stage for those who may seek to rig elections or impose unpopular leadership,” the CNPP stated.
INEC Must Improve on Osun Performance
The CNPP also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what it described as a generally improved level of neutrality in the conduct of the Osun governorship election.
However, it emphasised that the electoral commission must not regard the Osun experience as the destination, but as a foundation upon which greater transparency, efficiency and credibility must be built ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The CNPP particularly called on INEC to improve the speed and transparency of results management and ensure the early and consistent uploading of polling-unit results on its election results portal.
“INEC must understand that in today’s Nigeria, information does not wait. When authentic results are delayed, unverified figures immediately fill the vacuum.
“Such a situation can generate unnecessary suspicion, fuel conspiracy theories and create fertile ground for the circulation of fake results, which can become a recipe for violence.
“INEC must therefore ensure that results are uploaded promptly, transparently and consistently in accordance with its established procedures. Nigerians should not have to rely on social media speculation or unofficial result sheets when the electoral commission has an official results platform,” the CNPP said.
Fix BVAS and Other Electronic Malfunctions
The CNPP further urged INEC to conduct a comprehensive technical review of the biometric accreditation systems and other electronic devices deployed during the Osun election.
The organisation said reports of malfunctioning equipment and difficulties experienced with biometric and electronic systems should not be dismissed as isolated technical inconveniences.
According to the CNPP, every malfunction that prevents or delays a legitimate voter from exercising his or her franchise has the potential to undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
Political Violence Must End
The group condemned electoral violence, intimidation, threats and attacks against voters, political opponents, electoral officials and other stakeholders, urging politicians and their supporters to understand that electoral victory obtained through violence or intimidation cannot produce a stable democracy.
Need for Electoral Offences Tribunals
As part of broader reforms required to strengthen Nigeria’s democratic institutions, the CNPP called for the immediate establishment of Federal and State Electoral Offences Tribunals dedicated to handling cases arising from electoral violence, intimidation, vote buying, destruction of electoral materials, manipulation of electoral processes and other breaches of the Electoral Act and related laws.
“The electoral process cannot be strengthened merely by changing voting technology. We must also strengthen the institutions that punish those who violate electoral laws.
“We need specialised Electoral Offences Tribunals at the federal and state levels with the capacity to investigate, prosecute and swiftly determine cases arising from electoral offences.
“Where perpetrators know that electoral violence and other violations will attract immediate and certain consequences, the incentive to deploy violence as a political strategy will be significantly reduced,” the CNPP said.
2027 Should Not Be About Political Gang-Up
The CNPP cautioned opposition political parties and political actors against reducing the 2027 political contest to a mere exercise in political arithmetic, coalition-building or opposition gang-up.
“What Nigerians need ahead of the 2027 general elections is not political gang-up for its own sake.
“Nigerians need a transparent, free, fair and credible electoral system capable of faithfully delivering the popular wishes of the electorate.
“Coalitions, consensus and mergers are legitimate democratic practices. Political parties have every right to negotiate, realign and form alliances. But none of these should distract attention from the fundamental issue: the integrity of the electoral process,” the CNPP said.
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