Petrol Imports Surge By 105 percent To N15.42tn – NBS Report

Petrol imports surge by 105 percent to N15.42tn. Nigeria’s petrol imports doubled in 2024 despite increased domestic refining capacity, reinforcing the country’s continued dependence on foreign fuel, according to a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

Data from the NBS foreign trade statistics report shows that petrol import costs rose by 105.3%, reaching N15.42 trillion in 2024, up from N7.51 trillion in 2023.

This significant increase comes at a time when local refining was expected to ease reliance on imports, following the launch of the 650,000 bpd Dangote Refinery and ongoing rehabilitation of state-owned refineries.

However, available data suggests that local refineries are yet to reach full production capacity to meet domestic demand.

Over the past five years, Nigeria’s fuel import bill has consistently risen:
2020: N2.01 trillion
2021: N4.56 trillion
2022: N7.71 trillion
2023: N7.51 trillion
2024: N15.42 trillion (highest on record)

Continued Petrol Imports Despite Local Refining
Between September and December 2024, oil marketers imported 2.3 billion litres of petrol, contradicting earlier commitments to shift focus to domestic supply.

NBS Report

Despite operational local refineries, including:
Dangote Refinery (650,000 bpd, Lagos)
Port Harcourt Refinery (210,000 bpd, with 60,000 bpd in operation)
Warri Refinery (resumed operations in December 2024)

oil marketers still imported 6.38 billion litres of petrol and diesel in the past five months.

Forex Pressure & Market Competition
The importation of fuel cost about N6 trillion, further straining Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.

However, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) argues that continued importation promotes market competition and price stability.

MEMAN’s Executive Secretary, Clement Isong, stated: “Importation contributes to market competitiveness. Local refining is important, but ensuring competition with imports keeps pump prices as low as possible.”

The debate over fuel imports vs. local refining continues as Nigeria seeks to balance domestic production, pricing, and forex stability.

Nnamdi Kanu’s Alleged Terrorism Case Reassigned To Another Judge

Nnamdi Kanu’s alleged terrorism case reassigned to another judge. Mr Ejimakor said Mr Kanu’s legal team received the “momentous and somewhat pyrrhic” letters when they visited him on Friday.

The alleged terrorism case filed against Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been reassigned to another judge.

This is contained in two separate letters by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, and the Chief Justice (CJ) of the Federal High Court (FHC), John Tsoho.

The two letters were addressed to the IPOB leader’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor.

While the first letter from the CJN was dated February 5, Mr Tsoho’s letter was dated March 4.

Justice Binta Nyako, the former trial judge, had, on February 10, adjourned Mr Kanu’s trial indefinitely following the insistence by the IPOB leader and his legal team that the matter be reassigned after Ms Nyako recused herself from the case on September 24, 2024.
Meanwhile, Mr Ejimakor, in a statement on Saturday, said the CJN and the FHC CJ had finally responded to their complaint letters.

He said Mr Kanu’s legal team received the “momentous and somewhat pyrrhic” letters when they visited him on Friday.

“One letter was from the CJN, responding to a recent letter we had written to her, seeking her prompt administrative intervention (as the administrative head of Nigerian judiciary) on the matter of a proper and lawful reassignment of Kanu’s case, following the recusal of the judge that was conducting it.

“The other letter was from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, informing us that the case has been reassigned to another judge of the Federal High Court.

“Consequent upon these latest developments, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu instructed the legal team to publicly convey his sincere gratitude to the Chief Justice of Nigeria for her sound administrative discretions and the despatch with which she responded to our request.

“He also expressed his profound appreciation to members of the general public who publicly expressed their support to our righteous demands that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s case be reassigned to another judge, as the law demands,” he said.

Nnamdi Kanu

Mr Ejimakor said Mr Kanu had always been ready to take his trial “because he is firmly convinced of his innocence.”

According to him, the perverse events of the past six months (from September 2024, when the recusal happened) posed portent dangers to his constitutional rights, particularly his right to a fair and speedy hearing.
“It was in view of this that we were propelled to resort to taking extraordinary measures to ensure that his case is properly reassigned and conducted in accordance with the law.

“So, now that the first steps have been taken by the authorities to do the lawful thing,  Kanu and his legal team shall take stock and hanker down to the zealous preparation of his defence,” Mr Ejimakor concluded.

Natasha Falsely Accuses Reno Omokri Of s€xual Harassment: Past Allegation

Natasha falsely accuses Reno Omokri of s€xual harassment: Past Allegation. Former presidential aide and social media personality Reno Omokri has revisited a past controversy involving Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, alleging that she once falsely accused him of s€xual harassment.

Omokri made this revelation while reacting to recent allegations made by Akpoti-Uduaghan against Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

The Kogi Central senator had accused Akpabio of s€xual harassment, claiming he made advances toward her and that she faced hostility in the Senate after rejecting him.

Following her claims, some social media users resurfaced past accusations Akpoti-Uduaghan made in 2014 against Omokri, prompting media houses to seek his reaction.

Omokri: “I Was in the U.S. During the Alleged Incident”

In a post on his X account, Omokri confirmed that journalists had contacted him regarding his past altercation with Akpoti-Uduaghan.

While stating that he had no knowledge of the truth behind her claims against Akpabio, he recounted his own experience.

According to Omokri, the controversy started after he rejected advances from a woman who happened to be a friend of Akpoti-Uduaghan. Following his public rejection, he claimed that Akpoti-Uduaghan accused him of s€xually harassing her at Aso Rock during a state banquet for visiting Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta in May 2014.

Omokri, however, maintained that her claims were false, as he was on an official trip to the United States at the time. He stated that he was in Washington, D.C., serving as a special envoy for then-President Goodluck Jonathan and even met with U.S. State Department officials.

To defend himself, Omokri said he published proof, including a First-Class British Airways ticket and passport stamps, confirming that he was not in Nigeria during the period in question.

Out-of-Court Settlement After Clergyman’s Intervention

Omokri further revealed that after he presented evidence debunking the allegations, Akpoti-Uduaghan deleted all her posts about him, including a video where she allegedly insulted him, his wife, and their newborn daughter.

He added that the issue was eventually settled out of court following the intervention of a respected Christian clergyman.

Reno Omokri, Natasha

While distancing himself from the current controversy involving Akpoti-Uduaghan and Akpabio, Omokri stated that his past encounter with the senator was the only experience he had with her. He urged the media to leave him out of the matter.

As the situation unfolds, public reactions remain mixed, with some questioning Akpoti-Uduaghan’s past accusations while others call for an independent investigation into her claims against Akpabio.