Nigeria’s defence minister has attended the funeral of several senior military officers killed in a surge of Boko Haram attacks in the northeast. The officers were laid to rest in Maiduguri, as armed groups intensify violence across the region. On Monday, Boko Haram fighters stormed an army base in Monguno, north of Maiduguri, killing a commander and six soldiers.
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Boko Haram violence: Abuja buries senior army officers killed in attacks
Nigeria’s defence minister has attended the funeral of several senior military officers killed in a surge of Boko Haram attacks in the northeast. The officers were laid to rest in Maiduguri, as armed groups intensify violence across the region. On Monday, Boko Haram fighters stormed an army base in Monguno, north of Maiduguri, killing a commander and six soldiers.
Nigeria Drops Terror Charges Against Former Justice Minister
The FG, through its team of lawyers led by Mr. Akinlolu Kehinde, SAN, applied to substitute the charge with an amended one concerning the defendants’ alleged illegal possession of arms and ammunition.
It told the court that the arms and live cartridges were found in Malami’s residence in Birnin Kebbi.
Following the development, Malami — who served as Justice Minister from November 11, 2015, to May 29, 2023, under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration — and his son took fresh pleas of not guilty to the five-count amended charge.
The defence lawyer, Mr. Shuaibu Arua, SAN, who did not oppose the withdrawal and substitution of the initial charge, persuaded the court, however, to allow the defendants to retain the bail that was initially granted to them.
The application for the defendant’s bail was not challenged by prosecution counsel.
Consequently, trial Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that the bail the court granted the defendants on February 27, as well as all the conditions already fulfilled, would subsist.
The court subsequently fixed May 26 and June 15 for trial.
It will be recalled that the Department of State Services (DSS) arraigned Malami and his son before the court on February 3.
The former Justice Minister was initially accused of knowingly abetting terrorism financing by refusing to prosecute terrorism financiers whose case files had been brought to his office as AGF.
Both Malami and his son were jointly accused of unlawful possession of firearms, offences punishable under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, and the Firearms Act, 2004.
In the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/63/2026, Malami and Abdulaziz were accused of storing firearms at their residence in Gesse Phase II, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, without lawful authority.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the allegations and were granted bail in the sum of N200 million each, with two sureties each in like sum.
Some of the counts in the charge, read: “That you Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did engage in preparation to commit acts of terrorism by having in your possession and without license, a Sturm Magnum 17 – 0101 firearm, Sixteen (16) Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 29 of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
“That you, Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, and Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, Adult, Male, sometime in December, 2025, at Geeze Phase II Area, Birnin Kebbi LGA, Kebbi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, without a license, did have in your possession Twenty-Seven (27) expended Redstar AAA 5’20 live rounds of Cartridges and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 8 (1) (b) (ii) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under Section 27 (1) (a) (i) of the Firearms Act, CAP F28, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
By Ikechukwu Nnochiri, Vanguard
Nigerian airlines threaten to halt flights over soaring jet fuel prices
Nigerian airlines will suspend all flight operations from April 20, they warned, unless crippling jet fuel prices, which they accused the country's fuel marketers of artificially inflating, are reduced.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, an industry body grouping around a dozen mainly domestic carriers, wrote to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria on April 14, complaining that jet fuel prices had risen by about 270% since late February.
Global oil and fuel prices have surged since the onset of the Iran war, as the conflict severely hinders shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
But in the letter seen by Reuters, AON called the jet fuel increase in Africa's most populous nation "astronomical and artificial," saying it far outpaced global crude oil prices.
"Currently, airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone," it said.
MEMAN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Soaring jet fuel prices have upended the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to raise fares, curb growth plans and rethink forecasts.
AON said that raising ticket prices to reflect the fuel costs airlines are facing in Nigeria could lead to low passenger numbers, while a shutdown of airline operations would have broader repercussions, hurting banks, costing jobs and worsening insecurity.
Jet fuel typically accounts for 30% to over 40% of African airlines' operating costs, compared with a global average of 20% to 25%, according to the African Airlines Association, making them particularly vulnerable to price surges.
Nigeria’s aviation sector consumed about 2.1 million litres of jet fuel per day last month, data from the country's petroleum products regulator showed.
However, the giant Dangote Petroleum Refinery - Nigeria's sole domestic jet fuel producer - made no deliveries to the domestic market in March, the data showed.
At the same time, data from tanker-tracking firm Kpler showed Nigeria's exports of clean petroleum products - gasoline, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel - more than doubling month-on-month in March.
Dangote did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Airline Operators of Nigeria, an industry body grouping around a dozen mainly domestic carriers, wrote to the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria on April 14, complaining that jet fuel prices had risen by about 270% since late February.
Global oil and fuel prices have surged since the onset of the Iran war, as the conflict severely hinders shipping through the critical Strait of Hormuz.
But in the letter seen by Reuters, AON called the jet fuel increase in Africa's most populous nation "astronomical and artificial," saying it far outpaced global crude oil prices.
"Currently, airline revenues are insufficient to cover the cost of fuel alone," it said.
MEMAN did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Soaring jet fuel prices have upended the global aviation industry, forcing airlines to raise fares, curb growth plans and rethink forecasts.
AON said that raising ticket prices to reflect the fuel costs airlines are facing in Nigeria could lead to low passenger numbers, while a shutdown of airline operations would have broader repercussions, hurting banks, costing jobs and worsening insecurity.
Jet fuel typically accounts for 30% to over 40% of African airlines' operating costs, compared with a global average of 20% to 25%, according to the African Airlines Association, making them particularly vulnerable to price surges.
Nigeria’s aviation sector consumed about 2.1 million litres of jet fuel per day last month, data from the country's petroleum products regulator showed.
However, the giant Dangote Petroleum Refinery - Nigeria's sole domestic jet fuel producer - made no deliveries to the domestic market in March, the data showed.
At the same time, data from tanker-tracking firm Kpler showed Nigeria's exports of clean petroleum products - gasoline, diesel, kerosene and jet fuel - more than doubling month-on-month in March.
Dangote did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
By Isaac Anyaogu, Reuters
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
Nigeria slashes import duties to fight rising cost of living
Nigeria will cut import duties on a range of goods from July 1, in a move aimed at easing living costs and supporting businesses.
Key tariff reductions
The presidency said duties will be lowered on rice, sugar, palm oil, passenger vehicles and construction materials.
Under the new rates, tariffs on passenger vehicles will drop to 40 percent, bulk rice to 47.5 percent, and raw sugar cane to between 55 and 57.5 percent. Palm oil duties will fall to 28.75 percent.
Electric vehicles, mass-transit buses and manufacturing machinery will be fully exempt.
The presidency said duties will be lowered on rice, sugar, palm oil, passenger vehicles and construction materials.
Under the new rates, tariffs on passenger vehicles will drop to 40 percent, bulk rice to 47.5 percent, and raw sugar cane to between 55 and 57.5 percent. Palm oil duties will fall to 28.75 percent.
Electric vehicles, mass-transit buses and manufacturing machinery will be fully exempt.
Push to curb inflation
The measures are part of efforts by the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce inflation and lower costs for households and businesses.
Inflation eased to 15.06 percent in February from a peak of about 33 percent in December 2024, but remains high.
The measures are part of efforts by the government of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to reduce inflation and lower costs for households and businesses.
Inflation eased to 15.06 percent in February from a peak of about 33 percent in December 2024, but remains high.
Rising external pressures
Officials say global factors, including the Iran war, are adding pressure through higher fuel prices.
Finance Minister Wale Edun said Nigeria will seek support at meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Petrol prices have risen by more than 50 percent, increasing costs for transport and businesses.
Officials say global factors, including the Iran war, are adding pressure through higher fuel prices.
Finance Minister Wale Edun said Nigeria will seek support at meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
Petrol prices have risen by more than 50 percent, increasing costs for transport and businesses.
Nigeria becomes net petrol exporter for first time in decades as Dangote refinery scales up
Nigeria has become a net exporter of petrol for the first time in decades, marking a turning point for a country long defined by its dependence on imported fuel despite being Africa’s largest oil producer.
The shift, recorded in March 2026, was driven by rising output from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which is rapidly transforming the country’s downstream oil market.
Data from energy intelligence firm Kpler shows Nigeria exported about 44,000 barrels per day (bpd) of petrol during the month, slightly exceeding imports and leaving a net surplus of roughly 3,000 bpd.
It is a symbolic and economic milestone. For years, Nigeria relied heavily on fuel imports due to underperforming state refineries, a system that drained foreign exchange and exposed the economy to global supply shocks.
That dynamic is now changing.
Crude supply to the 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery rose to about 565,000 bpd in March, one of its highest levels since operations began in late 2023. At the same time, petrol imports fell sharply to around 41,000 bpd, the lowest level ever recorded.
The figures point to a rapid replacement of imports with domestic refining.
Beyond reducing import dependence, the refinery is also expanding Nigeria’s reach into new markets. In March, it shipped a 317,000-barrel cargo of petrol to Mozambique, its first export to East Africa, with another cargo expected in April.
The move signals a broader shift in African fuel trade flows. East African countries, traditionally reliant on suppliers from the Middle East, are increasingly diversifying sources amid persistent global supply disruptions and shipping risks.
For Nigeria, the implications are significant.
Exporting petrol could help boost foreign exchange earnings while reducing demand for dollars previously used for imports, a key factor behind pressure on the naira in recent years. It also strengthens energy security by anchoring supply within the country.
At a global level, Nigeria’s entry into the export market could intensify competition, particularly in Europe where petrol supply is already ample.
The development reflects a deeper structural change: Nigeria is beginning to move from exporting crude and importing refined products to processing more of its oil domestically, a long-standing policy goal that has repeatedly failed in the past.
The Dangote refinery sits at the centre of that transition.
Its scale and rising utilisation are already reshaping expectations for the sector, with analysts pointing to potential gains in industrial activity, trade balance, and fiscal stability if output remains strong.
At the same time, the refinery’s owner, Aliko Dangote, is pursuing plans to list the business across multiple African stock exchanges in what could become the continent’s first pan-African initial public offering.
The proposed listing aims to attract investors across different countries and deepen cross-border capital flows, though analysts say execution will depend on regulatory alignment and currency stability.
For now, the export milestone offers the clearest signal yet that Nigeria’s long-troubled downstream oil sector may be entering a new phase, one defined less by scarcity and imports, and more by domestic capacity and regional influence.
The shift, recorded in March 2026, was driven by rising output from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which is rapidly transforming the country’s downstream oil market.
Data from energy intelligence firm Kpler shows Nigeria exported about 44,000 barrels per day (bpd) of petrol during the month, slightly exceeding imports and leaving a net surplus of roughly 3,000 bpd.
It is a symbolic and economic milestone. For years, Nigeria relied heavily on fuel imports due to underperforming state refineries, a system that drained foreign exchange and exposed the economy to global supply shocks.
That dynamic is now changing.
Crude supply to the 650,000 bpd Dangote refinery rose to about 565,000 bpd in March, one of its highest levels since operations began in late 2023. At the same time, petrol imports fell sharply to around 41,000 bpd, the lowest level ever recorded.
The figures point to a rapid replacement of imports with domestic refining.
Beyond reducing import dependence, the refinery is also expanding Nigeria’s reach into new markets. In March, it shipped a 317,000-barrel cargo of petrol to Mozambique, its first export to East Africa, with another cargo expected in April.
The move signals a broader shift in African fuel trade flows. East African countries, traditionally reliant on suppliers from the Middle East, are increasingly diversifying sources amid persistent global supply disruptions and shipping risks.
For Nigeria, the implications are significant.
Exporting petrol could help boost foreign exchange earnings while reducing demand for dollars previously used for imports, a key factor behind pressure on the naira in recent years. It also strengthens energy security by anchoring supply within the country.
At a global level, Nigeria’s entry into the export market could intensify competition, particularly in Europe where petrol supply is already ample.
The development reflects a deeper structural change: Nigeria is beginning to move from exporting crude and importing refined products to processing more of its oil domestically, a long-standing policy goal that has repeatedly failed in the past.
The Dangote refinery sits at the centre of that transition.
Its scale and rising utilisation are already reshaping expectations for the sector, with analysts pointing to potential gains in industrial activity, trade balance, and fiscal stability if output remains strong.
At the same time, the refinery’s owner, Aliko Dangote, is pursuing plans to list the business across multiple African stock exchanges in what could become the continent’s first pan-African initial public offering.
The proposed listing aims to attract investors across different countries and deepen cross-border capital flows, though analysts say execution will depend on regulatory alignment and currency stability.
For now, the export milestone offers the clearest signal yet that Nigeria’s long-troubled downstream oil sector may be entering a new phase, one defined less by scarcity and imports, and more by domestic capacity and regional influence.
By Ayodeji Adegboyega, Business Insider Africa
Related story: Dangote refinery hikes exports to ease Africa supply crunch
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