Many motorists said in spite of the discount in pump price of petrol at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPCL) filling stations, they are yet to access the product.

The motorists attributed the reason to not having the NNPCL mobile application.

They said the company told them that the discounted fuel could only be accessed through the app.

The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, had announced the discount on petrol prices and subsidy-related products.

According to Oyedele, the pump price of petrol will sell for #1,350, the landing cost at all NNPCL filling stations across the country.

The discount, according to the minister which will be for a month, is aimed at giving Nigerians some measure of relief.

Checks in Abuja, observed that petrol was being sold at N1,405 per litre to customers paying directly at the pumps, while those using the company’s mobile application paid N1,339 per litre.

A motorist in Abuja, Babatunde Atoye, told NAN said the discount was not automatically available to customers at filling stations.

Atoye said motorists had to access the discount through the company’s mobile application.

A petrol attendant, who pleaded anonymity said motorists and consumers could only make payment via the application.

She said it was not yet directed at motorists and consumers at the NNPC Ltd. through pump stations.

Another motorist, Abdulrahim Malik, said customers could only benefit from the N66-per-litre discount by downloading the application.

George Ochendu, a stakeholder, commended the Federal Government for reducing the cost of petrol but expressed concern that many Nigerians may not benefit from the discount due to network challenges.

Toyin Daniel, a consumer, said motorists that purchased petrol directly at the pumps without using the application do not automatically enjoy the discount.

Jide Ojo, a public analyst, said the reduction would have limited impact because of the relatively small number of the company’s outlets compared with other retail stations.

According to him, there is no economic justification for motorists to travel long distances and spend valuable time searching for NNPCL filling stations to benefit from the discount.

He said the petrol price ceiling of N1,339 per litre would still be unaffordable for many Nigerians, who required a more significant reduction in energy costs.

Ojo also called for clarity on the Federal Government’s plans to ensure that the benefits of cheaper petrol reached Nigerians across the country.

The analyst expressed concern over reports that the Dangote Refinery was not receiving sufficient crude oil locally to meet its requirements, forcing it to rely partly on imported crude.

Ojo said that Nigeria’s reported 20 per cent equity interest in the Dangote Refinery could provide an avenue for greater transparency and accountability in monitoring the volume of crude supplied.

He said restricting access to cheaper petrol to selected filling stations could lead to queues, wasted working hours and additional transportation costs.

Dr Aliyu Illias, an economist, said Nigeria had yet to fully harness the potential of its petroleum sector since independence.

Illias said the country had made only average progress in developing its oil and gas industry in spite of having explored the resource for about six decades.

He said that Nigeria had failed to establish sufficient refineries, both in the public and private sectors to maximise the value of its crude oil resources.

According to him, the country has also not adequately developed other products and by-products from petroleum beyond petrol, diesel and related fuels.

The expert said that the country refineries were not operational, leaving the Dangote Refinery as a major development in domestic refining.

He said its impact on the livelihoods of citizens had not been as significant as expected.

Illias also expressed concern that Nigeria was only beginning to embrace Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel at a time when some countries were increasingly shifting towards Electric Vehicles.

According to him, Nigeria has yet to take full advantage of its abundant gas resources, in spite of years of gas flaring.

He said that the country should have developed more refineries across its states to meet domestic demands and generate revenue through the export of refined petroleum products.

The expert said that the global shift away from fossil fuels posed a long-term challenge for Nigeria.

He stressed the need to diversify the economy and maximise the benefits of its oil and gas resources while demands remained significant.

Illias said that Nigeria had yet to achieve the level of development and economic transformation expected from a country with such extensive petroleum resources. (NAN)

By Elijah Oguche, Abuja

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in Kogi said it has seized more than 10 tonnes of illicit drugs and recovered 40 firearms and 874 cartridges from suspected drug dealers since late 2025.

State Commander, NDLEA in Kogi, Umar Yahuza, disclosed this in Lokoja while speaking with newsmen after the handover of the arms and ammunition to the National Centre for the Control of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

Yahuza said the recovered weapons comprised five pistols and 35 other firearms, adding that several suspects had also been arrested in connection with drug trafficking and related offences.

He said many of the suspects were currently facing trial at the Federal High Court in Lokoja, with more than 80 per cent of those standing trial being males.

According to him, cannabis sativa constituted the largest quantity of illicit drugs seized by the command, followed by tramadol, cocaine and methamphetamine.

Yahuza said some of the firearms were recovered from suspected drug dealers involved in cannabis cultivation, who acquired the weapons to confront security personnel during enforcement operations.

He added that the command also recovered counterfeit Naira, Dollar and Pound notes, as well as counterfeit drugs, which were handed over to relevant agencies for further investigation and action.

The commander said that the recovery of the arms and ammunition demonstrated the strong collaboration among security agencies in the state.

He assured that the command would continue to pursue drug dealers and other criminal elements, urging members of the public to provide useful information to security agencies.

Yahuza also advised residents against assisting criminals, stressing that illicit drug trafficking and abuse contributed to insecurity, kidnapping and other forms of criminality.

Also speaking, retired Commander Jerry Omodara, Security Adviser to Gov. Ahmed Ododo, commended the NDLEA for its efforts in combating illicit drugs and other forms of crime in the state.

Omodara said the recovery of the weapons and drugs was significant to the security of residents, noting that the NDLEA had contributed to the broader fight against crime beyond its core mandate of drug control.

He said the state government remained committed to a zero-tolerance policy toward insecurity and criminality, while security agencies continued to collaborate through intelligence sharing and joint operations.

The security adviser attributed the relative peace in the state to sustained security operations, regular patrols and effective collaboration among security agencies.

He said efforts were also ongoing to recover arms from criminal elements operating in forests and other locations, adding that some bandits had started surrendering their weapons.

Omodara called for increased Federal Government support for security operations in the North-Central region, describing Kogi as strategically important because of its road and water links between northern and southern Nigeria.

He welcomed the strengthening of military formations in the state, saying the deployment of additional battalions and Forward Operating Bases would further enhance security operations.

Omodara assured residents of adequate security during the Oct. 17 local government elections in the state, saying security agencies were already coordinating deployment plans to ensure a peaceful exercise.

He warned bandits, kidnappers, highway robbers and cultists to desist from criminal activities or face arrest and prosecution.

The security adviser said the removal of illicit drugs, firearms and ammunition from circulation would contribute to reducing crime and promoting peace and security in the state.

He commended Ododo for his support for security agencies, stressing that continued collaboration among the agencies remained crucial to sustaining the prevailing peace in Kogi.

By Laide Akinboade, Abuja

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) on Tuesday, mourned the crash involving a Nigerian Air Force ATR-42 aircraft near Igbokoda, Ondo State.

This was contained in a statement issued by CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in Abuja

He said the entire Christian community in Nigeria, extended their heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased personnel, the Nigerian Air Force, the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the people and Government of Ondo State.

The statement reads in parts, “The men and women of our Armed Forces make enormous sacrifices in the service of our nation. Their families also bear the weight of those sacrifices. At this difficult moment, our thoughts and prayers are particularly with the bereaved families and their colleagues in the Nigerian Air Force.

“CAN welcomes the decision to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash. We urge that the investigation be thorough, professional and transparent, and that its findings and safety recommendations receive the necessary attention.

“Every life lost is precious. We must therefore continue to strengthen aviation safety, aircraft maintenance, operational procedures and emergency response systems, particularly in the interest of personnel who undertake difficult assignments on behalf of the nation.

“We call on Nigerians to remember the affected families and the Nigerian Air Force in their prayers. May God grant eternal rest to the departed, comfort to the bereaved, and wisdom to all those entrusted with the responsibility of protecting lives”