Rifnote
Loading your desk
Nigerian News: Morning Headlines – 16 September 2026
Dangote Blames Petrol Smuggling For High Pump Prices
President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has attributed the high price of petrol in Nigeria partly to the continued smuggling of the commodity to neighbouring countries, where it sells for significantly more. Dangote said petrol prices in neighbouring countries were between 30 and 50 per cent higher than in Nigeria, arguing that the price difference creates a strong financial incentive for traders to move petrol out of the country.
Peter Obi Asks UNN To Release His Academic Records
Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has asked the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to release his academic records following reports of legal action seeking Certified True Copies of his university certificates and other admission records. Obi, in a statement on X, said he had no objection to the release of his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, which he said was awarded by the university in 1984, as well as other academic records.
Armed Herders Kill Two Police Officers In Benue Ambush
Suspected armed herders on Monday ambushed the entourage of the Divisional Police Officer of Ayilamo in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, killing two police officers. Sources in the community told journalists on Tuesday that the DPO, who had travelled to Makurdi on official assignment, was returning to Ayilamo when his entourage ran into the armed herders.
Nigeria’s Inflation Rate Records Fresh Decline
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate dropped slightly to 15.39 per cent in August 2026, a 0.04 percentage point decline from the 15.43 per cent recorded in July, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has said. The Statistician-General of the Federation, Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, stated this in a statement on Tuesday. The latest figure, contained in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, was also significantly lower than the 23.14 per cent recorded in August 2025. The NBS said month-on-month inflation also slowed in August, falling to 0.71 per cent from 1.57 per cent in July.
‘APC Govs Will Not Support Any Candidate Not In Our Party’ – Uzodimma
All Progressives Congress, APC, governors and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Minister Nyesom Wike on Tuesday disagreed over campaign structures and strategies ahead of next year’s elections. The governors, under the aegis of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) and led by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, ruled out any cross-party alliances and external political arrangements and resolved to deploy the party’s structures for mobilisation, following a meeting at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. The development comes amid growing disagreements within the APC over the Rainbow Coalition being championed by Wike, with some party leaders expressing concern that the coalition could divide APC votes and affect the President’s chances in 2027.
Politics Is Not A Tea Party, Tinubu Will Have 12 Million Votes – Fayose
Former governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has said it is now difficult to rig an election. Speaking on Channels Television, Fayose also said that politics is not a tea party, stating that Tinubu will have 12 million votes.
Petrol Hike: Stop Punishing Nigerians, They Can’t Endure More Hardship – ADC Warns Tinubu
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of pushing Nigerians “dangerously close to the limits of human endurance.” In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday signed by National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said that with petrol now selling for as much as ₦1,470 per litre, every journey had become more expensive, while food and even basic education were being priced out of the reach of citizens. The ADC noted that widespread reports of private schools increasing fees by between 30 and 40 per cent, while incomes have not risen anywhere near that margin, was further evidence of worsening living conditions under the APC government.
NDLEA Arrests Mexican Drug Kingpin, Dismantles Meth Lab In Ebonyi
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has arrested a Mexican drug kingpin allegedly linked to a transnational methamphetamine cartel and dismantled another industrial-scale laboratory in Ebonyi State. The suspect, identified as Arturo Carrera Loaiza, was arrested on August 19, 2026, while attempting to flee Nigeria through Lagos airport, the agency disclosed on Tuesday.
Nasarawa Governor Names Ombugadu As APC Deputy Governorship Candidate
Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, has announced Emmanuel Ombugadu as the deputy governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, following a decision reached at a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, on Monday. Briefing journalists after the meeting, Sule said the choice was reached after consultations among the aspirants who had shown interest in the position.
Naira Appreciates At Parallel Market, Slips At Official Window
The naira on Tuesday appreciated to ₦1,380 per dollar from ₦1,390 in the parallel market on Monday. However, the naira depreciated to ₦1,329.5 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).
Why APC Governors Are Not Happy With Me – Wike
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors are not happy that President Bola Tinubu appointed him to the position, submitting that their dissatisfaction is part of why they are openly opposing him. Wike, who spoke on Tuesday during an interview with Arise News, added that the APC governors misled the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, to go against him but failed to secure a second term for him. The Minister insisted that his Rainbow Coalition would not be a problem in the 2027 elections and urged the governors to stop seeing themselves as “alpha and omega” or always trying to ensure their own ways prevail over others. According to him, winning elections goes beyond being a governor, recalling that when he emerged as Governor of Rivers State, he defeated the candidate of a sitting governor.
98 Lawmakers Fail To Secure House Of Reps Ticket
At least 98 members of the House of Representatives will not return to the Green Chamber after the 2027 general elections, having either lost their party tickets or chosen to pursue other elective positions. A state-by-state analysis of candidates for the 2027 National Assembly elections showed that about 262 serving lawmakers secured tickets to return to the House, either on their current parties’ platforms or after defecting to other political parties. Among those set to leave are several principal officers, including House Leader Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo), Deputy Chief Whip Isiaka Ayokunle Isiaka (APC, Ogun), Minority Leader Fred Agbedi (PDP, Bayelsa), and Deputy Minority Whip Manu Soro (PDP, Bauchi). Others include Deputy Minority Leader Abdulsamad Dasuki (ADC, Sokoto) and Deputy Minority Whip George Ozodinobi (NDC, Anambra).
Fuel Price Rises Again As NNPCL Sells Petrol At ₦1,430/Litre
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) on Tuesday increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol. A market survey showed that the majority of NNPCL retail outlets in Abuja and its environs had raised their petrol pump price to between ₦1,395 and ₦1,430 per litre, an upward adjustment of between ₦50 and ₦80. The new prices have been implemented at outlets in Airport Junction, Gwarinpa, Kubwa Expressway, Wuse Zone 4 and other parts of the capital. This follows a recent ₦85 increase in the gantry price of Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s PMS, which raised the price per litre from ₦1,265 to ₦1,350, a 6.7 per cent increase.
Poco Lee Fails To Enter Plea As UK Court Adjourns Case To 2027
A United Kingdom court has postponed the pre-trial proceedings involving Nigerian dancer and entertainer, Iweh Pascal Odinaka, popularly known as Poco Lee, after the matter could not proceed as scheduled. The case came up at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, but Poco Lee did not enter a plea because the charge sheet was unavailable at the time of the hearing. The court has fixed February 8, 2027, for the next plea and trial preparation hearing, with the trial itself scheduled to begin on March 8, 2027. Poco Lee had earlier appeared before the same court and was granted bail on September 11, 2026.
I Have Left The Streets – Tems Sparks Dating Rumours
Nigerian singer Temilade Openiyi, popularly known as Tems, has declared that she is officially off the streets. The Grammy-winning singer made the statement during a TikTok livestream while discussing dating and her experiences with men, expressing frustration with men who waste her time. She said: “I don’t like it when guys waste my time. But for me, never again. I don’t have that problem anymore. I have left the streets; I wouldn’t even say I was ever on the streets. I don’t have that problem anymore.” The singer did not reveal the identity of any man or directly announce that she is currently in a relationship.
UEFA Confirms Venues For Major European Finals From 2027 To 2029
The European football governing body, UEFA, has confirmed the stadiums that will host the finals of its major club competitions between 2027 and 2029, with several iconic European venues selected for the showpiece matches. The confirmed list covers the UEFA Champions League, Women’s Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and Super Cup, with Munich, Barcelona, Lyon, Cardiff, Bucharest, Belgrade, Turin, Budapest, Amsterdam and Astana set to host finals. The 2028 Champions League final will take place at the Munich Football Arena, while Barcelona’s Camp Nou will stage the 2029 final. Lyon’s Parc Olympique Lyonnais will host the 2028 Women’s Champions League final, followed by Cardiff’s National Stadium of Wales in 2029. The Europa League finals will be played in Bucharest (2028) and Belgrade (2029), while Turin’s Juventus Stadium and Budapest’s Puskás Aréna will host the Conference League finals in 2028 and 2029 respectively.
Howard Webb Admits Man City Goal Against Man United Should Have Been Disallowed
Premier League referees’ chief Howard Webb has admitted that Manchester City’s goal against Manchester United should have been disallowed after VAR officials failed to identify an offside offence involving Enzo Fernandes. Erling Haaland scored from Josko Gvardiol’s cross despite Fernandes being in an offside position and close to United defender Lisandro Martinez and goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Semi-automated offside technology showed Haaland was three centimetres onside, but VAR officials focused on whether Fernandes had touched the ball. Webb said VAR officials Alex Donohue and Richard Antrobus developed “tunnel vision” after establishing that Haaland was onside: “The VAR gets super-focused on Haaland. He establishes he’s onside, he thinks that’s a good goal.” The referees’ chief admitted the officials failed to properly assess Fernandes’ position and his impact on the play, adding: “What looks like a really clear subjective offside, because Fernandez doesn’t touch the ball but still clearly impacts [the play but] doesn’t get identified, and it’s really disappointing.”