The Presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Peter Obi, has disagreed with the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over his proposed return of fuel subsidy if elected in 2027.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidates of other opposition political parties, yesterday, clashed over Nigeria’s worsening security situation, policing structure, fuel subsidy and the economy as the race for the 2027 presidency took centre stage at the NBA, conference in Port Harcourt.

Obi, who accused the Federal Government of mismanaging the savings from the proceeds of fuel susidy removal, said it was not enough reason to bring it back.

The ex-governor of Anambra State spoke, yesterday, at the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, while reacting to the debate over whether fuel subsidy should be restored as proposed by Atiku.

Atiku, who campaigned for the removal of fuel subsidy during the 2023, presidential election, had said he would restore the policy if elected president in 2027.

But Obi maintained that subsidy removal remained necessary, arguing that the problem was the failure to properly manage and invest the resources saved from the policy.

“I subscribe and I maintain that we need to remove subsidy. Mismanagement of the proceeds should not be the reason for not removing it.

“What we should have done is that when we removed it, we should have given the people alternative usage for the subsidy.

“What we have today is that that removal and the attendant resources being recovered is also being mismanaged and stolen,” he said.

The former governor said he had anticipated the need for a structured approach to subsidy removal and had outlined his position in his manifesto ahead of the 2023 election.

“Go to my manifesto, I said it before, I said I will do it in an organised manner and whatever we recover would be invested appropriately,” Obi said.

President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of the petrol subsidy on his inauguration day in May 2023, triggering a sharp increase in petrol prices and widespread concerns over the rising cost of living.

Amaechi, Sowore, other presidential candidates fault FG’s policies

The candidates, who spoke during a high-powered panel session, offered sharply different solutions to the country’s challenges, with some calling for a change of government, while others advocated deeper reforms of the existing system.

The debate came as the Chief of Staff to President Tinubu, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, defended the federal government’s proposed state police reform, saying the administration had confronted an issue that successive governments had avoided.

Former Rivers State governor and vice presidential candidate of African Democratic Congress, ADC, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said the economy could only be stabilised through massive job creation, local production and policies that would put more money in the pockets of Nigerians.

Amaechi, who recalled his record as governor of Rivers State, said his administration built more than 500 primary schools, over 300 health centres and more than 200 roads, while using intelligence gathering to drastically reduce crime.

He also promised that an Atiku Abubakar-Amaechi administration would ensure equitable distribution of political appointments across the country, criticising what he described as concentration of appointments under the Tinubu administration.

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, AAC, Omoyele Sowore, meanwhile, called for a change of government, arguing that Nigeria’s security crisis could not be resolved under the present leadership.

Sowore also took aim at the federal government’s fuel subsidy policy, insisting that he had consistently opposed subsidy because of the way it was administered.

He said: “If there is anybody that has been consistent in the removal of fuel subsidy, it has been me. The question about fuel subsidy is: who are you subsidising? You are subsidising the elite. You are subsidising the governors.”

On security, he and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, presidential candidate, Adewale Adebayo, argued that Nigeria required a change in leadership to tackle terrorism and other security threats.

Adebayo, however, differed with most of the candidates on the structure of policing, advocating a three-tier system involving federal, state and local government police.

Former Cross River State governor, Donald Duke, said leadership remained the central issue confronting Nigeria, arguing that getting the leadership question right would have a multiplier effect on other sectors.

“If we get the leadership right, everything else will fall into place,” Duke said, while condemning the influence of ethnicity in Nigerian politics and advocating reforms to strengthen the country’s presidential system.

Earlier, Gbajabiamila, in a keynote address, titled “Policing in Transition,” said the Tinubu administration’s decision to pursue state police was aimed at addressing the limitations of the existing centralised policing system.

“Centralised policing without safeguards will bring about more chaos,” he warned, explaining that the proposed reform was designed around a dual policing system that would address existing gaps.

Addressing fears that state police could be abused by governors against political opponents, Gbajabiamila queried: “Who polices the police?”

He identified inadequate police manpower and deployment as major challenges, noting that Nigeria had about one policeman to every 650 people, compared with an international benchmark of one to every 450.

He added that the situation was worsened by the deployment of many police officers to administrative and escort duties, rather than core policing responsibilities.

The presidential aide also stressed training, professionalism and institutional safeguards, saying policing must become a respected career capable of attracting competent Nigerians.

He acknowledged that governors, as elected chief executives, must have executive authority but insisted that they should not be allowed to order the arrest of political opponents.

He also said police officers who rejected unlawful orders must be protected, arguing that such safeguards must be backed by strong institutions, rather than mere assurances.

The NBA conference thus provided one of the earliest major platforms for 2027 presidential hopefuls to publicly test their competing positions on security, economic management and governance, setting the stage for a potentially intense political contest ahead of the general elections.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said he will visit the Benin-Asaba road on Tuesday following widespread complaints, protests and severe gridlock caused by the deteriorating condition of the federal highway.

The supply of petrol from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery fell by 21 per cent in July 2026, while imports increased by 9 per cent, fresh data from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) showed yesterday.

The development came despite an improvement in petrol stock sufficiency during the month, with available reserves rising to 22.4 days from 19.7 days in June, even as the country remained below the regulatory minimum fuel sufficiency threshold of 30 days.

According to the NMDPRA’s July 2026 Midstream and Downstream Statistics, average daily petrol receipts fell from 50.6 million litres in June to 45.5 million litres in July, representing a 10 per cent month-on-month decline.

The contraction was driven principally by domestic supply undertaken by the Dangote Refinery, which dropped from 32.5 million litres per day to 25.8 million litres per day, a 21 per cent reduction. At the same time, imports rose from 18.1 million litres per day to 19.7 million litres per day, representing a 9 per cent increase.

The figures underlined a renewed increase in Nigeria’s reliance on imported petrol, following months in which domestic refining had increasingly displaced import as the debate over whether to end fuel importation altogether or create some form of competition for the Dangote facility rages.

However, the July figures also showed the significance of the Dangote refinery to the domestic market. The refinery recorded average capacity utilisation of 71.09 per cent during the month. It produced 25.9 million litres of petrol per day and supplied 25.8 million litres daily to the domestic market.

The refinery also produced 19.1 million litres per day of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) or diesel and 15.6 million litres per day of Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK). Its domestic receipts stood at 15.7 million litres per day for AGO and 1.9 million litres per day for ATK.

But during the same period, exports amounted to 11 million litres per day of AGO and 11.6 million litres per day of ATK or kerosene. Its closing stock at the end of July stood at 446.1 million litres for PMS, 162.3 million litres for AGO and 217.4 million litres for ATK.

The month-on-month shift in petrol supply was particularly notable against the longer-term trend. In July 2025, domestic refineries supplied an average 16.5 million litres of PMS daily, while imports accounted for 36.1 million litres. By July 2026, domestic supply had risen 56 per cent year-on-year to 25.8 million litres per day, while imports had fallen 45 per cent to 19.7 million litres per day.

Thus, although imports increased between June and July 2026, they remained substantially below their level a year earlier. The July 2026 total PMS supply of 45.5 million litres per day was also 13 per cent below the 52.6 million litres recorded in July 2025.

In the same vein, the weaker petrol supply coincided with an even sharper fall in recorded consumption. PMS consumption dropped from 47.4 million litres per day in June to 35.7 million litres per day in July, representing a 25 per cent decline. NMDPRA said consumption data are based on volumes trucked out into the domestic market.

Despite the lower supply, the improvement in stock sufficiency suggestee that the decline in domestic withdrawals helped ease pressure on available petrol inventories. PMS stock sufficiency increased by about 14 per cent from 19.7 days in June to 22.4 days in July.

However, the figure remained below the 30-day minimum threshold, indicating that the improvement in inventories did not yet translate into a fully comfortable national supply position. The data also revealed significant movements in other petroleum products.

AGO supply jumped 46 per cent month-on-month from 16.2 million litres per day in June to 23.6 million litres per day in July. Domestic AGO supply, however, declined 3 per cent from 16.2 million litres to 15.7 million litres per day, meaning the increase in overall supply was driven by the resumption of imports, which reached 7.9 million litres per day in July from zero in June.

AGO consumption fell 8 per cent from 16 million litres to 14.7 million litres per day, while diesel stock sufficiency rose 25 per cent from 37.1 days to 46.5 days.

Also, LPG supply increased 4 per cent from 5.1 kilotonnes per day to 5.3 kilotonnes per day. Domestic LPG supply rose 22 per cent from 3.6 kilotonnes to 4.4 kilotonnes per day, more than offsetting a 40 per cent decline in imports from 1.5 kilotonnes to 0.9 kilotonnes per day.

In contrast, aviation fuel supply weakened during the period under consideration. ATK receipts declined 24 per cent from 2.5 million litres per day to 1.9 million litres per day, while consumption fell 41 per cent from 2.9 million litres to 1.7 million litres per day.

Crude oil receipts by domestic refineries also fell 8 per cent, from 0.632 million barrels per day in June to 0.585 million barrels per day in July. Besides, domestic gas supply declined 8 per cent from 5.116 billion standard cubic feet per day to 4.723 billion cubic feet per day.

The Nigeria Immigration Service says the service is accelerating the use of digital identity systems, automated border controls and intelligence-led surveillance as part of efforts to tighten Nigeria’s borders without undermining legitimate movement and cross-border trade.

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intensified enforcement of the federal government’s ban on alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET/plastic bottles below 200ml, warning manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to comply or face severe sanctions.

NAFDAC said the enforcement was aimed at completely removing prohibited alcoholic products from the Nigerian market and reducing easy access to highly concentrated alcoholic drinks, particularly among children and young people.

The latest action followed an Irrevocable Enforcement Undertaking signed by Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria (DIBAN), Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE), and their member companies.

Under the undertaking, affected manufacturers were required to immediately recall all alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml from distributors, warehouses, and other points within the supply chain.

NAFDAC said recalled products will be verified and destroyed under its supervision, with manufacturers bearing the full cost of the destruction.

The agency also said factories involved in producing the prohibited pack sizes will not be allowed to reopen until there was satisfactory evidence that the relevant production lines had been dismantled, permanently disabled, or reconfigured to prevent further production.

The ban, however, did not emerge suddenly.

According to NAFDAC, concerns over the widespread availability of high-alcohol-content drinks in sachets and small bottles dates back to 2018, when regulators raised concerns about their affordability, portability, and accessibility to minors.

Following consultations involving NAFDAC, Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), DIBAN, and AFBTE, a five-year moratorium was agreed upon in December 2018.

The moratorium gave manufacturers until January 31, 2024 to reconfigure production lines, transition to larger packaging, and phase out sachet alcohol and small-volume containers.

When the deadline expired, NAFDAC commenced enforcement in February 2024.

However, resistance from industry stakeholders and intervention by the National Assembly led to further consultations and an extension of the deadline to December 31, 2025.

The full ban subsequently took effect on January 1, 2026, covering alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET bottles below 200ml, and glass bottles below 200ml.

NAFDAC said the policy was supported by research highlighting the accessibility of such products to minors.

The agency cited findings indicating that 47.2 per cent of minors and 48.8 per cent of underage persons who procured alcoholic drinks obtained them in sachets, while 41.2 per cent of minors and 47.2 per cent of underage persons procured them in PET bottles.

In January 2026, NAFDAC commenced its first-tier enforcement, focusing on manufacturers. The agency said prohibited products found within manufacturing facilities were evacuated and destroyed.

By July, the agency escalated the exercise to nationwide mop-up operations across markets, motor parks, retail outlets, bars, and distribution centres.

The crackdown resulted in the closure of some factories and the arrest of staff of companies found producing prohibited sachet alcoholic beverages.

NAFDAC said companies that violated its directives will also be required to pay applicable investigative charges and regulatory fees.

It warned that facilities would only be reopened after satisfying a number of conditions, including completing the nationwide recall, paying applicable charges, destroying recalled products under NAFDAC supervision, and passing inspection and certification by the agency.

Companies that fail to comply could face continued closure, placement on NAFDAC’s Regulatory Watchlist, suspension or revocation of product registrations, and criminal prosecution where applicable.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, FAS, said the agency remained committed to protecting public health while working with industry stakeholders to ensure compliance.

NAFDAC stressed that its position was not against alcohol consumption itself but against the proliferation of high-alcohol products in small, inexpensive containers that made them easier for children and young people to access.

The agency urged members of the public to report the manufacture, distribution, or sale of alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets and PET bottles below 200ml through NAFDAC’s official communication channels or at the nearest NAFDAC office.

South African mobile operator MTN Group said yesterday its board had approved a 6 billion rand ($375 million) share buyback programme as it reported a 21.3 per cent rise in half-year adjusted profit and strong cash generation.

A Reuters report quoted MTN’s Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, as telling  journalists that the buyback programme would begin on Monday. At 1005 GMT, MTN shares were up 4.61 per cent at 201 rand, the report stated.

Africa’s biggest telecom operator, with more than 317 million customers across 19 markets, said adjusted Headline Earnings Per Share (HEPS) rose to 793 cents in the six months ended June 30 from 654 cents a year earlier.

Reported HEPS, however, fell 5.8 per cent, hit by a 3.9 billion rand non-cash impairment on its 49 per cent stake in Irancell, reflecting Iran’s hyperinflation and the sharp depreciation of the rial. Foreign exchange losses in South Sudan also weighed on earnings, the Reuters report added.

The impairment comes as MTN seeks to exit Iran, its last remaining operation in a broader withdrawal from the Middle East. The process has been complicated by U.S. sanctions, in place since May 2018, which have also prevented the company from repatriating about 880 million rand in trapped dividends, Mupita said.

“With the sanctions in place, we can’t put any money in and we can’t take any money out. But if the situation did change in a way where there was a removal of sanctions we would continue with executing our Middle East exit strategy,” he added.

According to the report, outside Iran, MTN’s biggest market Nigeria, along with Ghana and Uganda, helped lift service revenue 17.5 per cent to 115.3 billion rand. Growth in South Africa was 1.5 per cent.

MTN said strong subscriber additions and growth in digital and fintech services also supported performance.

Core earnings rose 24.4 per cent to 56 billion rand, while the EBITDA margin widened 3.1 percentage points to 47.1 per cent .

Besides, the telecom firm said the remaining hurdles to its tower deal with IHS Towers are largely regulatory, having received conditional approval from Nigeria’s competition regulator, which requires it to reduce its stake in the Nigerian business by up to 30 per cent over time at market prices.

The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday formally impeached the suspended Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku.