NEWS
Petrol Prices: Arewa Marketers Dispute NMDPRA’s Claim It Has No Pricing Powers
The Arewa Oil and Gas Marketers Association of Nigeria (AROGMA) has challenged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) over its claim that it does not have the power to determine or influence petrol prices in Nigeria.
AROGMA said the regulator should exercise its statutory oversight responsibilities under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), particularly as Nigerians continue to face the impact of rising petrol prices.
The association’s President, Bashir Ahmad Danmalam, made the position known in a statement issued to journalists in Kano on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
ALSO READ: ‘We Don’t Fix Pump Prices’ — NMDPRA Breaks Silence on Rising Petrol Prices
Danmalam said AROGMA participated in the legislative process that produced the PIA and was therefore familiar with the provisions governing the powers and responsibilities of the NMDPRA.
According to him, Section 164 of the PIA gives the regulator oversight functions which should be exercised transparently in the interest of Nigerians.
“Section 164 gives NMDPRA oversight functions, and these must be carried out transparently for the benefit of the people,” Danmalam said.
He added, “The Petroleum Industry Act was not passed in isolation. Stakeholders like AROGMA contributed to its development, and we understand the provisions.”
The association’s position comes days after the NMDPRA clarified that it does not fix the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, under Nigeria’s deregulated petroleum market.
The regulator said Section 205(1) of the PIA provides that wholesale and retail prices of petroleum products should be based on unrestricted free-market pricing conditions.
It further explained that Sections 205(2) to 205(4) restrict government intervention in petroleum pricing to exceptional circumstances where there is formal evidence of a declared market failure.
The NMDPRA maintained that no such market failure had been declared and that it therefore does not issue administrative price templates or arbitrarily determine petrol pump prices.
However, the authority also cited Section 216 of the PIA, which empowers it to prevent anti-competitive practices, price-fixing and abuse of market dominance in the petroleum industry.
Reacting to the position, Danmalam said petroleum pricing remained a major concern for marketers and consumers and urged the regulator to acknowledge and exercise its responsibilities within the law.
“The NMDPRA must exercise these powers responsibly and in the interest of Nigerians, rather than denying its mandate,” he said.
He warned that failure to address concerns surrounding petroleum pricing could worsen economic hardship and deepen public distrust in the petroleum sector.
The NMDPRA had said it was “fully sensitive” to the difficulties caused by rising petrol prices and was working to protect consumers and promote fair competition within the existing legal framework.
The authority also disclosed that it was collaborating with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to monitor the petroleum market and investigate practices including price-gouging, collusion and under-dispensing.
AROGMA said the disagreement over the regulator’s role highlights the need for greater clarity and collaboration among government agencies and petroleum industry stakeholders as Nigerians continue to grapple with the impact of petrol prices.
NEWS
TCN Restores Power Supply to Katampe Substation After Shiroro Line Fault
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has restored bulk power supply to its Katampe 330kV Transmission Substation in Abuja following an earlier disruption caused by a fault on the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1.
The development was disclosed in a statement released by TCN management on Friday, October 9, 2026.
SEE ALSO: Kainji–Birnin Kebbi Power Line: TCN Begins Final Phase of Restoration
According to the statement, bulk power supply was restored to the Katampe substation at 4:15 p.m. through the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1.
TCN explained that the Shiroro–Katampe 330kV Line 1 remains out of service due to a fault, necessitating the use of the Gwagwalada–Katampe line to restore supply to the substation.
The company also announced the suspension of planned maintenance work on the Gwagwalada–Katampe 330kV Line 1 to enable the line to continue supplying the Katampe substation.
The suspended maintenance work involved replacing defective line isolators and the associated earthing switch.
TCN apologised to electricity consumers in the affected areas for any inconvenience caused by the disruption and maintenance arrangements.
NEWS
2027 Elections: FG Warns Politicians Against Promises on Fuel Subsidy
The Federal Government has warned politicians against making promises that could reverse Nigeria’s economic reforms, insisting that it will not restore fuel subsidy amid renewed debate over the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) petrol discount.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television on Friday, saying the government would not bring back subsidies on petroleum products.
“This government is not bringing back subsidy on fuel products. We need to be clear,” Oyedele said.
ALSO READ: NNPC Petrol Discount: Oyedele Explains How Lower Margins Could Boost Profits
The minister also criticised politicians who, according to him, make promises to win elections without fully considering the implications of implementing them.
He suggested that some politicians make sweeping promises during election campaigns only to offer excuses when confronted with the realities of governance.
“I think I would pardon people who say all manner of things because they want to get elected. It’s almost like ‘whatever I need to say, when I get there, I’ll give excuses.’ But we have the data,” he said.
Oyedele added that he felt a personal responsibility not to remain silent about the economic realities known to the government or allow populist positions to push Nigeria in the wrong direction.
“I feel the personal responsibility that I cannot see what I see and keep quiet, or populism to move our country in the wrong direction,” he said.
NNPC Petrol Discount Sparks Fresh Subsidy Debate
The minister’s remarks come amid renewed debate over fuel subsidy following the Federal Government’s announcement of a 30-day petrol discount at NNPC retail stations.
The initiative was introduced as a temporary measure to provide relief to Nigerians amid elevated global crude oil prices and concerns about the cost of petroleum products.
NNPC Retail had also announced a N66-per-litre petrol discount to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary, with the offer scheduled to run until October 31, 2026, across its retail stations nationwide.
The company maintained that the discount was a customer-relief initiative and did not represent a return to the petroleum subsidy regime.
The distinction has become central to the debate, with the government insisting that temporary price relief at NNPC stations does not amount to restoring the subsidy policy abolished in May 2023.
The administration has maintained that the current arrangement differs from the former subsidy system, under which the government intervened to cover part of the cost of petrol.
FG Defends Economic Reforms
During the interview, Oyedele also referred to a World Bank update, saying the institution had acknowledged a reduction in poverty levels and increased spending on infrastructure, particularly roads.
He urged Nigerians not to reverse the progress he said had been made, arguing that the country was approaching a point where the benefits of ongoing reforms should begin to emerge.
NEWS
Kaduna Moves to Clear 5-Year Promotion Backlog for 24,000 Teachers
The Kaduna State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has commenced a promotion exercise for 24,000 eligible staff as part of efforts to clear outstanding teachers’ promotions dating back to 2021.
The development was disclosed on Friday as the administration of Governor Uba Sani intensifies efforts to address promotion backlogs, recognise teachers’ years of service and improve staff welfare across the state.
The exercise covers outstanding promotions from 2021 to 2026 and is expected to provide eligible teachers and other staff with opportunities for career progression.
SEE ALSO: Kaduna Clears N18bn Pension Arrears, Raises Agric Funding to N100bn
According to the announcement, eligible personnel will undergo an assessment process, after which promotions will be implemented for those who successfully meet the requirements.
The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen the education sector by recognising the contributions of teachers and supporting their professional development.
The state government has emphasised the importance of investing in teachers, noting that a motivated and valued teaching workforce is essential to building a stronger education system.
The exercise is also expected to address long-standing staff concerns relating to career advancement within the state’s basic education sector.





