News Politics September 22, 2026 APC admits petrol prices hurting Nigerian families, rejects Atiku’s subsidy plan

The All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council (APC PCC) has admitted that rising petrol prices are hurting Nigerian families, but rejected the production subsidy proposed by African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, as the solution to the mounting pressure.

The council assured Nigerians that the President Bola Tinubu administration would continue to pursue measures to ease the burden, saying petrol sold for about N830 per litre before the Middle East crisis pushed crude oil prices above $100 per barrel.

“The APC-PCC acknowledges the pressure that higher petrol prices place on Nigerian families. The Tinubu administration will continue to implement policies to support our people,” its spokesperson, Dele Alake, said in a statement.

“A de-escalation of the crisis could help reduce crude oil prices and, consequently, the pump prices of petrol and diesel, not just in Nigeria, but worldwide.”

The PCC said the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) was working with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) against alleged price gouging and with the Nigeria Customs Service to check diversion of petroleum products across the borders. It also pointed to the administration’s compressed natural gas and electric mass-transit programmes as part of efforts to provide cheaper transportation alternatives.

According to the council, more than 120,000 vehicles have been converted to CNG under the government programme, with thousands of additional conversions undertaken privately.

It said the Federal Government was working with state governments to extend the programme nationwide and recalled Tinubu’s assurance that more Nigerians should begin to see measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1.

But even as it acknowledged the hardship caused by higher fuel prices, the APC PCC rejected Atiku’s proposed “production subsidy” for locally refined petrol, challenging him to explain how it would guarantee cheaper prices at filling stations.

Atiku has proposed government support for domestic refining as a means of reducing the cost of petrol and diesel, arguing that the intervention would differ from the previous subsidy regime built around imported petroleum products.

The APC PCC, however, said the proposal raised legal, fiscal and practical questions that Atiku needed to answer. “Atiku should therefore explain whether a refinery receiving his proposed subsidy would be required to sell petrol at a prescribed price,” Alake said.

“If the answer is yes, he should identify the legal framework under which the government would impose that price condition and explain how it would operate consistently with the Petroleum Industry Act.

“If the answer is no, he should explain how public support to refiners would guarantee lower prices at filling stations. Without an enforceable mechanism, refiners could receive the benefit while consumers continued to pay market prices.”

The council cited Section 205(1) of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which provides for wholesale and retail prices of petroleum products to be determined under unrestricted free-market conditions.

It also challenged Atiku to disclose how much his proposal would cost and where the money would come from.

The PCC claimed the intervention could cost between N17 trillion and N21 trillion annually, depending on the discount offered, volume covered and whether the support applied to the entire barrel or only petrol sold domestically.

It did not provide a detailed calculation in the statement establishing the estimates.

“Nigerians deserve to know: the proposed subsidy rate; the annual spending ceiling; the volume of crude or petrol to be covered; the source of funding; the mechanism guaranteeing lower pump prices; the safeguards against diversion, smuggling and fraudulent claims; and whether amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act would be required,” Alake said.

The council also questioned how Atiku’s latest proposal aligned with his previous support for downstream deregulation and removal of petrol subsidy.

It recalled that the former vice president had advocated subsidy removal during the 2023 election campaign and asked him to explain how the proposed production subsidy would avoid the alleged abuse, smuggling and fiscal losses associated with the previous system.

The APC PCC said the government would remain committed to a deregulated downstream market while pursuing alternative measures to reduce transportation costs.

It maintained that any intervention in the petroleum sector should be lawful, transparent, properly costed and capable of producing measurable benefits for consumers.

“Atiku should provide Nigerians with a detailed policy document and an independent legal and fiscal analysis of his proposal,” Alake said.

“Until he does so, his production-subsidy plan remains an uncosted promise without a clearly identified legal or operational framework.”

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News September 21, 2026 UNGA: Presidential aide reveals reason for Tinubu’s planned absence

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Foreign Affairs and Protocol, Ademola Osodi, has explained that the President’s decision to stay away from the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is linked to his focus on domestic priorities and other international engagements.

Osodi made the clarification while appearing on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, following the Presidency’s announcement that Vice President Kashim Shettima would represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the UNGA in New York.

According to the presidential aide, Tinubu’s absence from the annual gathering should not be interpreted as a reduction in Nigeria’s diplomatic engagement or international standing.

“Nigeria has a diverse interest in all regional groups, continental groups and even groups of the South-South like the BRICS. So, the United Nations is not the only group that we are member of,” Osodi said.

He added that Tinubu was currently concentrating on issues at home, including the economy and security, while also participating in other international engagements considered important to Nigeria.

“President Tinubu is focusing on issues of domestic concerns like economy, security and even on other issues on other international forums which I believe equally is important,” he said.

Osodi maintained that Nigeria’s position and influence would not be diminished because the President would not personally attend the UNGA.

“With or without his presence there will not change Nigeria’s role as giant of Africa, the leader of the economic resurgence of Africa,” he said.

The aide also pointed out that Nigeria would have senior representation at the gathering, including the country’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Jimoh Ibrahim.

The Presidency had earlier announced that Shettima would head Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st UNGA, which is scheduled to hold in New York from September 22 to 28, 2026.

Osodi also rejected suggestions that Tinubu’s repeated absence from the UNGA was connected to difficulties between the Nigerian President and the United States.

He described the claim as an “old chestnut” and recalled Tinubu’s previous visits to the US.

“I was with the President when he went to the United Nations; physically I was there, you saw it on social media. He went to the stock exchange, he rang the bell, he had meetings on the side,” Osodi said.

He further recalled that Tinubu travelled through Los Angeles while on his way to Japan for an engagement with the Japanese Development Agency.

“We were in Los Angeles for few days before we flew to Yokohama, Japan. We were in America, I was there with them. So it is politics, we can talk about this every single election cycle, it is just politics,” he said.

Tinubu’s absence has nevertheless drawn criticism, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar demanding an explanation for the President’s decision not to attend the UNGA for the third consecutive year.

Atiku, through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, argued that although Shettima could represent Nigeria, repeated delegation could not replace the visibility and authority of the President at a major diplomatic gathering.

The former vice president also questioned reports that arrangements had been made for Tinubu to sit near US President Donald Trump during the gathering.

Osodi, however, maintained that Tinubu’s absence should not be interpreted as evidence of strained relations between Nigeria and the United States.

Crime News September 21, 2026 Illegal miners’ deaths: NSCDC parades detained commandant, 23 others

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested and detained 24 personnel in connection with the deaths of 37 suspected illegal miners in Niger State, parading the suspended Niger State Commandant, Commandant Subaru Siyaka Aniviye, and 23 other officers at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja.

The Corps also ordered the service flag to fly at half-mast across all commands and formations for three days. Commandant General of the NSCDC, Professor Ahmed Abubakar Audi, said due process, transparency and accountability would be strictly followed in the investigation of the personnel currently held in the custody of the Corps, adding that every personnel found culpable would face the full weight of internal disciplinary measures and the law.

The Corps Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, while parading the officers and men at the Corps Headquarters, disclosed that, as against the initial figure of 21 personnel, three more personnel identified had also been placed on suspension, bringing the total to 24 personnel.

The spokesman explained that “in a swift and decisive joint operation conducted in conjunction with the Commandant General’s Special Investigation Squad (SIS), all officers and men of the Niger State Command linked to the gross misconduct have, since the 17th September 2026, been taken into protective custody at the National Headquarters, Abuja, where they are undergoing rigorous interrogation and administrative disciplinary action, so as to make them available for the Presidential Independent Investigation Committee and other investigation panels for further investigation and possible prosecution.”

According to him, in a solemn demonstration of the Corps’ grief, institutional remorse and absolute disapproval of the incident, the Commandant General ordered that the NSCDC flag be flown at half-mast across all formations for three days, starting from Sunday, 20th September 2026, to signal the Corps’ collective mourning and its unwavering resolve to purge the system of bad eggs.

He said, “as a Corps built on integrity, professionalism, discipline, and absolute respect for the rule of law, we do not condone unprofessional conduct, high-handedness, or any action that undermines the fundamental rights of citizens or the sacred trust reposed in us.”

The Corps pledged to continue to keep the public abreast of the outcome of the investigation, adding that the leadership of the NSCDC remained unwavering in its commitment to transparency, human rights protection and professional ethics. He also appreciated the patience and understanding of Nigerians during the internal re-evaluation.

The 24 personnel named in connection with the incident are Commandant Subaru Siyaka Aniviye, suspended NSCDC Niger State Commandant; DCC Ajayi Philips, Head of Department (HOD), Intelligence and Investigation; DCC John Agrahau Chagwa, HOD, Operations; DCC Obafemi Elvis; ACC Stephen Tsado, Officer in Charge (O/C), Legal; CSC Oluwadare Sunday; CSC Annas Shittu Lamino; SC Usman Isah Ndamaka; DSC Aminu Sule Garba; DSC Musa Marafa; DSC Isah Sulaiman; ASCI Hassan Muhammad; ASCI Alhassan Muhammad; Aliyu Sallah, on guard duty; IC Abdullahi Sale; IC Mohammed N. Sonfada; Mohammed Jiya; Sale Adamu; Haruna Muhammed; CCA Baba Muhamma; CAI Isah Sanusi; CAI Liman Abubakar; CAI Bala Usman; and CAI Ahmed Wushishi. Regarding DCC Ajayi Philips and DCC John Agrahau Chagwa, the Corps attributed their inclusion to “lack of supervision” in their respective departments. The 37 detainees died days after they were arrested during anti-illegal mining operations conducted by the NSCDC in the M.I. Wushishi and Lukoto areas of Niger State on September 15 and 16. The NSCDC had initially attributed the deaths to a suspected disease outbreak, saying the actual cause of death would be established through medical examination

 

News September 21, 2026 Shettima to address UN general assembly on Thursday

Nigeria will address the UN General Assembly on Thursday afternoon, with Vice-President Kashim Shettima delivering the country’s national statement for the third consecutive year.

An updated provisional speakers’ schedule obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) places Nigeria fourth in the afternoon session of the General Debate on Sept. 24.

Nigeria’s Thursday slot places its statement on the third day of the General Debate, traditionally one of the most closely watched events of UN high-level week.

The afternoon session begins at 3 pm New York time and runs until 9 pm, while Shettima is expected to speak between 4 pm and 4:30 pm (9 pm and 9:30 pm Nigerian time).

President Bola Tinubu was initially scheduled as the eighth speaker on Wednesday morning after he moved two spots from the previous 10th spot.

UN protocol allows presidents to speak at the high-level General Debate before vice-presidents, prime ministers and ministers.

NAN reports Tinubu on Sunday directed Shettima to, again, lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Shettima joins 73 Heads of State, 45 Heads of Government, 49 ministers, 11 vice-presidents and one crown prince for the 81st General Assembly high-level week.

Mr Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice-President, said Shettima would deliver Nigeria’s national statement and outline the country’s positions on major international issues.

Thursday’s appearance will mark the third successive UN General Assembly at which Shettima will represent Tinubu in the General Debate.

Shettima represented the President at the 79th Session in 2024 and again delivered Nigeria’s statement at the 80th Session in 2025.

Tinubu personally addressed the 78th Session of the General Assembly in September 2023, months after assuming office as President.

With the latest announcement, Shettima has represented the President at the annual gathering of world leaders in 2024, 2025 and now 2026.

The Presidency said the Vice-President would lead a high-level delegation comprising Rivers Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal, ministers and other senior officials.

Besides the national statement, Shettima is expected to participate in high-level meetings on issues considered strategically important to Nigeria and Africa.

The Vice-President will hold bilateral meetings with foreign leaders, international organisations and development partners on the sidelines of the Assembly.

The 81st UN General Debate opens on Tuesday, Sept. 22 and continues through Saturday before concluding on Monday, Sept. 28.

The UN’s annual debate provides Heads of State, Heads of Government and other senior representatives an opportunity to outline national priorities before the international community.

The theme of the 81st Session is “Restoring trust, managing transformation: a United Nations that delivers for all.”

Khalilur Rahman of Bangladesh is presiding over the session as President of the 81st Session of the UN General Assembly.

The General Assembly brings together all 193 UN Member States, each with equal representation in the organisation’s principal deliberative and policymaking body. (NAN)

Business News September 21, 2026 Comedian Mr Odey Bags Brand Ambassadorial Deal with Doppel Homes, Gets A Car.

Popular Nigerian comedian, Mr Odey Jacobs, better known as Mr Odey D Uncommon, has been unveiled as the new brand ambassador of Doppel Homes Limited, a move the company said is aimed at strengthening its brand visibility and expanding its reach in the real estate market.

The unveiling ceremony was held on Monday, September 21, 2026, at the company's office in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Doppel Homes Limited, Chief Dr Dominic Olim, said the company chose Mr Odey because of his humility, passion for excellence and integrity.

According to him, integrity remains one of the company's core values, making the comedian a natural fit for the brand.

"One of our core values as a company is integrity, and we believe that Mr Odey coming on board is going to have a great impact on our business," Olim said.

He also spoke about his longstanding personal relationship with the comedian, describing their relationship as effortless and saying that endorsing Mr Odey as the corporate face of the company was an easy decision.

Responding, the newly unveiled ambassador expressed appreciation to the management of Doppel Homes for the confidence reposed in him, saying the partnership would create greater awareness for the company and contribute to a new direction in the real estate sector.

Mr Odey said he was excited about the partnership and the opportunity to work with a company whose values, according to him, align with his own.

"I am proud to go on this incredible adventure with Doppel Homes, as I know we are pursuing the same goal: opening the way for others, each within our own creative field. We share the same idea that we rise by lifting others," he said.

The comedian assured prospective clients that the partnership was based on confidence in the company's 6 be rest assured that everything is by the book," he said.

Mr Odey further disclosed that he and his team conducted background checks on Doppel Homes before accepting the ambassadorial role, adding that they found no blemish in the company's business dealings or corporate image.

He said the findings further strengthened his conviction to associate with the company and take on the responsibility of representing its brand.

To ease the comedian's movement with regards to real estate engagements and other businesses, Doppel Homes presented him with a car for easy mobility.

News September 21, 2026 ‘I’d choose same road that led me to you’ — Tinubu celebrates wife @ 66

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated his wife, First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu, on her 66th birthday, describing her as his “truest friend and confidante” and praising her patience, courage, compassion and unwavering support throughout their years together.

In a deeply personal birthday message issued ahead of her birthday on Monday, September 21, the President said he would make the same choice if life offered him an opportunity to start over.

“If life returned me to the beginning, I would choose the same road that led me to you. Through every mile, my heart has always remained at home with you,” Tinubu said.

The President, who addressed the First Lady as “Oluremi mi”, said she had stood beside him through difficult periods, offering counsel and prayers even when he could not articulate his concerns.

“Today, I celebrate the woman who has walked beside me with patience, grace and uncommon courage,” he said.

Quoting a Yoruba proverb, “Ìyàwó rere ni adé ọkọ rẹ̀” — meaning that a good wife is her husband’s crown — Tinubu said Oluremi had given the saying practical meaning in his life.

“You have stood by my side through every season. The burdens that were mine to bear often found their way onto your shoulders. The thoughts I could not put into words somehow found their way to you,” he said.

According to the President, the First Lady had remained a source of calm and counsel during periods of uncertainty, noting that her presence alone had sometimes been enough to guide him.

“In difficult times, when the future was uncertain, you stayed calm beside me and prayed with me.

“Through all these years, you have remained the one who truly understands me,” he said.

Tinubu also praised his wife for her willingness to offer him honest counsel, saying she often told him what he needed to hear even when he would rather not hear it.

“I call you my truest friend and confidante because you speak the truth plainly, even on the days I would rather not hear it,” he said.

The President said Oluremi’s devotion had also left a lasting mark on their children and grandchildren, who, he noted, had grown under the shelter of her prayers and carried her values of faith and kindness.

Beyond her role within the family, Tinubu highlighted the First Lady’s public service and humanitarian activities, citing her work through the New Era Foundation and the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

“Nigerians know you for your compassion, kindness, generosity of spirit and steadfast faith. I have watched you touch lives quietly and consistently, offering hope and support to those in need,” he said.

He recalled that her humanitarian interventions had reached young people, widows, elderly citizens and women farmers, while also supporting people affected by tuberculosis and other diseases.

“From the New Era Foundation during our years in the saddle in Lagos to the Renewed Hope Initiative today, your care has reached many young boys and girls, widows, elderly citizens and women farmers across the country,” Tinubu said.

The President further said his wife’s compassion transcended ethnic, regional and religious boundaries.

“For you, compassion has never recognised the boundaries of tribe, region or religion,” he said.

Reflecting on their years together, Tinubu said their journey had been marked by difficult decisions, sacrifices, laughter and prayer.

“A long journey teaches a man the true value of a good partner. We have travelled a long road together. I think of the difficult decisions we talked through for hours and the sacrifices no one else saw. Laughter and prayer carried us through many of them,” he said.

The President thanked the First Lady for the life they had built together and prayed for many more years of good health and happiness.

“I thank you for the life we have built and the love that has held it together,” Tinubu said.

“Happy 66th birthday, my darling Oluremi. I pray that God Almighty will grant you many more years in good health and joy.

“May the years ahead bring you the same comfort and happiness you have so freely given to me and many others.”

News Politics September 21, 2026 Obi-Kwankwaso Movement demands apology from NDC over campaign council dispute

The Obi-Kwankwaso Movement, known as the OK Movement, has asked the Nigeria Democratic Congress to apologise over comments made by its National Chairman, Senator Moses Cleopas, regarding the movement’s 59-member Presidential Campaign Council.

The group also rejected what it described as attempts to intimidate or undermine its activities, maintaining that it operates independently with its own leadership, organisational structure and decision-making processes.

The National Secretary of the movement, Saadatu Sani, made the position known in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday.

The dispute followed the NDC’s rejection of a campaign council announced by the OK Movement on Thursday as part of efforts to mobilise support for the party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a statement issued on Saturday night, Cleopas said the campaign council was not authorised by the party and urged members of the public to disregard it.

He further stated that individuals, candidates and support organisations could not establish or announce structures in the name of the NDC without the approval of the party’s National Working Committee.

Sani, however, described the NDC chairman’s position as unfortunate, arguing that it was based on a misunderstanding of the movement’s identity and independence.

She advised Cleopas to consult the provisions of the NDC constitution before making claims concerning the movement’s rights and responsibilities.

She said, “The OK Movement does not engage in such politics. We will not be dragged into a politics of personal insults, intimidation or defamatory exchanges. We will continue to educate rather than abuse. We will continue to defend the principles upon which this movement was established.

“The NDC national chairman is therefore called upon to withdraw the statements considered defamatory and to tender an immediate apology to the OK Movement and to our Director General, Hon. John Ughulu.”

The group said it acknowledged the constitutional and statutory authority of political parties within their respective spheres, adding that it would support Obi and Kwankwaso as well as selected NDC candidates across the country where its leadership had resolved to do so.

It nevertheless maintained that its decision to support the party and its candidates did not place the movement under the control of the NDC.

“We will campaign for the presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the party. We will campaign for candidates of the NDC Party across the country where the movement has resolved to support them.

“But we do not require the personal validation or approval of any individual before exercising our legitimate organisational functions,” Sani said.

According to the movement, it has established a grassroots network across the country, supported by an internal database containing about 2.5 million registered members and coordinators.

Sani said the organisation should not be regarded as a temporary political support platform created solely for the 2027 elections, stressing that it had a broader and long-term political objective.

She also dismissed allegations relating to Ughulu’s role in the Lagos State primary, saying the movement was prepared to state its position on the matter.

The OK Movement secretary reiterated that the organisation would avoid personal attacks and defamatory exchanges but would respond whenever the integrity of its members was called into question.