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📅 Friday 13 March 2026 — Evening Edition
Senate adjourns for Sallah — 2026 budget vote set for March 31 Dangote cuts petrol price to ₦1,075/litre — pump prices still above ₦1,200 Power crisis looms: gas suppliers threaten halt over ₦3.3trn GenCo debt Army foils Cross River ambush — 4 gunmen neutralised ICPC gets 14-day court order to detain El-Rufai Tinubu deploys 100,000 CNG kits to ease fuel burden on commuters Peter Obi: Petrol surge exposes Nigeria’s failure to plan Wike’s PDP faction fixes date for 2027 presidential primaries Iran war Day 14 — Hormuz strait remains closed; Brent crude above $95 EFCC arrests woman for ₦19m, €8,370 fraud in Enugu Senate adjourns for Sallah — 2026 budget vote set for March 31 Dangote cuts petrol price to ₦1,075/litre — pump prices still above ₦1,200 Power crisis looms: gas suppliers threaten halt over ₦3.3trn GenCo debt Army foils Cross River ambush — 4 gunmen neutralised ICPC gets 14-day court order to detain El-Rufai
POLITICS
5 stories
TOP STORY — POLITICS
Senate Adjourns for Sallah, Sets March 31 for ₦58.47trn Budget Passage — Akpabio
Senate President Godswill Akpabio confirmed Thursday that the upper chamber has adjourned plenary until March 31 for the Eid el-Fitr break. He said the Senate is targeting passage of the 2026 Appropriation Bill on the same day it resumes, aligning with the House of Representatives which also reconvenes March 31. Committees will continue budget defence sessions during the recess. The ₦58.47 trillion budget — anchored on a $64.85/barrel oil benchmark and ₦1,400/$ exchange rate — is Nigeria’s largest-ever. The current Senate composition now reads: APC 87, ADC 9, PDP 6, APGA 1, NDC 1, NNPP 1 and Accord 1, with three seats vacant.
CORRUPTION
ICPC Secures Court Order to Detain El-Rufai for Additional 14 Days
The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission obtained a court order extending the detention of former Kaduna Governor Nasir El-Rufai by 14 days. ICPC also secured permission to access and analyse electronic devices recovered from his residence. Peter Obi, his ADC ally, called the move political persecution timed to neutralise 2027 opposition figures.
PDP 2027
Wike’s PDP Faction Fixes Date for 2027 Presidential and Governorship Primaries
The Wike-aligned faction of the Peoples Democratic Party announced dates for 2027 presidential and governorship primaries as the party’s two factions continue fighting for legitimacy after a court of appeal nullified the Ibadan national convention. Governors and the BoT are exploring a unity convention to prevent the party’s total collapse ahead of 2027.
Sources: Naija News · Punch
PRESIDENCY
Tinubu Deploys 100,000 CNG Conversion Kits to Cushion Fuel Surge — Orders Nationwide Rollout
President Bola Tinubu ordered the immediate nationwide deployment of approximately 100,000 Compressed Natural Gas vehicle conversion kits as a direct response to the Middle East war-driven fuel price surge. The kits, which convert petrol-powered vehicles to run on cheaper CNG, are being distributed through designated centres across major cities.
GEOPOLITICS
APC Controls 31 of 36 States — Three Opposition Parties Share Remaining Five
The All Progressives Congress now firmly controls 31 of Nigeria’s 36 states, with only five states held by the PDP, LP, and NNPP combined ahead of the 2027 elections. Analysts warn the ADC, despite a star-studded cast of defectors, must unite behind a single candidate within 60 days or face an APC landslide by default.
Sources: The Cable (Analysis) · Punch
“Unless the ADC makes a radical, sacrificial move to announce a single candidate within 60 days, the 2027 contest will be less of an election and more of a coronation.”
— TheCable Analysis, 13 March 2026ECONOMY
4 stories
ENERGY — TOP STORY
Dangote Cuts Petrol to ₦1,075 as Brent Dips Below $90 — But Pump Prices Hold Above ₦1,200
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery slashed its ex-gantry petrol price by ₦100 to ₦1,075 per litre — the first reduction after a sharp run of hikes triggered by the US-Iran war. The refinery, which now supplies approximately 92% of Nigeria’s petrol following a federal ban on import permits, attributed the cut to a dip in Brent crude below $90 per barrel. Despite the reduction, pump prices at filling stations across Lagos, Abuja, and other cities remained between ₦1,200 and ₦1,330 per litre as marketers had not yet adjusted retail rates. FCT commuters said transport fares have nearly doubled in the past week. Peter Obi blamed the crisis on Nigeria’s failure to build strategic petroleum reserves as a buffer against global shocks.
POWER CRISIS
Gas Suppliers Threaten to Halt Supply to Power Plants Over ₦3.3trn GenCo Debt
Nigeria’s electricity sector faces a fresh blackout crisis as gas suppliers are threatening to shut off supply to thermal power plants over an estimated ₦3.3 trillion debt owed by Generation Companies (GenCos). The APGC CEO Joy Ogaji warned the debt rose to ₦6.8 trillion in February and could hit ₦7 trillion by March end. About 70% of Nigeria’s grid power comes from gas-fired plants. The Power Minister said the government is addressing the matter jointly with the Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas).
Sources: Hallmark News · National Daily
REFINING
Dangote MD Urges FG to Prioritise Local Refineries for Crude Allocation — 47 Regulators Blocking Efficiency
Dangote Refinery Managing Director David Bird called on the Federal Government to prioritise domestic refineries in crude oil allocation ahead of international traders, warning that imported petrol was undercutting locally refined fuel. He also raised alarm over 47 separate government agencies regulating the oil and gas sector, each adding compliance costs that ultimately push up pump prices for Nigerians.
Source: National Daily
EDUCATION / FG
FG Approves ₦4bn Education Grants for Tinubu Polytechnic and Federal University, Epe
The Federal Government approved ₦4 billion in take-off education grants for two new tertiary institutions: the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Polytechnic and the Federal University of Science and Technology, Epe. The grants are intended to fund initial infrastructure, staffing, and academic programmes at both schools.
Source: Punch
📰 Editorial Voices — Economy
TheCable
Oil windfall, domestic pain: Why Nigeria must shield its economy from global price shocks
Vanguard
Middle East war and African economies: the time to plan is now
BusinessDay
Nigeria’s mortgage reality vs Singapore’s housing model
Punch
NNPC’s ₦210tn missing funds claim: professional forum calls it a mathematical impossibility
SECURITY
4 stories
NORTHEAST
‘Don’t Lose Hope’ — Defence Minister Reassures Nigerians After Tinubu’s Security Summit
President Tinubu met the Chief of Defence Staff, Army, Air Force and Navy chiefs at Aso Rock on Friday to review the deteriorating security situation across Nigeria, particularly in the Northeast. Defence Minister Christopher Musa urged Nigerians not to despair, saying the government was committed to protecting citizens. Nigerian Army troops also confirmed they successfully repelled a coordinated ISWAP assault in Yobe, neutralising over 20 insurgents including a senior commander.
Sources: National Accord · Punch
CROSS RIVER
Army Foils Deadly Cross River Ambush — 4 Gunmen Neutralised in Obubra
Troops of the 13 Brigade Nigerian Army repelled a pre-planned ambush by armed criminals in Odonget Community, Obubra LGA of Cross River State. The soldiers, responding to a communal dispute distress call, found their return route deliberately blocked before engaging and neutralising four gunmen. Normalcy was restored between the warring communities.
Source: National Accord
ABIA
Troops Raid Kidnappers’ Forest Hideout in Abia — 3 IPOB Ritualists Arrested
Nigerian troops conducted a raid on a kidnappers’ hideout in Olokoro Forest, Abia State, leading to the arrest of three IPOB ritualists. The operation was part of ongoing counter-insurgency efforts in the South East aimed at dismantling kidnap-for-ransom networks operating in forest hideouts across the region.
Source: National Accord
SOKOTO
Sokoto Police Smash Currency Counterfeiting Ring — AK-47, Yan Sakai Member Recovered
Sokoto State Police arrested five suspects for currency counterfeiting and recovered an AK-47 rifle from a suspected member of the Yan Sakai vigilante group. An impersonator posing as a law enforcement officer was also apprehended in a separate operation in the same sweep across the state.
Source: Punch
HEALTH
2 alerts
PUBLIC HEALTH
Lawmakers Probe Health Risk From Contaminated Grinding Machines — Heavy Metal Traces May Cause Organ Failure
Nigerian lawmakers launched an investigation into serious health risks linked to contaminated grinding machines widely used in markets and households across the country. Preliminary reports indicate heavy metal traces in the devices, including iron, lead and chromium residues, could find their way into ground food and cause organ failure and neurological damage over time.
Source: Punch
EYE HEALTH
Plateau Commissioner: Over 4,000 Glaucoma Cases Detected — Early Diagnosis Urgently Needed
Plateau State’s Health Commissioner disclosed that over 4,000 glaucoma cases have been recorded across the state, with many more expected to be undiagnosed. Health officials called for a united public awareness campaign and early detection drives to combat the leading cause of irreversible blindness in Nigeria. Glaucoma often has no early symptoms.
Source: Punch
JUSTICE
3 verdicts
FRAUD
EFCC Arrests Woman for ₦19m, €8,370 Alleged Fraud in Enugu
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission arrested a woman in Enugu over alleged fraud involving ₦19 million and €8,370. The suspect is believed to have deceived victims through a financial scheme. The arrest is part of the EFCC’s ongoing nationwide crackdown on internet fraud and financial crimes.
Source: National Accord
ARMS TRAFFICKING
Court Sentences 3 DSS Suspects to 10 Years for Arms Trafficking
A federal court sentenced three individuals arrested by the Department of State Services to 10 years in prison each for arms trafficking. The sentencing follows a successful prosecution by the DSS, which has been stepping up operations against illegal arms proliferation across Nigeria’s troubled regions.
Source: National Accord
FRAUD PROBE
Court to Rule April 14 on Admissibility of Documents in Alleged $35m NCDMB Project Fraud
A Federal High Court set April 14 as the date to rule on the admissibility of documents presented in the ongoing trial over an alleged $35 million fraud linked to a Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board project. The case is among several high-profile financial crime prosecutions currently before federal courts.
Source: National Accord
INTERNATIONAL
Iran War · Day 14
WAR UPDATE — DAY 14
Iran’s New Supreme Leader Says Strait of Hormuz Remains Closed — India, UN Call for Dialogue
On Day 14 of the US-Israel-Iran conflict, Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei confirmed the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to international shipping. The closure continues to rattle global oil markets, though Brent crude eased below $90 per barrel on Thursday amid tentative diplomatic signals. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UN Secretary-General António Guterres both called for an immediate dialogue to end hostilities. Trump raised security concerns over whether Iran’s national football team should be allowed to participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted across the US, Canada and Mexico.
NIGERIA IMPACT
Nigerians in Lagos Protest Power Blackouts as Iran War Keeps Fuel Costs High
Lagos residents staged protests over prolonged electricity blackouts and soaring transport fares, both consequences of the Middle East war-driven fuel price surge. FCT commuters said fares have nearly doubled in a week. The Islamic Movement of Nigeria held a peaceful Quds Day rally in Bauchi showing solidarity with Palestine and Iran. The FG continues monitoring the situation as evacuation of Nigerians from Iran via Armenia proceeds.
Sources: Naija News · Punch
SPORT
FIBA · NPFL · Super Eagles · Nigeria
BASKETBALL
D’Tigress Bounce Back — Defeat Colombia 70-37 to Stay on Course for FIBA World Cup
Nigeria’s women’s basketball team D’Tigress put Thursday’s stumble behind them, demolishing Colombia 70-37 in the FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifiers. The convincing win keeps Nigeria firmly in contention for a World Cup berth. Former Super Eagles star Friday Ekpo weighed in on why D’Tigress has consistently outperformed the men’s Super Eagles in international competition, pointing to discipline and team cohesion.
Sources: Naija News · National Accord
SUPER EAGLES
Iwobi, Osimhen, Super Eagles Debate Continues to Dominate Nigerian Social Media
Alex Iwobi, Victor Osimhen, and the Super Eagles remained a hot topic across Nigerian X (Twitter) and Instagram on Friday, with fans fiercely debating player selection, form, and the team’s upcoming fixtures. Retired midfielder John Obi Mikel also remained a reference point in generational comparisons as Nigerian football discourse reached fever pitch.
Source: X / trends24.in
UCL FALLOUT
Chelsea’s UCL Campaign in Tatters as PSG Lineup Leak Probe Deepens
The fallout from Chelsea’s humiliating 4-1 defeat (some reports citing 5-2) to PSG in the Champions League R16 continued on Friday, with the internal lineup leak investigation expanding. Manager Enzo Maresca admitted the team’s tactical preparation was severely compromised. The Blues face a near-impossible task in the return leg. Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at Leverkusen meanwhile leaves their quarter-final spot in the balance.
Sources: PM News · National Accord
BODYBUILDING
Andrew Jacked’s Arnold Classic Victory Continues to Trend Nationwide
Nigerian bodybuilder Andrew Jacked’s $750,000 Arnold Classic 2026 victory from Thursday continued to dominate conversations on Nigerian social media Friday, with fans and celebrities celebrating his achievement. Many Nigerians highlighted Jacked’s win alongside Chinasa Okolo’s World Bank appointment and D’Tigress’ FIBA campaign as a strong week for Nigerian excellence on the global stage.
Source: Bella Naija
𝕏 TRENDING ON X — NIGERIA · FRIDAY 13 MARCH 2026
📝 Editorial & Opinion Round-Up — 13 March 2026
TheCable
Cracking the palm nut in 2027: Why Nigeria’s opposition is dying by fire and ice
TheCable
Saving the police force from itself — Azu Ishiekwene
TheCable
Trade as statecraft: Why Nigeria must convert market access into strategic advantage
Leadership
Is the UN still relevant in today’s multipolar world?
Daily Trust
INEC and electoral reform under intense scrutiny ahead of 2027
Vanguard
Strengthening Nigeria’s domestic energy security before the next shock hits
