The Nigerian Government has suspended the implementation of a 15 per cent import duty on premium motor spirit and automotive gas oil. The spokesperson of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday. The country’s downstream oil sector regulator urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying of petrol and diesel, assuring the public of adequate supply nationwide. “It should also be noted that the implementation of the 15 percent ad valorem import duty on imported premium motor spirit and diesel is no longer in view,” NMDPRA stated. The statement added, “The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority assures the general public that there is an adequate supply of petroleum products in the country, within the acceptable national sufficiency threshold during this peak demand period. “There is a robust domestic supply of petroleum products (AGO, PMS, LPG, etc.) sourced from both local refineries and importation to ensure timely replenishment of stocks at storage depots and retail stations during this period. “The Authority wishes to use this opportunity to advise against any hoarding, panic buying or non-market reflective escalation of prices of petroleum products. “The Authority will continue to closely monitor the supply situation and take appropriate regulatory measures to prevent disruption of supply and distribution of petroleum products across the country, especially during this peak demand period. “While appreciating the continued efforts of all stakeholders in the midstream and downstream value chain in ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted supply and distribution, the public is hereby assured of NMDPRA’s commitment to guarantee energy security.” Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, late last month, approved the implementation of a 15 per cent import duty on petrol and diesel to encourage Dangote Refinery. However, the decision has drawn mixed reactions from economists, stakeholders, and Nigerians. While some believe it is a good move to encourage Dangote Refinery, others argue that it would further worsen hardship for Nigerians as petrol and diesel prices would rise.

A Chieftain Of The Peoples Democratic Party, Bode George, Has Rejected The Call For The Suspension Of The Party’s National Convention Scheduled To Hold On November 15 And 16, 2025, In Ibadan, The Oyo State Capital. PUNCH Online Had Earlier Reported That Former Senate President Bukola Saraki Urged The PDP Leadership To Suspend The Planned Convention And Set Up A Caretaker Committee, While Receiving Members Of The Party’s Board Of Trustees Reconciliation Team At His Abuja Residence On Wednesday. Saraki Had Warned That The Existence Of Conflicting Court Orders Regarding The Validity Of The Convention Posed Serious Risks To The Legitimacy Of Any Outcomes From The Exercise. However, In An Interview With ARISE News On Thursday, George Dismissed The Call To Suspend The Convention And Set Up A Caretaker National Working Committee, Insisting That Such Measures Were Unnecessary And Unconstitutional. The PDP Chieftain Stated That The Party Remained United Despite Ongoing Internal Disputes Among Some Members. “You Know, In This Country, It Amazes Me The Way People Roll Around Purely For Their Selfish Ends. I Am This — The Senator You Mentioned, Saraki. He Set Up The First Committee For Reconciliation. “That’s Quite A While. So What Has He Done? Telling Us On The Eve Of The Convention That We Should Go And Form A Caretaker Committee. You Know, I Totally Disagree With Him,” George Said. He Maintained That The PDP’s Core Leadership Structure Was Still Intact, Noting That Most Members Of The NWC Supported Holding The Convention As Planned. “The Main Party Is Still Solidly Intact. We Are Waiting For The Ruling Of The Court In Ibadan. “The Supreme Court Has Ruled That All Party Activities Should Be Solved Internally. The Court Said ‘Go To Your Party And Resolve Your Issue. That’s What The Supreme Court Said,” He Said. George Also Criticised What He Described As Reckless Behaviour Within The PDP, Arguing That Such Conduct Disrespects The Legacy Of The Party’s Founding Fathers. “You Know, What Is Demeaning And What Is Annoying, And What I Call Existential Imbecility — Terrible Attitudes Of These People. I Mean, The Founding Fathers, For God’s Sake, Will Be Shaking In Their Graves,” He Said. On Calls For The Postponement Of The Ibadan Convention, George Accused Certain Members Of Acting Beyond Their Authority. He Specifically Criticised The Suspended National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, For Allegedly Releasing An Advertisement Claiming That The Convention Had Been Postponed.

Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, Has Advised The Peoples Democratic Party To Suspend Its Planned National Convention Slated For November 15 And 6, 2025 In Ibadan, Oyo State, Citing Legal And Political Controversies Surrounding The Exercise. Saraki Made The Call In A Statement Via His Official X (Twitter) Handle On Wednesday Night Following A Meeting With Members Of The Board Of Trustees Reconciliation Conmittee Of The Party Led By Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Who Visited Him At His Abuja Residence To Seek His Views On Restoring Peace Within The PDP. The Former Kwara State Governor Described The Meeting As “meaningful And Incisive,” Noting That It Focused On Pressing Issues Affecting The Party’s Unity And Stability. He Expressed Regret That Despite The “selfless And Arduous Efforts” Of Some Party Leaders To Resolve Internal Disputes, The Forthcoming Convention Had Been Engulfed In Political And Legal Wrangling, Which, According To Him, Does Not Augur Well For Nigeria’s Democracy. Saraki Warned That The Existence Of Conflicting Court Orders Regarding The Validity Of The Convention Poses Serious Risks To The Legitimacy Of Any Outcomes From The Exercise. He Said, “As It Stands, There Is No Assurance That The Conduct And Outcome Of The Convention Will Stand. Political Matters Can Hardly Be Resolved Through The Courts. The Affairs Of Political Parties Are Best Settled Amicably With All Sides At The Table. Legal Battles Will Only Continue To Cause Friction.” He Stressed That As A Responsible Leader, He Could Not Support Any Action That Might Jeopardise The Aspirations Of Party Members Or Undermine Internal Cohesion. To This End, Saraki Urged The BoT To Recommend The Immediate Establishment Of A Caretaker Committee To Manage The Affairs Of The PDP And Restore Confidence Among Members And Prospective Candidates. “My Advice To The BoT Team Is That The Only Solution Available To Us Now Is For The Party To Set Up A Caretaker Committee Within The Next Two Days. “This Is The Path To True Reconciliation And Stability Of The Party. It Will Also Reassure Members Who Wish To Contest Elections Under The PDP Platform,” He Added.

The Federal Government has scrapped the national policy mandating the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in Nigerian schools. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the cancellation on Wednesday at the 2025 Language in Education International Conference, organised by the British Council in Abuja. THENEWSCREDIT gathered that the cancellation was approved at the 69th meeting of the National Council on Education, held in Akure, Ondo State, from November 3 to 7. The policy, approved in 2022 as the National Language Policy, stipulated that children from Early Childhood Education to Primary Six should be taught in their mother tongue or the language of the immediate community. The policy aimed to promote indigenous languages, recognise their equal status, and improve early childhood learning outcomes, while English remained the official language for later education and formal settings. Speaking at the conference, Alausa said English would now be the language of instruction across all levels of education, from primary through tertiary. He attributed the decision to data showing poor academic performance in areas where mother-tongue instruction had been emphasised. “We have seen a mass failure rate in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB in certain geo-political zones of the country, and those are the ones that adopted the mother tongue in an oversubscribed manner. “This is about evidence-based governance. English now stands as the medium of instruction from pre-primary, primary, junior secondary, senior secondary, and tertiary education,” he said. Alausa added, “Using the mother tongue language in Nigeria for the past 15 years has literally destroyed education in certain regions. We have to talk about evidence, not emotions.” He noted that data from schools across the country indicated students taught primarily in indigenous languages had higher failure rates in national examinations and struggled with basic English comprehension. “The national policy on language has been cancelled. English now stands as the medium of instruction across all levels of education,” Alausa declared. The minister encouraged stakeholders with differing views to present verifiable data to support their positions and stressed that the government remains open to evidence-based dialogue to strengthen the education sector. He also commended the British Council for its ongoing partnership with Nigeria in advancing education reforms and promoting inclusive language and learning policies. Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, said the government is implementing other measures to address learning challenges at the foundational level. “Now we are designing a training package for teachers that focuses on literacy and numeracy,. “This specifically targets teachers of pre-primary to Primary One to Three. We are training them on the best methods to teach literacy and numeracy and the appropriate approach to classroom learning,” she said. The British Council Country Director, Donna McGowan, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s education reforms. “We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with the ministry. We work across all areas of education in terms of supporting teacher professional development, school leadership, and language proficiency,” McGowan said.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to press freedom, describing it as critical to his vision of a prosperous Nigeria. Idris made this statement at the All Nigeria Editors’ Conference, adding that no media organisation has been gagged or shut down under Tinubu’s administration. “Central to this vision of prosperous Nigeria is an environment where free speech and a dynamic media can thrive. “I stand before you today to affirm that under President Tinubu’s leadership, we have nurtured an unprecedentedly egalitarian media ecosystem,” he said. According to the minister, the President’s commitment to press freedom is being recognised globally, resulting in the country being granted the hosting rights for the International Media and Information Literacy Institute. He further stated that the prestigious event would connect Nigeria to media-literate dynamics from across the world, with his ministry poised to leverage this platform to showcase the nation’s progress.

Activist lawyer Deji Adeyanju and social media commentator, Joe Igbokwe have clashed following the heated exchange between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT Nyesom Wike and a Naval officer. The social media was awash on Tuesday following a viral video clip that captured Wike confronting a soldier for denying him access to a disputed land. The incident divided Nigerians as some backed the military officer while others rooted for the FCT Minister, condemning the action of the solder. Joe Igbokwe in a post on his official Facebook page called for the dismissal of the officer, questioning those behind his authority. But Deji in a counter post on Facebook, urged Igbokwe to stop hustling for an appointment. He wrote, “Dear Joe Igbokwe, appointment is finished already. Stop the hustling except you want to replace this cameraman. Doing media aide in old age is actually crazy. Old data boys”. However, Igbokwe stormed the comment section to warn Deji, stating that they are not mates and he is not looking for any appointment. He wrote, “Deji you do not know me and I do not know you. The only thing I know about you is that you are an emergency activist. I have been a well-made man for over 30 years. “I started activism in the University of Nigeria Nsukka in the 80s. It is more than 40 years, Deji. Young man I am not looking for anything anymore from anybody. I am not your mate. “Please go and verify. Ignorance is a terrible disease. Check my background, ask questions, seek information, go and read my 5 books and you will know me. A good product sells itself”.

Former Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai (rtd), has issued a strongly worded statement calling for immediate action against the conduct of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who verbally assaulted a military officer in uniform. Buratai stated that Wike’s actions were not merely acts of indiscipline but a direct threat to national security and the integrity of the Nigerian Armed Forces. He said the minister’s remarks demonstrated “a lack of respect for the constitutional order and the chain of command,” which could weaken the morale of military personnel and undermine discipline within the armed forces. According to the former army chief, “This incident cannot be viewed as political drama, as it poses a serious danger to national order and the authority of the federal government.” Buratai further urged that Minister Wike must tender a public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, to all security agencies, and to the officer whose honour was publicly disrespected.

Tension is mounting between Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa and members of the State House of Assembly following the submission of a N531 billion supplementary budget for legislative approval. The lawmakers have reportedly rejected the governor’s proposal, questioning the rationale for such a large additional request barely two months before the end of the fiscal year. According to Assembly sources, the budget request—read on the floor of the House by the Clerk, Barrister Benjamin Jayeola, on November 4, 2025—seeks approval to fund ongoing capital projects and cover recurrent expenditures, including salaries, pensions, and newly initiated infrastructural works across the state. A copy of the document shows that the governor is requesting a total of N531,767,261,000 (five hundred and thirty-one billion, seven hundred and sixty-seven million, two hundred and sixty-one thousand naira). Of this sum, N254,448,081,000 is earmarked for recurrent expenditure, while N277,319,130,000 is allocated for capital projects for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025. The move has sparked discontent among members of the Assembly, who accused the executive of poor budget performance and alleged fiscal indiscipline in implementing the 2025 Appropriation Law. Governor Aiyedatiwa had earlier signed the 2025 Appropriation Bill, tagged the “Budget of Recovery”, totalling N698.659 billion, with N433.622 billion (62.06%) allocated for capital expenditure and N265.037 billion (37.94%) for recurrent expenditure. The initial proposal of N655.230 billion was subsequently increased by over N43 billion before passage into law. At the time, the governor said the budget reflected the collective aspirations of Ondo residents and aimed to rebuild the state’s economy and address socio-economic challenges. However, several lawmakers, during a parliamentary session on November 4, 2025, reportedly expressed frustration over what they described as the administration’s “reckless spending pattern”, warning that approving another massive budget could further strain the state’s finances. A lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said most projects in the 2025 budget have recorded less than 35 per cent completion, questioning the logic of presenting a fresh N531 billion proposal amid such poor fiscal execution. He disclosed that lawmakers had to “walk out” of the House, led by Speaker Olamide Oladiji, after repeated arguments among members over the governor’s intentions. “We did not even finish the sitting at the House on November 4. Many lawmakers had to walk out of the sitting. It became a rowdy session because many of us questioned what the executive had done with the funds already approved. “We had to walk out. The Speaker, Rt Hon. Olamide Oladiji, who has turned himself into a rubber stamp in the hands of the executive, is aligning with the governor because of his political ambition to contest for the House of Representatives, but we are saying enough is enough,” he added. Accusing the government of a lack of transparency, another aggrieved lawmaker opposed the governor’s request for additional funds through the supplementary budget. He explained that many lawmakers have been threatened or blackmailed for refusing to support a few colleagues planning to carry out the governor’s bidding. “The governor is threatening us. You know we don’t have autonomy yet. He controls our salaries through the executive. He and his aides have threatened us that we won’t receive a second return if we don’t pass the supplementary budget into law. They have even used our constituents to blackmail some of us. “This government has not been transparent in its financial dealings. The budget performance is abysmal, yet they want another N531 billion. It’s simply unacceptable. You can imagine nothing is happening in the state, and you’re requesting more funds,” the lawmaker stated. Amid the deepening rift, sources revealed that lawmakers are divided over the governor’s attempt to push the supplementary budget through the Assembly. The proposal has been referred to the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, chaired by Hon. Oluwole Ogunmolasuyi, a former majority leader. “Now, 11 members have manoeuvred to commit the budget to the Committee on Finance and Appropriation. They plan to reconvene by 9 am on Wednesday for a kangaroo sitting to pass the budget,” another source said. “The problem is they cannot muster the two-thirds majority required, and many lawmakers have vowed to boycott the session. The people of Ondo State should be aware of this carnage that is about to happen in the Assembly.” As of press time, the state government had not responded to enquiries regarding the lawmakers’ resistance or the justification for the supplementary budget proposal. Efforts to obtain the reaction of Assembly Speaker Oladiji were repeatedly unsuccessful.

A Coalition Of Nigerian Military Veterans Has Condemned The Minister Of The Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, Over A Recent Confrontation With A Naval Officer During An Enforcement Visit To A Disputed Land In Abuja. A Video Obtained By Our Correspondent Earlier Showed Wike In A Heated Exchange With Some Naval Personnel At A Site In The Gaduwa Area Of The FCT. The Minister Had Visited The Location As Part Of An Enforcement Operation And Questioned The Presence Of Military Personnel Allegedly Guarding The Land. In The Footage, Wike Accused The Officers Of Supporting An Illegal Development, While One Of The Naval Personnel Insisted They Were Acting On Orders And That The Land Belonged To A Former Chief Of Naval The Altercation Escalated, With Wike Reportedly Using Harsh Language Against The Officer. The Incident Drew Mixed Reactions Online. While Some Commentators Criticised The Officer For Challenging A Serving Cabinet Minister, Others Defended The Officer’s Conduct. In A Statement By Its Spokesperson, Abiodun Durowaiye-Herberts, The Coalition Of Military Veterans Criticised Wike For Verbally Insulting The Officer During The Encounter. The Group Said A Public Office Holder Should Not Use Abusive Language Against Security Personnel Carrying Out Official Duties. “How Can A Public Office Holder Call An Officer ‘a Fool’ On Camera? If He Was Responsible, He Should Have Engaged The Chief Of Naval Staff Privately Rather Than Attempting To Disgrace A Retired Senior Officer,” Durowaiye-Herberts Said. He Added That A Uniformed Officer Represents The Authority Of The Nigerian State And That Disrespecting Such An Officer Undermines Public Institutions. The Veterans Also Faulted Calls For Disciplinary Action Against The Officer, Saying Any Such Move Would Be Resisted. “If For Any Reason The Officer Is Punished, Military Veterans Will Occupy The Office And Residence Of The FCT Minister,” He Warned. He Noted That Military Officers Swear Loyalty To The Country And Not To Individual Public Officials And Insisted That Wike Should Apologise To The Officer. “Wike’s Action Demeans The Dignity Of The Office Of A Minister. He Should Apologise For Using Abusive Language. It Is Not Acceptable Behaviour,” Durowaiye-Herberts Added.