Several petroleum products depot owners and marketers in Nigeria have increased their ex-depot petrol price over the alleged planned shutdown of Dangote Refinery’s petrol unit for maintenance and upgrades. A check by our correspondent on Saturday showed that major depot owners are now selling prices around N800 per liter, up from between N740 and N780. This is the case in Ranoil, Optima, AYM Shafa, and other depots, while Dangote and Aiteo sold N702 and N740 per liter. The latest ex-depot price hike is linked to the reported planned turnaround maintenance at the Dangote Refinery. Speaking on the plan, Devakumar Edwin, Vice President of Dangote Industries, explained, as reported by Platts (S&P Global): “In most departments, our production levels have gone beyond 100 percent. We just need to remove constraints to raise overall output.” Meanwhile, retail fuel prices stood between N739 and N910 per liter across major filling stations in Nigeria as of Saturday afternoon.

United States President, Donald Trump has announced the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Trump disclosed this in a post via his Truth Social media account on Saturday. “The United States of America has successfully carried out a large-scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the country. “This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement. Details to follow. There will be a News Conference today at 11 A.M., at Mar-a-Lago. Thank you for your attention to this matter.” This is coming few months after the United States government doubled the reward for information leading to the arrest of Maduro to $50 million, citing his alleged role in international drug trafficking. The United States had, in 2020, during Trump’s first administration, indicted Maduro and several senior Venezuelan officials.

OGBOMOSO – Prince Aderemi Farooq Olude, the Mogaji of the Olude Royal Dynasty of the Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom, has expressed strong optimism that 2026 will usher in a period of renewed hope, institutional stability, and steady national progress for Nigeria. In a New Year message, Prince Olude commended Nigerians for their resilience and civic maturity despite prevailing economic and security challenges. He reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to the Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye (Orumogege III), praising the monarch`s efforts in safeguarding the stability of Ogbomoso and promoting its socio-economic and cultural heritage. “As we enter 2026, I extend my warm wishes to all Olude sons and daughters, both at home and in the diaspora, for a peaceful and fulfilling year,” Prince Olude stated. He expressed cautious optimism that government efforts to tackle insecurity, infrastructure deficits, and youth unemployment would yield tangible results this year. He emphasized that sustainable development must be built on strong institutions rather than the cult of personality. Warning against "false messianic narratives," Prince Olude cautioned that individuals who portray themselves as sole saviors often deepen national divisions. He noted that progress thrives on accountability, shared responsibility, and mutual respect among ruling houses. Call to Olude Descendants Looking ahead to the heightened political activities preceding the 2027 general elections, the Mogaji urged the youth to shun thuggery and divisive politics. He specifically charged descendants of the Olude family to reclaim their historical standing. "Olude was the first son of the Asamu Ruling House of the Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom," Mogaji Atoyebi asserted, urging descendants to study their history to prevent the marginalization of their heritage. Spiritual Blessings and Philanthropy The event featured remarks from Prince Apostle Oladele Abiodun of Overcomers’ Evangelical Mission International, Ile-Ife. Pronouncing a divine blessing on the lineage, the cleric referred to the dynasty as "Oluwade" (meaning "God has come"), delivering a message of hope to Olude descendants,Onpetu Kingdom and Ogbomoso at large. A noted philanthropist, Apostle Oladele announced the continuation of his annual food and gift distribution program. He invited the general public to the outreach event held in front of the Olude family house. The gathering was attended by prominent figures, including: High Chief Samuel Sobalaje Otolorin, the Areago of Ogbomosoland High Chief Opeola Ifamakinde, the Araba Olusese of Ogbomosoland Rev. Gbenga Ogunniyi of Atunbi Baptist Church Chief Samson Adegoke (Megida), along with several other friends and relatives of the royal house.

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Kenneth Okonkwo, says President Bola Tinubu will keep telling lies throughout 2026 because he lied again on New Year’s day. Okonkwo stated this on Friday when he featured on ‘Sunrise Daily’, a programme on Channels Television monitored by Our correspondent. He was reacting to the president’s New Year message to Nigerians. “Well, the government of Tinubu cannot cease to continue to surprise me. Each time I think they’ve reached the limit of incompetence, they still blow that limit. “First of all, he said 2026 marks the beginning of a more robust phase of economic growth. I was offended by that phrase, “the beginning.” Almost three years into the regime of a government. Obviously that’s an admission of failure, because he has actually not begun anything. “You saw how he embarrassed the world by saying that inflation has come down to 15%. Let me state that clearly as a white lie. Before Tinubu came in, the highest he could pay of flight ticket from Abuja to Enugu was N57,000. “But going to Enugu, I paid N250,000 for a flight ticket, that’s almost more than 500% increase, and the President is sitting down in a New Year message, telling Nigerians about the rebased fraudulent inflation figure. It’s embarrassing and very annoying. “And when we were growing up, we were told not to lie on a New Year’s day. That means we expect that this President and this government is going to lie throughout the year,” he said.

ABUJA – Former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi has warned that Nigeria risks deepening hardship and undermining national cohesion by pursuing a tax regime that places greater burdens on an already impoverished population. He said genuine prosperity cannot be achieved through policies that make citizens poorer, stressing that economic growth must be built on trust, honesty, and productivity. Obi made the remarks in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), where he addressed issues of taxation, leadership responsibility, and the weakening social contract between government and citizens. The statement was signed by the ex-governor and reflects his views on economic reform, transparency, and people-focused governance. Drawing from his engagements with leaders across the world, Obi said countries that achieved lasting transformation did so by uniting their people around a shared vision anchored on truth. He argued that leadership without honesty destroys consensus and weakens the foundations of development. “As I travel the world and meet leaders who have transformed their nations, one lesson is clear: lasting economic and social progress begins with national consensus. Transformative leaders share a defining quality; honesty. Government must be transparent and truthful because citizens deserve nothing less from those who lead them,” Obi said. He maintained that taxation should operate as a genuine social contract, grounded in sincerity, fairness, and concern for citizens’ welfare. According to him, every tax policy must be clearly explained, including its impact on incomes and how it contributes to national development. “If taxation is to function as a genuine social contract, it must be rooted in sincerity, fairness, and concern for the welfare of the people. Without transparency, taxation becomes a tool of confusion and burden rather than a mechanism for growth and development,” he said. Obi argued that Nigeria’s fiscal challenge is not simply about raising revenue but about making citizens wealthier so the nation itself can grow stronger. He said Nigerians are currently being asked to pay taxes without clarity, explanation, or visible public benefit. He identified the empowerment of small and medium-sized enterprises as the starting point for sustainable economic growth, noting that thriving small businesses create jobs, raise incomes, and naturally expand the tax base. “The solution begins with empowering small and medium-sized enterprises in every community. You cannot tax your way out of poverty, you must produce your way out of it,” Obi said. The former governor also expressed alarm over what he described as an unprecedented tax fraud controversy, alleging that a tax law currently in use was not the version passed by the National Assembly. He said reports indicate that the legislature itself has acknowledged discrepancies between what was approved and what was eventually gazetted. “For the first time in Nigeria’s history, a tax law has reportedly been forged. Yet citizens are being asked to pay higher taxes under this manipulated framework, without transparency, explanation, or corresponding benefits,” Obi said. He warned against celebrating increased government revenue while citizens grow poorer, arguing that such outcomes reflect a failure of governance rather than success. According to him, taxing poverty does not create wealth but entrenches hardship. “There is no virtue in celebrating increased government revenue while the people grow poorer. Any tax system that makes citizens poorer violates the fundamental principles of good governance and sound fiscal policy,” he said. Obi called for a fair, lawful, and people-centred tax system that supports production, rewards enterprise, protects the vulnerable, and restores trust between government and citizens, saying only such an approach can turn taxation into a true instrument for unity, growth, and shared prosperity.

The Islamic State of West Africa Province, ISWAP, has continued to wreak havoc on Christian communities in the Northeast, Nigeria. This comes as ISWAP burned down a Christian village in Adamawa State. A security expert, Brant Philip, disclosed this on Thursday in a viral video released by the terrorists. “ISWAP released an image of one of the Christian villages in Adamawa State burning, alongside a statement saying that all Christians in Nigeria are legitimate targets, and they have an opportunity to “spare their blood” by converting to Islam or paying the jizyah tax to ISWAP,” Brant Philip wrote on X. The move is perceived as retaliation for recent joint airstrikes by the Nigerian and United States military against a terrorist enclave in Sokoto, Nigeria. Recall that five days ago, United States President Donald Trump announced that the US military launched airstrikes against terrorists in Sokoto State.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said that the country’s inflation would moderate to 12.94 percent in 2026, pushed by declining prices of fuel and food. CBN disclosed its macroeconomic outlook for Nigeria in 2026, released on Wednesday. According to the apex bank projections, the economy of Africa’s most populous country is expected to grow by 4.49 percent. CBN hinged the expected growth rate on continued gains from broad-based structural reforms and a gradually easing monetary policy stance. “Headline inflation is projected to moderate to an estimated average of 12.94 percent in 2026, driven by declining food and premium motor spirit (PMS) prices,” the apex bank said. Recall that last week, Nigeria witnessed several drops in fuel prices owing to an ongoing price war in the country’s oil downstream sector. Dangote Refinery reduced its gantry petrol price drastically to edge out petrol marketers, leading to fuel prices hovering around N739 and N910 per liter nationwide. November’s 2025 National Bureau of Statistics inflation data said Nigeria’s food inflation dropped to 11.08 percent.

The Aniwo 1 of Aafin community, Ile-Ire District, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, Oba Simeon Olaonipekun and one of his sons, Olaolu, who is currently observing his National Youth Service Corps, have reportedly been kidnapped in a violent attack on the palace. Our correspondent reports that the incident occurred late on Wednesday night, on new years eve, when a group of about eight gunmen allegedly stormed the palace around 8pm, shooting sporadically and demanding to see the monarch and his wife. A family source who was inside the palace when the attack unfolded told THENEWSCREDIT via telephone on Thursday that panic ensued as the assailants opened fire. “Around 8pm, I noticed some strange movements outside and I immediately alerted those inside. We started locking all the doors and switching off inner lights, but when they realised what we were doing, they began shooting sporadically,” the source said. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the gunmen forced their way into the palace by breaking down the door with guns and demanded to see the Oba. “They are about eight in number because I saw them from where I was hiding. They used their guns to break down the door, gained entrance and requested for the Kabiesi, and he came out. “They were asking for his wife too, but she has been hit with a bullet in the arm, during their attempt to gain entrance” the source said. The assailants also seized one of the monarch’s sons who came out from hiding with the Olori (queen), the source added. “We were about 10 in the palace around that time to come spend the holiday with Kabiesi, so everyone was hiding during the incident. One of the sons who was with the Olori came out to avoid casualties as they were shooting and breaking down doors,” he said. He added that the leader of the attackers spoke very good English and appeared to be targeting the monarch and his wife specifically. “The leader of the kidnappers spoke good English and the only thing they were asking is the Kabiesi and when he came out, they were asking for his wife too. “After they left, we quickly took the Olori to the hospital yesterday night,” the source said. He said the town vigilante could not repel the attackers, as only two members were on duty as of the time. “The town vigilante could not do much because they were two that came out that time and they couldn’t match the firepower of the assailants. “We have not heard anything from them since they left with the Oba and his son. We are appealing to the government and security agencies to come to our aid,” the source said. The source also disclosed that the matter was reported to police divisions in the area on the night of the attack. “When we left Aafin last night, we made a report at the Owu Isin Divisional Police and also when we got to Ijara Isin, we informed the police there too. The joint local security network at Ikosin was also informed, and also the Kabiesi of Oke Aba,” he said. Contacted on Thursday, the Kwara State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, said the command was aware of the incident, but said details were still being collated. “I will get in touch with you immediately, once I have detailed information about the incident,” she said. The reported abduction comes amid a disturbing rise in insecurity in Kwara State, particularly in Ifelodun and other rural communities. In late November, bandits abducted the Ojibara of Bayagan-Ile, Alhaji Kamilu Salami, from his farm in the same local government area, sparking fear and condemnation across the state. The monarch was held in captivity for weeks before being released after community-led negotiations and payment of a substantial ransom. Security analysts say the frequency of kidnappings, attacks on worshippers and assaults on rural leaders points to an escalation of banditry and criminal activity in forest-border communities of Kwara. Recent data reveal scores of abductions and killings linked to armed groups operating along the state’s borders with Niger and Kogi states, as well as internal flashpoints within Ifelodun, Patigi, Edu, Ekiti, Isin and other local councils.

The Senate President, Godswill Obot Akpabio, has expressed optimism that 2026 will mark a period of renewed hope, institutional stability and steady national progress for Nigeria. In a New Year message issued on Wednesday and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, Akpabio said the outlook for the year ahead would be anchored on responsible leadership, strong institutions and collective national resolve. He commended Nigerians for their resilience and civic maturity, particularly in the face of economic and security challenges, and reaffirmed the commitment of the National Assembly to safeguarding democratic stability and promoting accountable governance. “As we enter the year 2026, I extend my warm wishes to Nigerians for a peaceful and fulfilling year. I commend the resilience, patience, and civic maturity of our people, even in challenging times,” the Senate President said. Akpabio noted that while the Executive arm of government continues to implement policies, the National Assembly remains firmly committed to its constitutional responsibilities of lawmaking, representation and oversight to ensure governance outcomes align with the aspirations of citizens. According to him, the Senate will continue to provide legislative support where necessary, exercise oversight where required, and act in the best interest of national unity, economic stability and social justice. He expressed cautious optimism that ongoing efforts to address insecurity, economic pressures, infrastructure deficits and youth unemployment would deliver more tangible results in the coming year, stressing that sustainable development depends on strong institutions rather than individual personalities. “Our democracy is strengthened when institutions function properly and leaders remain accountable. The National Assembly will continue to work to strengthen these institutions and to ensure that public policy is people-centred and forward-looking,” Akpabio stated. Looking ahead to heightened political activities as the country moves toward the 2027 general elections, the Senate President cautioned against divisive politics and what he described as false messianic narratives that could undermine national cohesion. He warned that individuals who portray themselves as sole saviours often deepen divisions rather than resolve them, noting that democracy thrives on ideas, responsibility, accountability and respect for national unity. Akpabio urged political actors to conduct themselves with restraint and a sense of national duty, assuring that the Senate would continue to uphold democratic norms, parliamentary discipline and the rule of law. He also reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to constructive engagement with the Executive, the Judiciary and other stakeholders to build a more united, just and prosperous Nigeria. The Senate President concluded by calling on Nigerians to remain hopeful, vigilant and actively engaged in democratic processes, while wishing citizens a peaceful and prosperous 2026.

Rev. Dr. John Idowu Fatunbi, Pastor of Oja-Oba Baptist Church, Ogbomoso, has admonished believers to prepare for both the challenges and the enormous blessings destined for 2026. During the 2025-2026 crossover service held at the Oja-Oba Baptist Church auditorium, the man of God charged the congregation: "Don`t panic over any evil prophecies; hearken to the voice of God, and He will fight your battles this year." Taking his text from Deuteronomy 3:1-3, with the sermon topic "Crossover to Take Over," he encouraged Christians and Nigerians alike not to be afraid, assuring them that victory lies ahead. "God has a plan for you this year," Fatunbi said. "Do not panic over evil prophecies; stay focused because God will fight for you. You do not need to be weary. Let your mind be at rest and allow God to take control of your life and daily activities." Furthermore, he emphasized that God has given believers the authority to take charge. He urged the faithful to hearken to God’s voice, take His messages seriously, and pray fervently to reject any evil over their lives. "Do what God asks you to do and let His presence go with you throughout the year," he advised. "Do not quench the Spirit of God and stay away from sin, as it hinders God`s work. If you want to take over, you must be committed to the Lord Jesus." The pastor concluded by raining blessings upon the congregation, declaring 2026 a year of entering into newsness through God`s glory and his greatness.