Author: Opalim Lifted

Dangote Refinery will soon announce a new ex-gantry price for petrol after global crude oil prices surged above $100 per barrel amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. David Bird, chief executive officer of the refinery, disclosed this during a press briefing on Monday, saying the company temporarily halted petrol loadings to update its pricing system. Global crude prices climbed sharply after the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran intensified, pushing benchmark oil prices to their highest level since July 2022. Bird explained that the refinery paused truck-out operations at midnight to adjust its gantry price following the…

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, David Bird, has assured Nigerians that the refinery will continue to meet the country’s fuel demand despite growing instability in global oil markets. Speaking during a media chat, Bird said domestic refining has strengthened Nigeria’s energy security, helping the country avoid fuel shortages and long queues even when international supply chains face disruptions. According to him, Nigeria’s reliance on local refining capacity is critical at a time when global oil markets are experiencing extreme volatility. He explained that crude prices have surged sharply, rising from the mid 60…

A private aircraft conveying Aircraft carrying Taraba senator develops fault mid-air David Jimkuta made an emergency return to Abuja shortly after take-off following a technical fault. The incident occurred on Saturday while the senator was travelling to Kashimbila Airport. In a statement released by the senator’s office, Jimkuta was said to be heading to Takum and Wukari for official engagements. He was scheduled to attend the 2026 Zion Conference in Takum and also pay a condolence visit at the St Mary’s Cathedral after a recent fire incident at the church. According to the statement, the aircraft departed Abuja after an…

African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Peter Obi has criticised what he described as the government’s “dead silence” over the worsening insecurity across Nigeria, warning that the country is “clearly under siege”. In a post shared Monday on his X page, Obi said the scale of violence across several states has become unbearable, with attacks spreading across communities and even reaching the nation’s capital. Obi cited the recent attack in Ngoshe community in Borno State, where terrorists reportedly overpowered soldiers, killed several people and abducted more than 100 women and children. He lamented that the sacrifices of Nigerian soldiers often go…

A fire outbreak at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja caused panic on Monday morning after a section of the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation was engulfed in smoke. The incident, which occurred around 8:20am, affected Section C of the building inside the Federal Secretariat complex in Abuja. Eyewitnesses said thick black smoke was seen billowing from the affected area, forcing staff members to quickly evacuate the building. Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from the section as workers hurried out while emergency responders were alerted. The media department of the Office of…

Iran has expressed willingness to help Nigeria fight terrorism, denying allegations of sponsoring extremist groups in West Africa. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Mahdavi Raja said Tehran is willing to cooperate with Nigeria in combating insurgent threats. Raja stressed that Islamic groups in Nigeria maintain only spiritual and cultural links with Iran, not political ties. His remarks came after Michael Freeman accused Iran of backing Islamic movements in Nigeria and across West Africa as part of efforts to spread terrorism globally. Freeman’s claims followed protests by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria across several states after the…

Pope Leo XIV on Sunday called for an immediate end to the fighting in the Middle East, praying that the “roar of bombs” would fall silent as the conflict sparked by US and Israeli air strikes on Iran entered its ninth day. Speaking after the Angelus prayer at the Vatican, the US-born pontiff said developments in the region continued to cause “deep dismay”. He warned that the violence could spread further across the Middle East, raising fears of wider instability. “Added to the episodes of violence and devastation and the widespread climate of hatred and fear is the fear that…

Mojtaba Khamenei, the second son of the late Ali Khamenei, has been named Iran’s new supreme leader, according to Iranian state media. The 56-year-old cleric was announced as his father’s successor on Sunday following a vote by the Assembly of Experts, the group of senior clerics responsible for appointing the Islamic Republic’s highest authority. His appointment comes just days after his father was reportedly killed in joint strikes carried out by the United States and Israel last Saturday. In recent years, Mojtaba Khamenei had increasingly been mentioned within Iranian political circles as a potential successor to his father, although he…

President Donald Trump has mocked Iran after its leadership apologised to neighbouring countries affected by retaliatory missile and drone strikes on United States military bases across the Gulf. The strikes targeted bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. Tehran said the attacks were retaliation for earlier “pre-emptive” strikes carried out by the United States and Israel. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian later attempted to calm tensions in the region, saying Iran had no intention of invading neighbouring states and calling for cooperation to restore stability. “I deem it necessary to apologise to neighbouring countries that were attacked,” Pezeshkian…

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Policy Communication, Daniel Bwala, has responded to criticism following his recent interview with Mehdi Hasan on Al Jazeera, insisting he is ready to face any interviewer anywhere in the world to defend the administration of Bola Tinubu. Speaking on Saturday, Bwala said defending the President and his government is not an easy task but one he is fully committed to. According to him, he accepted the role knowing the responsibilities it carries and never expected universal praise. He said: “In the last 24 hours, social media has exploded over my interview…