Petrol Price Hits N1,450/Litre as Middle East Crisis Pushes Oil Above $108

The petrol price in Nigeria has climbed to as high as ₦1,450 per litre in Abuja and about ₦1,400 in parts of Lagos, following a fresh increase in the price of refined petroleum products amid a sharp rise in international crude oil prices.

The latest increase comes after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery raised its petrol gantry price by ₦85, from ₦1,265 to ₦1,350 per litre, effective September 12, 2026.

The adjustment, representing a 6.7 per cent increase, has added fresh pressure to the downstream petroleum market as international crude prices surge amid escalating Middle East tensions and concerns over disruptions to global oil supplies.

The latest Dangote adjustment is the refinery’s fourth increase in about three weeks. Its petrol gantry price has risen by roughly 15.9 per cent since August 21, when the price stood at ₦1,165 per litre.

The impact has already become visible at filling stations, although pump prices vary from one location and marketer to another depending on supply costs, transportation expenses, existing stock and pricing decisions.

In Abuja, some filling stations have raised their prices to ₦1,450 per litre, while others are selling between ₦1,395 and ₦1,400. The increases have also been recorded in Lagos and Ibadan, with several outlets reviewing their prices upwards.

The latest retail movements are coming against a dramatic surge in the international oil market. Brent crude, the global benchmark, has risen above $107 per barrel, with prices reaching about $108.33 amid renewed concerns over global supply.

The oil price rally has been driven by escalating military tensions in the Middle East, attacks on energy infrastructure and growing concerns over the movement of crude through major international shipping routes.

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A drone attack also forced Saudi Arabia to temporarily shut its East-West Pipeline, a key route that allows the country to transport crude to the Red Sea without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. The disruption has heightened concerns about the availability of global oil supplies.

The Strait of Hormuz remains another major source of concern for the global energy market because of its importance to international crude and petroleum-product shipments. Any prolonged disruption to the waterway could further tighten supplies and push oil prices higher.

The current oil shock is already having consequences beyond crude prices. Refiners and fuel suppliers around the world are facing higher replacement costs, while disruptions to shipping and refining infrastructure are increasing the cost of moving petroleum products.

That situation has direct implications for Nigeria despite the country’s growing domestic refining capacity.

The Dangote Refinery, which has become a major supplier of refined petroleum products in Nigeria, has itself adjusted its prices in response to changing international market conditions.

The refinery also increased its coastal price from ₦1,669,543 to ₦1,783,530 per metric tonne, an increase of ₦113,987 or 6.8 per cent.

The latest increase highlights the extent to which global crude prices continue to influence Nigeria’s domestic petroleum market even as local refining expands.

The refinery has also been increasing its crude purchases from Nigeria. It has secured at least 16 million barrels of Nigerian crude for October, equivalent to about 520,000 barrels per day, representing a substantial share of its roughly 700,000-barrel-per-day operating capacity.

The growing availability of locally refined petrol has reduced Nigeria’s dependence on imported finished products, but it does not completely insulate consumers from international oil-price movements. Crude is traded in a global market, while refinery economics, product replacement costs, shipping and other downstream expenses remain sensitive to international conditions.

The latest development is particularly significant because Nigeria’s petrol market is deregulated, meaning retail prices can respond to changes in crude prices, exchange rates, supply costs and competition among marketers.

The current increase could therefore put additional pressure on transport operators, logistics companies, manufacturers and households that depend heavily on petrol.

For consumers, higher pump prices can translate into increased transportation and distribution costs, while businesses that use petrol-powered generators and vehicles may also face higher operating expenses.

The effect could extend to food and other consumer goods if higher fuel and logistics costs are passed through the supply chain.

The renewed pressure comes at a time when the global refining industry is also facing significant disruptions.

David Bird, chief executive of the Dangote Refinery, recently warned that global fuel shortages could continue beyond the current Iran-related conflict because of damage to Middle Eastern refining infrastructure, high refinery utilisation rates and efforts by countries to rebuild depleted fuel inventories.

According to the refinery, the combination of the Middle East conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war has placed additional pressure on global refining capacity and fuel supplies.

Dangote has said it expects to expand its Nigerian refinery capacity further, with plans aimed at increasing its ability to supply refined products to Nigeria and international markets.

For Nigeria, greater domestic refining capacity could strengthen supply security over the long term, but the immediate impact of higher global crude prices is being felt through the cost of petroleum products.

The latest ₦1,450 per litre petrol price in parts of Abuja therefore reflects a combination of domestic pricing adjustments and a rapidly changing international oil market.

There is no uniform national pump price, and motorists in different states and even within the same city may continue to encounter different prices.

However, the movement of petrol towards ₦1,400–₦1,450 per litre at several filling stations signals renewed pressure on Nigerian consumers.

With Brent crude above $108 per barrel, continuing uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz and other major oil routes, and concerns about global refining capacity, further volatility in petrol prices remains possible.

Unless international oil prices retreat significantly or supply disruptions ease, Nigerian motorists and businesses may continue to face pressure from elevated fuel prices in the coming days.

Petrol Price Hits N1,450/Litre as Middle East Crisis Pushes Oil Above $108

Police Arrest Herbal Drink Producer as Ondo Death Toll Hits 29

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested Oloruntoba Babatunde, popularly known as “Meko”, over the alleged production of herbal drinks suspected to be linked to the deaths of 29 people in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The arrest followed reports of sudden and unexplained deaths among residents, particularly young people, in several communities after the consumption of suspected contaminated alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions.

The Ondo State Government has confirmed 29 deaths and 60 suspected cases connected with the incident, prompting authorities to intensify measures against the production, sale and distribution of unverified alcoholic drinks and potentially dangerous herbal mixtures.

Police spokesman, DSP Abayomi Jimoh, said Babatunde was arrested after investigators traced suspected harmful substances to him. He is currently assisting the police as investigations continue into the source, production and distribution of the drinks.

The police said substances suspected to contain methanol were recovered and submitted for forensic examination. The laboratory analysis is expected to establish the exact composition of the substances and determine whether there is a direct link between them and the reported deaths.

The command stressed that the suspected presence of methanol has not yet been established as the definitive cause of all the deaths, as forensic examinations and post-mortem procedures are still ongoing.

The bodies of the deceased are undergoing medical and forensic procedures, with the police saying the outcome of the post-mortem examinations should provide additional evidence concerning the actual causes of death.

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In a related enforcement operation, the police arrested 14 other suspects over alleged violations of the ban on the sale and consumption of dangerous alcoholic drinks and concoctions in the affected communities.

The suspects comprise people allegedly involved in selling or consuming the prohibited products. They have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Akure for further investigation.

The enforcement operation followed directives from the Commissioner of Police, CP Felix Ohagwu, targeting alcoholic drinks and concoctions considered dangerous or potentially life-threatening.

According to the police, investigators are examining every relevant lead, including the source, production, composition, distribution and consumption of the suspected drinks.

The development has also triggered intensified medical intervention in the affected communities. Health officials have been attending to people who consumed the suspected drinks, with affected residents taken to health facilities for assessment, testing and treatment.

The state government earlier moved to halt the production and distribution of unverified alcoholic beverages following the rapid increase in deaths.

The state Health Commissioner, Banji Awolowo-Ajaka, confirmed the 29 deaths and 60 suspected cases, with the affected communities spread across the Odigbo area. Earlier reports had put the death toll at 24 and later 27 before the government confirmed the figure of 29.

The police said the immediate situation had been brought under control following coordinated security, medical and investigative measures, but the investigation into the deaths remains active.

The authorities are expected to rely on laboratory results, post-mortem findings, recovered substances, statements from survivors and other evidence to establish exactly what caused the deaths and whether any individuals should face criminal charges.

The incident has renewed concerns over the dangers associated with unregulated alcoholic drinks and herbal concoctions, especially products whose ingredients and production processes are unknown or have not been subjected to safety checks.

Residents in the affected communities have been urged to avoid consuming unverified alcoholic or herbal products and to promptly seek medical attention if they develop symptoms after consuming suspicious substances.

The arrest of Babatunde and the 14 other suspects does not amount to a finding of guilt. They remain suspects while the police investigation and forensic examinations continue.

The authorities are yet to make a final determination on the precise cause of the deaths or establish through forensic evidence whether methanol contamination was responsible for the entire outbreak.

The outcome of the ongoing investigation is expected to determine whether the suspected producer and other persons arrested will face prosecution and what additional action may be taken against those involved in the manufacture, distribution or sale of potentially harmful drinks.

Police Arrest Herbal Drink Producer as Ondo Death Toll Hits 29

Troops Arrest Six Kidnap Suspects in Adamawa as Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighter Surrenders in Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have arrested six suspected members of a kidnapping syndicate in Adamawa State, while a suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP fighter surrendered to the military in Borno State with an AK-47 rifle, ammunition and an improvised explosive device.

The latest operations were carried out in Song Local Government Area of Adamawa and Kaga Local Government Area of Borno, as troops continued operations against terrorism, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the North-East.

The Acting Military Information Officer of the North-East Joint Task Force, Operation Hadin Kai, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the developments in a statement issued on Monday.

In Adamawa, troops of Sector 4, Operation Hadin Kai, working alongside local hunters, acted on credible intelligence concerning the activities of a suspected kidnapping syndicate operating around Soktu Hill in Song Local Government Area.

The troops raided the suspected hideout, arresting three suspects and recovering a Dane gun.

The military said further investigation and subsequent covert operations resulted in the arrest of three additional suspects, bringing the total number of suspected kidnappers arrested to six.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the syndicate had been operating across the Soktu, Dumne and Maigero areas of Song LGA.

The suspects reportedly admitted involvement in the abduction of several victims for ransom, as well as other violent crimes in the area.

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The six suspects remain in military custody for further investigation and appropriate legal action, according to the military.

In a separate development in Borno, troops of the 29 Task Force Brigade, operating under Sector 2 of Operation Hadin Kai and working with Forest Guards, received a surrendered Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorist at Borgozo in Benisheikh, Kaga Local Government Area.

The surrender took place on September 13, with preliminary investigations indicating that the fighter had escaped from a terrorist enclave and decided to abandon the insurgency.

The military said the surrendered fighter was found in possession of one AK-47 rifle, 14 rounds of 7.62mm Special ammunition, four magazines, one improvised explosive device (IED), one magazine pouch and a bicycle.

The suspect has been taken into military custody and is undergoing further investigation and profiling in line with established procedures.

The military described the latest developments as part of its sustained pressure on terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal elements operating across the North-East.

Operation Hadin Kai has continued to combine intelligence-led operations, raids and collaboration with local security networks in efforts to disrupt terrorist and criminal activities and restrict the movement of armed groups.

The Theatre Command said it remained committed to sustaining offensive operations, denying terrorists and other criminal groups freedom of action, improving security for law-abiding residents and creating conditions for economic and social activities to thrive.

The latest arrests and surrender come amid continued military operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP in Borno and surrounding areas, where security forces have intensified efforts to weaken terrorist networks and encourage fighters willing to abandon the insurgency to surrender.

The military has continued to subject surrendered fighters to investigation and profiling to establish their identities, activities and possible links to terrorist networks before determining the appropriate next steps.

The authorities also continue to urge residents to provide credible information on the activities and movements of suspected terrorists, kidnappers and other criminal groups to security agencies.

Troops Arrest Six Kidnap Suspects in Adamawa as Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighter Surrenders in Borno