Business
Abuja fuel queues persist as oil hits $66 ahead of OPEC meeting
The price of crude oil (Brent) itched close to $66 a barrel at the close of business on Monday, the highest since its biggest slump last November.
This is coming ahead of a meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries on Thursday.
But fuel queues have persisted in Abuja and there are fears that it may spread to other parts of the country as many filling stations are not selling the product, following continued increase in crude price at the international market.
The situation has continued to cause traffic snarls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Olusegun Obasanjo Way and Sultan Abubakar Way.
The seeming scarcity of the product in parts of the country is based on the fact that pump price of petrol is tied to the price of crude oil in the international market under the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.
While the US oil price rose by 2.2 per cent to $62.90 a barrel, after opening at $61.53, and hitting a low of $61.53, the Brent crude rose by 2.2 per cent to $65.90 a barrel, after opening at $64.50, and hitting a low of $64.50.
The US crude lost 3.0 per cent on Friday while Brent crude futures fell 3.9 per cent, in their second straight daily loss on profit-taking from a 13-month high.
However, the crude oil rebound came after the commodity took a pause on Friday on profit-taking from a 13-month high, partly due to hopes about the United States stimulus measures and the latest positive updates regarding the COVID-19 vaccines.
Oil prices gained around 17.5 per cent in the fourth consecutive monthly gain, as the oversupply concerns receded after OPEC+ compliance with the agreed supply cuts and Saudi Arabia’s voluntary cut.
The fuel queues may spread to other parts of the country despite assurances by the NNPC that it is not planning any increase in the pump price of petrol this month.
Amid fears that the NNPC may hike the pump price of petrol, retailers have tightened sales on the grounds of supply scarcity from depots where they alleged that ex-depot price has gone up, despite assurances by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of no price adjustment.
The corporation, in a statement, had said that contrary to speculations of an imminent increase in the price of petrol in the country, the ex-depot price of petrol in March would remain unchanged.
It is not clear how OPEC will act when members gather on Thursday, with the Saudi Arabian Energy Minister, Abdulaziz Bin Salman, calling for producers to remain “extremely cautious.”
Oil’s recovery from the impact of the pandemic has been driven by Asian demand, as well as fiscal and monetary stimulus as data showed most key manufacturing economies gained ground last month, with China staying in expansionary territory.
Positive sentiment in equity markets also aided crude, while President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion relief plan moved closer to realisation after passage at the House of Representatives.
Saudi Arabia’s output curbs, the improving demand outlook as vaccines are rolled out, and the growing popularity of commodities as a hedge against inflation have pushed oil higher this year.
There have been indications in recent weeks that the rally will continue as the producer response trails consumption, while maintenance in North Sea fields is set to reduce supply.
At stake in Thursday’s meeting is how much OPEC+ output gets restored and at what pace, with current reductions amounting to just over seven million barrels a day, or 7 per cent of global supply.
The 23-nation coalition will decide whether to revive a 500,000-barrel tranche in April, and in addition, whether the Saudis confirm an extra one million barrels they have taken offline will return as scheduled.
The freeze-driven shuttering of core sections of the US refining system isn’t all good news for rival plants in Europe because down at the bottom of the barrel, losses are deepening.
Kazakhstan relaxed its oil production restraint in February, allowing output to jump to its highest since the current OPEC+ supply pact came into effect at the start of May.
Reacting to the fuel queues, the Group General Manager of the Public Affairs Division at the NNPC, Dr Kennie Obateru, said the corporation had no plan to raise the price of petrol in March in order not to jeopardise ongoing engagements with organised labour.
It warned petroleum products marketers not to engage in an arbitrary price increase or hoarding of petrol so as not to create artificial scarcity and panic buying.
Business
NNPC Remits N1.804 Trillion to Federation Account in February
NNPC Remits N1.804 Trillion to Federation Account in February
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has remitted N1.804 trillion to the Federation Account in February 2026, marking a significant jump from the N726 billion recorded in January, according to its latest Monthly Financial and Operational Report Summary.
The sharp increase highlights improved oil and gas revenue performance in Nigeria, stronger production output, and ongoing fiscal reforms aimed at boosting transparency and accountability in the petroleum sector.
NNPC Ltd reported that its total revenue increased to N2.68 trillion in February, up from N2.57 trillion in January, driven by higher crude oil sales, improved gas earnings, and operational efficiency gains across its assets. The company also recorded a profit after tax of N136 billion, reflecting improved financial performance despite fluctuations in global crude oil markets and domestic operational challenges.
According to the report, Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production averaged 1.51 million barrels per day (bpd) in February 2026. NNPC attributed the output stability to improved asset reliability, faster resolution of evacuation constraints, and enhanced coordination with upstream operators across key oil fields.
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The rise in remittances follows major fiscal policy changes introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in February 2026, including an Executive Order mandating full remittance of oil and gas revenues to the Federation Account. The directive also suspended the retention of management and frontier exploration fees previously deducted by NNPC Ltd and established an inter-agency committee led by the Minister of Finance to enforce compliance.
Officials say the reforms are designed to strengthen public revenue management in Nigeria, reduce leakages, and improve transparency in the oil sector.
The company said improved output was supported by infrastructure upgrades, better asset management, and stronger collaboration with industry stakeholders. It also highlighted progress on the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) gas pipeline project, noting that construction works are advancing toward early gas delivery to Abuja, a key milestone for Nigeria’s domestic gas expansion strategy.
The performance aligns with broader recovery trends in Nigeria’s oil industry, supported by efforts to curb crude theft, improve pipeline security, and enhance upstream efficiency. Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission) also indicates fluctuations but overall resilience in production levels, as the sector continues stabilisation reforms.
Analysts say sustained growth in NNPC remittances will depend on consistent crude production, stable global oil prices, and continued enforcement of fiscal transparency measures. As of the time of filing this report, NNPC Ltd has not provided additional breakdowns beyond its monthly financial summary.
NNPC Remits N1.804 Trillion to Federation Account in February
Auto
CFAO Mobility Open Day to offer special deals on new vehicles, parts, diagnostics
CFAO Mobility Open Day to offer special deals on new vehicles, parts, diagnostics

CFAO Mobility has announced plans to host the 2026 edition of its flagship CFAO Mobility Open Day, aimed at showcasing a wide range of innovative mobility solutions.
In a statement, the company said the event would take place on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 9am to 6pm.
The Open Day is expected to bring together leading global automotive and equipment brands in a dynamic exhibition tailored to meet diverse mobility needs.
Participating brands are Toyota, BYD, Mitsubishi, Suzuki, Fuso, JCB, Howo, Sino Equipment, King Long, TechKing Tyres, Yamaha, Winpart and Auto Fast.
According to CFAO Mobility, attendees will experience an extensive display of products and services, ranging from brand-new vehicles and motorcycles to outboard engines, fleet management solutions, spare parts and aftermarket services.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature test drives, professional vehicle diagnostics and exclusive spare-parts deals, offering participants a hands-on and engaging experience.
The company urged car enthusiasts, business owners and prospective buyers to take advantage of the Open Day to explore mobility solutions tailored to their personal and business needs.
With over 120 years of presence in Nigeria, CFAO Mobility remains a key player in the mobility and healthcare sectors.
It added that the Open Day reflects its continued commitment to delivering innovative, customer-focused mobility solutions.
Business
Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market
Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market
The Naira continued its positive performance on Thursday, appreciating further in the official foreign exchange market to close at ₦1,359.31 per US dollar, according to data published by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The latest figure represents an improvement of ₦12.50 compared to the previous trading day, reflecting a 0.9 percent gain from Wednesday’s closing rate of ₦1,371.82/$.
The appreciation highlights continued stability in the official foreign exchange window, where recent policy measures have helped improve liquidity and reduce pressure on the local currency.
Market analysts attribute the naira’s relative strength to ongoing foreign exchange reforms by the CBN, increased dollar supply in official channels, and tighter regulation aimed at narrowing the gap between official and parallel market rates.
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The CBN has in recent months intensified efforts to stabilise the currency through measures such as improved FX market transparency, better coordination with market participants, and steps to attract foreign portfolio inflows.
Despite the gains in the official market, traders note that the parallel market remains more volatile, with rates still influenced by strong demand for foreign currency from importers, travellers, and businesses outside official allocation channels.
Economists say the recent appreciation could help ease short-term inflationary pressure, particularly on imported goods, fuel pricing, and manufacturing inputs, although they caution that sustained stability will depend on broader macroeconomic fundamentals.
These include stronger foreign reserves, improved export earnings—especially from crude oil—and continued investor confidence in Nigeria’s economic policy direction.
The naira’s performance also comes amid renewed attention on Nigeria’s broader economic outlook, with stakeholders closely monitoring the impact of monetary tightening and ongoing fiscal reforms.
As of the latest trading sessions, market participants expect the CBN to maintain its current policy stance in the near term as it works to consolidate recent gains in the foreign exchange market in Nigeria.
Naira Strengthens to ₦1,359.31/$ as CBN Data Shows Further Gain in Official Market
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