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Updated: Fuel queues return to Lagos as IPMAN insists on N180/litre
Many motorists had difficulty buying fuel in Lagos on Monday after queues resurfaced in many parts of state as Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) shut down their operations.
They insisted on selling the product at N180 per litre as they claimed the current official price of N165 per litre was no longer profitable and unrealistic.
Chairman of IPMAN at Lagos Satellite Depot, Ejigbo, Mr Akin Akinrinade, confirmed the development to newsmen in Lagos, saying the members took the decision because they could no longer operate at a loss.
He said while the government had fixed N165 per litre as the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), the current realities in the market showed that the minimum the product should be retailed at the stations should be N180.
According to him, the current scarcity being witnessed in Lagos is because majority of petrol stations in the state are owned by IPMAN members who are finding it difficult to operate in a hostile environment.
He said, “As you can see, the queues are back and this is the second time we are witnessing it this year.
“However, this one is peculiar in the sense that for a particular reason, IPMAN members decided to shut their stations.
“This is not because we are on strike, but because we can no longer do business under this condition.”
Akinrinade said IPMAN members ought to be getting supply from the Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and had made payments of over N1 billion since October 2021.
He said the products were yet to be delivered forcing members to patronise private depots for products while at the same time servicing loans borrowed from banks for their money with PPMC.
Akinrinade said, “Now, these private depot owners have increased the ex-depot price of the PMS from N148.17 to N162 per litre. That is the amount they are selling to us.
“When you factor in the handling charge, transportation and running cost of our stations, you will see that even within Lagos, the minimum we can retail petrol is about N180 per litre.
“We want Nigerians to know that IPMAN members are patriotic citizens and we are not out to sabotage the effort of government because we know this hike in petroleum products prices is not peculiar to Nigeria.
“The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine has disrupted the supply chain and the Nigerian government is doing its best to mitigate its impact on our nation.”
He, therefore, urged the government to direct the private depots to revert to the old ex-depot price for the PMS or deregulate the downstream sector to allow market forces determine the price.
Akinrinade also advised the government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the nation’s refineries in order to increase the domestic refining capacity.
He called for the resumption of pumping products through the PPMC Ejigbo depot, which would enable IPMAN members get supply at a cheaper cost.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored the fuel situation at Oshodi, Ejigbo, Ikeja, Egbeda and Ikotun areas observed that majority of the filling stations were not selling petrol.
Long queues were seen at the few stations selling with both private and commercial motorists complaining about the situation.
A motorist, Mr Godwin Eke, told NAN that the return of fuel queues was not good for the economy.
“We are spending hours here queuing to buy fuel when we could have been doing something more productive with our time.
“I have not been to my shop since morning because I want to fill my tank, which will last me for the week,” he said.
A commercial bus driver, Mr Aliyu Dawodu, said the scarcity was not good for business, especially as the drivers could not increase their fares.
However, Mr Ayorinde Cardoso, Zonal Operations Controller, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, advised the public not to engage in panic buying.
“There is sufficient fuel at the depots and jetties. As at today (Monday) we have a total of 234,920,127 litres of PMS in various depots in Lagos.
“In addition, we have four vessels in Lagos jetties discharging 186,753,650 litres of the PMS,” he said.
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Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter
Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter
Suspected Boko Haram/ISWAP terrorists have killed at least four police officers and a local hunter in coordinated attacks on security posts in Borno State, underscoring the persistent threat of insurgency in the region.
The attacks occurred in the early hours of Saturday, April 4, 2026, targeting the Nganzai Divisional Police Headquarters and a Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF)/Hunters duty post at the Malam Fatori IDP Camp in Damasak, Mobbar Local Government Area.
According to ASP Nahum Kenneth Daso, Police Public Relations Officer in Borno, the Nganzai police station came under fire at about 1:00 a.m., with terrorists deploying Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs) and other sophisticated weapons in an attempt to overrun the town. Police officers, supported by the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Crack Squad, military personnel, CJTF members, and local hunters, engaged the insurgents in a fierce gun battle, ultimately repelling the attack and restoring normalcy.
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Despite the successful defense, four police personnel “paid the supreme price”, while a section of the police station was damaged, and an unserviceable Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was partially burnt.
Almost two hours later, at around 2:40 a.m., insurgents attacked the CJTF/hunters’ post at the entrance of the Malam Fatori IDP camp. One hunter, Atom Abua, 40, was killed, and about 20 thatched houses and properties were destroyed. Combined security teams prevented further loss of life and property.
Following the attacks, Commissioner of Police Naziru Abdulmajid deployed additional personnel and operational assets to the affected areas to strengthen security and prevent further incidents. He commended the bravery of officers and local defenders, extended condolences to the families of the deceased, and reassured the public of the command’s commitment to bringing the attackers to justice.
Security experts note that the attacks highlight the enduring insurgency threat in Borno State, where Boko Haram and ISWAP continue to target security installations and vulnerable communities despite ongoing counterterrorism operations. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies.
Boko Haram/ISWAP Attack Borno Police Station, Kill Four Officers, Hunter
metro
NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis
NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis
Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Lagos-based pastor and his wife after discovering 11 kilogrammes of skunk cannabis concealed in specially modified compartments of their vehicle.
The suspects, Pastor Afolabi Hodonu, 45, in charge of the Celestial Church of Christ, Agonvi Sea Beach, Sakpo area of Seme border, Badagry, and his 35-year-old wife, Mrs. Success Hodonu, were apprehended on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the Gbaji checkpoint along the Seme border, Lagos.
According to NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the couple was intercepted during a search of their Honda Pilot SUV, where officers recovered blocks of highly potent skunk cannabis hidden in secret compartments. Babafemi revealed that the arrest was linked to a previous seizure on March 30, 2026, when a suspected fake security agent, Sunday Samuel, was caught transporting 24.5 kilogrammes of skunk through the same checkpoint. Subsequent investigations led to the pastor and his wife.
“The arrest of Pastor Hodonu and his wife is part of our ongoing intelligence-driven operations against drug traffickers hiding behind legitimate businesses, religious titles, or elaborate concealment methods,” Babafemi said.
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The NDLEA has also conducted several other operations across Nigeria, leading to:
- Seizure of 3.10 kilogrammes of cocaine at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, hidden in tins of palm kernel extract bound for the UK, leading to multiple arrests, including syndicate leaders in Lagos.
- Arrest of a female drug supplier in Borno State, 28-year-old Aisha Adamu, with 4.3 kilograms of Colorado cannabis linked to bandit groups operating in the North East.
- Recovery of 48,000 tramadol pills in Adamawa State and 1,378 kilograms of skunk in a warehouse in Edo State.
- Arrest of a suspected drug dealer in Ibadan using her 11-year-old daughter to distribute drugs.
NDLEA Chairman and CEO, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), commended officers for the successful operations, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to dismantling drug networks nationwide regardless of the traffickers’ status.
The pastor and his wife are currently in NDLEA custody and will face prosecution as investigations continue. Authorities have warned that drug trafficking in Nigeria carries severe legal penalties and that no individual is above the law.
NDLEA Arrests Lagos Pastor, Wife With 11kg Skunk Cannabis
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Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, Wife of Former INEC Chairman, Dies in Abuja
Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, Wife of Former INEC Chairman, Dies in Abuja
Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, wife of former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Attahiru Jega, has passed away in Abuja, officials confirmed on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
The news was announced by Bayero University Kano through its official social media channels.
“Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un. With total submission to the will of Allah, we announce the passing of Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega,” the statement read, expressing sorrow and prayers for her family.
Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega
According to the university, her Janazah (funeral) prayer is scheduled to take place immediately after Zuhr prayers at the National Mosque, Abuja, on Sunday, with burial proceedings to follow.
The institution prayed that Allah grant her Aljannatul Firdaus, forgive her shortcomings, and give strength to her grieving family.
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The university’s Director of Public Affairs, Lamara Garba, also confirmed the death, urging the public to offer prayers and support to the Jega family.
“Yes, it’s true. May the Almighty Allah forgive her shortcomings and grant her family patience to bear this loss,” he said.
Hajiya Hadiza was widely respected for her contributions to education, community service, and support for her family, especially in northern Nigeria.
Her death has drawn condolences from friends, colleagues, and public figures across the country, highlighting her influence and the respect she commanded in social and academic circles.
Her husband, Prof. Attahiru Jega, is a distinguished academic and public servant, known for his tenure as chairman of INEC; president of Academic Staff Union of University (ASUU) and his contributions to national policy and governance.
The passing of Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega marks a significant loss for both her family and the broader Nigerian academic and civic community, with funeral arrangements reflecting her standing and the high regard in which she was held.
Hajiya Hadiza Attahiru Jega, Wife of Former INEC Chairman, Dies in Abuja
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