Nigeria’s attempt to contain petrol-price volatility raises a basic question: if the market price exceeds the politically acceptable price, who finances the difference? The Federal Government says it is negotiating a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry price of domestically refined petrol and the landing cost of imports. This is not an operative regulation or a national pump-price ceiling. It remains a negotiated proposal. Under the arrangement described, refiners and importers would carry any shortfall between recoverable costs and the ceiling, then recover it when crude prices or exchange rates become more favourable. That may reduce short-term volatility,…
Author: Development Reporting
Easier trade, reliable power and predictable policies could help African businesses turn the continent’s young workforce and vast resources into jobs and rising incomes. Finance and business leaders say delivery will determine how far, and how fast that transformation goes. By Des Latham, bird story agency Buying goods from China should not be easier for an African business than buying from a neighbouring country. Yet that remains the reality for many firms, a barrier that Nigeria’s Taiwo Oyedele argues Africa must dismantle to give its industries room to grow. His challenge cuts to the heart of the continent’s growth ambitions:…
The history of the Nigerian press is often told through the mastheads of its most formidable institutions, but its soul is found in the men who steered those ships through the turbulent waters of the 1980s and 1990s. Among these titans, Mr. Lade Bonuola, affectionately known to many as Ladbone, occupies a pedestal of unique distinction. As Baba approaches the milestone of his 80th birthday in a few months, one cannot help but reflect on the “lengthening shadow” he casts: a legacy that is not merely institutional, but deeply personal, organic, and transgenerational. In the golden era of Nigerian journalism,…
When an old man dies, the saying goes, a library burns. When Patrick Dele Cole died, a national archive burnt. Dr. Patrick Dele Cole died in London on October 17, 2026, at 86. PANDEF has declared seven days of mourning. President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, PANDEF leader Ambassador Godknows Igali, and a legion of journalists, diplomats and politicians have paid tribute. But no tribute can capture the library that has burnt. For many young Nigerians, Dele Cole was just “Tonye Cole’s father” or “that old ambassador on TV.” For those who know, he was the man who professionalised…
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, is expected to deliver the keynote address at the public screening of “LG Billions in the Dark”, an investigative documentary by DevReporting examining the prolonged local government leadership crisis in Osun State and its implications for public finance, accountability and service delivery. The screening, scheduled for Thursday, 29 October, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), will be chaired by Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of Premium Times and Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID). Nigeria’s local governments are constitutionally recognised as the tier of government closest…
Nigeria’s attempt to contain petrol-price volatility raises a basic question: if the market price exceeds the politically acceptable price, who finances the difference? The Federal Government says it is negotiating a ceiling of ₦1,350 per litre on the ex-gantry price of domestically refined petrol and the landing cost of imports. This is not an operative regulation or a national pump-price ceiling. It remains a negotiated proposal. Under the arrangement described, refiners and importers would carry any shortfall between recoverable costs and the ceiling, then recover it when crude prices or exchange rates become more favourable. That may reduce short-term volatility,…
At sixty, the horizon looks quite different. One begins to look back, not merely at the relentless passage of time, but at the rich, intricate tapestry of divine favor, unearned mercies, and defining values that have shaped the journey. I had quietly resolved for this day to pass without notice or celebration. Yet, the overwhelming wave of love, unexpected surprises, and heartfelt goodwill from family, cherished colleagues, and well-wishers has disarmed my reluctance. It has compelled me to pause, look inward, and offer my deepest gratitude. First and foremost, I return all praise, honor, and adoration to Almighty Allah. To…
Across Africa, digital innovations are giving expectant and new mothers ways to navigate pregnancy. Sòláyò AI is Nigeria’s latest entry into the field. By Joy Onuorah, bird story agency As Rukayat Yunusa’s pregnancy proceeded, she began to wonder about the changes in her body, such as the color of her urine, food cravings, as well as sleeping positions and swelling legs. The first-time mother in Lagos wanted to know what she should and shouldn’t consume, but certain questions were too difficult to discuss during a consultation. Ms Yunusa found a place to ask her questions comfortably, through Sòláyò AI, a…
By Amarachukwu Callistus Stakeholders in Nigeria’s telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors have called for a shift from expanding network coverage to making digital services affordable and accessible to rural communities, warning that connectivity means little if people cannot afford to use it. At the second Rural Connectivity Summit (RuralConnect 2.0), organised by Business Metrics Limited in Lagos, industry leaders called for closer integration of electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, innovative financing and stronger support for last-mile connections to bring more underserved communities online. The summit, themed “Rural Inclusion at Scale: Connecting the Next 25 Million Users for Frontier Market Growth,” brought together regulators, government…
Nigeria’s Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and other key stakeholders in the education and security sectors will converge in Lagos on Wednesday to examine how the country can better protect schools from growing security threats. The discussions will take place at the seventh annual summit of the Education Writers’ Association of Nigeria (EWAN), a network of professional education correspondents from print, broadcast and digital media organisations across Nigeria. The summit, themed “Schools Under Threat: From Reactive Responses to Sustainable Protection”, is scheduled for 10am at The Providence Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos. It will focus on protecting learners, teachers and school facilities…