Business
Tinubu: Political Will Hinders West Africa Trade

President Bola Tinubu, speaking at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja on Saturday, squarely attributed the persistently low intra-regional trade in West Africa—currently below 10%—to a lack of political will among West African leaders.
Addressing Heads of State, business leaders, and development partners, President Tinubu declared, “Low trade is a symbol of low collaboration. We must strengthen our regional value chains, invest in infrastructure, and coordinate our policies” to reverse this trend.
Contrary to views that poor trade performance stems from external factors, Tinubu emphasised that the challenge is internal, rooted in insufficient commitment to regional integration. “The global economy will not wait for West Africa to get its act together, and neither should we,” he warned, urging leaders to move beyond rhetoric to concrete action.
While some reports suggest the low intra-regional trade is due to coordination failures, President Tinubu stressed that the core issue is the lack of unified leadership and political will. “The low trade is not due to a failure of will but a coordination failure,” he said.
He underscored the need for collective responsibility, stating, “No one country can do this alone. Our prosperity depends on regional supply chains, energy networks, and data frameworks. We must design them together — or they will collapse separately.”
President Tinubu also condemned the region’s continued reliance on exporting raw minerals without local processing, a practice he termed the “pit-to-port” dependency. “The era of warm pit to the port must end. We must turn our mineral wealth into domestic economic value, jobs, technology, and manufacturing,” he said.
He called for investment in local processing and regional manufacturing to add value within West Africa, thereby creating jobs and boosting economic resilience. “To be resource-rich is not enough — we must become value chain smart,” Tinubu asserted.
Highlighting the youthful population as West Africa’s greatest asset, Tinubu warned that without coordinated investments in education, digital infrastructure, and innovation, this demographic dividend could become a liability. “Our task is to find new and effective ways to invest in our collective future, improve the business climate, and create opportunities for our youth and women,” he said.
He cited regional projects like the Lagos-Abidjan Highway and the West African Power Pool as examples of what is possible with cooperation but stressed the urgency of scaling such initiatives. “We must move from declarations to concrete deals; from policy frameworks to practical implementation,” he urged.
The summit, convened under Tinubu’s leadership as Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, aims to deepen economic integration and enhance trade and investment cooperation across West Africa. The President’s address set a tone of accountability, calling on leaders to show the political will necessary to unlock the region’s vast economic potential.
“This summit is not just an event. It is where vision meets action,” he said, inviting global partners to join West Africa in building “a stronger, more unified, and globally competitive” region.
Thesun.ng
Business
After Petrol, Dangote Refinery Slashes Cooking Gas Price Lowest In Nigeria [Price Per State Emerges]

Africa’s largest refinery, Dangote Refinery, has slashed the price of liquified natural gas (LPG), also known as cooking gas to the lowest in 2025, a few hours after cutting petrol rate, a move that has sent joy to Nigerian households.
This move came barely 24 hours after the refinery reduced its petrol prices to N820 per litre from N854.
Checks showed Dangote Refinery lowered the cooking gas price, easing hardship for Nigerians.
Checks by Legit on petroleumpriceng’s price data show that the refinery slashed the LPG price to N740 per kg, the lowest among depot operators and cheapest in Nigeria.
The latest price is also the cheapest the refinery has sold cooking gas in 2025 after rates jumped above N1,000 per kilogramme.
Experts have hailed the move as exemplary, urging other operators to follow suit. They also attributed the latest price cut to the declining crude oil prices in the international market.
Where it’s cheapest and costliest
Oyo, Plateau, and Yobe currently offer the lowest 5kg refill costs at ₦7,100, ₦7,200, and ₦7,600, respectively. For the 12.5kg size, Yobe leads with ₦19,000, followed by Niger (₦19,242.48) and Jigawa (₦20,025.94).
At the other extreme, the South-South zone records the highest average: ₦8,871.63 for a 5kg cylinder and ₦22,179.08 for a 12.5kg refill. In contrast, the South-West pays the least regionally—₦7,960.42 and ₦20,402.42, respectively.
A reversal of fortune for Nigerians
This development came after Legit.ng reported that cooking gas prices are on the rise again.
For the fifth straight month, cooking gas prices in Nigeria have risen, tightening the squeeze on household budgets.
According to fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), refilling a 5kg cylinder now costs ₦8,323.95—up 1.92% from May’s ₦8,167.43 and a hefty 19.49% more than in June 2024.
The pain is sharper for larger households. A 12.5kg cylinder refill now costs an average of ₦21,010.56, marking a 1.46% rise from May and a staggering 33.52% jump compared to last year’s ₦15,736.27.
Crude oil prices slump
“International crude oil price is a great factor in setting petroleum product prices globally,” energy analyst and Team Lead at Platforms Africa, Adeola Yusuf, said.
According to him, falling crude prices mean falling petroleum product prices, and vice versa. Findings show that Brent Crude slumped 0.66% on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, to sell at $65.46 per barrel.
WTI fell 0.75% to sell for $62.35 per barrel, while Murban Crude sold for $67.52 per barrel, recording a 0.89% decline.
Why the surge won’t stop
Despite being Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria imports much of its cooking gas.
This dependence makes local prices vulnerable to swings in the global market. Disruptions in supply chains, increased global demand, and geopolitical tensions have driven up costs worldwide.
The naira’s persistent weakness worsens the situation, as importers pay more to secure foreign exchange, passing the burden to consumers.
Business
Fuel Scarcity: Petrol Price Rises Above N1,500 As Marketers Shut Filling Stations To Support Strike

A litre of petrol is selling for as high as N1,700 as fuel scarcity has hit residents of Benue state following the petrol tankers’ protest over unfulfilled compensation
Several filling stations are closed, and black market operators have taken advantage of the situation to hike prices
The sudden shutdown has sent petrol prices skyrocketing to hit new levels as black market operators have taken advantage of the situation.
The state governor has pleaded with the petrol tankers to suspend their strike and return to work.
Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD) branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is currently on a 3-day warning strike in Benue state.
In solidarity, petrol station owners in the state shut their doors.
The sudden shutdown has sent petrol prices skyrocketing to hit new levels as black market operators have taken advantage of the situation.
Vanguard reports that desperate motorists and commercial motorcycle operators who have been left stranded are resorting to black market operators who are selling petrol for as high as N1,700 perlitre.
Prices vary depending on the location within the town, with some areas seeing prices at N1,600.
The price is a massive N775 difference when compared to N945 it was sold before the showdown.
According to a member of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Benue State, who was quoted in the report said the strike action was taken following unresolved grievances.
“A few years ago, youths attacked a etrol-laden truck on the Makurdi-Aliade road and siphoned its contents. Promises of ompensation by the former administration were never fulfilled.”
He added that efforts by NUPENG and IPMAN to engage the current administration for redress reportedly met with resistance, prompting the decision for a warning strike.
All fuel station managers were instructed to cease operations during this period. “Heavy penalties of up to N500,000 were threatened for non-compliance, leaving no stations perational.”
Meanwhile, the Benue State Government has urged NUPENG to call off the strike, noting that the strike was uncalled for.
Deborah Aber, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), stated that the government received a letter from NUPENG requesting payment of over N40 million as compensation for the vandalised PMS tank in 2022.
“In the letter, they were asking for payment for their 45,000 litres of PMS they lost through the activities of vandals in 2022 at Aliade.
“We needed to sit down and look at the whole scenario and how it played out. To us, it seemed like a straightforward case of theft and vandalism, with no government involvement.
“We have held several meetings with them. Surprisingly, we woke up today to find that the stations were locked. The government too is surprised because we are still. t the discussion at table.
“When we received the letter, we wrote to the police and DSS to furnish us with what happened that time.
In the letter they were claiming payment of over N40m for the loss of their goods in 2022.”
NNPC increase petrol prices
The new price follows changes announced by petrol importers and the Dangote Refinery amid the global oil price increase
NNPC Limited retail outlets are now selling nigher rate than the rate offered by Dangote refinery partners.
Business
What God Showed Me About NNPC GMG Ojulari -Primate Ayodele Reveals

Spiritual leader and founder of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has sounded an alarm over impending challenges for a top executive at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC), warning that powerful cabals are working behind the scenes to frustrate and destabilize him.
In a recent video prophetic message from 00:02:07, Ayodele revealed that the General Managing Director (GMG) of NNPC is facing spiritual and political sabotage that could lead to serious complications in the months ahead.
“NNPC GMG—the problem has just started,” the cleric declared. “They want to frustrate him. Frustrate him. Because there are cabals that have tied his life.”
Ayodele explained that these internal forces are not just opposing the GMG’s reforms or leadership style, but are spiritually plotting to discredit and dismantle his influence. According to the prophet, these groups are determined to undermine the GMG’s success and force him into conflict and confusion within the organization.
“If he’s not careful, they will create commotion for him,” Ayodele warned. “They are not just fighting his position; they are fighting his peace and his purpose.”
The renowned prophet called on the GMG to be prayerful and spiritually alert, urging him not to rely solely on political loyalty or official power to withstand the coming storm. He emphasized that the battle was more spiritual than administrative.
“This is a time to seek divine protection and guidance,” Ayodele advised. “Those around him are not all loyal. Some are pretending while planning his fall.”
Ayodele’s message adds to growing concerns about internal politics and power struggles within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, especially as the government pushes for reforms, transparency, and accountability at the NNPC.
Though the cleric did not mention a specific name, his warning has sparked speculation about tensions within the corporation and what steps leadership must take to avoid disruption.
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