Business
CBN Lauds Nigeria’s Instant Payment System

The Central Bank of Nigeria has declared the country’s instant payment system as one of the most advanced globally, citing years of reforms and innovation that have reshaped the nation’s financial landscape.
Director of Payments System Policy at the CBN, Mr Musa Jimoh, made this known on Thursday during the FintechNGR Quarter Two Regulators’ Forum Webinar, themed “Beyond Compliance: Unlocking Innovation with Nigeria’s Open Banking Framework.”
According to Jimoh, Nigeria’s payment ecosystem has evolved significantly, fuelled by a blend of fintech innovation, progressive regulation, and shifting consumer behaviour.
“Our payments happen within seconds, and that’s a very big one for Nigeria as a country,” he said, describing the instant payment system as a reflection of the country’s drive for innovation and financial inclusion.
The forum, which brought together key players in the financial technology space, explored the potential of open banking to deepen financial services and promote collaboration among institutions.
Jimoh noted that the CBN had made deliberate efforts over the years to modernise Nigeria’s financial system, starting as far back as 2006 when it first inaugurated a national payment system vision.
“The journey of payment system development in Nigeria has been long. It started about 2006 when the CBN inaugurated its first payment system vision. The objective was to prepare a roadmap for the development of the payment system in Nigeria,” he said.
One of the pivotal moments, he explained, came in 2010 when the apex bank mandated a switch from magnetic stripe cards to chip-and-PIN cards, a move that led to the widespread adoption of more secure EMV payment cards.
“This was a major turning point for Nigeria,” he noted.
Jimoh traced further developments in the ecosystem to regulatory interventions such as Know Your Customer protocols, mobile banking, agent banking, mobile money, and the cashless policy.
“Today, Nigeria has over 160 different licenses granted to institutions for financial and payment services,” he revealed, adding that financial institutions and switching companies had also upgraded their infrastructure to handle increasing transaction volumes.
He also cited the biometric-based Bank Verification Number as a landmark policy that enabled secure customer identity across platforms.
Touching on the relevance of open banking, Jimoh said it had the potential to boost innovation by enabling developers to build new financial products using customer-permissioned data held by banks.
“Banks are holding onto vast amounts of data that could be leveraged to develop innovative financial products and services. The CBN believes that open banking can help address this challenge by allowing developers to access bank data and create innovative financial products and services. The data must be permissioned, and the customer must give consent before it can be used,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that challenges remain in the implementation of open banking, particularly around the standardisation of APIs and cybersecurity.
To address these, Jimoh said the CBN had set up specialised workstreams focused on solving technical and policy issues surrounding open banking.
“The CBN aims to create an environment where openness, inclusiveness, and innovation drive national economic resilience and prosperity. With a robust regulatory framework, standardised API, and collaboration among stakeholders, open banking could transform Nigeria’s financial landscape,” he said.
Jimoh concluded by reiterating the central bank’s commitment to working with the private sector and regulators to advance innovation and deepen access to financial services across Nigeria.
“The CBN has released regulations and guidelines on open banking and established a regulatory sandbox to support innovation,” he added.
Punchng.com
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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