• JAMB launches mock examinations for underage students
• Peter Obi reveals there are more fraudsters in the government than outside
• Oil marketers likely to abandon Dangote for foreign petrol as it sells for ₦922/litre
• Consumers object as IBEDC increases electricity bill
• Naira appreciates against the US dollar and trades at ₦1,531/$ in the official market

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss. 

JAMB launches mock examinations for underage students

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will launch mock examinations for all students below 16.

The JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, shared this information and clarified that the purpose of writing the mock United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is not to gain admission into universities but to test the knowledge of underage students.

The sale of forms for the mock UTME will begin from January 31 to March 5, during which mock exams will be held on February 23 and later on March 8.

The Registrar also stated that introducing mock examinations would not reoccur in the next year as it is a trial test for underage students in 2025.

Peter Obi reveals there are more fraudsters in the government than outside

2023 Presidential candidate Peter Obi announced that there are more Yahoo boys (fraudsters) in the Nigerian government than on the streets of Nigeria.

The Labour Party candidate accused the Nigerian government of coddling more harmful politicians rather than the civilians committing internet fraud.

“For governance, don’t think when discussing vices; it is only Yahoo boys. There are actually more Yahoo people in government than there are outside because we have turned the entire country into a crime scene where people inside are stealing and people outside are stealing,” he said.

Oil marketers likely to abandon Dangote for foreign petrol as it sells for ₦922/litre

Oil marketers in Nigeria are beginning to consider abandoning Dangote Refinery as they move towards purchasing oil from foreign petrol companies.

The marketers revealed that foreign petrol landing cost is as low as ₦922/litre, while Dangote offers a rate of ₦955/litre.

“The lower cost of imported petrol is often an incentive to dealers, and you won’t blame marketers who import the product,” a marketer spoke.

Consumers object as IBEDC increases electricity bill

Consumers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have raised their voices against the unfair increase of its minimum electricity cost for all Band A clients to ₦5,000.

The Disco announced that all Band A customers’ are now expected to subscribe to a minimum of ₦5,000 electricity credit while the other bands can purchase from ₦2,000 upward.

The company passed the information down to all IBEDC customers, stating that the new regulations have already been applied to all and they were expected to comply with the new rules as it was “part of efforts at curbing energy theft.”

Naira appreciates against the US dollar and trades at ₦1,531/$ in the official market

The Nigerian currency has seen some growth in the official foreign exchange market as it trades at ₦1,531/$ compared to its previous rate of ₦1,548/$.

The naira has also recorded some appreciation in the black market, trading at ₦1,660/$ compared to its previous rate of ₦1,665/$. It now trades at ₦1,903/£ against its former rate of ₦1,912/£, and ₦1,605/€ from its earlier rate of ₦1,613/€.