• South African President criticised for announcing Nigerian visa deal
• The naira appreciates to ₦1,515/$ in parallel market
• Air Peace sends a message to FCCPC amidst exploitative allegations
• US court sentences two Nigerians to 10 years imprisonment over fraud
• Dangote and marketers conclude supply deal as NNPC reveals oil shipment to Dubai

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

South African President criticised for announcing Nigerian visa deal

His people criticise South African president Cyril Ramaphosa for announcing the Nigerian visa deal as the people believe the president is offering Nigerians easy access into the country.

Cyril Ramaphosa has been accused of trying to sell South Africa to Nigeria to relax the visa rules for Nigerian businesses and tourists.

The people of South Africa took their complaints on social media, demanding a national shutdown until the National Secretary of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Fikile Mbalula, responded to the threats, claiming their attack was against the president and was full of intentional misinterpretation.

The naira appreciates to ₦1,515/$ in parallel market

Nigerians hope the naira will continue its rising trend against the US dollar as it climbs to ₦1,515/$ in the black market.

The rise in value was recorded to be one of the best throughout the year, rising from ₦1,715/$ in a day.

The naira appreciation occurred alongside a report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which attributed a N5.81 trillion trade surplus to Nigeria in the third quarter of 2024 (Q3 2024).

Air Peace sends a message to FCCPC amidst exploitative allegations

Air Peace has responded to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) allegations that its airfares are exorbitant and exploitative.

FCCPC announced that it would be investigating three big brands (GTB, MTN and Air Peace) for the exploitative complaints lodged against them.

Oluwatoyin Olajide, the airline’s chief operating officer, described the FCCPC’s accusations as unwarranted and damaging.

“In the US, a one-hour flight costs at least $400, which is about ₦700,000. Then we will now charge ₦95,000 to Abuja, ₦100,000 to Abuja, and ₦120,000 for the same distance flight, and then we are crucified for this. This is terribly unfair. You can’t do this. It is unfair,” she said.

US court sentences two Nigerians to 10 years imprisonment over fraud

A US court sentenced two Nigerians, Okechukwu Valentine Osuji and Tolulope Bodunde, to 10 years over a $6 million fraud.

According to a statement released by the Office of Public Affairs, the culprits were said to be co-conspirators in a business email compromise plot that targeted companies and older citizens in the US, which led to a loss of $6 million.

Valentine Osuji was sentenced to eight years imprisonment, while Bodunde was sentenced to two years.

Dangote and marketers conclude supply deal as NNPC reveals oil shipment to Dubai

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association has successfully concluded its deal with Dangote Refinery. It could now directly lift petroleum for distribution from Dangote to retail outlets nationwide.

In the same line, the Port Harcourt Refinery also announced that it has begun shipping sulphur straight-run oil to Dubai, UAE.