• Tension rises as Ezekwesili clashes with Senate Committee over Natasha’s petition
• Marketers request that Dangote halts sale of petrol in dollars after exportation to USA clients
• Discos record ₦509 billion revenue despite several grid collapses in 2024
• Zimbabwe ends Nigeria’s dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup with a 1-1 draw
• NLC threatens nationwide strike if FG does not reverse emergency rule in Rivers State

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

Tension rises as Ezekwesili clashes with Senate Committee over Natasha’s petition

Members of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Petitions clashed with former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili, during a hearing on a sexual harassment petition filed by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central.

During the session, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) gave Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition some relief, saying the petitioners did not follow the correct recall process.

Ezekwesili engaged in a heated argument with Senator Peter Nwebonyi of Ebonyi North, after expressing her distrust in the committee’s ability to deliver a fair judgment, as she believed the presiding authority had already shown bias.

Marketers request that Dangote halts sale of petrol in dollars after exportation to USA clients

Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) marketers have urged the federal government to prevent Dangote Refinery from selling fuel to Nigerian marketers in dollars.

This comes after the refinery decided to sell its products in dollars, following the export of two million barrels of aviation fuel to the United States.

Last week, Dangote Refinery announced it would stop selling fuel in naira, as the federal government had also halted the sale of crude oil to the facility in the local currency.

Discos record ₦509 billion revenue despite several grid collapses in 2024

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reported that electricity consumers paid a total of ₦509 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024, despite experiencing five grid collapses during the period.

According to NERC, the amount collected by electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Q4 was higher than the ₦466 billion received in the third quarter.

The report also stated that in Q3 2024, Discos collected ₦466 billion out of the ₦626 billion billed to customers. It noted that the collection efficiency in Q4 stood at 77.44%, which is 2.89 percentage points higher than the previous quarter.

Zimbabwe ends Nigeria’s dream of reaching the 2026 World Cup with a 1-1 draw

Zimbabwe’s football team matched Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a game of dexterity on Tuesday at the Godswill Akpabio stadium in Uyo, leading to a 1-1 draw between both teams.

After a challenging first half, Victor Osimhen put Nigeria ahead in the 74th minute, but Eric Chelle’s team couldn’t maintain their lead, conceding an equalizer from the visitors during stoppage time.

Coach Eric Chelle retained the same starting lineup from last Friday’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda, but the team struggled to connect and showed little urgency in front of a packed Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, allowing Zimbabwe to hold them level at halftime.

NLC threatens nationwide strike if FG does not reverse emergency rule in Rivers State 

Organised labour has criticised the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, warning that it may launch a nationwide strike, disrupting economic activities, if the decision is not reversed within a reasonable time.

This warning was issued in a joint statement signed by the Rivers State Chairperson of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Alex Agwanwor; the State Chairperson of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Ikechukwu Onyefuru; and the Chairperson of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Chuku Emecheta.

The unions condemned the declaration and the suspension of elected officials, including Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and House of Assembly members, calling it premature and unfounded.

They argued that these officials were freely elected by the people of Rivers State, and any effort to remove them outside constitutional procedures threatens democracy.