Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Thursday morning, 18th December, 2025
Petrol war fallout: NMDPRA, NUPRC bosses resign as Dangote’s petition rocks sector
Nigeria’s petroleum sector was thrown into fresh uncertainty on Wednesday following the resignation of the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, and his counterpart at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Gbenga Komolafe, amid the deepening controversy triggered by allegations and a petition filed by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
The Presidency announced the resignations of the two regulators on Wednesday, a development widely seen as fallout from the escalating dispute between the Dangote refinery and the NMDPRA over fuel importation, pricing, and regulatory oversight in the downstream sector.
The shakeup came days after Dangote publicly accused Ahmed of economic sabotage and petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission to investigate what he described as questionable personal wealth, including allegations that the regulator paid about $5m for the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland.
Ogun govt cancels Awujale selection process
The Ogun State Government has nullified the ongoing selection process for the vacant stool of the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland.
The Vice Chairman of the Fusengbuwa Ruling House, Prof. Fassy Yusuf, confirmed the development in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Wednesday.
The Awujale stool became vacant following the death of Oba Sikiru Adetona, who passed away in July at the age of 91 after a 65-year reign.
In a letter dated December 2, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the Ijebu Ode Local Government Area, Oke Adebanjo, the Fusengbuwa Ruling House was directed to produce the next Awujale
Malami kicks after EFCC raids Kebbi, Abuja homes
Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have raided the offices and private residences of a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), in Abuja and Kebbi State.
The raids were confirmed in a statement issued on Wednesday by Malami’s media aide, Mohammed Doka.
According to Doka, the raid came shortly after Malami’s office publicly referenced Chapter 9 of the Justice Ayo Salami Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report.
Doka claimed that the raid was for the purpose of seizing Chapter 9 of the report.
FG bans wood export, revokes licences
The Federal Government has imposed an immediate nationwide ban on the export of wood and allied products, revoking all previously issued licences and permits.
The announcement was made on Wednesday by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, during the 18th meeting of the National Council on Environment in Katsina State.
Lawal said the directive, outlined in the Presidential Executive Order titled “Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025,” became necessary to curb illegal logging and deforestation across the country.
“Nigeria’s forests are central to environmental sustainability, providing clean air and water, supporting livelihoods, conserving biodiversity, and mitigating the effects of climate change,” the minister said.
Tinubu hosts Niger Delta leaders, vows to defeat terrorism, banditry
President Bola Tinubu has vowed that his administration will defeat banditry and terrorism, assuring all that security forces are “fighting very hard” to restore peace and stability across the country.
Tinubu spoke on Wednesday night at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, when he received leaders of the Ogbia community of Bayelsa State, pledging that his government would sustain the push against violent groups while also expanding development interventions in the Niger Delta.
The President’s latest pledge came as communities in parts of the North-West, North-East and North-Central continue to battle insurgency, banditry, kidnappings and attacks on rural settlements, with the Federal Government repeatedly insisting that security operations have recorded gains through arrests and the disruption of criminal networks.
Tinubu told the Bayelsa delegation that the country’s security challenges were numerous but stressed that the government was not relenting, as troops intensify operations against terrorists and bandits.
Troops repel terrorists’ drone attack in Borno, rescue kidnapped Benue victim
The Nigerian Army troops operating under Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), have repelled a terrorist drone attack on their position at Forward Operating Base (FOB) Molai in Delwa village, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno.
A credible source at Army Headquarters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the incident occurred on Dec. 16.
According to the source, the terrorists deployed four armed drones with explosives but were successfully neutralised by the troops.
The sources said that exploitation was ongoing to trace the launch point of the drones and neutralise the perpetrators.
According to the source, troops across Sectors 2, 3 and 4 of OPHK are sustaining offensive operations under Desert Sanity IV.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, December 18, 2025
The Nigerian Naira maintained a steady yet cautious position against the United States Dollar today, December 18, 2025, as activity in both the official and parallel markets reflected the ongoing year-end demand for foreign exchange.
In the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira opened the trading day at approximately 1,453.25 per dollar. This follows a closing rate of 1,458.02 recorded on Wednesday, December 17.
Early morning trades showed the currency oscillating between a high of 1,460.75 and a low of 1,453.07, indicating slight volatility as corporate entities and importers seek to close their annual balance sheets.
Market analysts note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has remained active in its intervention windows to ensure liquidity, which has helped prevent a significant slide in the official rate despite the traditional festive season pressure on the currency
Lekki Port hits 50% capacity milestone amid strong cargo growth
The management of Lekki Deep Seaport has disclosed that the port now operate at close to 50 per cent of its trade capacity, with steady month-on-month growth in container throughput since September, 2025
This is just as a recentlt released data from Nigeria’s “Trade by Top 10 Posts/Ports of Operation,” between first and third quarter of 2025 revealed that Lekki deep seaport handle an estimated N13.46 trillion in total trade value
Combining imports and exports, making it the country’s second-largest port by trade value ahead of Tin Can Island’s N9.31 trillion and Onne Port’s N6.76 trillion.
Speaking yesterday during an end-of-the-year media parley and your of the port with selected maritime journalists, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Port LFTZ Enterprise Limited, Mr. Wang Qiang, said the port has reached almost half of its designed operational capacity, reflecting increasing confidence by shipping lines and cargo owners
Uzodimma leads NLC to Tinubu to avert strike
The Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum and Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, on Tuesday night led top officers of the Nigeria Labour Congress to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with a view to averting the planned strike by the union.
Uzodimma alongside his Kebbi and Edo states counterparts, Alhaji Nasir Idris and Senator Monday Okpebholo, had previously met with NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and his team at the Imo State Governor’s Lodge.
Their meeting, which also had in attendance the Minister of State, Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejiocha had centred on ways to ensure that the NLC strike planned to begin the next day was shelved.
It was gathered that after Uzodimma had canvassed the government position forcefully, NLC insisted on meeting with Tinubu to reassure Labour that agreements reached were kept.
Panic as multiple explosions rock Auchi
Multiple explosions on Wednesday rocked Auchi, the administrative headquarters of Etsako West Local Government Area in Edo.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent reports that multiple explosions occurred in three different areas of Auchi at about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
NAN observed that the first blast occurred along Igbei Road, the second at the Igbo Shade area near an AP filling station, while the third explosion occurred along the Auchi–Okene Road, close to Winners Junction.
Properties worth millions of naira were reportedly destroyed, including buildings and shops, across the three affected areas.
As of the time of filing the report, the cause of the explosions was unknown, and the number of deaths or casualties could not be ascertained.
An eyewitness, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said the explosions occurred almost simultaneously in different parts of Auchi.
