Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Sunday morning, 19th January, 2026
Petrol war: Importers outpace domestic refineries with 62% supply in 2025
Petrol importation remained the dominant source of fuel consumed in Nigeria in 2025, accounting for 62.47 per cent of the country’s total Premium Motor Spirit consumption, The PUNCH reports.
This trend persisted despite the commencement of operations, steady ramp-up in production and distribution of petrol by domestic refineries, notably the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, alongside state-owned refineries and several modular facilities, as revealed in the latest midstream and downstream sector factsheet released by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
According to the newly released NMDPRA fact
sheet on the state of the midstream and downstream petroleum sector, as analysed by our correspondent on Sunday, total national petrol consumption by Nigerians stood at approximately 18.97 billion litres in 2025, with oil marketing companies accounting for 11.85 billion litres through imports, highlighting the market’s continued dependence on foreign supply.
This means that nearly two-thirds of petrol consumed by Nigerians in 2025 was sourced from imports, while domestic refineries contributed about 7.54 billion litres, representing 37.53 per cent of total consumption, the regulator stated.
N30bn relief: Oyo cries politics as HEDA drags Makinde to EFCC
The Human and Environmental Development Agenda has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged “diversion, misapplication and criminal breach of trust involving the N30bn released by the Federal Government to the Oyo State Government in the aftermath of the January 2024 Bodija explosion in Ibadan.”
The petition, signed by HEDA Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju, and addressed to the EFCC Chairman, Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, queried the status of the fund released for the compensation of explosion victims, reconstruction and emergency relief.
In the petition dated January 5, 2026, the group expressed concern that only about N4.5bn intervention funds were reportedly applied to relief and compensation for victims, while the FG’s N30bn remained largely unaccounted for.
“The organisation is concerned that only about N4.5bn intervention funds were reportedly applied to relief and compensation for victims, while the entire N30bn remains largely unaccounted for,” the petition read.
INC protests over Fubara impeachment plot
The Ijaw National Congress says the people of Rivers State are against the impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, warning the state Assembly loyal to ex-governor, Nyesom Wike, to shelve the plan.
Similarly, the Rivers State Elders and Leaders Council strongly condemned the Martin Amaewhule-led state House of Assembly over its ongoing impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his deputy, Prof. Ngozi Odu.
The groups warned that the move is likely to fail and accused the lawmakers of pursuing selfish interests under the guise of constitutional procedure.
The INC described the impeachment as an exercise in futility, criticising lawmakers, particularly those of Ijaw extraction, who publicly supported the process despite Governor Fubara being one of their own.
2027: My re-election unstoppable, Otti tells Orji Kalu
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has warned that no individual or group can distract his administration with 2027 elections, saying he is focused on delivering development for the state.
Otti made the statement on Saturday at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Umuikaa District headquarters, Isialangwa South LGA, while attending worship with his wife, Priscilla Chidinma.
“I am not bothered about 2027.
The same God who settled 2023 will also settle 2027,” he said.
He vowed that his government will continue to do the right thing, not minding the attacks by the opposition.
No one, or group of people, whoever they are, is entitled to distract us.
So, when they make noise, like I said last week, we should not be bothered. We should just remain focused and do what we have to do,” Otti said.
Otti and three former governors of the state, Orji Kalu, Theodore Orji, and Okezie Ikpeazu, have in recent times been in a war of words, with Kalu vowing to stop Otti’s re-election in 2027.
FG denies NEF claim on Lagos gold refinery
The Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has denied claims by the Northern Elders Forum that the Federal Government violated the federal character principle by siting a gold refinery in Lagos.
The ministry made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Segun Tomori.
The statement noted that the allegation misrepresented comments made by the Minister, Dr Dele Alake, regarding the planned inauguration of a gold refinery project and ongoing reforms in the solid minerals sector.
The ministry stressed that the Federal Government neither owns nor established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere else in the country.
“There was nowhere in the Minister of Solid Minerals announcement that the Federal Government owned or established a gold refinery in Lagos or anywhere for that matter.
“Dr Dele Alake was clear that other gold refineries are in the works across the country and that they are all privately owned by different companies,” Tomori said.
Tomori explained that the refinery referenced by the NEF is a private initiative by Kian Smith, a wholly privately owned mining company, set up to support the development of Nigeria’s local gold industry.
APC rules out automatic tickets
The All Progressives Congress has dismissed claims that governors and lawmakers defecting from opposition parties will be granted automatic tickets for the 2027 general elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka, clarified that such reports are “mischievous fabrications” intended to cause internal friction.
He emphasised that the APC remains committed to democratic principles, insisting that all candidates must emerge through transparent and competitive primary elections as stipulated by the party’s constitution.
This clarification comes amid a wave of high-profile defections, including rumours surrounding Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba and others, who were reportedly seeking guarantees before switching camps.
Internal party sources suggest that the “no automatic ticket” stance is also a move to protect loyal foundation members who have expressed concern over being displaced by newcomers.
Cash rush: ATM withdrawals jump 198% to N36tn
Nigerians continued to lean heavily on cash withdrawals despite higher automated teller machine charges introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria, as the value of ATM transactions jumped to N36.34tn in the first half of 2025, reinforcing the resilience of cash usage in the economy.
Data from the CBN quarterly statistical bulletin show that ATM withdrawals between January and June 2025 amounted to N36.34tn, nearly tripling the N12.21tn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024.
This represents an increase of N24.13tn, equivalent to a 197.66 per cent year on year rise, even as regulators moved to discourage excessive cash usage through revised fees and tightening monetary policy.
According to the data on the transaction volumes, Nigerians carried out 858.80 million ATM withdrawals in the first six months of 2025, compared with 496.47 million transactions in the same period of 2024.
The increase of 362.34 million transactions represents a growth rate of 72.98 per cent, indicating that higher charges did little to dampen demand for cash.
One killed as gang attacks motorcyclists in Osogbo
One person has been reportedly killed in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, after a gang of hoodlums attacked motorcyclists in a section of the town.
It was gathered that the gang, said to be based in the Asoje area of Osogbo, are loyalists of an individual known as “Olalekan” around the Orita Elelede area.
An eyewitness, Lamina Kamiludeen, told Vanguard that one of the victims, Kazeem Oyewole, died on the spot, while another escaped with multiple machete injuries.
Findings revealed that the deceased was a personal assistant to a chieftain of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as “Asiri Eniba.” The motive for the attack is yet to be ascertained.
According to Kamiludeen, the two men were riding on a motorcycle through Orita Elelede, near Asoje Junction, when they were chased and attacked by the gang.
Police rescue 17 suspected trafficked children in Nasarawa
The victims were rescued around the Sharp Corner axis of Mararaba in Karu Local Government Area at about 5 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, 2026, during a routine stop-and-search operation by patrol officers attached to Mararaba ‘A’ Division.
In a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, the police said the vehicle conveying the victims was driven by one Nanle John, 36, and had 17 passengers—11 boys and six girls—aged between 10 and 19 years.
According to the statement, both the driver and the passengers said they were travelling from Shendam, Plateau State, to Kayama in Kwara State to meet one Umaru (surname unknown), who allegedly promised to secure farming jobs for them.
NYSC confirms deployment details for Batch A prospective corps members
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has published deployment details for the 2026 Batch A Stream 1 prospective corps members.NYSC has also confirmed that call-up letters are now available.
The scheme announced this on Monday via its official X handle, stating that some prospective corps members posted to Lagos State and the Federal Capital Territory will undergo their orientation programmes in neighbouring states
“Some prospective corps members deployed to Lagos will have their orientation course in Ekiti, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun and Osun camps while some deployed to FCT will be in Kaduna, Niger and Nasarawa camps,” the NYSC said.
Earlier, the scheme explained that camp capacity limitations informed the decision.
The NYSC had said that “only about 40 per cent of registered Prospective Corps Members can be accommodated for the upcoming orientation programme.”
