Compilations of top 10 key latest happenings that you need to know this Friday morning, 13th March, 2026
States demand forensic audit of $8.8bn crude-for-loan deals
State governments have called for a forensic audit of Nigeria’s crude oil-backed borrowing arrangements, warning that opaque crude-for-loan and swap deals may be undermining inflows into the Federation Account.
The PUNCH earlier reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited pledged 272,500 barrels per day of crude oil through a series of crude-for-loan deals totalling $8.86bn, according to an analysis of a report by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and the NNPC’s financial statements.
According to The PUNCH’s findings, NNPC has already fully repaid $2.61bn in loans, representing 29.4 per cent of the total credit facility, while $6.25bn or 70.6 per cent, remains outstanding.
Also, out of the $8.86bn credit facility, only about $6.97bn has been received from seven crude-for-loan deals, as of December 2023.
Comedian Broda Shaggy hospitalised after alleged shooting
Popular comedian, skit maker and social media influencer, Samuel Perry, popularly known as Broda Shaggy, has been hospitalised after he was allegedly shot in the Sango-Ota area of Ogun State, PUNCH Metro has learnt.
It was gathered that the incident occurred under the Sango-Ota bridge on Sunday afternoon.
Although the circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, a police source who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter said the content creator sustained the gunshot injury while filming a comedy skit at the location.
According to the source, Broda Shaggy was immediately rushed to the Blooming Care Hospital in the Alakuko area of Lagos State, where he received initial treatment.
Disu: Egbetokun, I never dreamed of becoming IG
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on Thursday paid glowing tribute to his predecessor, Kayode Egbetokun, recalling their early professional relationship while serving under President Bola Tinubu during his tenure as governor of Lagos State.
Disu spoke at the pulling-out ceremony held in honour of Egbetokun at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, marking the retirement of the former police chief after decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force.In his remarks, Disu described Egbetokun’s career as one marked by dedication, professionalism and strong leadership, noting that a defining chapter in the former IG’s career was his service as Chief Security Officer to the Lagos State Governor at a time when Tinubu was in office.
He said it was during that period that their professional paths first intersected.
Court bars Aiyedatiwa from contesting 2028 gov election
The Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital, on Thursday stopped the purported ambition of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to contest for a second term in office in 2028.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Dr Akin Egbuwalo, had filed a suit at the court seeking the interpretation of Section 137(3) of the Constitution regarding the eligibility of Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, to contest for a second term.
The suit had the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Ondo State Attorney General, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Aiyedatiwa, Adelami, and the APC as defendants.
In a judgment delivered by Justice Toyin Adegoke, the court held that Aiyedatiwa would be ineligible to stand for election in 2028, having been sworn in on December 27, 2023, to complete the tenure of the late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, and subsequently inaugurated on February 24, 2025, after winning the November 16, 2024, governorship election.
MURIC seeks 100% crude supply to Dangote Refinery
The Muslim Rights Concern has called on the government to ensure an adequate supply of crude oil to local refineries to encourage energy self-sustainability in Nigeria.
The group also applauded the Federal Government for suspending petrol imports into the country following what it described as a noticeable boost in local production.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, an agency of the Federal Government, had announced the suspension of petrol imports into the country, saying the country now has enough local production.Reacting to the development, MURIC commended the government for the decision.
In a statement on Thursday, the Executive Director of MURIC, Ishaq Akintola, said,
“This is a commendable step. Local production has received additional oxygen with this new policy.
It is forthright and nationalistic.
But as we hail FG for widening the market for local refineries and blocking the likelihood of saturation through excessive and unnecessary inflow of petroleum products, we must at the same time remind the government to enable full and effective operation in the local refineries by supplying them with 100 per cent crude oil,” he said.
Tinubu to politicians: Bow to rule of law on Electoral Act
PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu on Wednesday branded himself a “die-hard democrat,” urging Nigerian politicians across party lines to embrace true democratic principles and submit to the rule of law, no matter the personal or political cost.
Speaking at an interfaith breakfast hosted for All Progressives Congress, APC, executives, National Working Committee, NWC, members, and the Inter-Party Advisory Council, IPAC, at the State House, Tinubu highlighted his decades-long democratic credentials, from detention and exile to co-founding the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO.
2027: Obi, Atiku, Amaechi working together to stop Tinubu — ADC
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that its leading presidential hopefuls; Peter Obi, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Rivers State governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi are working together with a common aim: to stop President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from returning to power in the 2027 general election.
The announcement came as the party unveiled 1ADC, a political movement meant to bring together its members and supporters across age groups, social backgrounds and political interests as it prepares to challenge the ruling party in the next presidential race.
The development signals an early effort by opposition figures to rally around a single platform ahead of the 2027 contest, which is already shaping up as a potential showdown with Tinubu and the APC.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, March 13, 2026
The Nigerian Naira maintained its resilience against the US Dollar as the trading week drew to a close on Friday, March 13, 2026.
Real-time data from the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM) and informal trading channels indicate that the currency is holding steady within a consolidated range, supported by a healthy supply of liquidity and the central bank’s proactive market management.
In the official window, the Naira opened at 1,398.74 per dollar during the early morning hours.
Market activity remained relatively stable throughout the session, with the exchange rate quoted at 1,398.63 by 3:00 AM WAT.
This represents a minor appreciation of 0.01% from the opening quote, signaling a period of calm after the moderate fluctuations observed earlier in the week.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) continues to operate its “willing-buyer-willing-seller” model, which has been instrumental in bridging the gap between demand and supply for authorized dealers.
Market turnover remains robust, and the official mean rate for the week continues to hover around the 1,395 mark, providing a predictable environment for corporate planning and international trade.
PDP strong in Sokoto despite defections, says Senator Gada
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Abubakar Umar Gada, has assured members and supporters that the party remains strong and united in Sokoto State despite recent defections by some political actors.
In a press statement issued on Thursday in Sokoto, the former lawmaker urged loyal members of the party to remain calm, steadfast and committed to the ideals of the PDP, stressing that the party’s structure and electoral prospects in the state remain intact.
Gada noted that while political defections are common in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape, such developments would not weaken the PDP’s long-standing grassroots presence in Sokoto State.
According to him, the PDP remains one of the most organised and people-oriented political parties in the country, with structures spread across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
PSC elevates, Lagos, FCT CPs, 11 others to AIGs
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 13 Commissioners of Police (CPs) to the rank of Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs).
The development followed their successful performance in the recently concluded written examinations and oral interviews held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The PSC described the elevation as a merit-based exercise aimed at strengthening professionalism and leadership within the force.
A statement yesterday by the commission’s Head of Protocol and Public Affairs, Torty Kalu, said the list of successful officers had been forwarded to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for immediate implementation.
The newly promoted AIGs include Emmanuel Ado Christopher (CP, Yobe State), Joseph Eribo (CP, Ekiti State), Dantawaye Miller (CP, FCT), Uche Ifeanyi Henry, Olarenwaju Peter Ogunlowo (CP, Ogun State), and Muhammad Dahiru (CP, Jigawa State).
