Compilations of top 10 key latest updates that you need to know this Tuesday morning, 16th December, 2025
Petrol battlefield: Dangote, importers locked in brutal price war
Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector has descended into what industry players describe as a full-blown price war following the decision by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to slash the gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).
The move has triggered massive losses for fuel importers, depot owners, and retail marketers, even as the refinery itself admits it is bleeding financially.
Findings by The PUNCH show that petrol importers are on the verge of losing as much as N102.48bn monthly after the Dangote refinery reduced its gantry price from N828 per litre to N699.
At the same time, the refinery is also projected to lose about N91bn in a month as a direct consequence of the price cut, underscoring the intensity of the competition currently reshaping Nigeria’s downstream oil market.
While many Nigerians have welcomed the price reduction as a major relief, especially during the Yuletide season, fuel marketers running filling stations across the country say they are counting heavy losses, as they would be forced to sell existing stocks purchased at higher prices below cost.
Kano cleric killed while calling Muslims to prayerAn elderly man, identified as Ladan Zubairu, was killed at Yusuf Garko Mosque in the Maraba Quarters area of Kano on Monday morning
According to PUNCH Metro, the suspect behind the killing was immediately pursued by an angry mob and lynched, while his residence was set ablaze, causing panic in the area before security personnel restored order.
Speaking with journalists, the deceased’s son, Isa Kasim, said his father had gone out at dawn to call Muslims to prayer.
He explained that after making the first call, his father usually sat briefly to recite supplications before the second call.
Insecurity: Tinubu meets service chiefs as military pounds terrorists
President Bola Tinubu held a closed-door meeting with the Service Chiefs at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday evening.
The session began around 6:01 pm local time, with the security chiefs arriving at the forecourt before being ushered into the President’s office.
This marks Tinubu’s first engagement with the military high command since swearing in General Christopher Musa (retd.) as the new Minister of Defence on December 4, 2025.
While the official agenda remains undisclosed, the meeting comes amid mounting security concerns, including the ongoing captivity of 115 students kidnapped from a Catholic boarding school in November, and the recent approval by Nigeria’s Senate for troop deployment to Benin Republic following an attempted coup there.
Buhari believed Aso Rock gossip I planned killing him – Aisha
Former First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has narrated how her husband, the late President Muhammadu Buhari “began locking his room” following gossips in Aso Rock that she (Aisha) planned to kill him.
The ex-First Lady also said the health crisis that forced Buhari, to take 154 days of medical leave in 2017 began with a broken feeding routine and mismanaged nutrition.She argued that Buhari’s illness was not a mysterious ailment or poisoning.
Her account of the health crisis appeared in a new 600-page biography, ’From Soldier to Statesman: The Legacy of Muhammadu Buhari’, authored by Dr. Charles Omole, launched at the State House on Monday.
132 Nigerian firms secured N51.7bn, $359m in local content funds – NCDMB
A total of 132 Nigerian companies have accessed N51.785bn and $359.653m from local content intervention funds aimed at promoting indigenous participation in the country’s oil and gas sector, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has disclosed.
The funding, designed to strengthen the capacity of Nigerian firms, includes the $350 million Nigerian Content Intervention Fund, the $50 million Working Capital Fund, which is supported by NEXIM Bank, and the Women in Oil and Gas Fund.
Fresh data released by the NCDMB on Monday showed that three manufacturing firms received N7.561bn, 38 companies secured N22.144bn and $205.666m for asset acquisition, 10 firms obtained N2.232bn and $24.728m to finance contracts, while 25 companies benefited from N15.98bn and $115.998 million for loan refinancing.
Speaking at a media stakeholders workshop in Abuja, the NCDMB Director of Corporate Services, Abdulmalik Halilu, said the funding has significantly increased local participation in the sector, rising from 44 per cent three years ago to 61 per cent this year.
Dollar to Naira exchange rate today, December 16, 2025
The Nigerian foreign exchange market opened this week with the Naira exhibiting mixed stability across both the official window and the parallel market on Tuesday, December 16, 2025.
According to real-time data from the official Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), the Naira closed the early trading session at a rate of ₦1,452.27 per US Dollar.
This figure is indicative of the central bank’s ongoing efforts to stabilise the official rate, maintaining it within a narrow band compared to recent weeks.
Trading activity on the NFEM was recorded within the range of approximately ₦1,451.19 and ₦1,452.57 during the opening hours.
EndSARS: Troops at Lekki Tollgate fired blank ammunition — Lai Mohammed
FORMER Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, yesterday, reiterated that soldiers deployed to the Lekki Tollgate during the October 2020 EndSARS protests were issued blank bullets, insisting that no massacre took place at the site.
Recall that the EndSARS Judicial Panel of Inquiry set up by the Lagos State government had described the Lekki tollgate incident as a massacre.
The panel found that Nigerian Army officers shot at, injured and killed unarmed, helpless and defenceless protesters who were peacefully waving the Nigerian flag and singing the national anthem.
The manner of the assault could, in context, be described as a massacre.
The panel also concluded that the Nigerian Army fired live bullets directly into the crowds of peaceful protesters without provocation or justification.
However, the former Information Minister, who spoke on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, defended the position of the Federal Government under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said while fatalities were recorded in different parts of the country during the protests, the Lekki Tollgate was not the scene of a massacre, contrary to widespread claims.
Mohammed said:
“Our position on EndSARS was very clear.
At no point did the Federal Government say there were no casualties during EndSARS; there were casualties.throughout those operations,” Mohammed said
Forget Biafra, Igbo no longer marginalised — Umahi
Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, has dismissed calls for a separate Biafran State, saying it is no longer warranted, due to what he described as the unprecedented integration of the Igbo into Nigeria’s national development agenda under President Bola Tinubu.
Umahi made the remarks while inspecting ongoing federal projects in the southeast region.
He pointed out that sentiments of marginalization, which had fuelled separatist movements, have significantly eased due to substantial federal investments in roads and other critical infrastructure across the southeast.
According to him, “There will be no need for Biafra again,” Umahi said.
“In the past administration, our people felt very much marginalised and that was the reason some people were agitating for Biafra.
But I can say today that we are well integrated into the mainstream of the nation, Nigeria.”
“I am the one God spared, restored, and commissioned” – Tonto Dikeh reintroduces herself to the world following her powerful testimony
Nollywood actress Tonto Dikeh has reintroduced herself to the world.
The movie star, who has become spiritual over the years, via her Instagram page, revealed that she is a living testimony of mercy as she is among those who God spared, restored, and commissioned.
She said God looked at her mess and spoke destiny into her.
She described herself as spirit filled,fire carrying, and truth anchored.
Tonto stated that she isn’t perfect, but purified; not loud, but authorized; and not chosen by man but ordained by God.
“Let me reintroduce myself to the world.My name is KING TONTO DIKEH.A living testimony of mercy.
One God spared, restored, and commissioned.
I am Ada El-Roi, known by the God who sees me.The One who found me in hidden places and called me by name.
The God who looked at my mess and spoke destiny.Genesis 16:13 lives in my bones.
“I haven’t been happy” – Actress Georgina Ibeh heartbroken as she loses her Samsung fold phone at Toyin Abraham’s movie premiere
Nollywood actress Georgina Ibeh has been left saddened after losing her Samsung fold phone at Toyin Abraham’s movie premiere.
Taking to her Instagram page, she said she hadn’t been happy after the premiere, but she had to post a video so people could understand how much she loved the movie.
Despite the incident, Georgina gave a good review of Oversabi Aunty, describing it as an exceptional piece.
She stated that all actors gave their best and expressed how impressed she was with the storyline.
“OVER SABI AUNTY The Movie is a MUST watch in every cinema, guys.
This movie is highly recommended, and I must commend @toyin_abraham for an exceptional piece.
All actors gave their best; I was totally impressed with the storyline, which evoked every emotion you can imagine.You will laugh, cry, get angry, and in the end, be fulfilled.
In fact, I do not want to give spoilers.Please, once it’s out in the cinemas, please and please, watch and thank me later.I had so much fun until someone stole my Samsung fold phone.
I haven’t been happy since morning, but I just had to put these videos up so you will understand how much I love this movie.
If you were at the event and came across a Samsung fold, please send me a DM, abeg. Thank you”.
