By: Fabian Apechihin

Agricultural stakeholders have raised alarm that Nigeria may be unable to rein in rising food inflation in the coming months due to mounting challenges facing the sector.

Speaking on the issue, a leading agronomist, Emiju, identified the high cost of farm inputs and scarcity of labour as key factors discouraging farmers, warning that these constraints could have serious implications for national food production and availability.

He advised farmers to adopt cooperative savings models or microfinance options to access funding for large-scale input purchases. According to him, such collaborative financial strategies would help smallholders cope with the escalating costs of seeds, fertilizers, and machinery.

Emiju further encouraged farmers to seek bulk purchasing arrangements, explore discount opportunities, and consider alternative, cost-effective inputs where possible. He also urged them to organise community labour-sharing initiatives and invest in mechanisation to cushion the impact of labour shortages and rising production costs.

Highlighting the importance of accurate data in addressing the crisis, he noted that robust agricultural data remains one of the most essential tools for evidence-based planning, monitoring, and policy formulation in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“It provides a realistic picture of production outcomes, farmer experiences, and sectoral constraints, upon which informed decisions and targeted interventions can be built,” he said.

He commended recent efforts to improve agricultural data quality, including the Farm Family Census, the Tractor Census, and complementary studies on commodity prices, describing them as steps toward greater transparency and excellence in agricultural performance reporting.

By Hassan Taiye

The Senate through its committee on Public Account declared Tuesday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company ( NNPCL) , has responded to 19 queries raised against it in the Audit reports of 2017 to 2023.

The Committee had on the 29th of July this year , gave the Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Engineer Bayo Ojulari , three weeks to respond to the 19 queries on N210trillion yet to be accounted for, in the Audited account of National Oil Company .

Responding to questions from journalists at the close of plenary on Tuesday on whether NNPCL had responded to the queries or not , the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Aliyu Wadada ( Nasarawa West) said yes but explained that the responses were yet to be critically looked into .

He said : “While we were on recess, management of NNPCL wrote to the committee, requesting an extension of time to enable them compile data and respond comprehensively to the questions we raised — and we granted that request.

“They have since responded, and we now have answers to all 19 questions we sent to them.

“However, the report is yet to be presented before the committee. That is why, as chairman, I have refrained from making any public statement on the matter until it is properly laid before members.

“But let me assure you, as I promised earlier on behalf of the committee, we will do justice to the matter”.

He added that beyond the audited financial statements, there are other issues emerging around the NNPC.

According to him, the first of such issues is production sharing contracts — specifically, the production cost to Nigeria which must be clearly defined, and the public deserves to know what portion goes to the NNPC, what goes to the international oil companies (IOCs), and what accrues to the government under the production sharing arrangement.

“Furthermore, the committee has been informed that NNPC Retail has declared a loss.

“This development is also of concern to us and to the public. We find it difficult to understand why NNPC Retail should record a loss, but we will seek clarification when the corporation appears before us.

“As far as the audited financial statements are concerned — which cover the period between 2017 and 2023 — NNPC has submitted its responses to the 19 questions we asked. Nigerians and the media will be informed of the contents in due course.

“Out of those answers, the ones that make sense and those that do not will be evident to the public”, he stressed .

By: Fabian Apechihin

Nigerians are facing yet another spike in fuel prices as premium motor spirit (petrol) now sells for between ₦905 and ₦945 per litre across several filling stations in Abuja.

Checks on Monday, October 6, 2025, revealed that Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail outlets, along with Empire, AA Rano, and Shema filling stations, adjusted their pump prices upwards. Empire Filling Station in Gwarimpa reportedly sold petrol at the highest rate of ₦945 per litre.

Other stations, including MRS, Emedeb, Ranoil, and Eterna, dispensed petrol between ₦885 and ₦910 per litre.

Marketers Blame PENGASSAN Strike for Price Surge
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) attributed the sudden hike to disruptions caused by last week’s strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).

IPMAN President, Abubakar Maigandi, explained that the price increase was largely due to supply interruptions. He noted that stations receiving supplies from Dangote Refinery were still selling between ₦885 and ₦895 per litre, adding that prices were expected to stabilize soon.

“The feud between Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN may have triggered panic buying and artificial scarcity. I can assure you that prices will drop and return to normal in the coming days,” Maigandi said.

IPMAN spokesperson Chinedu Ukadike also confirmed that the PENGASSAN strike caused temporary shortages in Lagos and Abuja but expressed optimism that availability would improve as supply chains normalize.

Depot Prices Edge Up
Depot prices have reportedly risen slightly, with Dangote Refinery selling petrol at ₦844 per litre, Ranoil and Aiteo at ₦845, and NIPCO at ₦850 in Lagos.

The fuel price increase comes just days after Dangote Refinery and PENGASSAN resolved their dispute over the alleged mass dismissal of Nigerian workers, which led to a two-day strike. Federal Government intervention helped broker peace between both parties.

Dangote Refinery later thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other mediators for their role in ending the strike.

Shettima, PENGASSAN Trade Words
Meanwhile, Vice President Kashim Shettima, speaking at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES31) on Monday, criticized PENGASSAN, declaring that “Nigeria is bigger than the union.”

In response, PENGASSAN President Festus Osifo countered, saying the country is also “bigger than Dangote Refinery and the presidency,” emphasizing the union’s commitment to protecting Nigerian workers’ rights.