Morning recap: Police and Abdulsalami panel seek to ease 2027 tensions as NLC rejects fuel hike

Nigeria’s political temperature is rising as campaigns for the 2027 general elections gather momentum. The Nigeria Police Force and the National Peace Committee, led by former head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar, have stepped up efforts to contain alleged inciting comments and prevent further tension.

Police are investigating controversial remarks attributed to political figures, including a Borno commissioner, a chairman of Kuje Area Council and a senator from Osun. The peace committee has activated a situation room and an Electoral Offences Tracking System to monitor breaches of the political accord. Opposition parties accuse the ruling All Progressives Congress of worsening the atmosphere, while the APC rejects the allegations.

The Nigeria Labour Congress has also condemned the latest petrol price increase by Dangote Refinery. The refinery raised its gantry price from N1,200 to N1,265 per litre, its third adjustment in eight days. Acting General Secretary Benson Upah called the increase avoidable, pointing to falling international oil prices and Nigeria’s refining capacity. The union questioned why more Nigerian crude was not being supplied to domestic refineries.

In Kano State, gunmen invaded Rogo Local Government Area at about 11 p.m. on Monday. Two people were killed after trying to prevent the abduction of local APC chairman Alhaji Abdullahi Fanka. The attack followed similar incidents in neighbouring communities during the previous 72 hours, including the killing of another APC ward chairman.

Other headline stories included a decision by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and the West African Examinations Council to set the WASSCE O’Level result verification fee at N4,000, payable once through JAMB. Manufacturers, meanwhile, invested about N6.8 trillion in Nigeria’s manufacturing sector over the past decade, but weak consumer demand linked to eroded purchasing power continues to restrict sales of locally made goods.

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The hike was avoidable.