Stories from Lagos · Nigeria

A group of youths, including some Islamists, clashed with Nigerian Army soldiers in Makoko, Lagos State. The confrontation escalated from a peaceful protest against the arrest of activist Kachazini Munchio. At least 23 children were injured during the violence.

Paystack is experiencing a partial outage affecting direct debit services in Nigeria. The incident was reported starting at 08:45 UTC, characterized by a high failure rate on direct debits. Relevance AI is experiencing a partial outage, with the 'Modal' component reportedly down since 00:00 UTC. The company has provided a live timeline for incident updates.

A crisis of trust regarding electricity metering is exacerbating the national power shortage in Nigeria. The issue is no longer defined solely by weak generation capacity but by consumer distrust in metering systems. The situation is centered in Lagos.

Consumers in Lagos and other major Nigerian cities are facing rising petrol prices at the pump. Transport costs are climbing across the country. A local resident, Papatunde, stated that the country should not be suffering from problems related to international code or external issues. The Dangote refinery in Lagos, which is Nigeria's first and Africa's largest, has not yet reduced the country's reliance on fuel imports. Fuel prices in Nigeria remain elevated despite the operation of the Dangote refinery in Lagos. For many Nigerians, the distant conflict is now a daily economic reality. The reporter Jewel Bright noted that the refinery was intended to cut reliance on imports but has not yet achieved that goal. Higher food prices are expected to boost government revenues in Nigeria, but the country continues to import much of its refined fuel.

Rising costs for energy and fuel are driving up pharmaceutical prices in Nigeria. This practice forces patients to bear the brunt of the current healthcare crisis. The source noted that businesses attempt to recoup money spent on procuring medications. Business owners are reportedly attempting to build increased costs into product prices to avoid losses. This trend has also resulted in a slowdown in business volume compared to previous periods. International trading issues and concerns regarding potential supply disruptions from the Iran War are driving up drug prices. Pharmacies are reporting costs that significantly exceed the government-agreed reimbursement tariff rates. The government is reportedly using price concessions to address these discrepancies.

Aliko Dangote has been identified as Africa's richest person and an industrialist comparable to John D. Rockefeller. His oil refinery located in Lagos is the largest processing facility on the continent. The report notes his industrial influence is similar to that of Ambani.

Africa's largest refinery has begun exporting jet fuel to Europe. Managing director David Bird confirmed at a Lagos energy conference that Ethiopian Airlines has joined the supply chain.

Airfare prices from Lagos to Benin have risen to 145,000 Naira from approximately 90,000 Naira. The increase is driven by surging global aviation fuel prices caused by ongoing Middle East conflicts. This price hike is compressing profit margins for airlines and has led several small and medium-sized Nigerian carriers into operating losses. The Nigerian airline operators alliance previously warned of these rising costs. Multiple small and medium-sized Nigerian airlines are currently operating at a loss due to compressed profit margins. African airlines are particularly vulnerable to these shifts as fuel typically accounts for 30% to 40% of their operating costs, compared to a global average of 20% to 25%. Airfare and fuel-related costs in Nigeria have risen from approximately 900 Naira per liter in February to 3,300 Naira per liter currently.

Nigeria is experiencing a critical shortage of jet fuel due to maritime disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. The shortage follows reports of Iran firing on three ships in the waterway, intensifying shipping assaults amid a US blockade. This instability threatens regional aviation and energy logistics. Smaller domestic airlines in Nigeria may halt operations entirely due to rising jet fuel costs. The Nigerian government has attempted to prevent a total shutdown by capping fuel prices and reducing airline debts. Nigerian billionaire and refinery owner Aliko Dangote warned of potential consequences during a SEMIFOR forum last week. The cost increases are expected to disproportionately impact smaller carriers with limited cash reserves. He stated that if the situation continues, the majority of African airlines will not be able to survive.

Nigerian conservationist Iroro Tanshi has been awarded the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize for her efforts to protect bat populations. The award recognizes her significant work in wildlife and zoology conservation within Nigeria. This recognition highlights the growing importance of biodiversity protection in West Africa.