🇳🇬Week of September 14

Niger State Governor Umar Bago is seeking an executive order to ban mining in some areas of the state, following the deaths of 37 miners in custody. The miners were arrested by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) at a site where teenagers and adult workers have since returned.123

The 37 suspects died while in Nigerian custody after their arrest for illegal mining in Niger State. The NSCDC carried out the arrests, and photographs show teenagers and adult workers returning to the same site.32

Governor Bago has vowed to expose the truth behind the deaths of the 37 miners. Civil society organisations have rejected calls to sack the NSCDC boss over the incident.456

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has proposed cutting fuel prices and warned against removing electricity subsidies, urging President Bola Tinubu to 'Let Nigerians Breathe.' Atiku also offered to help Tinubu with policy ideas to reduce hardship faced by Nigerians. The proposal comes as the 2027 presidential race begins, with Atiku among the candidates.12

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) demanded that Atiku explain the legal and fiscal basis of his proposed petrol subsidy. The APC PCC also asked Atiku to clarify the cost of the proposal. The challenge was reported by multiple outlets.345678

Attributed claim: President Bola Tinubu has ruled out a return to petrol subsidy, according to The Guardian Nigeria. This directly contradicts Atiku's proposal to cut fuel prices, which would likely require subsidy. The disagreement is over the substance of fuel pricing policy.91

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) said fuel prices are based on free market conditions and that it does not fix prices. The statement came as filling stations reduced petrol prices and tricycle operators raised fares across the Federal Capital Territory.123

Attributed claim: Sahara Reporters: Arewa oil marketers challenged the NMDPRA's claim that it has no pricing powers, disputing the regulator's account of its role in setting fuel prices.4

Pinnacle sought market-based pricing and expressed readiness to work with Dangote, as the company positioned itself in the downstream sector.5

Attributed claim: The Nation, a pro-government outlet, framed the issue as a question of blame for soaring fuel prices, while Sahara Reporters, an oppositional outlet, highlighted the Arewa oil marketers' challenge to the regulator. The two outlets presented different angles on the same pricing dispute.64

President Bola Tinubu has confirmed he will not attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly and has asked Vice President Kashim Shettima to lead Nigeria's delegation. It is the third time since 2024 that Shettima has headed the Nigerian delegation to the annual summit.123

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar demanded an explanation for Tinubu's third consecutive absence from the UN General Assembly. One report described the handover to Shettima as a U-turn by the president.45

Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda is taking a North-west peace plan to the General Assembly. Punch framed the summit as a stage for what it called Nigeria's broken promises, describing the rituals of the United Nations.67

Jehovah's Witnesses have announced a change to their blood transfusion policy, allowing members to accept blood-derived products while maintaining the ban on whole-blood transfusions. The organisation says accepting blood components is now a matter of personal conscience for members, and it has told members to follow their heart on the issue.1234

The policy shift permits the use of blood-derived products but does not lift the prohibition on whole-blood transfusions. The change applies to members of the faith, who have historically refused all blood transfusions.34

An activist has criticised the revised policy, saying it still threatens public health. The activist's statement suggests the change does not go far enough to address health concerns associated with the refusal of blood transfusions.5