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JUST IN: Nigeria’s Public Debt Rose By N24.33tn In Three Months – DMO

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Nigeria’s total public debt has reached N121.67tn, increasing by N24.33tn or 24.99 per cent within three months, the Debt Management Office has announced.

This new figure is from a total debt of N97.34tn (108.23bn) as of December 2023.

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The Debt Management Office disclosed the new figure in a press release on Thursday in Abuja.

The Public Debt, comprise of Total Domestic and External Debts of the Federal Government of Nigeria, the thirty-six state governments, and the Federal Capital Territory.

The report read, “Nigeria’s total public debt stood at N121.67 trillion (USD91.46 billion) as of March 31, 2024. The comparative figure for December 31, 2023, was N97.34 trillion (USD108.23 billion). Total Domestic Debt was N65.65 trillion (USD46.29 billion) while Total External Debt was N56.02 trillion (USD42.12 billion).”

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READ ALSO: Presidency, Obi Clash Over New Presidential Jet

PUNCH Online observed that the increase is driven majorly by naira devaluation, as the total debt was reduced in dollar terms.

On Thursday, The PUNCH reported that the government has borrowed a total of $4.95bn in loans from the World Bank in the past 12 months amidst worries about the increasing costs of servicing external debt.

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This came as the government still expects fresh loan approval worth $4.4bn from the international lender and the Africa Development Bank over the next year.

An analysis by The PUNCH showed that the bank approved funding for six projects including $750m for power sector financing, $500m for women empowerment, $700m for girl child education, $750m for renewable energy solutions, $750m on resource mobilisation reforms and $1.5bn for economic stabilisation reforms.

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Dangote Refinery Reduces Fuel Price Nationwide, Provides Update On Petrol Distribution

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Dangote Refinery has reduced its premium motor spirit retail price nationwide.

This is as it announced Monday, September 15, 2025, as the new date to begin the direct petrol distribution initiative.

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The initiative, which Dangote Group had earlier announced would kick off on August 15, 2025, would see the $20 billion plant distribute petrol and diesel to consumers with its 4,000 compressed natural gas trucks at zero logistics cost.

The 650,000-barrel-per-day refinery said its new gantry price is N820 per litre, the same price announced last month.

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The company, which is currently in a face-off with the Nigerian Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), disclosed this in a fresh price template released by Dangote Group on its X account.

With the new price template, in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, and Ekiti, Dangote Refinery’s petrol retail price stands at N841 from N860 per litre.

In Abuja, Edo, Delta, Rivers and Kwara states, the largest African refinery’s retail price is N851, down from N885 per litre.

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This means that Dangote Refinery will deliver its petrol directly to willing consumers in Lagos and the South-west states at a reduced retail price of N19, while in Abuja, North Central, and the South-South, it will be a N34 reduction.

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It stressed that the new price template and direct fuel distribution scheme are expected to take effect on Monday, September 15, 2025.

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Meanwhile, the Dangote Refinery price template is not binding on petroleum marketers and retailers except MRS and its other distribution partners, according to DAILY POST.

NUPENG on Thursday announced that it may return to strike against Dangote Group, alleging that the company reneged on its recent resolutions.

However, Dangote Group said it respects the voluntary membership of unions by its workers.

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FG Gives Criteria For Opening Bank Accounts

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From January 1, 2026, all Nigerians and non-residents will be required to obtain a Tax Identification Number, Tax ID, to open or operate bank accounts.

The development followed the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025, recently signed into law by President Bola Tinubu.

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Section 8(2) of the Act makes the Tax ID compulsory for banking, insurance, stock broking, and other financial services. It also extends the requirement to contracts with federal and state governments.

READ ALSO:FirstBank’s Digital Banking Channels Suffers Downtime

For non-residents, Section 6(1) mandates registration for tax purposes, requiring them to obtain a Tax ID if they supply taxable goods and services or derive income from Nigeria.

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To enforce compliance, Section 7(3) empowers tax authorities to assign a Tax ID to individuals or entities who fail to register. The Act also allows for suspension or deregistration of a Tax ID if a business ceases operations temporarily or permanently, provided tax authorities are notified within 30 days.

The legislation is aimed at expanding Nigeria’s tax net and boosting revenue collection. Analysts say the policy could significantly improve tax compliance rates nationwide.

Financial institutions are expected to adjust their systems and processes ahead of the January 2026 rollout.

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NUPENG Accuses Dangote Of Breaching Agreement, Says Nationwide Strike Inevitable

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The Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG, has accused the management of Dangote Group of violating a peace pact brokered at the Department of State Services, DSS, headquarters on September 9, warning that a nationwide strike appears inevitable.

A statement by NUPENG President, Prince Williams Akporeha, and General Secretary, Afolabi Olawale, placed members nationwide on red alert, urging them to prepare for a possible resumption of the suspended industrial action.

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READ ALSO:JUST IN: FG, NUPENG Begin Meeting Over Strike Threat

The statement reads: “This is to alert the general public and the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that, notwithstanding the resolution reached and signed at the office of the Department of State Services (DSS) — with three Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Deputy Director-General of the DSS in attendance — on the right of workers to unionise, Mr. Sayyu Aliu Dantata, on Wednesday, 10th September 2025, instructed all his truck drivers, who have been members of NUPENG-PTD for several years, to remove the union stickers from their trucks.

“Today, Thursday, 11th September 2025, he further instructed them to forcefully drive into the Dangote Refinery to load products. Officials stopped them from entering the refinery because their trucks violated the loading rules and regulations.

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“We strongly condemn this attitude towards the official institutions of this great country and blatant lack of respect for the laws of the land.

READ ALSO:NUPENG Tanker Drivers Announce Strike Over CNG Trucks Dispute

We call on the Federal Government not to allow the security agents — who are being paid with the resources of this country — to be used with impunity against the laws and people of Nigeria.

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“Security agents should not allow any individual to breach the law, particularly while disregarding agreements reached in meetings facilitated by them and attended by Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“By this statement, we are placing all our members on red alert for the possible resumption of the suspended nationwide industrial action. We also call on the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), all regional and global working people, and civil society organizations to rise in support and solidarity against this threat from the capitalist elite.

“His wealth cannot place him above the law.

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“We assure the people and government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that NUPENG will continue to remain a patriotic, responsible, and responsive organization committed to the progress of this great country.”

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