The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), says the average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased from N5,974.55 recorded in July 2024 to N6,430.02 in August 2024.

This is contained in the Bureau’s “Cooking Gas Price Watch’’ for August 2024 released on Sunday in Abuja.

The report said the August price represented a 7.62 per cent increase, compared to what was obtained in July.

The NBS said the average price of 5kg of cooking gas increased on a year-on-year basis by 56.25 per cent from N4,115.32 in August 2023 to N6,430.02 in August 2024.

On state profile analysis, the report showed that Benue recorded the highest average price at N7,000 for 5kg cooking gas, followed by Rivers at N6,954.55, and Borno at N6,914.29.

It said on the other hand, Taraba recorded the lowest price at N5,600.67, followed by Abuja and Kogi at N5,825.00 and N5,857.56, respectively.

Analysis by zone showed that the South-East recorded the highest average retail price at N6,585.18 for 5kg cooking gas, followed by the South-South at N6,451.34.

“The North-Central recorded the lowest average retail price at N6,344.29,” the NBS said.

Also, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cooking gas increased by 9.05 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N14,261.57 in July 2024 to N15,552.56 in August 2024.

The report said the average retail price for 12.5kg cooking gas rose by 69.15 per cent on a year-on-year basis from N9,194.41 recorded in August 2023 to N15,552.56 in August 2024.

State profile analysis showed that Rivers recorded the highest average retail price of N17,086.36 for 12.5kg cooking gas, followed by Cross River with N17,050.00 and Abia with N17,012.52.

On the other hand, the report showed that the lowest average price for 12.5kg of cooking gas was recorded in Bauchi at N13,425.00, followed by Nassarawa and Adamawa at N13,640.94 and N13,725.00 respectively.

Analysis by zone showed that the South-South recorded the highest average retail price of N16,524.00 for 12.5kg cooking gas, followed by the South-East at N16,495.78

The report said the North-Central recorded the lowest price at N14,767.41.

Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price per litre of kerosene increased to N1,847.59 in August 2024 on a month-on-month basis, showing an increase of 4.39 per cent, compared to the N1,769.86 recorded in July 2024.

According to its National Kerosene Price Watch for August 2024 on a year-on-year basis, the average retail price per litre of kerosene rose by 45.21 per cent from N1,272.40 in August 2023.

On state profile analysis, the report showed that Zamfara recorded the highest average price at N2,566.67 per litre of kerosene in August, followed by Kano with N2,444.44 and Ogun with N2,388.89.

“On the other hand, the lowest price was recorded in Taraba at N1,181.18, followed by Adamawa at N1,185.74 and Borno at N1,296.95.”

The NBS said the analysis further showed that the North-West recorded the highest average retail price per litre of Kerosene at N2,118.29, followed by the South-South at N2,075.45,

It said the North-East recorded the lowest average retail price per litre of kerosene at N1,454.38.

The report said the average retail price per gallon of Kerosene paid by consumers in August 2024 was N6,441.94, indicating an 11.80 per cent increase from N5,762.10 recorded in July 2024.

“On a year-on-year basis, the average price per gallon of kerosene increased by 48.04 per cent from N4,351.53 recorded in August 2023.

On state profile analysis, it showed that Katsina recorded the highest average retail price at N8,200 per gallon of kerosene, followed by Kebbi at N8,075.00 and Kaduna at N8,038.46.

The report said Nasarawa recorded the lowest price at N5,092.46, followed by Niger and Plateau at N5,104.17 and N5,445.83, respectively.

Analysis by zone showed that the North-West recorded the highest average price per gallon of Kerosene at N7,787.64, followed by the South-West at N6,593.22,

“North-Central recorded the lowest average price per gallon of Kerosene at N5,463.69,” the NBS said. 

The All Progressives Congress, APC, has won the entire Three Hundred and Thirty-two contested positions in the Saturday Local Council elections in Imo State.

Announcing the result at the headquarters of the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission, ISEC, yesterday, the Chairman, Chief Charles Ejiogu, disclosed that out of the 19 political parties that registered for the poll, 17 participated.

He said that the elections took place at the entire 4758 polling units, with APC winning the 27 Council Chairmanship seats and the 305 councillorship positions.

He described the elections as being peaceful, fair and credible and applauded the stakeholders, including the security agencies, the media and political actors in the state, for their conduct and corporation during the process.

He said that the figures of the elections and other information regarding the poll would be made available to the public in due time.

He urged all the aggrieved parties and candidates to channel their grievances through lawful means, adding that the commission avoided intervening in the internal affairs of all the participating parties prior to the elections.

“I wish to announce to the Imo people and the general public that after a peaceful, credible elections, the APC emerged winner across board.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have maintained an early lead in strongholds following the collation of some results from the Edo State governorship election.

According to the results from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Viewing Portal (iRev), the candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Olumide Akpata, is no longer in the race to become the governor of Edo State.

The Labour Party governorship candidate also lost his polling unit to his PDP counterpart, Asue Iguodala.

The results released by INEC declared that Ighodalo polled 41 votes while Akpata trailed with 32 votes at his own Polling Unit 11, Ward 6, Oredo Local Government Area (LGA).

According to results released on the official website of INEC, over 89.93 per cent have been uploaded, covering 3,895 results out of 4,519 polling units.

From the results, the APC is currently leading in Edo, its stronghold in Edo North while the PDP is ahead in Edo South.

In Etsako West local government Area, Igbira Camp Booth, APC had 90 votes, LP 13 and PDP 85 while in Owan West, Ifidon by Bright in Sobe, APC, 90, LP 13 and PDP75. For Uhunmwonde Uvbenisi-Uvbenisi primary school, APC scored 83, LP 06 and PDP 47.

In Egor local government area, Paramount Nursery and Primary School Uselu II – IV, APC had 17, PDP 22.

In Oredo local government area, New Benin, Unit 27, New Benin III/Payne primary school, APC scored 36 votes, LP 5 and PDP 56.

In Ikpoba-Okha Ward 7 Unit 17, which is the voting place of the Deputy Governorship candidate of the PDP, Osarodion Ogie Esq. PDP scored 216 while the APC scored 29.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has not received governorship election results from any of the 18 local government areas (LGAs) in Edo State.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State, Anugbum Onuoha, in an interview on Saturday, explained that the results of the election are still at the ward level and would travel to the local government level before being sent to the state collation centre.

“I cannot categorically tell you when we will announce the results in the state. As they come, we will announce,” Onuoha stated.

“For now, no results yet” from any of the local government, he said.

The REC warned social media users announcing the “results” of the poll, saying that is the position of the commission.

“I want to correct one thing: those who are publishing results, it is not their duty to announce results.

“INEC has not announced results. I am not even the returning officer for the state. The returning officer will announce the results. But I am surprised with what I see on social media. That is not the correct position of the commission.

“Nobody has the capacity to do that. The law is clear on who can announce the results. So, they should desist,” he said.

Meanwhile, the electoral umpire has uploaded over 90% of polling unit result sheets of Saturday’s governorship election on the commission’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

Out of the 4519 polling units, the electoral umpire has uploaded the result sheets of 3995 polling units on the portal as of 07:40 pm on Saturday.

On Saturday, September 21, 2024, the people of Edo State in South-South Nigeria voted to elect a new governor to succeed the incumbent, Godwin Obaseki, whose constitutional eight-year double terms will end on November 12, 2024.

Edo is one of the eight states where governorship elections are held off-season due to litigations and court judgements. Others are Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Imo, Kogi, Osun and Ondo.

According to INEC, there are 2,629,025 total number of registered voters and 4,519 polling units in Edo State. Out of this figure, 2,249,780 (85.57%) have Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) and will decide Obaseki’s successor.

Though 17 candidates are jostling for the office, analysts have described the forthcoming poll as a three-horse race involving Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party (LP).

In terms of party strongholds, the APC has current senators in Edo North (Adams Oshiomhole) and Edo Central (Okpebholo) while the Labour Party’s senator Neda Imasuen is from Edo South where Akpata hails from.

The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has delivered his polling unit in the ongoing governorship election for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Obaseki voted at Polling Unit 19, Ward 04, in the Oredo Local Government Area in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

The result at the Unit in the Oredo Local Government Area, shows that PDP garnered 127 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC), which polled 35 votes. The Labour Party (LP) came third in the polling unit with just 11 votes.

The Governor was seen casting his vote at 10:14 am at Emokpae Primary School, Oredo LGA, Benin City, Edo State.

He said after casting his vote earlier today: “You can see despite the inclement weather people have turned out in their large numbers. You can see the enthusiasm.

“It is not mid-day yet and the ballot box in my polling unit is already full. And so clearly that tells you that people are very interested because they have been mobilised. And have been very interested in this election. This is why I am not surprised.

“For now I am glad with what I see, the process in my units has been smooth. I hope the collation process will be the same. It will be peaceful and the results will be counted and there will be no destruction.

“I am glad with the extent of military presence in the state. As you know the federal security agencies have taken over the state. I am not the Chief Security Officer of the state, the Inspector General of Police, IGP is the Chief Security Officer”

On the other hand, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Olumide Akpata has lost his polling unit.

He polled 32 votes against PDP that got 41. At polling unit PU11, Ward 06, Oredo LGA, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Monday Okpebholo, garnered 19.

The Presidency has refuted a report by Bloomberg claiming that Nigeria had delayed coupon payments on its savings bonds, affirming that all financial obligations are being met on schedule.

Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a post on his verified X handle, described the report as incorrect.

According to Onanuga, Finance Minister Wale Edun confirmed that Nigeria has sufficient liquidity to meet all its obligations and does not owe anyone at the moment.

He said Edun had affirmed that the country has enough funds to meet its financial commitments, with no outstanding payments.

According to him, Edun’s position was corroborated by Patience Oniha, Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

Oniha said the Central Bank of Nigeria had processed all due payments as of September 19, with the payment due September 20 also being processed.

“Bloomberg is not correct with this report. Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, says that Nigeria does not owe anyone at the moment,” Onanuga said.

“We have enough liquidity to meet all our obligations. We do not have any outstanding payments.

“Director General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, also confirms that, as of September 19, the Central Bank of Nigeria has processed all due payments. The payment due today, September 20, is also being processed for payment.”

Specifically, Bloomberg’s report alleged that Nigerian authorities had failed to make timely coupon payments on two savings bonds, citing “system and processing issues” as the cause for the delay.

Bloomberg’s article claimed this was the second such delay in two months, involving coupon payments on two- and three-year debt sold in June, totaling ₦4.2 billion ($2.56 million).