By Divine Perezide

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has warned that Nigeria’s rapidly increasing population could deepen the country’s sanitation challenges unless urgent investments are made to improve urban sanitation infrastructure.

The warning was issued during the unveiling of Nigeria’s Urban Sanitation Diagnostic Report under the African Urban Sanitation Investment Initiative (AUSII) in Abuja. Participants at the event noted that only about 20 per cent of Nigerians currently have access to safely managed sanitation services, despite the country’s fast-growing population.

Experts projected that Nigeria’s population could surpass 400 million by 2050 and approach 500 million before the end of the century, a development expected to place greater pressure on cities, public health systems, the environment and economic growth if sanitation services are not significantly improved.

Speaking at the event, AfDB’s Division Manager for Water and Sanitation, Jeanne-Astrid Ngako, described Nigeria’s population expansion as one of the continent’s biggest urban development concerns. She stressed that the country’s priority should be ensuring residents have access to safe sanitation facilities as cities continue to expand.

Ngako urged governments at all levels, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to work together, describing urban sanitation as a critical national development issue rather than a sector-specific concern.

She acknowledged progress made by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation but said the report identified major shortcomings, especially in sanitation systems serving densely populated urban areas. According to her, relying solely on conventional sewer networks would not adequately solve Nigeria’s sanitation problems because such projects require huge investments and long implementation periods.

Instead, she recommended expanding the use of affordable on-site sanitation systems capable of serving rapidly growing urban and peri-urban communities more efficiently.

Also speaking, Director of Water Quality Control and Sanitation at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Jamilu Dan Habu, disclosed that while roughly 60 per cent of Nigerians have access to basic sanitation, only one in five enjoys safely managed sanitation services.

He added that hygiene service coverage stands at about 25 per cent nationwide. Sanitation facilities are available in only 44 per cent of schools, 15 per cent of healthcare centres and approximately 20 per cent of public spaces.

Habu explained that rapid urbanisation continues to outpace infrastructure development, leaving many cities with widening sanitation gaps. He noted that most households depend on on-site sanitation because sewer systems remain limited across the country.

According to him, the Federal Government has introduced several reforms, including the National Action Plan for the Revitalisation of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector, while work is ongoing to review the National Policy on Water Supply and Sanitation to strengthen governance and improve inclusive sanitation services across Nigerian cities.

By Rukevwe Odeh

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has defended its fuel pricing strategy following criticism over recent fluctuations in petrol prices, while announcing a fresh reduction of ₦50 per litre in its ex-depot price.

The company said the latest adjustment reflects changes in international crude oil prices and demonstrates its commitment to ensuring Nigerians benefit whenever market conditions improve.

According to the refinery, fuel prices are influenced by several factors, including the cost of crude oil, foreign exchange rates, logistics, and other operational expenses. It explained that price reviews are carried out in response to prevailing market realities rather than arbitrary decisions.

With the latest review, the refinery’s ex-depot price has been reduced by ₦50 per litre, a move expected to lower the cost of petrol at filling stations once marketers adjust their retail prices.

The company noted that all outstanding product orders that had not been loaded before the implementation of the new price would be recalculated using the revised rate, allowing customers to benefit from the reduction.

Dangote Refinery also stressed that it remains focused on maintaining a stable supply of petroleum products while promoting greater affordability for consumers across the country.

Industry observers believe the latest price cut could trigger further reductions in pump prices nationwide, although the final retail price will still depend on transportation costs, marketers’ margins, and other distribution-related expenses. The reduction follows a decline in global crude oil prices after easing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which have helped moderate energy costs internationally.

By Rukevwe Odeh

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced the appointment of a new pre-shipment inspection agent to oversee crude oil exports from the Taurus Oil and Gas Depot, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve transparency and accountability in the country’s petroleum export operations, TheCable reported.

According to a circular dated July 1, 2026, and signed by the Director of the CBN’s Trade and Exchange Department, Aderinola Shonekan, Candid Oil Services Limited has been selected to handle pre-shipment inspection activities for exports from the terminal.

The apex bank stated that the appointment is in line with the provisions of the Pre-Shipment Inspection of Exports Act of 1996. The directive has been communicated to authorised dealer banks, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), terminal operators, oil and gas companies, and other stakeholders for compliance.

Pre-shipment inspection agents play a critical role in verifying the quantity, quality, and value of crude oil and gas cargoes before they leave Nigerian ports. Their work helps ensure accurate export documentation, strengthens regulatory oversight, and reduces revenue losses from the nation’s oil exports.

The latest appointment follows recent government actions aimed at expanding the deployment of inspection agents across more export terminals to enhance monitoring and improve efficiency in Nigeria’s oil export sector.