The latest increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, has been rejected by the Nigeria Labour Congress. The labour condemned the hike as “avoidable and unacceptable” questioning why the Federal Government has not done more to ensure that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery gets adequate supplies of Nigerian crude.

The NLC acting General Secretary, Benson Upah, stated this in an interview with the press on Tuesday, while reacting to the latest increase in petrol prices.

Upah warned that the development would further compound the economic difficulties confronting ordinary Nigerians, especially workers and low-income households already struggling with high transportation, food and other living costs.

“This adds to the increasing difficulties of the average Nigerian for whom life has been Hobbesian.

“The latest increase is avoidable and unacceptable in light of falling prices in the international market and our local capacity to sell more crude oil to Dangote. Why are we not doing so?” he queried.

The NLC’s reaction came against the backdrop of another increase in the price of petrol by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, which has triggered fresh concerns among motorists, transport operators and businesses already grappling with high operating costs.

The refinery raised its petrol gantry price by N65 per litre on Saturday, moving it from N1,200 to N1,265 per litre. The latest adjustment came only three days after the company increased the price from N1,185 to N1,200 per litre.

It was the third price adjustment by the refinery in eight days. On August 21, the company had raised its gantry price from N1,165 to N1,185 per litre.

Altogether, the three adjustments increased N100 to the price of petrol at the refinery’s gantry, representing an 8.6 per cent increase within just eight days.

The latest increase has since reverberated across the downstream market, with petrol prices varying from one location to another as marketers factor in transportation, logistics and other distribution costs.

In some parts of Lagos and Ogun, petrol is about N1,310 per litre, while prices in some northern states and areas farther from the refinery have climbed to N1,350 and above.

The renewed price increase is coming at a particularly sensitive time for Nigerians, many of whom are still struggling with the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023.

The hike has revived an old but unresolved question in Nigeria’s petroleum sector: why does a crude-producing country with a major new refinery still face persistent pressure on petrol prices?

The question has become more prominent with the emergence of the Dangote refinery, which has a capacity to process about 650,000 barrels of crude oil daily and was expected to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.

But while the refinery has ramped up production, securing adequate quantities of Nigerian crude has remained a contentious issue.

Two medical doctors and two other suspects have been arrested in Abuja for organ harvesting by the Nigerian Police Force in late August 2026. They were arrested for allegedly running an organ harvesting and human trafficking network operating between Abuja and Nasarawa State.

The arrested medical practitioners are Dr. Benjamin Oyime (a 48-year-old kidney consultant) and Dr. Daniel Otukpa (a 53-year-old Acting Director of Clinical Services).

Both nephrologists are linked to Wellington Clinics (Wellington Hospital) in Life Camp, Abuja.

The arrests were executed by the Special Tactical Squad (STS-FID) following an investigation brought to light by social media activist Martins Vincent Otse (popularly known as VeryDarkMan or VDM) and his team.

The victim, a 22-year-old man named Samuel Ezekiel approached the activists after medical scans at independent hospitals verified that his left kidney was missing.

The 23-year-old intermediary, Emmanuel Ode, allegedly confessed to recruiting Ezekiel and bringing him to Wellington Hospital for the illegal surgery.

Investigators report that the victim was manipulated into signing official consent documents under a fake name, “Isa Abubakar”.

It was further revealed that the victim was allegedly paid ₦1.7 million for the kidney, while legal representatives allege that the black-market syndicate resells these harvested organs to wealthy recipients for ₦50 million to ₦70 million.

Activists and lawyers from the Martin Luther King Centre fear that this is not an isolated incident, estimating that more than 10 young Nigerians may have fallen victim to this specific ring.

Following the police raids and public outcry, Wellington Clinics Abuja issued an official statement denying any deliberate involvement in commercialized organ trafficking. Meanwhile, the private facility immediately suspended all kidney transplant and services effective August 31, 2026, while the criminal investigation continues.

NewsBlast recalls that this case reflects previous enforcement actions by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in which it arraigned doctors from Alliance Hospital in Abuja for similar black-market kidney transplants.

Furthermore, under the National Health Act, trading human organs for commercial gain or charging a fee for transplants carries severe criminal penalties in Nigeria.

Vice President Kashim Shettima has rejected birthday gifts, elaborate celebrations and other material gestures as he marks his 60th birthday, instead urging Nigerians to mark the occasion by supporting the needy and donating to charitable causes across the country.

Shettima made the appeal in a personal statement titled “What I Ask For at Sixty,” released ahead of his birthday.

The Vice President said attaining 60 should be a moment for reflection, gratitude and service, rather than an occasion for material accumulation or personal celebration.

He appealed to his friends, supporters, associates, well-wishers and admirers, both within and outside Nigeria, to refrain from spending money on gifts or ventures in his honour and instead channel such resources to a charity, worthy cause or individual in need.

Shettima said acts of kindness, regardless of their size, could make a significant difference in the lives of Nigerians facing difficult circumstances.

According to him, every act of kindness extended to another person would amount to “a candle lit” for him as he marks the milestone.

The Vice President acknowledged that his journey to 60 had been aided by the kindness and support of family, friends, teachers, colleagues, supporters, well-wishers and strangers.

He said the most appropriate way to repay such goodwill was by extending similar kindness to others who might never have the opportunity to reciprocate.

Shettima also asked Nigerians to replace birthday gifts and celebrations with prayers for him and the country.

He called for prayers for peace in Nigerian communities, prosperity for citizens, wisdom for the nation’s leaders and the fulfilment of Nigeria’s potential.

The Vice President described Nigeria as a country blessed with an industrious population, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a youthful population whose talent, ambition and imagination remain among its greatest national assets.

He expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their loyalty, affection, friendship and prayers over the years, wishing them long life, good health, fulfilment and the joy of helping others.