Motorists may see some relief at the pump as petrol prices begin to fall.

The cuts

A manager at an MRS filling station in Abuja told reporters on Thursday, 12 November 2026, that the company had reduced its pump price from ₦1,408 to ₦1,399 per litre, a cut of ₦9. It is not yet clear whether the new price applies across the company's whole network. Some depot owners who buy from Dangote Refinery have also reportedly lowered their wholesale prices from as high as ₦1,290 to ₦1,215 per litre.

Why prices are falling

The reductions follow a fall in global crude oil prices, which recently dropped to their lowest level since August, and Dangote Refinery's switch to a pricing system linked to international petrol prices, which reportedly cut its loading price to ₦1,250 per litre.

Background

MRS is a major retail partner of Dangote Refinery. The industry regulator has also given the refinery and marketers a deadline of 9 December to comply with a new pricing framework. Meanwhile, cooking gas prices have risen sharply in some states.

Households in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states are paying much more for cooking gas after a sharp rise in prices over the past month.

The new prices

According to reports on Thursday, 12 November 2026, retail prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at several outlets rose from around ₦1,200 to ₦1,800 per kilogramme. In parts of Ogun State, including Magboro, Mowe and Ibafo, some residents said they were paying as much as ₦1,900 per kg. In Oyo State, prices reportedly range from about ₦1,450 per kg at direct outlets to between ₦1,500 and ₦1,650 at neighbourhood retailers.

Why prices rose

The increase follows a reported 31.8 per cent rise in depot prices, from ₦1,100 to ₦1,450 per kg, which has pushed up costs along the supply chain.

Impact on households

Some households say they are considering returning to charcoal because they can no longer afford gas.

Background

The latest increase comes even as petrol prices have eased slightly, with Dangote Refinery reportedly cutting its petrol price this week.

A court in Abuja has ordered that investigative journalist Daniel Ojukwu be held in prison pending a hearing on his bail application.

The charges

Ojukwu, who works for the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, was arraigned on a 12-count charge of allegedly breaching Nigeria's Cybercrimes Act, and the court ordered his remand on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. The charges relate to reports he published about Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was senior special assistant on the Sustainable Development Goals under former President Muhammadu Buhari and now holds the same role under President Bola Tinubu. The charges have not been tested at trial.

Press freedom concerns

The decision drew widespread criticism from media freedom advocates, who have long argued that the cybercrimes law is used to silence journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 29 journalists have been prosecuted under the law since it was enacted in 2015. Nigeria is ranked 112th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders.

Background

Ojukwu was previously detained by police for several days in 2024 over a report on the same official, a case that also drew national and international criticism.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will be bound by the final court decision on whether Atiku Abubakar can contest the 2027 presidential election.

What INEC said about Atiku

Speaking in London on Thursday, 12 November 2026, where he was briefing an audience at Chatham House on election preparations, INEC chairman Professor Joash Amupitan said the commission would follow whatever final ruling the courts give in the dispute over Atiku's nomination. A Federal High Court in Abuja on 5 November nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and reportedly voided the primary that produced Atiku as its candidate. The ADC has appealed, and its lawyer has argued that the judgment contained no express order invalidating Atiku's candidacy.

Materials on the move

Separately, INEC National Commissioner Professor Rhoda Gumus said on Thursday that the commission had begun moving non-sensitive election materials to some geopolitical zones. Speaking while receiving a delegation from Kenya's electoral commission, she said INEC had completed nine of the 14 activities on its election timetable, finished producing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and sent the first two batches to most states. She urged registered voters to collect their cards and said staff training was under way.

Background

The presidential election is scheduled for 16 January 2027. Amupitan recently completed a tour of the six geopolitical zones to assess readiness. Separately, a Federal High Court in Kaduna on Thursday nullified an ADC primary in the state, adding to the party's legal troubles.