Morning recap: Dangote defends petrol price hikes, APC-ADC subsidy row, other top stories

August 31, 2026 witnessed several political and energy-related stories making headlines in Nigeria. The Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced the third increase in its Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) price, attributing the rise to the cost of crude oil and the time-consuming process of securing, shipping, and delivering crude to the refinery.

As a result, petrol prices now range from N1,310 to N1,400 per litre nationwide. The controversy over petrol subsidy removal between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar intensified, with both sides criticizing each other's plans on the subsidy policy.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties organized a summit in Abuja to discuss their strategy to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election. Two opposition parties, the Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Redemption Party, confirmed their participation, while the Peoples Democratic Party declined to attend. The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission disclosed that the Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited and its host community might face a power cut due to unpaid debts amounting to N5.46 billion.

The steel company and the community failed to pay energy invoices and service charges issued by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc and the Market Operator.