Nigerian Newspapers: 10 things you need to know Wednesday morning

1. Aliko Dangote, the CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, has suggested that the high petrol prices in Nigeria are due to smuggling to neighboring countries, where it sells at a higher price. He pointed out that petrol prices in these countries are 30-50% more expensive than in Nigeria, leading to a large incentive for traders to move the product out of the country.

2. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has requested the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, to release his academic records. This comes after reports of legal action seeking Certified True Copies of his university certificates and other admission records. Obi, speaking on X, stated he had no problem with the release of his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy, which he earned in 1984, along with other academic records.

3. On Monday, an ambush occurred involving suspected armed herders near the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Logo Local Government Area of Benue State, resulting in the death of two police officers. The DPO, who had traveled to Makurdi for official duties, was returning to Ayilamo when he encountered the armed herders.

4. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), headline inflation decreased slightly to 15.39% in August 2026 from 15.43% in July 2026. Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, the Statistician-General of the Federation, announced this in a statement on Tuesday.

5. The All Progressives Congress (APC) governors and the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, engaged in disagreement over campaign structures and strategies for the upcoming 2026 elections. Under the leadership of the Progressive Governors' Forum (PGF) and headed by Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, the governors ruled out cross-party alliances and external political arrangements. Instead, they decided to utilize the party's structures for mobilization.

6. Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, stated that rigging elections has become difficult. In an interview on Channels Television, Fayose also expressed his belief that Tinubu would receive 12 million votes, emphasizing that politics is not a casual affair.

7. The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused President Bola Tinubu of pushing Nigerians to their physical limits. In a statement released in Abuja on Tuesday, ADC's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, noted that the rising petrol price of N1,470 per litre has made every journey more expensive. Furthermore, he mentioned that food and basic education are becoming unaffordable for citizens.

8. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) successfully arrested a Mexican drug kingpin, Arturo Carrera Loaiza, who was allegedly linked to a transnational methamphetamine cartel. Loaiza was apprehended on August 19, 2026, as he attempted to flee Nigeria through Lagos airport. Additionally, the agency dismantled another industrial-scale laboratory in Ebonyi State.

9. Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, announced Emmanuel Ombugadu as the deputy governorship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. This decision was made during a stakeholders' meeting held at the Governor's Lodge in Abuja on Monday. Sule, upon briefing journalists after the meeting, stated that the choice was reached through consultations among the aspirants who had expressed interest in the position.

10. The Nigerian naira experienced fluctuations on Tuesday. It appreciated to N1,380 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,390 in the same market on Monday. However, it depreciated to N1,329.5 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM).