Inflation nation
+ Terrorists have killed soldiers, and the air force has "allegedly" mistakenly killed civilians again
Hello!
I have great news: I’ve had a baby! (My friend, Stephany, has had a baby. I was there spiritually for the birth and intend to be physically present for the upbringing, so, I’ve had a baby!). Everyone say “Congratulations, Stephany”
This edition does not have a lot of great news
Nigeria is facing inflation, and the government is scrambling to make it okay
Terrorists have killed soldiers, and the air force has “allegedly” mistakenly killed civilians again
Fraud and corruption are still strangling Nigeria’s neck
This edition is 1,500 words, approx. 5min read
This week in terrorist attacks
Attacks in Borno
An explosive killed a commanding officer and his team
Troops in Monguno, Borno State, managed to push back an insurgent attack on Sunday night during a clash with militants under Operation Hadin Kai. But shortly after, the commanding officer drove into an improvised explosive device that killed him and six other soldiers 😞
Reports say the military initially held its position. But shortly after, the commanding officer moved forward to assess the situation and drove into an improvised explosive.
The army says the officer had gone toward the frontline in the middle of the aftermath of the attack, which they said was his typical leadership style, staying close to his soldiers even in dangerous conditions.
The Nigerian Air Force allegedly killed civilians accidentally again
The Nigerian Air Force says it has “opened an investigation” after civilians reportedly died in their airstrike operation on Jilli market, along the Borno–Yobe border, during an operation targeting one of Nigeria’s many militant groups. This is the second “misfire” in less than a year.
The strike reportedly happened on Saturday while military aircraft were tracking an insurgent group’s activity in the area.
Local residents say the attack hit a crowded market, and Amnesty International estimates that more than 100 people died, though official figures have not yet been confirmed.
Local officials and humanitarian sources cited by Reuters suggest the death toll could be significantly higher, possibly approaching 200, including both dead and injured.
Some of the injured are being treated in hospitals across Yobe and Borno states, while others are reported to have died after arrival.
The military, however, says the operation targeted a known militant corridor and insists it struck a terrorist enclave and logistics hub near Jilli village. It says “scores of terrorists” were killed, but it has not acknowledged civilian casualties.
The incident adds to a long-running concern in Nigeria’s north-east, where airstrikes aimed at insurgents have at times mistakenly hit civilian areas, including markets and displacement camps, raising renewed questions about targeting accuracy and intelligence in the ongoing conflict.
Last year, the air force killed 20 people in Zamfara with an airstrike targeted at terrorists. And in 2022, an Air Force jet killed 6 children in Niger State
Low on funds
Last week, we reported that inflation and the cost of living in Nigeria (which had been dropping steadily for about a year) started to rise again in March due to Israel and the United States waging war in the Middle East.
The war has caused volatility in oil and import prices and processes, which affects Nigeria because we majorly sell oil, and we import almost everything
To help reduce the impact of the war on petrol and consumer goods, the Federal Government has removed import duty on mass transit buses, electric vehicles, manufacturing machinery, and several key consumer and industrial imports.
The import duties on items like rice and sugar have also been reduced significantly.
The decision follows directives from the president to implement fiscal measures (minus subsidy - they’re done with that) that cushion Nigerians from the economic ripple effects of the ongoing war.
Nigerian officials say the measures are intended to support affordability and revive economic activity.
The FG, no longer shy about the reliance on Dangote, has also asked Dangote Sugar to increase sugar production, so the country won’t need to import sugar anymore.
No subsidy on petrol but…
Nigeria spent over N400 billion subsidising electricity in the last quarter of 2025, according to the latest report from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission.
That’s slightly lower than the previous quarter, but still a significant government spend when electricity supply is still so iffy
The report shows that more than half of what electricity generation companies were owed was effectively covered by the government, as tariff levels remain below the actual cost of supplying power.
According to the report, that subsidy is what the government covers, so consumers don’t immediately feel the full cost of electricity production
One of the reasons the subsidy bill dipped slightly is that more power is now being allocated to higher-paying Band A customers (As a Band A customer, I can confirm that my allocated cost is not fun to pay, and my electricity is still unstable).
In short, Nigeria’s power sector is still running on a hybrid model: part market, part government support.
More on Nigeria’s oil woes
The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) says Nigeria’s domestic airline industry might shut down from April 20 if the cost of aviation fuel continues to spiral out of control.
AON says the price of Jet A1 has jumped from about ₦900 per litre in February 2026 to around ₦3,300 per litre currently, which, according to them, is “unsustainable” and “disconnected from global crude oil movements”.
In a letter to fuel marketers, airline operators said they have kept flights running for weeks despite severe financial strain, but warned that continued operations are no longer viable. The letter also said “one airline” (unnamed) “has already grounded operations since mid-March” due to the costs of jetfuel, and others are ready to follow
The group argues that fuel now consumes so much of operating costs that airlines are struggling to cover even basic expenses.
Note: the jet fuel cost issue is not why United Nigeria Airlines isn’t flying right now. That one is because they keep bumping into birds
What the FG says about petrol
Even though they have acknowledged that the current global crisis is wreaking havoc on Nigeria’s economy, the Federal Government is defending its economic reforms, saying Nigerians are “still paying less for petrol compared to many other countries”, despite ongoing public concern over rising fuel prices.
The Executive Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service, Zacch Adedeji, said petrol in Nigeria currently costs about $0.88 per litre, which he argued is significantly cheaper than in places like the United States, India, and South Africa. His point: even with recent increases, Nigeria’s pump prices remain below the global average.
Government officials say the combination of subsidy removal and increased local refining capacity — especially with the Dangote Refinery — has “stabilised supply and reduced the kind of fuel shortages Nigeria used to experience”.
They argue that without these reforms, the country would still be facing long queues and inconsistent availability.
At the same time, a lot of people in the country aren’t buying petrol anymore. Daily consumption reduced by 17 million litres in about a month due to the cost of petrol.
Crime is back
El-Rufai’s ongoing fraud case
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has filed an amended nine-count charge against former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, over allegations of fraud, abuse of office, and corruption.
The case at the Kaduna State High Court lists El-Rufai as the sole defendant
His legal team says the amended charges were presented in court on the same day, leaving them little time to fully review the details before proceedings began.
The charges span several allegations tied to his time in office, including claims of irregular payments linked to a light rail project, questionable severance benefits exceeding approved limits, and the alleged misuse of funds from a World Bank-backed loan. He has also been charged with alleged attempts to interfere with ongoing investigations.
El-Rufai’s lawyers say they intend to study the revised charges before responding in full, while the court has adjourned the matter and granted him a money bail of 200 million.
The case is part of broader scrutiny by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission into alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as governor of Kaduna State.
Former Humanitarian Affairs Minister embezzling?
A Federal Capital Territory High Court has issued a warrant of arrest against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, and a senior ministry official, Bashir Nura Alkali, after both failed to appear in court for their scheduled arraignment over alleged fraud.
The case is because, according to reports from the EFCC, both defendants are avoiding court proceedings in a case where they are suspected of “diverting” $1.3 million and about N746.6 million in public funds.
According to the EFCC, the charges stem from a 21-count indictment covering allegations of criminal breach of trust, abuse of office, and fraudulent contract awards linked to social intervention programmes supervised during Farouq’s tenure as minister between 2019 and 2023.
The EFCC claims the funds in question were tied to payments under the National Social Investment Programme, including money meant for beneficiary verification and refunds from service providers, which were allegedly mismanaged or diverted.
The court heard that although the defendants were expected to be present for arraignment, they did not appear.
Her legal team said the minister didn’t come because she was ill.
The court did not buy it, so they have been summoned
PSA: The floods are coming
![UPDATED] 33 States, Over 14,000 Communities At High Flood Risk In 2026, FG Warns • Channels Television](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!3lIE!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F52b9cfc0-c808-4858-b806-78780d9d1298_650x350.jpeg "UPDATED] 33 States, Over 14,000 Communities At High Flood Risk In 2026, FG Warns • Channels Television")
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention says 14,000 communities across Nigeria are at high risk of flooding as we head into the rainy season. Only Katsina, Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states are considered low-risk.
The centre also warns that, according to early data, the flooding will most likely cause waterborne diseases like Cholera, which already tends to surge around this time of year.
The NCDC says Nigeria plans to move from reacting late to actually preparing early: better forecasts, AI modelling, and emergency planning.
But given how annual flooding has played out in recent years, it’s hard to feel confident in the plan
Other News
Health Minister Salako launched the 2025 National Health Facility Survey, emphasising primary care and digital reforms - The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
Lagos received 24 new Red Line rail cars to ease transport - Business Day
FG is finally paying the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors the long-awaited arrears they’ve been fighting for - Punch
Congratulations Stephany!