Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Nigeria policy

  • ICPC Says Probe of Ex-NMDPRA Chief Continues Despite Dangote Petition Withdrawal

    ICPC Says Probe of Ex-NMDPRA Chief Continues Despite Dangote Petition Withdrawal

    Observations made by Premium Times show the ICPC says it will continue investigating allegations linked to the former head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, even after the Dangote Group reportedly withdrew its complaint.

    The commission said its mandate allows it to pursue potential systemic wrongdoing irrespective of a petitioner’s withdrawal, especially where public interest is implicated.

    The inquiry is expected to examine records and decisions linked to the regulator’s tenure in the oil and gas space.

    **Echotitbits take:** This stance reinforces the idea that anti-corruption isn’t a private dispute to be settled quietly. Watch for legal actions if investigators identify evidence strong enough to sustain prosecution.
    Source: Guardian — https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/icpc-confirms-probe-of-ex-nmdpra-boss-continues-despite-dangote-withdrawal/ 2026-01-08

    Photo Credit: Guardian

  • Yuletide travel fares: FCCPC warns transport operators against unjustified hikes

    Yuletide travel fares: FCCPC warns transport operators against unjustified hikes

    Photo credit: The Nation

    2025-12-22 10:15:00

    According to The Nation, the FCCPC is warning inter-city transport operators against unjustified festive-season fare spikes and consumer exploitation.

    The warning signals a more assertive consumer-protection posture in a period when demand surges and informal pricing practices can become normalised—especially for travellers with limited alternatives.

    But enforcement is the hard part: fare pricing is fragmented across parks, unions, and route operators, so deterrence often depends on visible sanctions and rapid complaint resolution.

    The Guardian also described the warning as a check on “arbitrary fare hikes,” while Nairametrics carried similar caution aimed at inter-city operators.

    Echotitbits take: If FCCPC wants this to land, it must publish complaint hotlines, name-and-shame repeat offenders, and coordinate with state transport ministries and park leadership. Watch for whether any operator is actually sanctioned this week.

    Source: The Nation — Dec 22, 2025 (https://thenationonlineng.net/yuletide-fccpc-warns-transport-operators-against-arbitrary-fare-hikes/)

  • NELFUND says student loan disbursements top ₦154bn as beneficiaries near 789,000

    NELFUND says student loan disbursements top ₦154bn as beneficiaries near 789,000

    Photo Credit: Daily Post Nigeria
    2025-12-21 09:30:00

    Figures cited by The Nation show the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says it has supported 788,947 students with disbursements of over ₦154 billion since the student loan scheme began.

    The update frames the programme as a major access-to-education intervention, pointing to high demand for tertiary education financing.

    The policy impact will be judged not only by approvals, but by how it affects dropout rates, fee defaults, and the financial stability of institutions.

    The Guardian reported NELFUND “has disbursed… ₦154,373,551,374.00” to 788,947 students, while ThisDay wrote the fund “disbursed more than N154 billion” to support the same beneficiary count.

    Echotitbits take:
    The next test is governance: publish clearer dashboards, tighten verification, and communicate repayment terms early. Watch also for how universities adjust fees once loan inflows become predictable.

    Source: The Nation — December 21, 2025 (https://dailypost.ng/2025/11/30/nelfund-records-1-19m-applicants-disburses-loan-to-788000-students/)
    The Nation 2025-12-21