Morning recap: NLC demands action on N1,500/litre petrol, endless anguish on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, other top stories

The news stories making the rounds today revolve around the cost of living, the 2027 presidential race, the anguish of motorists and commuters on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, and more.

First among them is the rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol. In some states, this cost goes up to N1,500 per litre, while prices have also risen sharply in other parts of the country. Owing to this, the Nigeria Labour Congress and fuel marketers have called on the Federal Government to intervene in the petrol market.

They warned that prices could rise to N2,000 per litre if international crude oil prices continue to increase, while stakeholders urged the government to curb Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s growing influence over the market.

Political matters have continued to unfold as the nation builds up for the upcoming 2027 presidential race.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his party, the African Democratic Congress, have initiated legal proceedings to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to remove the names of President Bola Tinubu and his party, the All Progressives Congress, from the list of candidates and political parties for the 2027 presidential election.

The plaintiffs sought the disqualification of Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election over an allegedly forged National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to the INEC.

Ongoing repair of the damaged expansion joints on the Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway has triggered severe traffic congestion along the Lagos-Ibadan corridor.

This has left thousands of travellers stranded for hours, and it has also renewed concerns over the recurring maintenance challenges on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.

Find below these trending stories and more:

1. US-Iran crisis: NLC demands action as petrol sells N1,500/litre

The pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, has continued to rise across states, with the product selling for as much as N1,500 per litre in Kano, Yobe, Sokoto, Borno, Taraba and Zamfara, while prices have also risen sharply in other parts of the country.

This came as the Nigeria Labour Congress called on the Federal Government to urgently introduce measures to cushion the impact of the rising price of petrol, including the payment of reasonable wage awards to workers and the sale of crude oil to local refineries in naira.

The NLC, in a statement signed by its President, Joe Ajaero, on Wednesday, said petrol now sells for about N1,430 per litre in major cities, with prices reportedly higher in less accessible locations.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/us-iran-crisis-nlc-demands-action-as-petrol-sells-n1500-litre/

2. Eligibility suit: Atiku gets court nod to serve Tinubu

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday granted an application by the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, to serve court processes on President Bola Tinubu through the All Progressives Congress.

Justice Inyang Ekwo granted the application while ruling on an ex parte motion filed by Atiku’s counsel, O.T. Omotayo-Ojo, seeking an order for substituted service on the President.

Atiku and his party, ADC, are seeking the disqualification of Tinubu and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election over an allegedly forged National Youth Service Corps discharge certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026, has Tinubu, APC and INEC as the first to third defendants, respectively.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/eligibility-suit-atiku-gets-court-nod-to-serve-tinubu/

• Aisha Buhari visits Atiku
• Police deploy officers to Anambra schools as students resume
• Shettima asks Kwara warring APC factions to reconcile

3. Endless repairs, endless anguish on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

For years, motorists and commuters on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway have endured repeated repairs and gridlock, with the latest intervention on the Kara Bridge once again bringing the busy highway to a standstill.

The ongoing repair of the damaged expansion joints of the bridge has triggered severe traffic congestion along the Lagos-Ibadan corridor, leaving thousands of travellers stranded for hours and renewing concerns over the recurring maintenance challenges on one of Nigeria’s busiest highways.

In a routine announcement that has become familiar to motorists plying the route, the Federal Ministry of Works, in a statement on September 5, announced plans to begin a two-week repair of damaged expansion joints on Kara Bridge.

This followed an earlier planned commencement in July, which was later suspended amid concerns about traffic management.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/endless-repairs-endless-anguish-on-lagos-ibadan-expressway/

4. Anambra govt counters Obi, alleges N127bn, $124m debt

The Anambra State Government has said the administration of former Governor Peter Obi left unpaid loans from eight different external borrowings as of the time he left office on March 17, 2014, adding that as of June 30, 2026, the total balance of such loans left by Obi at the official exchange rate stood at N127.4 billion.

The Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr Law Mefor, disclosed this in a press statement in Awka on Wednesday, while responding to claims Obi made that he did not leave any unpaid loan in the state.

Mefor said the state summarised the latest report from the Debt Management Office on Anambra’s debt status (as of June 2026), indicating the dates the loans were signed and the balance remaining.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/anambra-govt-counters-obi-alleges-n127bn-124m-debt/

5.  FG plans call centre to resolve power complaints

In a bid to hasten solutions to power outages and disruptions across the country, the Federal Government is planning to establish a national call centre where electricity consumers can lodge complaints and have them resolved.

The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt hybrid mini-grid project and renewable energy workshop and training centre at the Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja.

According to a statement, Tegbe said the initiative would also provide a dedicated channel for reporting vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure for immediate action and remediation.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/fg-plans-call-centre-to-resolve-power-complaints-2/

6. Constitution amendment: States get 30-day deadline

The National Assembly has transmitted the 2026 Constitution alteration bill to the 36 state Houses of Assembly for consideration, asking them to communicate their resolutions within 30 days.

It also clarified that the timeframe is administrative and not a constitutional deadline.

The transmission, effected on Wednesday by the Clerk to the National Assembly, Kamoru Ogunlana, followed a directive from the leadership of the National Assembly.

The development marks the commencement of the next critical phase of the constitutional amendment process, with the proposed alterations now before the state legislatures, whose approval is constitutionally required before the exercise can proceed.

Read here for more: https://punchng.com/constitution-amendment-states-get-30-day-deadline/