Morning recap: US military aid cut threat, Dangote IPO surge, other top stories

The United States has placed Nigeria on its Child Soldiers Prevention Act blacklist, warning that the designation could lead to cuts in military training, weapons sales and defence cooperation from October 1, 2026 unless a presidential waiver is issued.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s public offer has attracted subscriptions several times above its original target, with the company extending the closing date by two weeks to allow more African investors to participate.

The Federal Government has begun engaging state governors and transport operators to enforce lower fares on Compressed Natural Gas-powered vehicles as its CNG initiative attracts more than $2.5bn in private-sector investment.

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike has declared himself the field commander of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign in the FCT and Rivers State.

And Wike has admitted working with members of the All Progressives Congress to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2024 Edo State governorship election, saying he has no regrets.

Here is a recap of the major stories making headlines this morning.

1. Child soldier: US threatens to cut military aid to Nigeria

The State Department’s 2026 Trafficking in Persons Report cited the continued recruitment and use of children by Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.

The listing could restrict military financing, training and equipment sales absent a waiver from President Donald Trump.

Read full story: https://punchng.com/child-soldier-us-threatens-to-cut-military-aid-to-nigeria/

2. Dangote refinery IPO attracts fourfold subscriptions, offer extended

• Falana questions ₦15tn coastal highway cost, warns against voter suppression
• I worked with APC to defeat PDP in Edo — Wike
• Troops kill three suspected Edo kidnappers, rescue abducted man

Aliko Dangote said subscriptions had exceeded the amount originally intended to be raised by more than three or four times.

The offer, initially due to close on October 13, will now run until October 27.

Read full story: https://punchng.com/dangote-refinery-ipo-attracts-fourfold-subscriptions-offer-extended/

3. CNG deployment: Commuters await fare cut as FG invests $2.5bn

The Presidential Initiative on CNG and Electric Vehicles is introducing route and fare stickers on buses to improve transparency. Implementation remains uneven across states despite government efforts to ensure savings reach passengers.

Read full story: https://punchng.com/cng-deployment-commuters-await-fare-cut-as-fg-invests-2-5bn/

4. 2027: Wike declares self Tinubu FCT ‘campaign commander’

Speaking at a Rainbow Coalition stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, Wike said he would coordinate the president’s campaign in the FCT and Rivers State. PDP National Assembly candidates in the territory declared support for their APC counterparts.

Read full story: https://punchng.com/2027-wike-declares-self-tinubu-fct-campaign-commander/

5. I worked with APC to defeat PDP in Edo — Wike

The minister said the alliance prevented former Governor Godwin Obaseki from producing his successor. He described the PDP candidate Asue Ighodalo as qualified but said the election was about stopping Obaseki’s influence.

Read full story: https://punchng.com/i-worked-with-apc-to-defeat-pdp-in-edo-wike/