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Enhancing Fuel Pricing Stability in Nigeria: Leveraging Digital Platforms for Lasting Solutions

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1 year ago

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Fuel pricing stability is crucial for the economic growth and stability of any nation, and Nigeria is no exception. With the volatility of global oil prices and the impact of exchange rates, stakeholders in the fuel industry must have access to real-time data to make informed decisions. In this context, the implementation of digital platforms that provide real-time data on fuel prices, exchange rates, and other relevant factors can play a vital role in enhancing transparency and efficiency in the fuel market. Moreover, fostering synergies among stakeholders can lead to lasting solutions that promote stability and sustainability in the industry.

Digital platforms have revolutionized the way data is accessed and utilized in various sectors, and the fuel industry is no different. By leveraging these platforms, stakeholders can access real-time information on fuel prices, exchange rates, and other relevant factors that influence pricing decisions. This real-time data can help stakeholders track market trends, identify potential risks, and make informed decisions to mitigate price fluctuations.
In Nigeria, with no landing cost, duty, USD demand, or port clearance fees, one may wonder what could potentially lead to an increase in PMS price. This conundrum prompts a deep dive into the underlying issues, thought processes, and potential solutions within the context of the digital age.
There are several possible reasons for an increase in the price of PMS (Petrol/Motor Spirit) in Nigeria, despite the factors mentioned above. Some of these reasons include:
1. Fluctuations in global oil prices: Even though Nigeria may not have import costs, duty, or USD demand for petroleum products, the country’s fuel prices are still influenced by global oil prices. If crude oil prices rise on the international market, this can lead to an increase in the price of PMS in Nigeria.
2. Exchange rate fluctuations: While Nigeria may not have USD demand for petroleum products, fluctuations in the exchange rate can still impact the price of PMS. If the Naira weakens against major currencies such as the US Dollar, this can lead to an increase in the cost of importing fuel, which may be passed on to consumers.
3. Transportation costs: Even though there may not be port clearance fees, transportation costs play a significant role in determining the final price of PMS. Factors such as fuel prices, road maintenance costs, and distribution logistics can all contribute to an increase in the price of PMS.
4. Government taxes and levies: The government in Nigeria imposes various taxes and levies on petroleum products, which can also contribute to an increase in the price of PMS. These taxes are often used to fund infrastructure projects and other government initiatives.
In the digital age, there are several ways in which these issues can be addressed:
1. Transparency and accountability: The government and relevant authorities should be transparent about the factors that contribute to the price of PMS. This can help build trust with consumers and ensure that any price increases are justified.
2. Use of technology: Digital platforms and tools can be used to track and monitor fuel prices, exchange rates, and other factors that influence the cost of PMS. This information can be used to make informed decisions and policies regarding fuel pricing.
3. Diversification of energy sources: Investing in alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydropower can help reduce the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products. This can help mitigate the impact of global oil price fluctuations on the price of PMS.
4. Collaboration with industry stakeholders: The government, oil companies, transporters, and other stakeholders should collaborate to address the challenges facing the petroleum industry in Nigeria. This can help identify solutions and implement policies that benefit all parties involved.
Essentially, addressing the factors contributing to the increase in PMS prices in Nigeria requires a coordinated effort and a willingness to embrace technology and innovation in the digital age. By working together and leveraging digital tools, the country can work towards a more sustainable and efficient petroleum sector.
Nonetheless, the collaboration and coordination among stakeholders in the fuel industry are essential for developing lasting solutions to pricing challenges. By fostering synergies among government agencies, oil marketers, regulatory bodies, and consumers, stakeholders can work together to address issues such as price manipulation, scarcity, and inefficiencies in the supply chain. Through effective communication and cooperation, stakeholders can create a more transparent and efficient fuel market that benefits all parties involved.
Further, to achieve lasting solutions to the issue of increasing PMS prices in Nigeria, it is essential to approach the problem with an open mind and a willingness to explore innovative strategies. One crucial aspect to consider is the need for greater transparency and accountability in the petroleum industry. This can be achieved through the implementation of digital platforms that provide real-time data on fuel prices, exchange rates, and other relevant factors. By making this information readily available to the public and industry stakeholders, trust can be fostered, and illicit practices can be deterred.
Centrally, the government and industry players should prioritize the diversification of energy sources as a means to reduce the country’s dependence on imported petroleum products. Investments in renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, and hydropower can help create a more resilient energy sector that is less susceptible to global oil price fluctuations. This transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources will not only contribute to reducing the cost of fuel but also address environmental concerns and promote a greener economy.
Collaboration among all stakeholders is paramount in finding lasting solutions to the challenges facing the petroleum industry in Nigeria. By working together in a spirit of cooperation and shared goals, parties can identify common interests and develop mutually beneficial strategies. This may involve establishing partnerships for research and development, fostering innovation, and implementing policies that create a supportive regulatory environment for the sector.
In sum, addressing the root causes of increasing PMS prices in Nigeria requires a holistic approach that incorporates transparency, diversification, innovation, and collaboration. By embracing these principles and working together towards common objectives, the country can pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient petroleum sector that serves the needs of its citizens and contributes to long-term economic growth and development.
Exploring the realm of digital advancements, the implementation of platforms offering real-time data on fuel prices, exchange rates, and other pertinent factors emerges as a crucial strategy. By harnessing the power of technology to provide up-to-the-minute information, stakeholders can make informed decisions and adapt swiftly to market fluctuations. Furthermore, exploring the concept of stakeholder synergies illuminates the potential for collaborative efforts to drive lasting solutions and shape a sustainable future for the petroleum industry.
The implementation of digital platforms to provide real-time data on fuel prices, exchange rates, and other relevant factors can greatly enhance transparency and accountability in the petroleum industry in Nigeria. These platforms can serve as centralized repositories of information, accessible to the public, government agencies, industry players, and other stakeholders. By leveraging technology such as data analytics and artificial intelligence, these platforms can track and analyze market trends, supply chain dynamics, and regulatory developments, providing stakeholders with valuable insights to make informed decisions.
Real-time data on fuel prices can help consumers plan their purchases and budget effectively, while also enabling competition among fuel retailers, leading to fair pricing practices. Exchange rate information is crucial for understanding the impact of currency fluctuations on fuel prices, as the cost of imported petroleum products is directly influenced by currency valuations. By providing visibility into exchange rate movements, these platforms can help stakeholders anticipate price changes and manage risks associated with foreign exchange.
Moreover, these digital platforms can incorporate additional relevant factors such as global oil prices, production costs, government policies, and environmental regulations. By aggregating and analyzing these diverse data sets, stakeholders can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing PMS prices, enabling them to identify patterns, correlations, and potential opportunities for optimization.
The notion of stakeholder synergies is essential for ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of these digital platforms. Collaboration among government agencies, industry players, consumer groups, academia, and civil society organizations is vital to designing, implementing, and maintaining these platforms. By fostering open dialogue, sharing expertise, and aligning interests, stakeholders can co-create solutions that address the diverse needs and perspectives within the petroleum industry.
Stakeholder synergies can also enable the continuous improvement and evolution of these platforms, as feedback from users and ongoing collaboration can drive innovation and refinement. By building consensus, trust, and a sense of shared responsibility, stakeholders can work together towards common goals, such as price stability, supply chain efficiency, and environmental sustainability.
Overall, the implementation of digital platforms for real-time data on fuel prices, exchange rates, and relevant factors, combined with stakeholder synergies, can pave the way for lasting solutions in the petroleum industry in Nigeria. By leveraging technology and collaboration, stakeholders can enhance transparency, foster accountability, and drive positive change that benefits the industry, the economy, and society as a whole.
In conclusion, the implementation of digital platforms that provide real-time data on fuel prices, exchange rates, and relevant factors, combined with stakeholder synergies, can enhance fuel pricing stability in Nigeria. By leveraging technology to access timely information and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, lasting solutions can be developed to address pricing challenges in the fuel industry. Ultimately, a transparent and efficient fuel market benefits not only stakeholders in the industry but also the broader economy, promoting stability and sustainability in the long term.

♦ Professor Ojo Emmanuel Ademola is a Nigerian Professor of Cyber Security and Information Technology Management, and holds a Chartered Manager Status, and by extension, Chartered Fellow (CMgr FCMI) by the highly Reputable Royal Chartered Management Institute. 

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Anthony Obi Ogbo

From Threats to Partnership: How Diplomacy Repositioned Nigeria in Washington

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3 weeks ago

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January 13, 2026

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“Nigeria reframed terrorism, corrected Washington’s lens, and secured cooperation —a  pure anatomy of diplomatic turnaround“ —Anthony Obi Ogbo

Nigeria’s recent engagement of a United States–based lobbying firm under a reported $9 million contract was widely scrutinized, predictably misunderstood by some, and quietly effective. The objective was clear: to shape Washington’s understanding of Nigeria’s complex security challenges—particularly violence affecting Christian communities—within an accurate geopolitical, intelligence, and regional framework. Such engagements are not unusual. In fact, they are a routine and essential feature of modern international diplomacy, allowing governments to clarify policy positions, counter distorted narratives, and ensure that domestic security crises are not flattened into simplistic talking points for foreign consumption.

In an era where global perception can influence aid, sanctions, military cooperation, and diplomatic goodwill, strategic communication has become inseparable from national security. Nigeria’s decision to professionally engage Washington signaled an understanding that security today is fought not only on the battlefield but also in briefing rooms, policy memos, and diplomatic corridors.

Evidence suggests that this recalibration has begun to yield results. Just days ago, former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly acknowledged—belatedly—that Muslims are equally among the primary victims of ISIS terrorism. It was a striking rhetorical shift for a political figure who had long leaned on broad, inflammatory framing that blurred the distinction between extremist violence and religious identity. That admission did not emerge in a vacuum. It followed sustained pressure from global security analysts, regional experts, and Muslim leaders who have repeatedly challenged the false narrative that terrorism is rooted in faith rather than criminal ideology, geopolitical instability, and organized violence.

More importantly, the acknowledgment coincided with tangible policy movement. Trump-aligned U.S. security networks have quietly expanded counterterrorism cooperation with Nigeria under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. This development underscores a pragmatic recognition that effective counterterrorism is not achieved through threats, isolation, or performative rhetoric, but through partnership, intelligence sharing, and regional capacity building.

This week, the United States delivered fresh military supplies to Nigeria to support ongoing security operations. The delivery followed recent U.S. air strikes against Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) targets, carried out at Nigeria’s formal request. While air strikes often attract public attention, the more consequential story lies beneath the surface: a shift toward coordinated intelligence operations, logistical support, and sustained military collaboration. This is not symbolic diplomacy. It is functional, operational alignment.

Contrast this moment with an earlier chapter in Nigeria–U.S. relations. During the Jonathan administration, Nigeria experienced significant difficulties in its diplomatic engagement with Washington. Rather than relying on seasoned foreign policy professionals, security strategists, and international communications experts, the government leaned heavily on local intermediaries and political loyalists to interpret and convey Nigeria’s position abroad. The result was a weakened diplomatic posture, fragmented messaging, and persistent misinterpretation of Nigeria’s internal security realities. Critical issues—ranging from Boko Haram’s evolution to regional insurgency dynamics—were often viewed through incomplete or distorted lenses.

That experience offered a lasting lesson: goodwill alone does not translate into influence. In global politics, perception must be managed as deliberately as policy. Strategic silence, amateur diplomacy, or reactive communication leaves a vacuum—one that is quickly filled by external narratives, advocacy groups, or political opportunists with their own agendas.

What has changed now is not merely tone, but method. Nigeria’s current approach reflects an understanding that diplomacy is not capitulation, and lobbying is not a sign of weakness. It is leverage. It is preparation. It is the disciplined articulation of national interest in a language that global power centers understand. By engaging professionally, Nigeria reframed its security narrative—not as a sectarian failure, but as a shared counterterrorism challenge that requires international coordination.

Even Donald Trump’s posture illustrates this transformation. A leader who once relied on threats, ultimatums, and rhetorical spectacle has now, through institutional channels, become part of a support framework working with regional actors to strengthen security and civilian protection. The shift is not ideological; it is a strategic move. And it reflects the enduring truth that diplomacy often succeeds where bluster fails.

In international politics, power is not only measured by firepower or economic weight, but by the ability to persuade, align, and sustain cooperation. Nigeria’s recent experience is a reminder that nations are not judged solely by their crises, but by how effectively they explain, manage, and confront them on the global stage. Diplomacy, when practiced with clarity and professionalism, does not dilute sovereignty—it reinforces it.

♦ Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D., is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us

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When Air Power Becomes a Christmas Performance: The Illusion of Success in Trump’s Nigerian Strike

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1 month ago

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December 28, 2025

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“Bombs alone do not defeat ideology. Precision without intelligence is noise.“ —Anthony Obi Ogbo

When President Trump announced his authorized United States air strike against ISIL (ISIS) fighters in northwest Nigeria on Christmas Day, there was an immediate burst of celebration on Nigerian social media. For a country exhausted by years of kidnappings, massacres, and territorial insecurity, the announcement sounded like long-awaited international support. Memes circulated, praise poured in, and some Nigerians hailed Trump as a decisive global sheriff finally willing to act where others hesitated.

But after the initial euphoria settled, a sobering assessment emerged: the strike appeared less like a strategic military intervention and more like a made-for-television spectacle designed to burnish Trump’s international strongman image.

This was not the first time the United States has launched air strikes in Africa or the Sahel under the banner of counterterrorism. From Libya to Somalia, from Syria to Yemen, U.S. “precision strikes” have often been announced with confidence and celebrated with press briefings—only for the targeted groups to regroup, mutate, and, in some cases, expand their reach. In Nigeria itself, years of foreign-backed security assistance have failed to decisively neutralize Boko Haram or its ISIS-affiliated offshoots. Instead, violence has fragmented, spread, and grown more complex.

No verifiable evidence has been produced to confirm high-value ISIS targets were eliminated

The Nigerian strike followed a familiar pattern. U.S. officials framed it as a blow against ISIS-West Africa Province (ISWAP), a group aligned with the global ISIS network. Trump’s language suggested a decisive intervention—an act of muscular diplomacy signaling that America still projects power where it chooses. Yet no verifiable evidence has been produced to confirm high-value ISIS targets were eliminated, leadership structures dismantled, or operational capacity degraded.

What followed was a digital smokescreen. Social media accounts, many anonymous and unverified, began circulating gruesome images of dead bodies and destroyed villages—photos long associated with banditry in Nigeria’s northwest. These images were quickly repurposed to “prove” the success of Trump’s strike. However, this is where the narrative falls apart under scrutiny.

Trump’s mission, as publicly stated, was to target ISIS. Not bandits. Not kidnappers. Not rural criminal gangs. ISIS is a transnational terrorist organization with ideological, financial, and operational links across continents. Bandits, by contrast, are primarily armed criminal groups—motivated by ransom, cattle theft, and territorial control, not global jihad. Conflating the two may be politically convenient, but it is analytically dishonest.

Killing or displacing bandits does not equate to dismantling ISIS. In fact, indiscriminate or poorly targeted air strikes often worsen the situation, pushing criminal groups to radicalize, splinter, or align with extremist factions for protection and legitimacy. This pattern has been observed repeatedly in conflict zones where military force substitutes for intelligence-driven strategy.

A truly successful counterterrorism raid is not measured by dramatic announcements or viral images. It is measured by clear, verifiable outcomes, including the confirmed elimination of high-ranking commanders, disruption of recruitment and financing networks, seizure of weapons caches, and—most importantly—sustained reductions in civilian attacks. None of these benchmarks has been credibly demonstrated in the aftermath of Trump’s Nigerian air strike.

Instead, Nigeria wakes up to the same grim reality: villages remain vulnerable, highways unsafe, and communities terrorized. The strike did not change the security equation. It did not empower Nigerian forces. It did not restore civilian confidence. And it certainly did not neutralize ISIS as a strategic threat.

This air strike offered Nigerians symbolism, not security.

In that sense, the air strike was not merely ineffective—it was a failure dressed in the language of strength, executed for optics, and amplified for political gain. It offered Nigerians symbolism, not security.

If the goal is truly to eliminate ISIS and its affiliates in West Africa, the path is neither theatrical nor unilateral. It requires robust intelligence sharing, sustained training, and real-time coordination with Nigerian and regional forces. It demands targeted arms assistance, logistical support, and investments in surveillance capabilities that allow local militaries to act decisively and lawfully. Above all, it requires a long-term commitment to strengthening state capacity—not fleeting air shows announced from afar.

Bombs alone do not defeat ideology. Precision without intelligence is noise. And celebration without results is self-deception. Trump’s Nigerian air strike may have produced headlines, but history will remember it for what it was: a failed mission masquerading as success.

♦ Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D., is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us

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Trump’s Nigeria Strike: Bombs, Boasts, and the Illusion of Victory

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December 26, 2025

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“With Obama, Al-Qaeda was not eliminated by noise; it was suffocated by intelligence.“ —Anthony Obi Ogbo

It has now been confirmed that the United States acted in collaboration with Nigeria in the recent strike on Islamic State elements in northwest Nigeria. That cooperation deserves recognition. Intelligence-sharing between Washington and Abuja is necessary, overdue, and welcome. Terrorism is transnational; defeating it requires allies, not isolation.

But let us be clear: bombs alone do not defeat terror. And Donald Trump’s strike—trumpeted loudly on social media before facts, casualties, or strategy were disclosed—was less a turning point than a performance.

Trump’s announcement was a classic spectacle: “powerful,” “deadly,” “perfect strikes.” No numbers. No clarity. No accountability. Just noise. It was the same choreography America has deployed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Yemen, and Somalia—places where U.S. airpower landed hard, headlines screamed victory, and instability deepened afterward. Violence escalated. Militancy adapted. Civilians paid the price.

History is unkind to airstrikes sold as solutions.

Nigeria knows this better than anyone. Long before Trump’s tweet, the Nigerian military had already conducted multiple operations in the same terror corridor. At least five major strikes and offensives stand out:

  • First, Operation Hadarin Daji, launched to dismantle bandit and terror camps across Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto, involving sustained air and ground assaults.
  • Second, Operation Tsaftan Daji, which targeted terrorist hideouts in the Kamuku and Sububu forests—precisely the terrain now in the headlines.
  • Third, repeated Nigerian Air Force precision strikes in the Zurmi–Shinkafi axis, neutralizing commanders and destroying logistics hubs.
  • Fourth, joint operations with Nigerien forces, disrupting cross-border supply routes used by ISIS-linked groups.
  • Fifth, recent coordinated offensives involving intelligence-led raids, special forces insertions, and follow-up ground clearing in the northwest.

These were not symbolic gestures. They were Nigerian-led, Nigerian-funded, Nigerian-executed. And yet, there were no fireworks on social media. No flag-waving hysteria. No intoxicated praise of Nigerian commanders as saviors of civilization.

Why? Because there is a dangerous segment of Nigerians who suffer from what can only be called the American Wonder mentality—a colonial hangover that applauds anything louder simply because it comes from Washington. The same Nigerians who ignore their own soldiers dying in silence suddenly abandon Christmas meals to celebrate Trump’s tweets, typing incoherent praise, mangling grammar, and mistaking spectacle for substance.

It is embarrassing. And it is intellectually lazy.

Terrorism is not defeated by volume or virality. It is defeated by intelligence—quiet, patient, unglamorous work. The United States knows this. Barack Obama understood it. Al-Qaeda was not dismantled through social media theatrics or chest-thumping declarations. It was weakened through intelligence fusion, financial disruption, targeted operations, local partnerships, and relentless pressure on leadership networks—mostly without fanfare.

Obama did not tweet. He acted. So what actually works against groups like ISIS in Nigeria?

First, intelligence supremacy. Human intelligence from local communities, defectors, and infiltrators matters more than bombs. Terror groups survive on secrecy. Break that, and they collapse.

Second, financial and logistical strangulation. Terrorists run on money, fuel, arms, and food. Cut access to smuggling routes, illicit mining, ransom flows, and cross-border trade, and their operational capacity withers.

Third, community stabilization and governance. Terrorism thrives where the state is absent. Roads, schools, policing, and justice systems matter. People who trust the state do not shelter terrorists.

Fourth, regional coordination, not episodic strikes. Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Burkina Faso must sustain joint pressure, not reactive operations driven by headlines.

Airstrikes can support these strategies—but only as tools, never as substitutes.

Trump’s strike may have killed militants. It may have disrupted camps. That is commendable. But it is not a solution. It is a moment. And moments, without strategy, fade.

If Nigerians truly want terror defeated, they should stop worshiping foreign loudness and start demanding disciplined intelligence, consistent policy, and respect for the men and women already fighting on the ground.

Real victories are quiet. Real security is built, not tweeted.

♦ Publisher of the Guardian News, Professor Anthony Obi Ogbo, Ph.D., is on the Editorial Board of the West African Pilot News. He is the author of the Influence of Leadership (2015)  and the Maxims of Political Leadership (2019). Contact: anthony@guardiannews.us

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