The Federal Government has announced Monday and Tuesday as public holidays to mark this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebration.

This declaration was made known by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Aishetu Gogo Ndayako, in a statement released on Friday.

According to the statement, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, conveyed the government’s decision and extended felicitations to the Muslim Ummah both within Nigeria and abroad.

“He called on the Muslim Ummah to continue to imbibe the spirit of peace, kindness, and sacrifice, as exemplified by Prophet Ibrahim (Peace be upon Him) and to also use the period to pray for unity, prosperity, and stability of our country,” the statement read.

Continuing, Dr. Tunji-Ojo reassured Nigerians of the administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property across the nation.

In his advisory message, the Minister urged all Nigerians to uphold responsibility in their actions and contribute towards building a prosperous Nigeria for future generations.

Meanwhile, the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, has declared Sunday, June 16, as Eid-el-Kabir day, following the affirmation that Friday marks the first day of Dhul Hijjah.

This announcement was made in a statement issued by the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs to the Sultanate Council, Sambo Junaid, in Sokoto State.

“His Eminence, the Sultan felicitates with Nigeria’s Muslim Ummah and wishes them Allah’s guidance and blessings,” the statement conveyed.

The Sultan emphasized the importance of prayer for peace, progress, and development in Nigeria, extending warm wishes to all Muslims for a joyful Eid-El-Kabir celebration.

The President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, announced plans to increase the storage capacity of the Dangote Petrochemical Refinery by 600 million litres, bringing the total capacity to 5.3 billion litres.

Speaking at the Afreximbank Annual Meetings and AfriCaribbean Trade & Investment Forum in Nassau, The Bahamas, Dangote highlighted the significance of this expansion in bolstering the refinery’s role as a strategic reserve for Nigeria’s petroleum products.

“We currently have 4.78 billion litres of storage capacity for refined petroleum products. With the additional 600 million litres, our refinery will effectively serve as the strategic reserve for the country,” Dangote stated.

Addressing questions about potential impacts on fuel prices, particularly petrol, Dangote referenced the refinery’s success in reducing diesel prices upon its introduction to the market.

“When we first started with diesel, prices dropped significantly from ₦1,700 to ₦1,200 per litre,” he noted, underscoring the refinery’s potential to stabilize and potentially lower fuel costs.

However, Dangote acknowledged that challenges remain in influencing petrol prices directly, stating, “The issue of gasoline is being handled by the government.” Despite these challenges, he expressed confidence in the refinery’s ability to contribute positively to Nigeria’s energy landscape.

Dangote also discussed regulatory concerns regarding the quality of imported fuels, advocating for stricter enforcement to prevent the entry of substandard products into the market.

“Dirty fuels have been linked to health issues such as cancer in Nigeria and across Africa,” he emphasized, calling for international cooperation to uphold fuel quality standards.

Reflecting on the journey of building the $19 billion refinery, Dangote revealed encounters with international oil companies and financial challenges, including attempts to disrupt the project’s progress.

“The mafia in the oil sector is stronger than in drugs,” he remarked, highlighting persistent efforts to impede the refinery’s development.

Despite these hurdles, Dangote remains steadfast in his commitment to advancing energy independence and economic growth, both in Nigeria and beyond.

He outlined plans to supply cheaper fuel to the Caribbean region, leveraging bilateral agreements and setting up terminals to facilitate energy accessibility.

As the refinery progresses towards full operational capacity, Dangote assured stakeholders of continued efforts to fulfill Nigeria’s energy needs responsibly.

“We’ve made significant strides in project financing and infrastructure development,” he concluded, affirming the refinery’s pivotal role in transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape.

A Benin court has jailed three Nigeriens who were detained last week at a port, judicial sources said on Friday, as diplomatic tensions deepen between the two West African neighbours.

Ties between Benin and Niger have been strained since last year’s coup that ousted Nigerien President Mohammed Bazoum, and Benin’s port of Seme-Kpodji, which exports Niger’s oil, is a flashpoint.

Five Nigeriens were arrested last week at Seme-Kpodji, accused of entering the port illegally.

Three of the five, including the deputy general director of the oil company Wapco-Niger, were jailed on Thursday after appearing before a judge, several judicial sources told AFP.

Their trial is set to begin on Monday June 17.

“Two of them were released,” one of the judicial sources said.

Their lawyer did not respond to several calls from AFP.

Under regional sanctions imposed on Niger after the coup, Benin closed the border, but has since reopened it. Niger’s military rulers have refused to reopen their side.

Benin also announced on national television last week that it was lifting a “blockade” on Nigerien oil.

Beninese President Patrice Talon had long conditioned the start of loading of Nigerien oil on the reopening of the border.

The efforts of Chinese company Wapco, which manages the pipeline, have never been successful.

Beninese authorities say at least two of the five arrested on June 5 were not employees of Wapco-Niger but “Nigerian agents”, who entered the site with fake badges.

According to Niamey, the team was on a mission to Benin to oversee the loading of oil.

The military regime in Niger described the arrests as a “kidnapping” and said it was ready to “take all measures” to have them released “unconditionally”.

The day after their arrest, the military regime in Niamey closed the valves of the oil pipeline, Nigerien public television announced Thursday.

Niger’s military rulers accuse Benin of harbouring “French bases” in its north to “train terrorists” to destabilise Niamey, accusations which both France and Benin have dismissed.