The Nigeria Police Force has vowed to sanction its officers caught in a viral video receiving money from Chinese nationals, describing the act as a disgraceful breach of professionalism and a violation of the Force’s core values.

In the now widely circulated footage, several Chinese individuals are seen handing out naira notes to uniformed Nigerian policemen, who were lined up in what appeared to be a well-orchestrated arrangement. The video has since sparked widespread condemnation on social media, with many Nigerians expressing outrage and calling for systemic reform within the police.

The disturbing scene, showing armed officers accepting cash in broad daylight, has raised serious questions about the integrity and discipline of personnel within the Force.

Reacting to the incident, Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, issued a strong statement on Thursday condemning the officers’ actions as both “unprofessional and unethical.”

“The Nigeria Police Force has taken cognisance of a disturbing video making rounds in the media space, showing police officers receiving money from a Chinese national,” Adejobi stated.

“The Force has strongly condemned the conduct exhibited by the police officers in the video. The actions of the officers do not represent the established ethics, standards, and core values of the Nigeria Police Force.”

He further revealed that the officers involved have been identified and are currently undergoing disciplinary procedures, although he did not specify the nature of the sanctions to be meted out.

Adejobi assured members of the public that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and that appropriate disciplinary actions would follow.

In addition, he issued a stern warning to individuals and corporate organisations who engage the services of police officers, particularly for private escorts and guard duties, urging them to refrain from acts capable of tarnishing the image of the Force.

“The Nigeria Police Force hereby cautions individuals and organisations privileged to the services of police personnel, particularly as escorts and guards or other specialised services, to desist from any act capable of degrading the integrity of its officers and bringing the Force to disrepute,” he warned.

A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and close ally of former President Muhammadu Buhari, Farouk Aliyu, has rubbished speculations suggesting that the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) bloc is plotting to exit the ruling party.

Aliyu, a former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives and self-identified member of Buhari’s inner political circle clarified on Wednesday during an interview on Politics Today, a flagship programme on Channels Television.

“It’s not true; there is nothing like members of the defunct CPC wanting to move out of APC,” Aliyu asserted firmly. “Our certificate, the certificate of CPC, was part of what formed APC. So how can we leave? To go where? This is our party.”

The CPC was one of the major parties that merged in 2013 to form the APC, alongside the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). The merger paved the way for Buhari’s historic victory over then-President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.

Responding to recent reports surrounding former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s purported defection to the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Aliyu distanced Buhari from any such endorsement. He cautioned El-Rufai against taking a wrecking-ball approach to the APC simply because he was overlooked for a ministerial position.

“If he didn’t get what he wanted, he shouldn’t bring down the roof,” Aliyu stated, adding that El-Rufai’s move does not represent the stance of Buhari or the CPC bloc.

He, however, advised the APC leadership to intensify engagement with all internal factions and legacy groups within the party to reduce political friction ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“Politics is about engagement. Politics is about the interests of groups, people, and so on,” he said. “That is what we are saying: engage more—not only with people from the defunct CPC but even from the PDP. So that in 2027, there will be less competition.”

The Jigawa-born political heavyweight also warned against complacency within the APC, particularly as opposition forces coalesce around former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

“We cannot just sit by and allow strange bedfellows to take over the government,” Aliyu cautioned, expressing confidence that the APC would present a unifying presidential candidate capable of fracturing the opposition alliance.

For the second time in April, Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has again reduced the ex-depot (gantry) price of petrol, lowering it from ₦867 to ₦835 per litre.

The Lagos-based $20 billion refinery informed its marketers and customers of the price adjustment on Wednesday. This fresh slash follows an earlier downward review earlier in the month, signifying a continued intervention by the private refinery in stabilising fuel prices in the country.

A senior official of the company, who spoke on condition of anonymity, had earlier confirmed the new price, disclosing that a formal statement would be issued in due course.

Further checks on the petroleumprice.ng portal also corroborated the development, confirming that the ex-depot price had indeed been reviewed to ₦835 as of Wednesday afternoon.

Following the reduction, petrol pump prices in retail outlets with special supply arrangements with Dangote Refinery — including major marketers such as MRS Oil & Gas, Ardova Plc, and Heyden Petroleum — are expected to drop below ₦900 per litre, reflecting the marginal cut in the gantry price.

 

Later in the day, the company’s official spokesperson, Mr Anthony Chiejina, released a formal statement confirming the price reduction. He noted that outlets in Lagos with special agreements would sell petrol at ₦890 per litre, offering some relief to consumers amid economic hardship.

This latest adjustment comes in the wake of a strategic meeting held last week between top executives of Dangote Refinery and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun. The meeting reportedly reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to the naira-for-crude initiative.

The Ministry clarified that the policy was not a temporary intervention, but a “key policy directive designed to support sustainable local refining” and was to be continued immediately — overriding the earlier decision by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under its former Group CEO, Mele Kyari, which had suspended the initiative.

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, continues to battle chronic energy challenges, with erratic power supply stifling industrial and domestic productivity. For decades, the nation relied on imported refined petroleum products due to the comatose state of its government-owned refineries.

The emergence of the Dangote Refinery has been seen as a potential game-changer in Nigeria’s petroleum landscape, especially since the removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in May 2023, which triggered a steep rise in pump prices from around ₦200 to nearly ₦1,000 per litre.