Consumers in DeiDei, Dutse, Zuba, Kubwa, Kagini, said this in an interview with our correspondent on Friday.

The AEDC had earlier announced the MAP refund units for eligible consumers via its X handle, and urged consumers to check their SMS or email for their 20-digit token.

The company also announced that eligible customers had been credited with their meter payment refund as energy units processed for more than 36 months.

Mr Babatunde Edun, a consumer at Dei-Dei said he got an sms on Thursday evening from AEDC to load a 20-digit token.

He commended the gesture, stating that it was the right step to go.

“When I first saw the text message, I thought it was a scam then I loaded it and saw 43.7 units.

“I was surprised and impressed. I want to commend the AEDC for this and urge them to do more by providing us with constant electricity,” he said.

Mr Samuel Danjuma, also resident in Dei-Dei commended AEDC and the regulatory institution that played a role in ensuring that customers received what was due to them.

“Indeed, I am happy for the refund. It shows that under President Bola Tinubu, the Nigeria of our dreams is gradually becoming a reality.

“For many people, it may appear like a small administrative action. But for me, it represents something much deeper: accountability, consumer protection, and a gradual shift towards institutional responsibility.

“This refund gives hope that the Nigeria of our dreams is gradually becoming a reality, where institutions can be held accountable and where the rights of ordinary citizens matter.

“While there is still much work to be done across many sectors of our national life, we must also learn to acknowledge progress whenever we see it,” he said.

Mr Godwin Ogar, a resident in Kagini also confirmed that he got an SMS of the MAP refund units and he was happy about it.

“When I received the SMS of MAP refund for April 2026, I thought it was a scam but I had to confirm from my neigbours who also received an SMS as well.

“I loaded the units and I saw 14.9 units. I loaded the second unit and got Four units . Though, it wasn’t much but it is good,” he said.

Mrs Tola David, a consumer in Dutse also confirmed the MAP refund and commended the AEDC and other agencies for the gesture.

She said whenever an institution takes responsibility and does what is right, it deserved to be acknowledged.

Our correspondent observed that while some consumers got the MAP refund units, other consumers within the FCT didn’t receive the SMS nor email.

The MAP refund token is an energy credit issued by the electricity Distribution Company (DisCo) to refund the cost of a meter consumers previously purchased.

Our correspondent reports that under Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) directives, these refunds were made in installments as free energy tokens whenever consumers purchase electricity.

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The achievement was confirmed during a performance test conducted by the refinery’s process licensors and represents a major milestone in the facility’s operational growth.

It further strengthens the refinery’s position as the world’s largest single-train petroleum refinery.

In a statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, Head of Corporate Communications, Anthony Chiejina, said the increased capacity highlights the refinery’s strong engineering design and operational efficiency.

Speaking on the development, Vice President of oil and gas at Dangote Industries Limited, Devakumar Edwin, said the refinery plans to expand its processing capacity to 1.4 million bpd within the next 30 months.

According to him, the goal is to position the facility among the largest refineries in the world.

Edwin noted that the expansion would enhance Nigeria’s energy security, eliminate dependence on imported petroleum products, and strengthen the country’s position as a major exporter of refined products.

He added that the refinery’s long-term vision extends beyond meeting domestic demand to becoming a leading refining hub for Africa and the global market.

Owned by Nigerian industrialist Aliko Dangote, the refinery began fuel production in 2024 and has steadily increased output of petrol, diesel, aviation fuel, and other petroleum products.

“It currently supplies both local and international markets, exporting products to several African countries as well as destinations in Europe, including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands.

“The refinery has also supplied gasoline to the United States and jet fuel to Saudi Arabia.

The refinery has emerged as a key stabilising force in the energy sector, particularly amid global supply disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East,” he added.

He said that as a result, several African countries now rely on the refinery to support their energy security needs.

In April, Dangote Petroleum Refinery was reported by S& P Global Commodities as the world’s largest exporter of jet fuel, further demonstrating its growing influence in global energy markets.

The refinery has also played a significant role in improving fuel availability in Nigeria, reducing the country’s reliance on imported petroleum products and helping to ease pressure on foreign exchange reserves.

Its expansion supports national efforts to boost local refining capacity and maximise value from Nigeria’s crude oil resources.

Rising production levels have attracted increasing interest from international crude oil suppliers and commodity traders, with the refinery sourcing feedstock from both local and foreign producers.

Looking ahead, Aliko Dangote has outlined plans to expand the refinery’s capacity to 1.4 million bpd by 2028.

The proposed expansion is expected to generate significant economic benefits, including job creation, increased industrial activity, and improved trade balances.

The refinery is also expected to support downstream manufacturing through a reliable supply of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), polypropylene, and other industrial feedstocks used in the production of packaging materials and consumer goods.

Future plans also include the production of Linear Alkylbenzene (LAB), a key raw material used in detergent manufacturing.

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Prof Kevin Urama, AfDB’s Chief Economist/Vice President for the Economic Governance & Knowledge Management, gave the advice in an interview with our correspondent Abuja on Tuesday.

Urama said this while discussing debt sustainability and financing challenges facing African economies.

He said the issue was not necessarily the volume of debt accumulated by countries, but the quality of debt, its terms and how borrowed resources were utilised.

According to him, the issue for me is not about the quantity of debt. It is about the quality of debt.

”What do you borrow? Where do you borrow from? What are the terms of the loans? And what do you use the money for?”

He noted that debt becomes sustainable when it is channeled into productive investments that would expand economic output, create jobs and improve infrastructure.

The AfDB chief economist warned that excessive borrowing without corresponding productive investments could weaken labour productivity and overall economic performance.

He said findings contained in the African Economic Outlook showed that countries with high debt-to-GDP ratios, often experienced declining debt productivity, which in turn affected labour and capital productivity.

He cautioned against financing long-term infrastructure projects with expensive short-term commercial loans, saying such practices could create refinancing pressures and heighten fiscal risks.

He urged African countries to pay greater attention to debt productivity by ensuring that citizens see tangible benefits from borrowed funds through improved infrastructure and public services.

Urama also called for stronger support for African-led financial initiatives, including the African Financing Stability Mechanism, which aimed to help countries address debt refinancing challenges within the continent.

According to him, African countries need to strengthen cooperation and develop home-grown solutions to reduce vulnerability to external shocks and financial market volatility.

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The NBS said this in its Selected Food Prices Watch report for April 2026 released in Abuja on Tuesday.

The report stated that the average price of 1kg of tomatoes increased by 6.60 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N1,104.85 recorded in March 2026 to N1,177.92 in April 2026.

“However, on a year-on-year basis, the price of 1kg of tomatoes decreased by 8.23 per cent from N1,283.57 recorded in April 2025.”

Similarly, the report said that the average price of 1kg of brown beans increased by 0.99 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N1,325.85 in March 2026 to N1,338.93 in April 2026.

“On a year-on-year basis, however, the price decreased significantly by 44.89 per cent from the N2,429.39 recorded in April 2025 to N1,338.93 in April 2026.”

It also showed the average price of 1kg of white garri increased by 0.93 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N801.54 in March 2026 to N808.96 in April 2026.

“However, on a year-on-year basis, the price dropped by 39.86 per cent from the N1,345.10 recorded in April 2025. ”

The report said that the average price of 1kg of onion increased by 0.98 per cent from N1,153.14 recorded in March 2026 to N1,164.39 in April 2026

“On a year-on-year basis, 1kg of onions decreased by 22.56 per cent from the N1,503.56 recorded in April 2025.”

The report said the average price of 1kg of fresh ginger increased by 0.73 per cent on a month-on-month basis from the N5,541 25 recorded in March 2026 to N5,581.82 in April 2026.

“On a year-on-year basis, 1kg of ginger increased by 12.30 per cent from the N4,970.66 recorded in April 2025.”

It said the average price of one litre of palm oil increased by 0.12 per cent on a month-on-month basis from N2,393.38 recorded in March 2026 to N2,396.32 in April 2026.

“On a year on year-on-year basis, it also increased by 4.77 per cent from N2,516.36 recorded in April 2025.”

On state profile analysis, the report showed that in April 2026, the highest average price of 1kg of tomatoes was recorded in Bayelsa at N1,600.73 while the lowest was recorded in Plateau at N730.48.

It said that Oyo recorded the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans at N1,938.91 while the lowest was in Taraba at N750.

According to the report, Abia recorded the highest average price of 1kg of white garri at N1,075.47, while the lowest was reported in Plateau at N517.94.

The report said the highest price on 1kg of onion bulb was recorded in Abia at N2,115.67 while Kwara recorded the lowest price at N684.38.

The NBS said that the highest average price of 1kg of onion bulb was recorded in Abia at N2,191.63 while the lowest price was recorded in Nasarawa at N832.16.

It said Ekiti recorded the highest average price of one bottle of palm oil at N2,819.09, while Abia recorded the lowest at N2,024.41.

Analysis by zone showed that the average price of 1kg of tomatoes was highest in the South-South at N1,561.10, followed by the South-East at N1,379.57.

“The lowest price was recorded in the North-West at N822.72.”

The South-West and South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of brown beans at N1,787.09 and N1,764.99, respectively, while the lowest price was in the North-East at N871.79.

It said the South-East recorded the highest average price of 1kg of white garri at N944.58 followed by the South-South at N944.01, while the North-Central recorded the lowest at N673.88.

The NBS also said that the South-East and South-South recorded the highest average price of 1kg of onion bulb at N1,735.53 and N1,268.96, respectively.

“The North-Central recorded the lowest average price of 1kg of onion at N911.40.”

The report said the South-West recorded the highest average price of 1kg of fresh ginger at N6,812.92, followed by the South-East at N6,432.15.

“ The North-East recorded the lowest average price of 1kg of fresh ginger at N881.12.”

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The Managing Director/CEO of TAJBank, Mr Hamed Joda, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to him, the latest data from the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY2025) statement of the financial position of TAJBank showed that the non-interest lender had consolidated its frontline position in the subsector.

This, he said was based on Gross Assets and Profit values as well as in other Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) ratings during the year.

“Specifically, in the year under review, TAJBank’s total assets grew to N1.34 trillion from N953 billion in the preceding year, representing 41 per cent growth.

“Gross earning assets surged to N847.706 billion, from N467.377 billion in FY 2024, indicating 81 per cent surge; while total equity surged to N149.230 billion, reflecting 144 per cent growth over the N61.250 billion in FY 2024.

“A further analysis of the TAJBank’s FY 2025 approved financial statement indicated that it posted N132.563 billion in Gross earnings, representing 71 per cent growth over the N77.550 billion in the previous year.

”Earnings value of N1.037 trillion; while its Profit Before Tax (PBT) rose by 74 per cent to N31.562 billion in FY 2025, from N18.166 billion in FY 2024; and the capital adequacy ratio stood at 30 per cent”.

Joda noted that the improving performance of the bank was a demonstration of the Board of Directors’ and management’s strong commitment to making TAJBank the best ethical bank in Nigeria by all assessment parameters.

“We owe our shareholders, customers, regulatory authorities and workers a lot of gratitude for supporting our efforts targeted at transforming TAJBank into a global brand in the ethical banking space in the years ahead,”Joda said.

Commenting on TAJBank’s performance during the year under review, a chartered banker and former Director-General of the Chartered Institute of Bankers in Nigeria (CIBN), Dr Uju Ogubunka, cited the bank’s KPIs in the financial statement to justify his views.

He said the bank had made some progress and that its financial performance indicators between 2024 and 2025 suggested that.

Ogubunka, who is the President of the Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), said that the total assets grew by as much as 41 per cent; the Gross Earnings and PBT grew by 81 per cent and 74 per cent, respectively.

”Returns on Assets was upward by a huge 23 per cent.
”All of these in an economy that has been variously challenged by a multiplicity of factors.

“With all the positives, there is no doubt that the bank’s performance for the 2025 financial year end can be judged to be in the positive and should be encouraged and sustained.

“It is excellent evidence that the bank is aggressively penetrating its targets, especially at the rural areas, and contributing to the level of financial inclusion of the people,” he added.

Speaking on the bank’s financial scorecard in the year under review, the bank’s Executive Director, Mr. Sherif Idi, said the performance of the bank was in line with its vision and mission.

”I want to assure all our stakeholders, particularly the shareholders and customers, that our bank will continue to promote their interest in line with our corporate shared value always.

”Over the past few years of our
operations, TAJBank has been winning local and international awards for its futuristic, innovation-driven, customer friendly and economy growth-supporting ethical banking products and services,” he said

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The strike has paralysed administrative activities at the commission offices.

Mr Eniola Akinkuotu, Head, Corporate Communications and Media, NUPRC, said this on Monday while reacting to the ongoing industrial action.

Members of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) had blocked access to the NUPRC’s headquarters in protest over alleged irregularities in foreign training placements, forcing suspension of administrative services.

“It is true that some administrative activities were affected today due to industrial action taken by the unions. However, this has not in any way impacted activities in oil and gas facilities or production in general.

“The top management of the commission is meeting with the unions in order to put an end to the strike and ultimately restore normalcy,” he said.

Akinkuotu said regulatory oversight and field monitoring remained in place.

Protesting workers shut down operations of the commission nationwide after negotiations with management reportedly broke down over issues relating to overseas training opportunities.

Competent sources said the disagreement was caused by the management’s decision to prioritise local training programmes over foreign capacity-building initiatives.

A member of staff, who claimed anonymity, said the management of the commission argued that conducting specialised training in Nigeria would reduce costs and strengthen domestic institutional capacity.

NUPRC management insisted that training programmes, including those linked to Factory Acceptance Tests for Positive Displacement (PD) Meters should be conducted locally rather than overseas.

The workers, however, rejected the position and embarked on strike, thus raising concerns over the impact of prolonged labour unrest on regulatory activities.

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Speaking in Abuja, CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso, said PSV 2028 aimed to deepen financial inclusion and strengthen digital payments nationwide.

Cardoso said the vision would strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy and position the country as a globally competitive payments hub.

He described PSV 2028 as a strategic roadmap for building a secure, resilient, inclusive and innovative payments ecosystem.

According to him, Nigeria’s payments industry has become one of the world’s most dynamic and innovative sectors over the past two decades.

The governor said digital payments had enhanced economic activity, financial inclusion and resilience across the country’s financial system.

“Payment systems now serve as platforms for innovation and critical infrastructure for economic growth,” he said.

According to him, efficient payment systems reduce business costs, improve productivity and promote transparency.

He said PSV 2028 aligned with the CBN’s broader economic reform agenda introduced in 2023.

He said the initiative would support trade, remittances, investor confidence and Nigeria’s balance of payments position.

The governor said the vision would strengthen infrastructure, expand inclusion and deepen integration with regional and global payment systems.

He added that PSV 2028 would help Nigeria maximise opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

“Seamless payments will enable businesses to access new markets across Nigeria, Africa and beyond,” he said.

Cardoso explained that faster settlements and interoperable systems would support entrepreneurship, job creation and poverty reduction.

He said Nigeria already occupied a leadership position in Africa’s digital payments landscape.

According to him, the country’s scale, talent and entrepreneurial capacity provide a strong foundation for further growth.

Cardoso reaffirmed the CBN’s commitment to promoting innovation while maintaining financial stability and effective oversight.

He urged government agencies, financial institutions, fintech firms and development partners to support implementation.

“The success of PSV 2028 will depend on execution, collaboration and commitment from all stakeholders,” he said.

Cardoso expressed confidence that the vision would enhance inclusion, innovation and sustainable economic growth.

Also speaking, CBN Director of Payment System Policy, Musa Jimoh, noted that the journey began in 2007 with a 10-year roadmap.

He said Nigeria’s financial sector was largely cash-based then, with limited access to electronic payment channels and banking services.

Jimoh said Nigeria also committed to expanding financial inclusion in 2011 through a global initiative to improve access to financial services.

According to him, high service costs, limited banking access and stringent account-opening requirements hindered financial inclusion.

He said the CBN introduced policies to address those challenges and make financial services more accessible.

Jimoh said the cashless policy, launched in 2012, reduced reliance on cash and lowered transaction costs.

He added that the agent banking framework expanded access, growing from about 50,000 agents to more than two million nationwide.

He said the reforms enabled millions of Nigerians to access financial services through mobile phones and simplified identification requirements.

According to him, trust remains critical to the success of digital payments and wider financial services adoption.

He said PSV 2028 would enhance efficiency, improve competitiveness and deepen public confidence in the financial system.

Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Emomotimi Agama, said collaboration remained vital to building a resilient financial ecosystem.

He said payment systems and capital market operations were inseparable, describing their relationship as “delivery versus payment”.

According to him, securities delivery cannot be completed without corresponding payment, making regulatory cooperation indispensable.

Agama urged financial sector regulators to speak with one voice to improve efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s standing in Africa.

He said Nigeria had achieved significant milestones in digital payments, attracting global attention and recognition.

The SEC chief called for greater public education to deepen understanding of the country’s payment ecosystem.

He urged stakeholders to support the CBN and work collectively toward achieving PSV 2028’s objectives.

Agama expressed confidence that stronger integration would project Nigeria positively and accelerate national development.

Also speaking, NCC Executive Vice Chairman, Aminu Maida, described PSV 2028 as a strategic roadmap for digital payments.

He commended the CBN for building on the achievements of PSV 2025 through a more secure and inclusive framework.

Maida said trust, security and growth were central to achieving President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a one-trillion-dollar economy.

He said economic and telecommunications reforms had created greater stability and opportunities for digital transformation.

According to him, fraud has become increasingly sophisticated and now cuts across sectors and national boundaries.

“No regulator or government can tackle emerging cyber threats alone,” he said.

Maida stressed that inter-agency cooperation would be crucial to sustaining growth and strengthening payment systems.

He disclosed that the NCC was expanding broadband infrastructure through ongoing fibre connectivity projects nationwide.

Maida said efforts were underway to improve affordable internet access, particularly in underserved communities.

He added that wider access to 4G and 5G technologies would support financial inclusion and digital payments.

Maida urged stakeholders to focus on measurable economic impact rather than transaction volumes alone.

He added that payment system reforms should ultimately contribute to national productivity and economic growth.

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