The Scripe Nigeria

26/08/2026

Nigerians in Abuja are waking up to yet another change at the fuel pump as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) increased the price of petrol at its retail stations from ₦1,250 to ₦1,270 per litre.

The ₦20 increase took effect at NNPCL outlets in Abuja and surrounding areas on Tuesday, August 25, according to market checks reported by multiple outlets.

But the timing of the increase is what makes the development particularly interesting.

The adjustment came even as the Dangote Refinery expanded its free petrol delivery initiative to Abuja and other destinations, with its petrol reportedly supplied at ₦1,185 per litre under the initiative.

And NNPCL is not even the cheapest option in Abuja right now.

Reports indicate that MRS stations are selling around ₦1,230 per litre, while some other marketers are also offering petrol below NNPCL’s new ₦1,270 price. At some stations, however, petrol is selling for as much as ₦1,299 per litre.

That means motorists in Abuja could now be paying anywhere between ₦1,230 and ₦1,299 per litre, depending on the filling station they use.

The increase has also attracted attention because it comes amid a reported decline in international crude prices, raising questions about what is driving the latest movement in pump prices.

For motorists, however, the immediate concern is simpler: another ₦20 at the pump means another increase in the cost of getting around.

And with prices varying significantly from one filling station to another, Abuja residents may now have to shop around before filling their tanks.

Would you still buy from an NNPCL station at ₦1,270 when another station nearby is selling for ₦1,230? 👀

👉 Follow TheScript Nigeria for more updates on the stories affecting Nigerians.

25/08/2026

Nigeria Could Be Banned From International Judo Over Leadership Crisis

Nigeria’s judo community is facing a major setback, with the country at risk of suspension from international judo competitions following a leadership dispute within the Nigeria Judo Federation (NJF).

The International Judo Federation (IJF) has directed the NJF to conduct fresh elections by the end of September 2026, warning that the ongoing leadership crisis must be resolved.

The dispute dates back to an election conducted by the NJF in September 2025. While the Nigerian National Olympic Committee recognised the election, the National Sports Commission later declared the process invalid and called for a fresh election.

The conflicting positions have now attracted the attention of the IJF and placed Nigeria’s participation in international judo competitions at risk.

The IJF reportedly wants the federation’s statutes reviewed and approved before another election is conducted. It has also stressed that the process must be a genuine election rather than simply a selection or reconciliation exercise.

The crisis comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Nigerian judo. Nigerian judoka Enku Ekuta recently won a historic bronze medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, ending Nigeria’s 24-year wait for a Commonwealth Games judo medal.

With the September deadline approaching, the federation now has to resolve its internal leadership issues or risk seeing Nigerian athletes suffer the consequences of an administrative dispute.

The situation has raised an important question: Why should Nigerian athletes potentially lose opportunities to compete internationally because of disagreements among sports administrators?

The coming weeks could determine whether Nigeria remains fully involved in international judo or faces a suspension.

👉 Follow TheScript Nigeria for more major sports stories and developments making headlines.

24/08/2026

At 101 years old, Esther Ogunmabo might be expected to be enjoying a quiet life with her family. Instead, the great-grandmother has found herself in the middle of an NDLEA investigation.

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested Ogunmabo in Ilisan, Ogun State, after allegedly finding her with 90 grammes of skunk, a strain of cannabis, packaged in small sachets. The agency said she admitted selling the substance in small quantities to locals.

But her explanation has added another layer to the unusual case.

According to the NDLEA, Ogunmabo told investigators that she turned to selling cannabis after a fire destroyed her provisions shop. She also allegedly said that one of her daughters, who lives in Lagos, supplied her with cannabis every four days for her to sell in smaller quantities.

The NDLEA said the daughter has also been arrested.

However, because of Ogunmabo's advanced age, NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) reportedly directed that she be granted bail and placed on counselling rather than kept in custody.

The case was part of a wider series of NDLEA operations across the country. In another operation, the agency intercepted 42.622kg of narcotics aboard a wooden boat in Akwa Ibom that was allegedly transporting drugs towards fishing settlements in Cameroon.

The agency also announced what it described as its first seizure of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria's maritime corridor, intercepting two containers of cannabis indica, popularly known as “Loud,” at the Apapa and Lekki ports. The consignments were valued at more than ₦4.4 billion.

The story has inevitably raised questions online: How does a 101-year-old woman end up involved in the illicit drug trade, and what happened to the business she says she lost to fire?

👉 What do you think about the case? Drop your thoughts in the comments.

Follow The Scripe Nigeria for more unusual stories and major news making headlines.

24/08/2026

24/08/2026

What’s happening today? 👀

From Lagos’ ambitious plan to tackle persistent blackouts and boost electricity supply, to fresh efforts to unlock Nigeria’s non-oil export potential, major developments are making headlines. There’s also a significant update for Nigerian vessels entering the United States, while former President Goodluck Jonathan celebrates Ibrahim Babangida as he turns 85.

Swipe through to catch the key stories, and visit TheScript Nigeria’s website to read the full stories.

Follow TheScript Nigeria for more important stories and updates you need to know.

21/08/2026

A graduate trainee at UBA thought it was perfectly normal to call Tony Elumelu by his first name, but the billionaire entrepreneur clearly wasn’t having it. 😂

“I don’t subscribe to that oyinbo life,” Elumelu said, explaining his reaction and sparking conversations about workplace culture, respect and how Nigerians address their bosses.

Would you call your boss by their first name? 👀

👉 Follow TheScript Nigeria for more interesting stories and conversations making waves.

20/08/2026

Academic activities have been brought to a halt at Niger Delta University (NDU) and Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) after the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared an indefinite strike at the institutions.

The lecturers say the action became necessary after the Bayelsa State Government allegedly failed to implement agreements reached with the union, including a Collective Bargaining Agreement signed in December 2025.

According to ASUU, the agreement was expected to take effect from January 2026, but the union says it remains largely unimplemented even as August draws to a close.

But the biggest sticking point is the money.

The union says lecturers are still owed 19 months of outstanding 25% and 35% wage awards. ASUU says six months had previously been paid, leaving 19 months outstanding.

The union is also demanding the implementation of the agreed Consolidated Academic Salary Structure (CATA) for academic staff across the state's universities. ASUU puts the financial implication of the agreement at about ₦336.9 million.

At separate enlarged congresses in Amassoma and Yenagoa, lecturers resolved to withdraw their services until their demands are addressed.

The development means students at NDU and BMU are now facing another disruption to their academic calendars, raising the familiar question: how long can students keep paying the price when governments and university unions fail to reach agreements?

ASUU says it is ready to remain on strike until the outstanding issues are resolved.

Do you think ASUU was right to declare an indefinite strike, or should the union have given the government more time?

👉 Follow The Scripe Nigeria for more major stories and breaking updates.

18/08/2026

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed illicit drugs worth an estimated ₦301 billion and arrested 10 suspected drug traffickers in Edo State as the agency intensifies its nationwide crackdown on drug trafficking.

The massive destruction exercise took place in Lagos, where the NDLEA destroyed 329,865.585kg of assorted illicit drugs recovered during operations conducted between April 2025 and May 2026.

According to the agency, the destroyed drugs had an estimated street value of ₦301.06 billion.

The drugs included co***ne, he**in, methamphetamine, cannabis, tramadol, codeine syrup, ephedrine and other opioids, as well as khat leaves.

NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), said the destruction was part of efforts to dismantle the criminal networks involved in the production, trafficking and distribution of illicit drugs.

While the huge consignment was being destroyed in Lagos, NDLEA operatives in Edo State also carried out raids on suspected drug-producing and trafficking locations.

The agency destroyed two cannabis plantations measuring 1.85 hectares in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

The plantations were estimated to contain 4,628.9kg of cannabis.

A 40-year-old suspect, identified as Agholor Elebojie, was arrested at one of the plantations.

NDLEA operatives also recovered 12.4kg of processed cannabis from the second plantation before destroying it.

Further raids were carried out at suspected drug-dealing hotspots in Oluku, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, and Abuja Quarters in Benin City, where 10 suspected male drug traffickers were arrested.

The NDLEA said the operations are part of its continued efforts to disrupt the supply chain of illicit drugs and prevent them from reaching communities across the country.

The agency has also warned drug barons, traffickers, dealers and financiers that it will continue to target their operations and the financial networks supporting the illegal trade.

The latest crackdown comes as authorities continue to link illicit drug trafficking with broader security challenges, including organised crime and violent extremism.

17/08/2026

APC’s Osun defeat has sparked some serious questions within the party.

In a strongly worded post, APC National Youth Leader Dr. Dayo Israel reflected on the party’s loss, praising Governor Ademola Adeleke’s grassroots connection and highlighting Davido’s role in mobilising young voters. He also questioned whether the APC is truly connecting with its younger supporters.

So, what went wrong for the APC in Osun, and what does this mean ahead of 2027?

👉 Visit our website to read the full story and Dr. Israel’s complete analysis.

OSUN HAS SPOKEN: The Bitter Truth APC Must Hear Before 2027 https://thescript.com.ng/osun-has-spoken-the-bitter-truth-apc-must-hear-before-2027/

Follow The Scripe Nigeria for more political stories, analysis and the conversations shaping Nigeria.

14/08/2026

Nigerian singer Portable has once again thrown himself into the middle of an Afrobeats debate after claiming that he has more hit songs than Davido.

The controversial singer made the claim while responding to the ongoing conversation about who has the bigger catalogue of hit songs.

Portable insisted that his music has produced more hits than many people give him credit for, putting himself in direct comparison with one of Nigeria’s biggest Afrobeats stars.

The claim has already opened the door for the question Nigerians love to debate: Does Portable really have more hit songs than Davido? 👀

While Davido has a long list of international hits and major collaborations, Portable’s supporters argue that his songs have had a strong impact on street-pop culture.

So, let’s settle it:

Portable or Davido — who has more hit songs? 😂

Drop your answer in the comments.

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