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Mecca, June 29, 2026 – A helicopter belonging to Saudi ​oil giant Aramco crashed on Sunday ‌in Ras Tanura on Saudi Arabia’s eastern coast on the Gulf, west of the Strait of ​Hormuz, killing 14 nationals, the state ​news agency reported, adding that the ⁠cause was unknown. Aramco had resumed crude oil loadings on Friday at its Ras Tanura terminal ​in the Gulf after they were halted for nearly four months. “The relevant authorities have launched a ​full investigation to determine the cause ​of the crash,” the state news agency …

……to sanction profiteers  Abuja, June 29, 2026 – The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has expressed concern over undue exploitation in the local oil market. It said it had discovered undue exploitation of consumers from an ongoing surveillance of the downstream petroleum market. FCCPC said in a statement on Sunday, that a review of the gantry prices of local refiners, marketers, depot operators and retail outlet operators revealed token reductions in prices that are not commensurate with the steep fall in crude prices in the global market.  Reacting …

Singapore, June 29, 2026 – Oil prices rose on Monday following days of tit-for-tat strikes by ​the U.S. and Iran that underscored the fragility of their interim peace ‌deal and again slowed energy shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude futures climbed 45 cents, or 0.6%, to $72.44 a barrel at 0627 GMT while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $70.05 a barrel, ​up 82 cents, or 1.2%. “There’s still plenty of risk facing the oil market. Even ​so, participants appear to be … focusing on what a …

Lagos, June 26, 2026 – The Nigeria currency, Naira, depreciated further against the dollar to N1,380.1079 to the dollar at the official foreign exchange market on Thursday. The naira exchange rate at the market on Wednesday was N1,380.0775 to the dollar. Bid rates quoted at the market on Wednesday ranged from N1,376.0000 to N1,390.5000 to the dollar. Meanwhile, the naira is being traded at the black market between N1, 385 and N1, 400 to the dollar.

Teheran, June 26, 2026 – A cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz was struck by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Thursday near the Oman coast, according to a U.S. official. The vessel suffered damage to its bridge, but no one was injured, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Centre said.Secretary of State Marco Rubio again rejected the idea of Iran charging vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Oman said any system it creates with Iran to manage maritime traffic will not involve fees, but Iran was less definitive, saying it would work …

By Paul Ejime Abuja, June 26, 2026 – After Guinea-Bissau’s former president, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, staged a self-coup in November 2025 to avoid an election defeat and handed power to his military allies, ECOWAS has been engaged in frenetic diplomatic damage control to restore some sanity in the country, notorious for its history of political instability.  However, the regional peace efforts have been marred by internal division within ECOWAS, with some leaders, notably from Senegal and Sierra Leone, the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, siding …

New Delhi, June 26, 2026 – Crude prices ​sank 2% on Friday and were headed for steep weekly losses amid easing supply concerns as ‌more stranded oil tankers exited the Strait of Hormuz, even though a cargo vessel was hit near Oman on Thursday. Brent crude futures fell $1.50, or 1.99%, to $73.76 a barrel as of 0649 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate fell $1.49, or 2.07%, to $70.43 a barrel. Refining giant Saudi Aramco resumed ​oil loading on Friday at its Ras Tanura terminal in the Gulf after a …

Abuja, June 26, 2026 – The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has directed financial institutions in the country to freeze accounts, assets, and transactions of six individuals and four Bureau De Change (BDC) linked to terrorism financing. The apex bank gave the directive in a circular dated June 24, 2026. The action followed new reports of Nigerians and companies linked to terrorism financing by the United States of America. The new sanctions were issued by the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NIGSAC) and the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of …

Jos, June 25, 2026 – In a significant demonstration of its commitment to the development of education and community empowerment, Fidelity Bank Plc has donated back-to-school packs to school pupils in Plateau State. The intervention, which took place in Jos, saw over 600 randomly selected pupils drawn from all 17 Local Government Areas of the state benefit from the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. Each pupil received a school bag containing exercise books, writing materials, a mathematical set, and a water bottle, in a gesture designed to support their …

Lagos, June 25, 2026 – The federal government is committed to decentralising renewable energy solutions to improve livelihoods, create jobs, and support economic development. Joseph Tegbe, the Minister of Power, made the commitment on Wednesday, while unveiling ua 505-kilowatt interconnected solar mini-grid in Epe, Lagos State. He also flagged off the development of an additional five-megawatt mini-grid project as part of efforts to expand electricity access and stimulate economic activities in the area. The projects are located within Majoda communities in Eredo, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State. The …