Southern governors have paid a condolence visit to one of their members, Seyi Makinde, over the death of 35 persons at a funfair for children in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Also yesterday, former President Goodluck Jonathan expressed sadness over the Ibadan stampede and those that happened in the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) and Okija, Anambra State on Saturday. He expressed sadness over the tragedies and called for prayers as well as support for the victims’ families.

Police in Anambra State put the death toll in the Okija incident at 22 while reports had  it that 10 lives were lost in that of the FCT.

The victims were among thousands of people that thronged venues of cash and rice distributions by private charity organisations.

During the visit to Makinde in Ibadan, the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum(SGF) Dapo Abiodun, said that he was sure that the stampede on Thursday would not have happened if the state government had been carried along by the organisers.

Abiodun said: “I am here on behalf of myself, the government, and the good people of Ogun State and the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) to commiserate with the governor of Oyo State and the people on the unfortunate incident where a good initiative turned sour.

“It is most unfortunate that, in response to the current realities, an NGO(Non-Governmental Organisations) decided to share the joy of the season with children, which led to the loss of 35 lives.

“I think that we’ve seen this trend in Anambra and Abuja during this Yuletide.’’

The SGF chairman, who is also the governor of Ogun State,  described the stampede as unfortunate and advised that governments and relevant stakeholders should always be carried along by organisers of events requiring large crowds.

His words: “I believe that what we must also take away from this unfortunate incident is that when private sector players, non-governmental organisations, and charities want to embark on such initiatives, they should try to work with the government.

“As a responsible government, we carry out such initiatives, and it doesn’t end like this because we have people who are charged with such responsibilities.

“They planned it to ensure that it is well implemented. So, one must admonish others who have such initiatives that a lot of lessons must be learned from what has happened, and we must ensure that we avoid such mishaps in the future.”

He stated that the SGF was pained by the loss of loss and that as the chairman of the forum, his visit was to condole with Makinde and all Oyo State people  .

He prayed for the repose of the souls of those who lost their lives and for their families to bear the loss.

Governor Makinde said the visit by Abiodun provides an opportunity for the cross-fertiliSation of ideas that would benefit the two(Ogun and Oyo) sister states.

He revealed that leaders of the two states would meet next year to see what they could learn from each other.

In his Christmas message, former President   Jonathan urged governments and other relevant authorities to implement measures to prevent incidents that could lead to deaths in the future.

He said: “The unfortunate incidents have left all of us in shock and sorrow. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends who have lost their loved ones and with those who have been injured.

“I urge the authorities to provide the necessary support to the victims and ensure that measures are put in place to prevent such occurrences in the future.

“As we navigate through this painful period, I encourage all Nigerians to show compassion and solidarity, especially during this festive season.

“Christmas is a time of love, unity, and hope. It reminds us of the importance of caring for one another and working towards peace and harmony in our communities.”

Jonathan also urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Christmas by extending love to those in need and fostering unity across all divides.

Jonathan prayed that the season would rekindle Nigerians’ collective resolve to build a nation founded on justice, fairness, and mutual respect.
thinking that the economy was healthy.’’.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has phased out high-interest foreign exchange (FX) swaps to stabilise financial markets.

It has settled 80 per cent of FX forward obligations, thereby boosting liquidity and market confidence.

Deputy Governor, Monetary Policy, Mohammed Sani, said the CBN has also maintained robust external reserves to support exchange rate appreciation.

He stated these in a presentation titled “Enhancing FX Market Efficiency” at a meeting of the Economic Management Team (EMT) convened by the Federal Government to assess critical economic policies and progress in key sectors.

Sani highlighted the launch of the Electronic Foreign Exchange Matching System (EFEMS), which aims to improve transparency and enhance market operations.

The meeting, chaired by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, focused on strengthening economic resilience.

A statement by Mohammed Manga, Director, Information and Public Relations at the Ministry of Finance, said the meeting noted efforts to address market reforms and agricultural performance.

Edun commended the progress made in the foreign exchange and agricultural sectors.

He urged stakeholders to accelerate efforts toward achieving economic stability, food security, and sustainable growth.

He emphasised the importance of coordinated implementation of policies to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at ensuring affordable food and improved living conditions for Nigerians.

Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari, presented a report on the 2024 wet season performance, revealing a 4.5 per cent increase in overall crop production.

However, millet production declined slightly by 0.2 per cent.

The minister expressed concern over rising production costs, particularly maize, which surged by 69.7 per cent, and significant food price increases, with cowpea prices rising by 300 per cent.

He lamented the food crises reported in 31 states, which have severely impacted the Northeast.

Despite these challenges, there were slight improvements in mechanisation and farmland expansion, with a two per cent increase in tractor use and a 2.3 per cent rise in cultivated farmland.

The Ministry of Agriculture outlined ambitious plans for 2025, which include boosting food security through hybrid seed production, technology adoption, and climate-smart practices; promoting export crops such as cocoa, sesame, and ginger; and enhancing rural infrastructure with cold chain facilities, feeder roads, and electrification.

MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, a prominent player in the Nigerian downstream oil industry, has implemented a new petrol price of N935 per litre across all its retail service stations nationwide.

This follows an announcement by the President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to offer petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets, following a reduction in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre.

In response, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc has instructed all its outlets to implement the new price immediately, setting up a digital platform and monitoring team to ensure full compliance.

The company has also called on Nigerians to report any outlets that fail to adhere to the new price structure.

“Petrol is now being sold at N935 at MRS Filling Stations nationwide. If you find any station not following this price, please report it. Call 08009447853 or email: [email protected],” the company stated in a release.

Emphasising the eco-friendly nature of its products, MRS Oil added, “We call on all petrol station owners to join MRS Oil Nigeria Plc in improving the supply chain of our beloved country, ensuring product quality and availability in every corner of Nigeria for the benefit of all Nigerians.”

Checks by our correspondents yesterday confirmed that the new price had been implemented at all MRS Oil and Gas retail outlets nationwide.

In Lagos, commuters were seen queuing at MRS filling stations to purchase petrol. Many expressed their gratitude to Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil and Gas, urging other marketers to support the indigenous refinery rather than import off-spec products into the country.

Mrs. Ibukun Phillips, a commuter at the MRS station at Alapere on the Lagos Ibadan Expressway, could not hide her joy as her husband filled up their car.

“I am very happy today. This is a victory for Nigeria,” she said. “The price reduction is the best gift of the season. But beyond just the reduction, we are buying standard, eco-friendly petrol at a lower rate. My husband and I have decided we will only be using MRS from now on because we are confident in the quality of the product and supporting the economy.”

Commercial bus driver Adio Ajibade described the price reduction as a great relief, especially during the festive season.

“The reduction is a great relief. It will reduce transportation costs and benefit Nigerians. God will continue to bless Alhaji Aliko Dangote,” he said.

A public affairs analyst and university lecturer, Dr. Tunde Akanni, said the collaboration between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and MRS Oil represents a significant step towards improving the affordability, quality, and sustainability of petroleum products in Nigeria.

According to Dr. Akanni, “This move will not only help ease the financial burden on Nigerians but also promote a more environmentally conscious approach to fuel consumption, benefitting both the economy and public health in the long term.”