Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has raised concerns over a legal action by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery challenging fuel import licences issued to marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Limited), warning it could destabilise Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, according to reporting by TheCable. The dispute follows a decision by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on March 25 to ease petrol import restrictions by issuing new import licences to marketers to bridge supply gaps. However, the Dangote Petroleum Refinery later filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Lagos, seeking to void the licences. The refinery argues that the approvals breach a prior court order and violate provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, which it says allows imports only when domestic supply is insufficient. In response, DAPPMAN said the licences are essential legal instruments that sustain Nigeria’s fuel supply chain and ensure energy security. The association stressed that members had invested heavily in depot infrastructure and logistics based on the validity of the licences. It warned that attempts to retroactively cancel them could introduce uncertainty into the downstream sector and disrupt operations. While acknowledging the refinery’s right to seek legal redress, DAPPMAN maintained that regulatory responsibility to guarantee adequate fuel supply must not be undermined by private commercial interests. The association added that Nigeria’s downstream market depends on multiple participants operating competitively, cautioning that restricting access could ultimately affect consumers. The development highlights rising tensions over fuel import regulation, domestic refining capacity, and market competition in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.

Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has disclosed that the North-West and North-East regions continue to record the country’s lowest literacy and numeracy levels despite receiving 80 per cent of education donor funding over the past decade. Alausa made the disclosure on Monday during the Education World Forum in London, where he met with education ministers and global stakeholders to discuss Nigeria’s foundational learning reforms. According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Ikharo Attah, the minister said recent education data revealed serious concerns about the effectiveness of donor funding allocation. “NEDI data revealed a key issue: 80% of donor funds in the last decade went to the North-West and North-East, yet those zones still have the lowest literacy and numeracy rates. We now have the data to redirect resources where they deliver results,” he said. Alausa explained that the Federal Government has now unified foundational literacy delivery under a national standard covering both formal and non-formal education systems. He said the government is scaling the RANA programme for Primary 1 to 3 pupils and the Teaching at the Right Level initiative for Primary 4 to 6 pupils across 15 states through the Universal Basic Education Commission. According to him, the programmes rely on structured lesson plans, weekly teacher coaching, and regular assessments to improve learning outcomes. The minister also highlighted the Accelerated Basic Education Programme developed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, stating that it enables out-of-school children and adolescents to achieve foundational literacy and numeracy within three years. He noted that both formal and non-formal education systems now report into the National Education Data Initiative, allowing authorities to monitor nationwide education coverage through a single dashboard. Speaking on Nigeria’s out-of-school children crisis, Alausa said the Accelerated Basic Education Programme provides pathways for children outside the formal school system to transition into junior secondary education. He added that state Universal Basic Education Board officials supervise both formal schools and ABEP centres across 15 states using the same learning materials and coaching tools. The minister further stated that foundational literacy and numeracy have become central to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. He said the government is finalising a national policy on foundational literacy and numeracy to establish a sustainable legal and institutional framework for reforms across federal, state, and non-formal education systems. Alausa also revealed that 70 per cent of funding under Nigeria’s Partnership Compact with the Global Partnership for Education is tied to measurable outcomes in learning, teacher management, and data usage. He added that the Federal Government plans to increase the Universal Basic Education Commission’s share of the consolidated revenue fund from two per cent to four per cent.

Dani Carvajal will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season, ending a decorated spell that saw the veteran defender become one of the club’s most successful players. The Spanish giants confirmed the decision on Monday, saying the 34-year-old will play his final game at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium this weekend when Madrid host Athletic Bilbao in their final home match of the campaign. According to Channels Television, Carvajal departs after making 450 appearances for Madrid and winning 27 trophies, including six UEFA Champions League titles and four La Liga crowns. In a statement, the club described Carvajal as “one of the greatest legends” in its history, while club president Florentino Pérez called him “a symbol of Real Madrid and its academy”. Carvajal came through Madrid’s famed academy system before briefly joining Bayer Leverkusen in 2012. The defender returned to Madrid a year later and became a key figure in one of the club’s most dominant modern eras. His final season has been disrupted by injuries, with Spanish reports suggesting he will miss out on selection for Spain national football team at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. Carvajal’s departure closes a major chapter for Madrid, who are set to finish a second consecutive season without a major trophy.