
Residents across Kwara State are experiencing significant hardship due to a sharp increase in cooking gas prices, with Liquefied Petroleum Gas reaching up to N2,200 per kilogram in some areas. This surge is impacting households and small businesses, forcing many to reduce consumption or consider returning to charcoal and firewood, despite health and environmental concerns. Residents like Abdulganiyu Obanguru, Aishat, Rafat Kolawole, and Ruqoyat Ayelabowo describe the rapid and unpredictable price hikes as unbearable, with some reporting prices jumping from N1,150 to N1,750 per kilogram, or from N1,300 to N2,000 per kilogram within days. Food vendors, such as Mrs. Kafilat Ibrahim in Offa, are seeing their profits shrink as they cannot increase meal prices to match the rising cost of gas. Industry stakeholders attribute the increases to rising foreign exchange rates, higher importation costs, and transportation expenses, noting that a 20-metric-tonne truck of LPG now costs between N25.2m and N26.2m. Experts also point to the depreciation of the naira and difficulties in accessing foreign exchange, which increase the cost of importing and distributing cooking gas despite Nigeria's large natural gas reserves. There are warnings that these sustained price increases could reverse progress in clean energy adoption, as more households may revert to traditional cooking methods.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.

The Federal Government has issued a directive requiring civil servants in human resource roles across ministries, departments, and agencies to obtain approved professional certifications within a year. This initiative aims to professionalize HR management within the Federal Civil Service. A circular from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation grants a 12-month moratorium for officers to acquire recognized certifications. Failure to comply will result in ineligibility for key personnel management positions. The policy outlines certification requirements, transitional arrangements, and conditions for deploying administrative cadre officers to HR roles. Recognized certifications include those from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, the Society for Human Resource Management, the Human Resource Certification Institute, and Chartered Professionals in Human Resources. During the transition, officers can remain in their current positions or be deployed to HR-related duties if they provide verifiable evidence of enrollment and progress towards certification within six months. After the moratorium, an approved HR certification will be mandatory for deployment to HR roles in various federal institutions. This directive, effective immediately, is part of ongoing reforms to enhance professionalism and efficiency in public service personnel administration, aligning with global best practic
Must ReadThe Nigerian Federal Government has expressed strong displeasure with the South African government's response to renewed xenophobic attacks targeting Nigerian nationals, stating that retaliatory diplomatic measures, including a review of bilateral privileges, are under consideration. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, briefed State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu, refuting claims by some South African authorities that the attacked Nigerians are illegal migrants. She highlighted that Nigerian passport holders are facing harassment, looting, and burning of their shops, and intimidation of their children in schools, while South African police reportedly fail to intervene. Odumegwu-Ojukwu emphasized Nigeria's historical support for South Africa's independence struggle, making the current treatment of Nigerians particularly painful. She noted that the attacks specifically target black migrants. When asked about retaliatory measures, the Minister confirmed that such actions are being considered at the highest level of government. The House of Representatives previously recommended a temporary suspension of business permits for South African companies in Nigeria, and the Senate plans to send a delegation to South Africa. President Tinubu has approved five Air Peace evacuation flights for Nigerians, with 1,092 individuals voluntarily registered for repatriation as of June 8. The first evacuation flight, initially scheduled for Jun

Payaza Africa Limited has received upgraded credit ratings from four agencies, indicating increased investor confidence in the fintech company's financial stability and operational performance. DataPro raised its rating from A to AA-, Intelligence Africa assigned an A- investment-grade rating, Agusto upgraded it from BBB to A-, and GCR, an affiliate of Moody’s, moved it from BBB to A-. These upgrades reflect a company's financial strength and its ability to meet debt obligations. Payaza Africa's Chief Executive Officer, Seyi Ebenezer, stated that these ratings validate the company's disciplined growth and operational resilience, positioning it as a future-ready brand within Africa and the global fintech space. He emphasized that the recognition highlights the company's strategic execution and strong risk management practices, reflecting a commitment to building a sustainable and globally competitive institution. Payaza Africa provides payment infrastructure solutions for collections, payouts, embedded finance, and digital commerce enablement for businesses across Africa, with products like Payaza Checkout, Chat and Pay by Payaza, Payaza Give, and Shopaza.