The Federal Government is working to bring down inflation to single digits, Bayo Onanuga, Presidential spokesman, has said.

Onanuga said this while announcing additional measures that the government introduced to support Nigerians amid the global fuel crisis.

Earlier on Thursday, Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, announced that fuel would be sold at a discounted rate across NNPC filling stations for 30 days.

Although the minister made it clear that the move is not an attempt to reintroduce subsidy, many Nigerians, especially on social media, described it as an attempt to subsidize the product.

In his statement, Onanuga said, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) agreed today to forgo its petrol retail profit margin and sell to Nigerians at cost to cushion the impact of global crude oil price shocks and volatility on vulnerable households.

“NNPC Retail, which already sells petrol at the lowest price in the market, will offer this new deal within the next 30 days. This means if NNPC’s landing cost is N1300, it will sell fuel to Nigerians, especially commercial vehicles, at the same price.

“The company’s discount gesture, backed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was among the raft of measures the Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, announced today.

“Oyedele said he hoped other marketers would take a cue from the NNPC, as the sharp rise in crude and petrol prices is not expected to last long.

“Oyedele was emphatic that NNPC agreeing to sell at a discount must not be misinterpreted as the restoration of petrol subsidy, which ended on May 29, 2023.”

Onanuga added that “The Federal Government is also working on a comprehensive package of fiscal measures to bring inflation down to single digits sustainably in the near term.”

At least three people were killed and two others injured after gunmen attacked a construction site along the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway in Maiyama Local Government Area , the victims included two security operatives and an expatriate working on the road construction project, while two civilians sustained gunshot injuries.

The incident occurred at a construction site in Gubba Village, Andarai District of Maiyama LGA, according to the Kebbi State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Bashir Usman.

Usman said the attackers, suspected to be Lakurawa terrorists from the Kebbe axis of neighbouring Sokoto State, stormed the construction site and opened fire on the workers.

He said two civilians were also injured during the attack and were evacuated to a hospital for treatment.

The police spokesperson said another attack by the suspected terrorists was recorded the same day along the Birnin Malam axis but was repelled by police teams.

He added that joint security forces had responded to the incidents, with tactical teams deployed to strengthen security and prevent further attacks.

Following the attack, construction activities at the affected site were suspended as security agencies intensified surveillance and deployed additional personnel to the area.

The police assured workers on the project of continued security protection and urged them to remain calm as efforts continued to safeguard lives and property.

The Imo State Police Command has explained how security agencies secured the release of 21 people, including 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who were abducted in the state.

The Commissioner of Police, Audu Bosso, said the abductors eventually released the victims after security operatives intensified efforts to locate their hideout and mounted pressure on them.

Bosso disclosed this during an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, while providing an update on the rescue operation.

According to the police commissioner, the command had no information indicating that a ransom was paid to secure the victims’ freedom.

He said security personnel had combed the forest as part of a coordinated operation, which eventually forced the kidnappers to give up the captives.

Bosso, however, said the rescued victims were still receiving attention at the office of the Department of State Services (DSS).

The 20 prospective corps members and another victim were kidnapped on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan, Oyo State, to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

Following the incident, security agencies launched a joint search for the victims and the suspected kidnappers.

The police had earlier disclosed that drone surveillance helped operatives identify the location of the kidnappers’ camp.

However, security personnel could not immediately access the area after the location was reportedly found to have been planted with improvised explosive devices.

Additional operational resources were subsequently deployed as security agencies intensified their efforts to reach the abducted victims.

The incident had raised concern among relatives of the victims, particularly amid reports that the kidnappers were demanding ₦50 million for each person in their custody.

Police authorities had previously announced the rescue of 10 victims while the search for the remaining abductees continued.

The remaining victims were eventually released from the Amakohia-Ubi forest in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State on Wednesday following the coordinated security operation.

The development brought an end to the ordeal of the 21 abducted persons, who were subsequently taken to safety and placed under medical attention in Owerri.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma commended the security agencies involved in the operation.

In a statement personally signed by him, the governor also praised the cooperation between the Imo and Oyo state governments, saying their joint efforts contributed to the release of the abducted persons.